The ban was originally imposed at the suggestion of rival American technology company Motorola, who held various patents in Germany, of which Apple were in violation of. However, the appeals court have temporarily suspended the lock-out of Apple, as they made Motorola a ‘new’ offer at a licencing payment (to become authorised to use the ‘Motorola-registered’ patents in their product) which the latter refused.

Meanwhile, German users of Apple’s products might still lose out on the use of the iCloud online storage system (that allows files and downloads to be shared across a user’s Apple products), as Motorola claimed a current victory in a separate German patent case relating to the format.

An official Apple statement issued the news of the listed suspension on Friday evening, reading: “All iPad and iPhone models will be back on sale through Apple’s online store in Germany shortly. Apple appealed this ruling because Motorola repeatedly refuses to license this patent to Apple on reasonable terms, despite having declared it an industry standard patent seven years ago.”

The Motorola camp are not going to bow down so easily, though, and state that the decision is merely a minor setback in their overall case against Apple. Motorola’s statement read: “We are pleased that the Mannheim court has recognised the importance of our intellectual property and granted an enforceable injunction in Germany against Apple Sales International. Although the enforcement of the injunction has been temporarily suspended, Motorola Mobility will continue to pursue its claims against Apple.”

German courts seem to have become something of a hotbed for high-profile technology patent cases in recent times, as late last year saw Apple file against Motorola, while Motorola are juggling their situations with Apple alongside a similar dispute with Microsoft. Will there ever be a clear dominant force of American companies in Germany, and just how long will these particular disputes carry on for?

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Control hotel TV with an app

The app runs on the iPad, iPhone and android devices. Besides turning into a TV remote, the app also controls on-demand content and pay-per-view movies (which can be paid direct from the phone). The app will also give hotel and local information, directions and other useful information.

You may ask, why would anyone want an app when the hotel has a perfectly good TV remote? Well apart from hygene purposes and dead batteries, the app does extra stuff and even lets you turn off the TV whilst out of the room.

Speaking about the app in a press release, Derek S. White, President of Interactive & Media Networks for LodgeNet said, “With 75% of travelers carrying smartphones today, mobile devices have significantly changed how travelers behave and what they expect from hotels, airlines and every supplier within the travel eco-system.”

He continued, “The LodgeNet Mobile App was developed to be fun, fast and very easy to use so that travelers can customize their hotel and travel experience in everything from the movies they watch, to the restaurants they dine in, to the hotel services and local entertainment options they choose – all managed and controlled through their own mobile device.”

Currently around 2,000 hotels around the US can make use of the app, and to keep it family friendly, it will not carry any adult content. So users will still have a need for the hotel remote then.

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Viggle TV app rewards loyalty

The app which runs on iPad nd iPhone works as a loyalty program, and rewards viewers for vegetating in front of the goggle box with gift cards, music downloads and movie tickets.

The way the app works is by recognising the show that the viewer is watching and credits a certain number of reward points for every minute watched.

The credits earned equate to two points per minute, and will work for live and recorded shows.

Viggle have partnered with a number of companies to offer rewards such as Burger King, Starbucks, iTunes, CVS, Best Buy, Sephora, and Fandango.

Speaking about the app, Chris Stephenson, president of Function (X) Inc.who make Viggle said,  “Viggle is the first loyalty program for TV. We’re basically allowing people to get rewards for doing something they’re doing already and that they love to do.”

So how does giggle make money you ask? Well if your racking up points, it stands to reason you will watch even more TV, right? So audience numbers rise and will make more money from advertising for the TV companies, and the app will show advertising of is own.

So as Viggle makes money, it can give a percentage away to the viewer. But before you get too excited, it seems you will need to rack up a lot of points for even a small reward.

For example, you will need a mammoth 7,500 points just to get a $5 gift card to use with a participating retailer. In other words, several weeks of TV watching!

To help encourage the zombiefied viewers who wish to participate, Viggle give you 1,500 bonus points when you sign up. They also plan on offering bonus points for watching ads on the app and checking into shows like “American Idol”.

Not sure about the rights and wrongs of encouraging viewers to slob in front of the TV even more, then reward them with a burger, but the app is now available from the app store and an Android version will follow.

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Airtight brings Apple streaming to Google TV, kind of.

