A comparison of PS3 and 360 as media players

[patsu]

New Mediaroom clients to bring Microsoft's TV platform everywhere this year:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/09/new-mediaroom-clients-to-bring-microsofts-tv-platform-everywher/

The days of being tied to a traditional TV to watch your favorite shows is becoming less and less of a dream -- at least for Mediaroom 2.0 users, like those who subscribe to AT&T U-Verse. It hasn't even been a full year since Xbox 360 owners were first able to launch a U-Verse blade to watch TV, but it has been about nine months when we first heard rumors of Mediaroom clients for Windows Media Center (aka Monaco), Silverlight (aka Taos) and Windows Phone (aka Rome) would see the light of day.

...

 

[patsu]

NFL Sunday Ticket for PS3, iPad and mobile device hiccups:
http://www.tvpredictions.com/ticketps091211.htm

Sony announced last month that it struck a deal with DIRECTV to provide the 2011 NFL Sunday Ticket in HD on its Play Station 3 console via live streaming. PS3 owners who do not have access to DIRECTV can subscribe to the Ticket for $339.95. Existing DIRECTV customers can access the service on their PS3 for an additional $50 and use the PS3 as an additional receiver for their home.

However, during week one of the regular season yesterday, subscribers immediately began reporting that the picture would often freeze or they would have difficulty logging into their accounts to watch the games. They soon marched over to their Twitter pages and began calling DIRECTV every name in the book.

...

The onslaught of complaints finally led DIRECTV to issue the following statement on its Twitter page late last night.

"Customers who purchased NFL SUNDAY Ticket through Playstation will receive a credit through the Playstation Network," the tweet said.

The credit is expected to be $24.99, another DIRECTV tweet said. Another DIRECTV tweet confidently added that PS3 subscribers "should have no issues next weekend."

DIRECTV's Twitter page also mentioned that some users of its NFL to GO app, which enables Sunday Ticket subscribers to watch the games on iPads and other mobile devices, were also experiencing problems. At one point, DIRECTV said it needed to disable its interactive features, such as Game Mix, on its regular satellite broadcast to help fix the various technical issues.

Looks like they under-sized the servers. People will definitely see if the same problem hit them next week. I was told they had similar issues last year ?

 

[patsu]

Microsoft in talks with Comcast, Verizon on Xbox TV?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-2...ith-comcast-verizon-on-xbox-tv/#ixzz1Yi4chnMP

The blog Digiday, citing anonymous sources, reported today that Microsoft is nearing a deal with Comcast that would allow Xbox 360 owners to sign up for the cable provider's service, and watch its programming from the game console. Digiday says that Microsoft is also in talks with Verizon Fios to form a similar deal with that company.

Microsoft unveiled its live television service at the E3 gaming expo in June. Although the company provided few details on the service at the time, Microsoft said that it would "partner with TV providers" for its offering. The software giant promised that local channels, news, sports, and all the other content available from television providers would come to the game console.

 

[patsu]

Xbox 360 to stream live music concerts:
http://www.tgdaily.com/games-and-entertainment-brief/58625-xbox-360-to-stream-live-music-concerts

Xbox 360 owners will be able to have an exclusive stream of Clear Channel's upcoming iHeartRadio festival.

Clear Channel, which operates many of the major radio stations throughout the country, is going all out this weekend with two nonstop days of concerts from such superstars as Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas, Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler.

Tickets to the massive music festival were sold out within minutes after being made available in July. Until now, the only way to get access was to win a radio contest.

Now, though, it's been revealed that users will be able to stream live HD video from the two-day event this weekend.

...

 

[patsu]

Vudu Adds Next Day Network and Cable TV Shows:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...Adds_Next_Day_Network_and_Cable_TV_Shows/7715

You'll be able to pick up some of your favorite shows the day after they air in SD or HD.

...

By the end of next month, Vudu will have over 10 thousand titles available for purchase including those from NBC, Comedy Central, BBC America, SyFy, Showtime and plenty more. Over 60 shows will be available the day after they air.
You'll be able to pick these new episodes and back episodes for $1.99 in standard definition and $2.99 in HDX.

I watched Hana on Vudu last night. I think they have a free 10 minute preview in the Top Rentals section.

I remember the PS Video Store is the only place (on PS3) to buy HBO episodes and movies so far. Not sure if this Vudu deal will also include them.