So that means that Google TV owners are able to stream content from their iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to the Google TV hardware.

But music is not included, nor is mirroring. Mirroring lets Apple owners mirror whatever is on their portable device straight to the TV set and can be achieved with the Apple TV set-top box.

For some time Apple users could stream movies, music and photos from an iOS device to the TV using AirPlay, and it would be a shot in the arm for Google TV if it could work on the hardware.

The creators of the app say that they expect to add missing features in the future, the fact that Apple have not endorsed the product could indicate that may not happen.

The app costs $0.99 and without giving access to anything from yor iTunes library makes it a bit of a worthless one. Knowing how strict Apple are with allowing streaming via any non-Apple device. I would not be holding my breath in anticipation of that changing anytime soon either.

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The new tizi Remote app lets users make use of the iPhone 4S and lets users change and browse channels, pause and rewind live TV etc., but it also makes use of Siri functionality.

Using the Apple iPhone 4S app and using the power of your voice, viewers can change channels and do other voice controlled tomfoolery.

Voice control is starting to make appearances in the TV market with LG launching a voice controlled version of their magic remote.

The system is not available in the US at this time, you need a new iPad and a new iPhone to use it too, which narrows down the market for this system.

And many people may question why you would need a remote to control an iPad that is in your hands at the time your watching it!

But it is interesting to see more manufacturers make use of voice control which looks to be the next big development in TV control. The app can be downloaded free from the Apple iTunes App Store right now.

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Control Roku with your iPhone

Using the Roku for iPhone remote app users can organize channels, get an instant replay, and if your lucky enough to have more than one Roku then the app can switch between them.Other functions include skip, play, instant replay and a store tab which lets users visit the channel store.

The Roku device is a set-top box that can stream internet video including movies and TV shows onto the television set and can launch channels which include Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.

Roku recently launched the LT streaming device and have announced plans to launch in the UK and Canada early next year. The iPhone has plenty of other remote apps for online TV systems such as Google TV.

The free app for iPhone can be obtained from the App Store now.

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This type of feature is being seriously examined by Google as they attempt to create their own, which has been touted as coming for a while. A Google voice-control system has been said by many to be planned with a ‘Star Trek feel’ about it, with those previous claims reiterated by the fact that the current codename for Google’s project is ’Majel’, said to be named after the voice actor (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) of the spacecraft computer in the popular sci-fi series.

Current components of Google’s ‘Majel’ are said to include the option to activate it via the phrase ‘Computer…’, integration with recent Google acquisition Alfred (a ‘Digital Personal Assistant’) for their smartphones, and engaging in more natural dialogue, as opposed to the linear command-based Google Voice Actions currently in use on Android systems.

A Google source has leaked information on the app in recent days, describing a multiple-search feature: “It’s definitely as good, or better, than Siri. If you say ‘show me the Statue of Liberty’ it’ll automatically take you to Google Image results, but another tray beneath it might be its location on Google Maps and then another tray might have a Wikipedia page.”

Android’s operating system director Matias Duarte had hinted in October at a highly interactive, intelligent, and responsive system for their next release, stating at the time: “You can talk to it and you can touch it, you can interact with it at the same time as you talk with it.”

With Google’s own TV service faltering, they may also wish to implement the Android technology into other products, such as an own-brand rival to Apple’s new connected TV set. However, with some sections of Internet users already requesting that Google implement original ‘Starship Enterprise’ quotes into the app’s dialogue, could ‘Majel’ be overlooked for its useful voice-control qualities and just end up being seen as a licenced Star Trek toy?

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Is Android taking iPhones crown?

So what evidence does he have to backup the claims? Schmidt said that Android has overtaken Apple in the smartphone wars thanks to a number of factors including, “unit volume, Ice Cream Sandwich, the price is lower, there are more vendors.”

He continued, “Ultimately, application vendors are driven by volume, and volume is favoured by the open approach Google is taking. There are so many manufacturers working to deliver Android phones globally. Whether you like Android or not, you will support that platform, and maybe you’ll even deliver it first.”

He also said that within months, developers would be releasing apps on the Android OS before Apple devices. Presently most big apps come to iOS first then Android, but he said, “six months from now you’ll say the opposite”.