 

[-tkf-]

Another rumor about Blu-ray coming to 360:
http://sillegamer.com/?p=3750

Ohh that would be fantastic if they are able to support all modern Sound Formats.. then i wouldn´t have to buy a 2nd Blu-Ray drive for the TV

 

[patsu]

First UltraViolet news from Sony:
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/so...-benefits-first-ultraviolet-titles-sony-25114

The Dec. 2 Blu-ray Disc releases of The Smurfs and Friends With Benefits will be the first Sony Pictures Home Entertainment titles to include UltraViolet.

...

Warner Home Video’s fourth-quarter disc releases of Horrible Bosses (Oct. 11) and Green Lantern (Oct. 14) are in line to be the first to include UltraViolet, which gives consumers access to their content through any UltraViolet-compatible service or device, including computers, HDTVs and mobile devices.

(Goodbye, Blu-ray Managed Copy ?)

 

[Shifty Geezer]

So UltraViolet is the buy once, play anywhere solution, where you buy the BRD, register it online, and then can watch it streamed or downloaded onto UV devices? Or do you then rent it on streams or something??

There are so many confused terms in operation, the media companies really need to invest in marketing to tell everyone about this sort of thing. It doesn't help that they use meaningless names with no clear meanings - what exactly am I supposed to understand by a service called UltraViolet?!

 

[patsu]

Yap, but depending on the specific terms, you may or may not need to pay for the extra copies.

I agree they should come up with a better, "everyday" name.

 

[patsu]

YouTube to Launch ‘Channels’ That Are Like TV Channels:
http://gawker.com/5843772

Our favorite Internet place for watching the stars of tomorrow and the stars of yesterday is reportedly preparing to launch at least a dozen new channels in 2012. Unlike Vevo and other existing "channels" that offer whatever unscheduled clips, these new channels will be just like TV channels, with scheduled programs and, one hopes, seemingly endless commercial breaks.

...

 

[-tkf-]

YouTube to Launch ‘Channels’ That Are Like TV Channels:
http://gawker.com/5843772

I really hope it isn´t Youtube quality, the bitrate on youtube really puts a limit on the quality.

 

[patsu]

Video Unlimited Preview Coming to PlayStation 3 (for PS+ members):
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/27/video-unlimited-preview-coming-to-playstation-3/

Starting today, finding the right movie or TV show on the PlayStation Network is easier and more fun than ever before.

We’re unveiling a whole new way to explore the library of more than 40,000 movies and TV episodes… discover everything from the latest blockbusters and popular sitcoms, to old classics and the next big TV series – it’s simple, fun, and intuitive.

Our new “Video Unlimited – preview” application, which can be downloaded later today if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, makes it easier and more visual to browse, discover, and search for movies and TV shows from your favorite actors, directors, and genres. While mirroring content found on the existing video section of the PlayStation Store, the new preview application gives you a fresh experience by providing endless related search results via a whole new way to find content.

Demo video here:
http://www.vupreview.com/en/coming-soon


Video Unlimited probably supercedes the PS Video Store ? And is compatible with the UltraViolet DRM mentioned above.

UI looks good.

I wish they also update Music Unlimited to include some of the new navigation and search features. Music Unlimited navigation and management is a little too simple now.

 

[patsu]

I wish they also update Music Unlimited to include some of the new navigation and search features. Music Unlimited navigation and management is a little too simple now.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/tech/gaming-gadgets/ps3-video-unlimited/index.html

Sony plans to unwrap a new version of its video-download service for the PlayStation 3 on Tuesday. People who subscribe to PlayStation Plus will be able to download a preview, and starting on October 11, all owners of the game console will be able to download the application from the home screen in the same way they can get Netflix.

...

The sleeker Video Unlimited has large text and cover artwork for movies and television shows. The overall design looks a lot like the Metro style Microsoft is using in Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8.

Video Unlimited will deploy a new patented search interface that works well with the arrow buttons on remote controls, which typically don't have keyboards, and the system suggests results as the user types -- much like Google's predictive search results. While surfing through menus, the app frequently makes recommendations about similar films and programs.

...

Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited will live under the Sony Entertainment Network umbrella, and they may eventually be joined by the PlayStation Network, Aragon said.

...

For now, the PlayStation Network Store will continue to offer the same programming that Video Unlimited has, to cater to customers familiar with buying media through the existing store.

Music Unlimited and the PlayStation Network Store will be redesigned later, Aragon said. The music service has about 750,000 active users, and about 100,000 paying for access, he said.