Of course it is only to be expected that the CEO of Google is going to big up Android even if he thinks iPhone is the more polished product. Android is becoming a phenomenum with over 200 million Android phones in circulation and over 550,000 handsets selling every day, but Apple is still reigning supreme and i’m sure they will not just sit still and watch Android steamroller them.

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iPlayer mobile app goes global

That release, called ‘Global iPlayer’, offered subscription-based BBC content originally to users in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, and followed up with expansions in September to Australia and Canada.

The new release is scheduled to be officially out on Apple’s smaller touchscreen devices tomorrow, and will be accessible to users in the above-mentioned countries for similar monthly prices, for which they will get the chance to watch both classic and new BBC content on-demand.

BBC Worldwide chief executive John Smith said of the upcoming release: “The global BBC iPlayer has seen great growth since the pilot first launched in July – both in terms of geographical expansion and technological developments. Moving to iPhone and iPod Touch allows us to take the service to a significant new potential audience and deliver fantastic programme content from the BBC and the UK’s creative industry.”

Jana Bennett, head of the Global iPlayer product, added her opinion on both the release, and a new arrangement which sees Global iPlayer host content from independent distributor DRG (mainly shows featured on BBC terrestrial rival Channel 4): “This platform extension shows how Global iPlayer isn’t just about moving TV to tablet devices, it’s also about a mobile strategy – about truly getting TV everywhere in a way that it hasn’t been before. We also want the global BBC iPlayer to be truly representative of the whole gamut of British creative output, to represent everything that is great about British content – not just the Best of British TV but the Best of British Culture.”

Statistics show that so far, the Global iPlayer experiment has been a success, with Bennett reporting that around 75% of the service’s subscribers access the app every day, while 35% view an average of more than one show per visit, and 25% continue browsing on the app after finishing a programme, giving a clear indication that the service is becoming a good source of income to the BBC, as well as a value-for-money source of entertainment for its international users. Will their latest step forward on portable devices be a further success?

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The Sky Go app from BSkyB has had an upgrade that gives viewers a choice from hundreds of movies on-demand. The app can be downloaded and used free for Sky subscribers or for a fee if your not.

Sky add anytime content to Go app

The new movies on demand service has a big choice of  movies that include the latest releases as well as classic movies from the past. Users can view Sky movies live (as per original app) or on-demand ‘anytime’ with the new update.

Currently available to run only on PC, Xbox 360 and iOS mobile devices from Apple that include the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. An Android version of Sky Go is set to launch within the next few months. Movies can be streamed via WiFi with 3G support coming soon.

Sky who are the largesty satellite pay-TV broadcaster in the UK are gearing up for an onslaught of online competition from other streaming on-demand services like Netflix, Lovefilm and Google TV which are all available or due soon in the UK. UK retailer HMV also just announced there own streaming on-demand service last week,

The Sky Go app was created after Sky merged the Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services into one, and was launched back in the summer of 2011. Sky Go customers are able to watch streaming on two connected devices at one time.

Speaking about the app, Holly Knill, Head of Sky Player and Mobile TV said, “The launch of Sky Movies on demand with Sky Go will give customers complete control over how, when and where they access hundreds of movies, including new releases and classic films – all at no extra charge.”

The app has an on now tab showing live content and a new anytime tab which offers on demand content. The movies available from categories that include classics, most popular, showcase, family and sci-fi/horror include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Mary Poppins, Devil, Little Fockers, Gulliver’s Travels, Limitless and Inception.

Having tested the app, i can safely say it’s an awesome product with so many good movies, you could watch it for weeks. The only thing missing from the app is the facility to download content to watch later. But maybe they are saving that for the next update.

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That would of course have also been the last product that Jobs was fully involved in, and while it could have begun sales this month, Apple made the move to only sell their ‘in-between product’, the iPhone 4S, to give their latest innovation a little more time to develop.

The 4S, meanwhile, is advertised as an update of the previous iPhone 4 (which has been out for 15 months now), and includes updates such as a new A5 dual-core processor, full HD video display quality, an 8-megapixel camera, and the much talked-about ‘voice control assistant’ app ’Siri’. So far, this interim handset is performing well in its solo-launch, following reported sales figures of 4 million units during its first weekend.

Rumours suggest that the delay of the iPhone 5 is down to a number of issues in the production process, problems that are seen to be too much to deal with to stay on track for a release before Christmas. This has left it likely that Apple will reveal and launch the iPhone 5 next summer at the annual ’Apple Developer’s Conference’, often used as the time and place for Apple to showcase their new models of iPhone products.

A source said of Jobs’ involvement with the upcoming product: ”[He] dedicated all of his time [to iPhone 5] and was not that involved in the 4S because his time was limited.”

Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar added that the iPhone 5 project, which he tips to become a big seller due to its circumstances, was: “…the last project that Steve Jobs was intimately involved with from concept to final design.”

Current planned features for the iPhone 5 include the new ‘tear-drop’ design on a larger screen, alongside ’4G connectivity’, and an enhanced version of the Siri voice control programme. This particular update does seem an interesting one, as demonstrated by Siri’s potential uses in the advert below. While it might end up following the typical voice control route of being frustrating and unresponsive in real life, could a smartphone become man’s new best friend?

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iPhone 4S is a bit of a letdown

The phone was announced at Apple’s corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California by new CEO Tim Cook who recently took over as CEO from Apple founder Steve Jobs. The phone may look the same, but the iPhone 4S is still a significant upgrade from the old phone.

The phone has a faster dual core A5  processor just like it’s big cousin the iPad 2, plus an improved eight megapixel camera and has full 1080p HD video. The outer case and the Retina screen stay, but there is an improvement in the battery which now gives talk time of 8 hours.

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It will be a strange sight for many Apple fans to see that Tim Cook will be the man up on stage leading the presentation, his first major product publicity event since he took over the permanent position of CEO at the company from the departed Steve Jobs following concerns over the latter’s health.

While the handset, and its official features, will be revealed at the press event, so will the release date that many fans of the company want to hear – the same date that most of them are likely to be queuing outside stores overnight on. This specific day is known by many to come within the next month, but the CEO of France Telecom, Stephane Richard, has recently claimed that inside sources have told him the device will have a release date of Saturday 15 October, a week later than rumours started by Best Buy.

Richard stated: “If we believe what we have been told, the iPhone 5 will be released on October 15.”

The device known to be running on the new iOS5 operating system, and is thought to feature a new ’teardrop’  touch screen design, with a range of features also designed to enhance a user’s content viewing experience.

JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz has also added an interesting claim that the iPhone 5 will be released alongside an update iPhone 4 (entitled the ‘iPhone 4 Plus’) as a lower price, but updated, option for consumers. Another new product set to go on sale from Apple in October is a white-skin version of the iPod Touch.

With plenty of updates both in the works and some ready to come to the shops, will Apple soon be able to put the shock resignation of their CEO out of their customer’s minds?

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TV guide Fav.tv

The service does the usual stuff such as see TV listings, set-up reminders and access more information on shows etc. The service also has the now obligatory social services with Twitter and Facebook comments and likes.

“You shouldn’t have to live by someone else’s schedule or try to keep up with online chatter when watching your favourite shows. We just want to create a better experience for people who love TV,” said co-founder and CEO Saverio Mondelli.

fav.tv seems to have high expectations of the guide that has taken 2 years to develop from a simple iPhone app.

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Flash streaming may come to iPad

There has long been an air of animosity between Apple and Adobe after Apple basically killed off any flash based websites and videos from running on it’s products. Apple claim that flash is too memory and power intensive, whilst Adobe say that Apple are protecting their revenue.

Adobe revealed the Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0 products in Amsterdam at the IBC trade show, which takes flash files and converts them to an Apple compatible format called Http Live Streaming.

The cost to publishers is a rather large $4,500 to convert their flash files, and it will mean Apple loses it’s tight control, effectively allowing publishers to run Flash video on iOS devices.

The Adobe press release says, “Flash Media Server 4.5 allows publishers to stream Flash content to iOS devices, which means support within the iOS Safari browser is not required. Instead of relying on a device’s processor to render the stream, which often degrades battery life and slows a device down, Adobe’s Flash Media Server 4.5 does all the legwork.”

‘Adobe has a deep heritage in providing video solutions for delivering content online and on-device. With Flash Media Server 4.5 and Flash Access 3.0, we’re enabling businesses to reach more customers and more devices, helping them increase the impact of video experiences, enhance their brands and ultimately, drive business success,’ Adobe’s press release reads.