Couch potatoes expect programs to start immediately, but Video Unlimited's a-la-carte downloads don't do that currently on the PlayStation. This [Probably referring to video streaming] already works on Sony's Blu-ray players that have the app installed, and will be coming soon to the PlayStation, Aragon said.

...

Sony favors a la carte over "the Netflix model," Aragon said, because it can offer new films close to when they are released on Blu-ray. "If you want to do subscriptions, you can't have new content," he said.

Sony is considering offering a subscription service catering to young men, which would include anime films, Aragon said. "PlayStation has such a strong tie to the gamer market," he said.

...

 

[patsu]

I really hope it isn´t Youtube quality, the bitrate on youtube really puts a limit on the quality.

I doubt Google will starve YouTube TV bandwidth...


Guess Who Made The Highest Bid For Hulu:
http://www.businessinsider.com/guess-who-made-the-highest-bid-for-hulu-2011-9?op=1

Two sources tell us that satellite TV provider Dish was the highest bidder, coming in around $1.9 billion. It beat out both Amazon and Yahoo.

Google bid much more — something in the range of $4 billion. But that bid came with special conditions, as has been previously reported — Google wanted more content for a longer period of time, and perhaps other concessions as well.

Rumor has it that Larry Page personally flew down to Los Angeles to make Google's case.

Hulu's owners are still deciding what to do.

...

I do hope we get the service on PS3 though, perhaps an improved www.youtube.com/tv page or HTML app ! ^_^

I kinda like the Hulu Plus HTML app on PS3.

 

[patsu]

More info about Video Unlimited backend...


Sony Video Unlimited-preview brings Gracenote metadata to SEN:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/sony-video-unlimited-preview-brings-gracenote-metadata-to-sen/

According to Sony, the new user interface is all about giving the people what they want, and in this case that means a streamlined UI, with big bright graphics and understated, glowing blue text. It also means Gracenote integration, opening up the possibility of endless rabbit-holes of related content searches. We had a few minutes with the new setup, and found ourselves searching content related to Danny McBride's Your Highness under categories like "Bumbling Buffoons" and "Mythical Beasts," although we could just as easily have called up titles featuring the film's director or any of its stars.

If that's not enough of a departure from the conventional video on demand arrangement, the new UI also features "tumbler search technology," which abandons regular keyboard-style input for PS3 controls -- click the right button to select a letter as you scroll vertically through the alphabet. This "patented technology" also autocompletes your query and similarly takes advantage of Gracenote's database, allowing you to search by title, actor, director or tag.

Gracenote started from music metadata, and has expanded into Smart TV:
http://www.gracenote.com/events/ifa_berlin_2011/

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Video Unlimited Preview Coming to PlayStation 3 (for PS+ members):
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/27/video-unlimited-preview-coming-to-playstation-3/

"To use, go into the PSN store ing the Games section. Then click media and apps, then apps, and finally you can add Video Unlimited."

why not just have it as an XMB icon that appears like LoveFilm and others? "Click here to use Video Unlimited - this requires you to install an application"

 

[patsu]

I think when the app is GM, they will place the icon automatically under the Video category. For now, it's only available to PS+ lab rats for testing. ^_^

jeff_rigsby found a blog by one of the Video Unlimited developers:
http://www.satine.org/archives/2011/09/27/playstation-web-app/

This is the new PlayStation Video Unlimited service. This PlayStation app runs at a full 60 frames per second (when you see it on a PS3), has tons of 3D graphics effects, full-speed 1080p video playback, and a fluid, hardware accelerated, animated user experience.

...

The Video Unlimited service is a JavaScript application with a carefully designed runtime platform and very lightweight APIs to access hardware accelerated 3D graphics and shader effects, video playback engine, and other aspects of the PS3 hardware.

...

Trilithium’s strength comes from taking full advantage of the PS3 hardware and existing well-optimized frameworks to do everything from graphics to video playback, leaving the decisions about the high level application to a very flexible JavaScript core API.

We built Trilithium for several reasons:

Make good use of the complex 8-core + GPU PS3 hardware without killing ourselves.

Give this power to our UX developers and designers.

Let partners easily build their own PS3 apps with little knowledge of PS3 architecture.

Rapidly develop with a flexible environment.

I am very keen on a Music Unlimited and Games Unlimited service using this new UI framework.
The meta-data navigation makes a lot of sense, and is compatible with old TV remote as well as advanced voice input.