‘On-demand Stream Packaging eliminates the need to prepare and protect assets ahead of time,’ says Adobe, ‘reducing complexity and storage costs and simplifying publishing for businesses so they can use one set of source video to reach multiple downstream devices.’

So is this a sneaky trick by Adobe? Not according to Adobe, Communications Manager Andy Sommer insists it is all, “completely above board.” He continued, “There is nothing that Apple could have a concern about with this product.”

Far from being a devious move, the system has been around for years, “Http Live Streaming is not a format. Flash Media Server 4.5 is not a workaround and has not snuck in the back door,” he said. “It’s a perfectly legitimate product that has been around for many years and the majority of videos on the web are published through FMS such as on sites like YouTube, Hulu.”

Adobe say that the product is aimed at content creators such as news publishers and film studios rather than end users, but it will be us end users that finally get flash on our Apple products.

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The new edition of the smartphone is tipped to feature a range of new updates and features to enhance performance and broaden functions. It is naturally a difficult task to keep the level of public knowledge of such a high-interest product under wraps, but it seems as though Apple no longer need to worry about keeping secrets. Sources from consumer electronics franchise Best Buy have revealed that store chain’s employees have been instructed (via memo) to start taking pre-orders for the new iPhone 5 as of this week, and that they are preparing for a release during the first week of October.

While Apple have not yet confirmed this, or even arranged a press release on the matter, different reports tie in with the rumours based on suggestions that Chinese production companies are now mass-producing the device ready for wholesale, with a predicted timescale fitting in with the global release window suggested by Best Buy.

While there has been controversy over the development of the new device (including an Apple employee losing a prototype in a bar), there seems to be an array of improvements planned as the main updates for iPhone 5, as opposed to a large quantity of new features.

Such improvements are thought to include an aluminium metal back structure (as opposed to glass), a better-quality antenna (to compensate for the iPhone 4′s bad connection signal), and an enhanced camera mode (with image detail though to reach eight megapixels). Other updates include 1080p full HD video support, wireless charging, longer battery life, and compatibility with 4G next-gen mobile services, along with a new ‘teardrop design’ (in the vein of the new iPod Touch, a thicker screen at the top than the bottom).

Their main innovator may have left the fold, but can a Jobs-less Apple still come up with revolutionary features, or will their rivals start to catch up to them in the smartphone market?

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After being hosted on the iPad tablet computer since April, the service is moving onto the other iOS systems (iPhone and iPod Touch) in September. The 4oD platform covers a range of content from the network’s three main entertainment channels (Channel 4, E4 & More4), and has been responsible for over 215 million video views in the first six months of 2011 alone (making it the most popular broadcaster in the British Isles for on-demand content).

The service, which gives a 30-day catch-up window to current network broadcasts, and archive content from hit series such as The Inbetweeners, is available to use for free (or no additional charge) via host platforms such as YouTube, Sony PlayStation 3, Virgin Media, and TalkTalk. However, the main hub of 4oD comes through the official Channel 4 website (Channel 4.com) which is in the midst of being relaunched with an updated interface for the service, allowing users to personalise their experience and view videos by user recommendations.

The update seems to be part of Channel 4′s recent move to appoint three new staff members to their ‘audience, technologies and insight’ team, a byprodcut of which is a multi-million pound investment for a new ‘viewer database’ to help determine the network’s next moves in broadcasting to target audiences.

Gill Whitehead, Channel 4′s ’audience, technologies, and insight’ director, said of the improvements to her department: “We will work on delivering our ambitions around viewer engagement can move to the next level. As Channel 4 understands more of our audience and their behaviours and preferences, we will move to harness this insight to deliver superior innovation both to advertisers and to viewers. Building the required infrastructure to deliver these ambitions now begins in earnest with a multi-million pound investment in a bespoke Channel 4 viewer database and new senior roles in the audience technologies and insight team.”

With their aims to improve viewer experience clearly established, will the new-found presence on iOS devices be a sufficient step forward for Channel 4?

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It is not the end of his 35-year affiliation with the media giant, though, as Jobs takes up the role of Apple’s ’chairman’, with former ‘chief operating officer’ Tim Cook stepping into some big shoes in the role of CEO.

Jobs wrote in an letter of resignation to the board of directors at Apple: “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s chief executive, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as chief executive of Apple. I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role. I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.”

Jobs has faced several years of medical uncertainty after battling through pancreatic cancer in 2004, and a liver transplant in 2009, as well as his unknown problems this year. Regardless of these absences, though, his influence at the company (and in technological development in general) does not seem to be taken lightly, as Apple’s share value dropped by up to 5% in the hours following the announcement of his departure.

As the company effectively enters a new era, will they fulfil Jobs’ belief that they can innovate without him? With the upcoming release of the iPad 3 to deal with, they have a good platform to prove a point on…

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Hulu said it would launch its service probably Hulu Plus on PCs, TVs, mobile phones, and tablets, all for a single low price. Interested people visit hulu.jp and sign up for its launch, the company said.

“Since the very beginning of Hulu, we have had our aspirations firmly set on serving audiences around the globe,” Johannes Larcher, Hulu’s international vice president, said in a blog post. “We recognize that entertainment fans beyond the U.S. have the same desires as those on our home shores: find and watch the world’s premium content when, how, and where they want. Today, we are taking a first, but significant step in realizing that vision.”

At the conference in sponsorship with investment bank Allen & Co, Disney CEO Bob Iger said said a sale is more than likely but he would not say when it would take place, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

While Hulu plans to set up in Japan for now, Netflix has bigger ideas, with plans to set up in 43 different countries all at once, executives have said, across Latin and Central America and Europe.

Larcher identified Japan as both a large consumer and producer of content, not the least of which is the anime that pervades Hulu’s animation channels, as well as other services like Netflix.

“We believe Japan is a vibrant market for premium video content distribution online, and are committed to our Japanese service for the long-term,” Larcher added. “We have opened offices in Tokyo, with a dedicated Japanese team designing and running the service, and are hard at work finalizing preparations for launch later this year.”

Netflix, has reportedly played down there interest in buying Hulu, and DirecTV is also doing the same according to reports.

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A lot of people who have bought smartphones like the iPhone or an Android powered phone and are on AT&T’s network were originally promised unlimited data use.

Even when AT&T finished offering their unlimited option, they still allowed their older customers to continue on an unlimited plan. Starting October 1, this will no longer happen as AT&T will start policing all their customers, this also includes those who tether their smartphones.

AT&T claim that “these data gobbling hogs use 12 times more data than their average customer, and that most customers are not going to be affected. This change will not impact users who are on a tiered data plan at all, and is unlikely to affect the average customer with an unlimited data plan.”

AT&T has said in its press release that it is targeting the “top 5 percent of heaviest data users” who are more than likely heavy users of streaming video. If you fall into A&T’s heavy user category, your download speed are going to be capped the next month.

This will likely affect people who use the Hulu Plus app on the iPhone or the Netflix app for the Android phone. Although such measures could be necessary for AT&T to stay in profit, it’s going to rub their customers up the wrong way

The details of AT&T’s new reduced speeds are not that clear in regards to how much usage will put you in the top five and the exact amount of throttling that will happen. Hopefully as October 1st approaches, AT&T will release more information.

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Apple TV have revealed a new software update to their streaming system, with a new feature adding the option for users to view already-purchased (from iTunes store) content online and immediately ready for watching on-demand without loading times not only on Apple TV but on any other iOS devices, such as iPhone and iPad.

Apple TV get iTune streams from cloud

The Apple TV Internet-connected box, currently valued at $99, is also able to purchase Apple and external content (including TV shows) straight from the comfort of the box itself, with all transactions and on-demand screenings being made direct through Apple’s official servers.

Apple’s allowance of purchasable videos is thought to be a bold move, with the company able to show a greater selection of content than the previous (and limited) rental-only system they had in place before. The move to host purchased content on Apple servers (not a great expense for such a wealthy company) could also free up plenty of space on Apple customers’ iOS devices, where the videos were previously stored.

A further update brings online video company Vimeo into the mix in a similar manner to the YouTube and Flickr ‘apps’ on the service. Rumours are also suggesting that the services will soon not be exclusive to Apple TV, with similar updates to the iPhone and iPad also in the works through the Apple-server developments, given the title of ‘iCloud’.