I can see a future version that also allow us to search and navigate into video frames based on meta-data (e.g., subtitle).

The problem is Sony didn't tell us where to send in our feedback.

Gave it a quick run yesterday:

* The patented letter input list should be wrap-around. Going from A to W in ascending order is a hassle.

* This is one of those cases where voice input may make sense. The app gives us all the matching choices anyway. If I mispoke, the app may already short list a few potential matches.

* This UI makes so much sense for a touch device. A remote touch control would be awesome !

* Vudu has both positive and negative review summaries from critics. I look at them sometimes. Would be great if they are available here too.

* Good to see user ratings, but I'd love to see some community angle like referral, gifting. Not sure if it's in the app, but PS Store has referral now.

* Would love to see UltraViolet and Blu-ray integration added here, Sony !


EDIT:
Btw, where is the GoogleTV-like cross video service search ? ^_^

And the Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited logos suck. They are too abstract, and I think they are based on the letter "Q" (for Qriocity). But they already downplayed Qriocity.

 

[patsu]

Found the link on GAF thanks to jeff_rigby again:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/07/design_space_qa_sony_ericsson.html

The article was written in July, 2010.
He probably has a hand in designing the Video Unlimited UI, among other things.

 

[patsu]

Xbox 360 Teams Up With Entertainment Leaders to Transform TV:
http://majornelson.com/2011/10/05/xbox-360-teams-up-with-entertainment-leaders-to-transform-tv/

Today we are happy to announce plans to roll out the next generation of TV entertainment on Xbox LIVE. We have nearly 40 world class TV and entertainment providers coming to Xbox LIVE including: Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S.; BBC TV and radio in the U.K.; Telefónica in Spain; Rogers On Demand in Canada; Televisa in Mexico; ZDF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy, that will begin rolling out to consoles in more than 20 countries this holiday.

Entertainment Partners on Xbox 360 (Existing and New)

• ABC iView – Australia
• AlloCiné – France, Germany, Spain, U.K.
• Antena 3 – Spain
• Astral Media’s Disney XD – Canada
• AT&T** – U.S.
• BBC – U.K.
• blinkbox – U.K.
• Bravo – U.S.
• BSkyB** – U.K.
• Canal+* – France, Spain
• Channel 4 – U.K.
• Channel 5 – U.K.
• CinemaNow (Best Buy) – U.S.
• Comcast – U.S.
• Crackle – Australia, Canada, U.K., U.S.
• Dailymotion – Available in 32 markets
• EPIX – U.S.
• ESPN** – U.S.
• Facebook** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
• FOXTEL** – Australia
• GolTV – Spain
• HBO GO – U.S.
• Hulu – Japan
• Hulu +**– U.S.
• iHeartRadio (Clear Channel) – U.S.
• Last.fm** – U.K., U.S.
• LOVEFiLM – Germany, U.K.
• Manga Entertainment – U.S.
• Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment/Real Sports – Canada
• MediaSet – Italy
• MSN with MSNBC.com – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, U.K.
• MUZU.TV – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K.
• Netflix**– Canada, U.S.
• Rogers On Demand Online (RODO) – Canada
• RTVE – Spain
• SBS On Demand – Australia
• Syfy – U.S.
• Telefonica – Spain
• Televisa – Mexico
• “The Today Show” – U.S.
• TELUS** – Canada
• TMZ – U.S.
• Twitter** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
• UFC – Canada, U.S.
• Verizon – U.S.
• VEVO – Canada, U.K., U.S.
• VimpelCom** – Russia
• Vodafone Portugal** – Portugal
• YouTube – Available in 22 markets
• ZDF – Germany
• Zune** – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain

* Xbox LIVE Gold membership and/or other subscriptions/fees required. Kinect functionality varies by feature, provider and region.
** Denotes existing partners on Xbox LIVE available today.

EDIT: What is Twitter doing in that list ?

 

[NavNucST3]

Here is a link to go along with what patsu posted. Also announced is the upcoming "Control Your Xbox with your Windows Phone Using the Xbox Companion App" which you can see demonstrated in the video.

Watch that video closely and you’ll notice that around the 1 minute mark, the girl in the striped shirt pulls out a Windows Phone and starts to search for content that magically appears on her Xbox. What she’s using is the insanely awesome (but still not quite available) Xbox Companion App. The app, which will be completely free for Windows Phone users, is an amazing little tool that will let you Find, Learn more about and Control content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace on your Xbox 360.