ABI Reaserch’s digital-home analyst Michael Inouye reported on the developments: “To some this might sound like a small change, but this step further enhances the cloud strategy — namely iCloud, in this case — and more tightly integrates the iTunes/Apple experience across devices,” he said. “It sounds as if this update is limited to TV shows for the time being, but movie purchases might not be too far down the road.”

Sounds like a good move, especially if purchased content sitting on the cloud can be played on the new Apple connected TV due in 2012.

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Intended as a replacement for existing browser-based service Sky Player, Sky Go is a more interactive live TV and catch-up service provided by the entertainment giant. The enhanced interactivity of Sky Go comes in the form of its creation as an ‘app’ for Apple iOS devices (such as the iPad and iPhone).

After downloading the ‘app’ through the Apple App Store, users will be able to record and watch their favourite shows on selected channels as though they were watching normal TV with the option to view content live, as well as regular abilities seen on the Sky+ service such as pausing and rewinding live TV, and full application of an electronic programme guide (EPG).

The service is to be made availiable free to all Sky customers (by logging into Go with a username and password), but those who do not have a satellite package can still use Sky Go at a subscribtion cost of £15 a month. The app itself is naturally free to download, but the activation a connection to Sky to  be involved.

Sky Go is reported to be a combination of the methods used to create Sky Player and phone-based service Sky Mobile TV, but it is unknown on the future status of the latter now that Sky Go is being rolled out across multiple platforms. The service will allow a number of key channels to be watched while the user is out and about, although mobile devices will carry less networks than their computer-based counterparts, which will feature 30 channels of Sky’s own-brand and their afilliate networks.

In other developments for Sky, their exclusive service on the Xbox 360 games console is to be rebranded to Sky from former name Sky Player, while a number of other ‘apps’ remain, including Sky+ Remote Record, Football Score Centre, and Sky News updates. A dominant force in satellite TV for so long, will Sky soon make their presence felt on the move as well?

Incoming TV searches:

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Watch CNN anywhere

Users will be able to watch the latest live news streaming from the international news VOD platform, which requires mobile users to download an applications to their iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

The streaming news feed is available to users for free – but only if they happen to subscribe to a cable packag. Both CNN and Headline News (HLN) can be watched by subscribers of AT&T, Comcast, Cox, DISH Network, Suddenlink and Verizon.

Speaking for CNN Digital, general manager KC Estenson said, “CNN is taking a significant step forward by offering live CNN to our audiences, whether they are on their couches at home or have their toes in the sand on the beach.”

The CNN brand is available in over 200 countries and the streaming news is available from CNN.com if you wish to see the feed.

Incoming TV searches:

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PlayLater a DVR for internet TV

The PlayLater service records and plays back online video from TV shows to movies from a range of over 25 streaming services. The recording can be played back on a PC or other device that has PlayOn installed.

The PlayOn internet TV service runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, PS3 and Xbox 360. The service runs on a Windows PC and lets viewers access content from providers such as Hulu, Netflix, Comedy Central, CBS and YouTube, as well as personal media.

The company behind PlayLater, Mediamall have answered questions about the copying of protected material and insist that the service is perfectly legal and does not infringe any copyright laws.

They say that the service encrypts the recording so it can only be played back on the users equipment who recordd it. They said that “because PlayLater looks just like another Internet Explorer window, and we encrypt the video to a very high-level, so the video recorded can only be watched on the PC it’s recorded on.”

PlayLater is in beta mode right now for the first 5,000 signups. After the free beta service which lasts a month, the service will be charged at $4.99 monthly or an annual cost of $49.99.

Incoming TV searches:

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Well that is until now as coming soon is a device that will let your phone pick up live TV without the need for 3G or a WiFi connection.

Turn your iPhone into a live TV

The device called Cydle i30 lets iPhone users slip it over their smartphone, turning it into a digital TV receiver. The device runs from it’s own power

It comes with one of those old style antenna’s so you can pick up a signal wherever you are.

Although there are many ways to access on-demand TV on iPhone, this device could have it’s uses.

The big clunky add-on will cramp your style, but if your somewhere that is TV-less when a big game comes on or you just want to watch an old made for TV movie then it could come in handy.

No more details, price or shipping dates are yet known.

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