streaming-video

Analyst: Kindle tablet to support streaming video

Amazon is prepping a new 10-inch color Kindle tablet that would support streaming video and sell for around $399, according to a report recently released by investment firm Detwiler Fenton.

Code-named Hollywood, the new Kindle tablet would include a promotional video service with Amazon reportedly offering the same movie service that it now offers for free to its Prime customers. The service would be free to Hollywood buyers for a certain amount of time, according to Detwiler Fenton.

The new Kindle would be powered by a more robust processor than is found in the smaller Kindle e-book readers and is expected to debut in time for the holiday season.

E-book readers and rival tablets alike have faced strong competition from the iPad, but Detwiler Fenton said it believes Hollywood's $399 price tag should be low enough to give it some traction against the iPad. This could put pressure on more expensive tablets, such as Motorola's Xoom and RIM's BlackBerry Playbook, each of which is expected to sell around 1 million units this year, said the investment firm.

It comes as no secret that Amazon has reportedly been busy readying its own lineup of tablets, according to various sources and some hints from CEO Jeff Bezos. One of the reports refers to "Hollywood" as the code name for a new 10-inch tablet from Amazon, to be powered by Nvidia's quad-core Kal-El chipset.… Read more

Get a refurbished Sony Blu-ray player for $49.99

Need an inexpensive set-top box that can sling Netflix movies and TV shows, play tunes from Pandora and Slacker, and stream the latest YouTube videos? The Sony BDP-S270 can do all that for just $49.99 (after applying coupon code OUTLETBDPS270 at checkout).

Oh, it's also a Blu-ray player.

Funny how priorities change, right? Think about it: if I showed you a Roku box for $50, you'd probably snap it up. Well, the BDP-S270 streams a lot of the same services (Amazon Video on Demand, Hulu Plus, Vudu). And unlike a Roku box, it can play those quaint … Read more

New Dish CEO to Netflix: Watch out

Dish Network's incoming CEO Joe Clayton has some fighting words for Netflix, according to an Associated Press interview yesterday.

"If I were them, I'd be watching what's going on," Clayton told the AP in reference to Netflix and its streaming service. "I'd stay tuned. Because no one's going to have a monopoly on this and I'm sure it's not just our company that's looking at trying to take a small piece of the pie from Netflix."

Last month, Dish finalized its $320 million acquisition of Blockbuster, making it … Read more

The 404 823: Where those things have multiple uses (podcast)

Don't latch onto an unsecured wireless network on your Android device, because hackers have found an exploit that puts your personal information at risk. Is anyone else as tired of hacker mongering as we are?

In other pirating news, Netflix has finally beat out BitTorrent as the most trafficked site on the Internet, which proves that people are willing to pay for streaming content, if it's easily accessible.

We have a bunch of iPad 2 accessories to give away today from Hard Candy Cases and The Joy Factory. Enter to win a prize simply by following either company as well as The 404 on Twitter and tell us why you need a cover for your iPad 2. Also, be sure to mention us at the end of your tweet so everyone can see it! Good luck!

The 404 Digest for Episode 823

Kid tells Grandfather that Twitter is a search engine, and these are his searches. The insecurity of Android's open Wi-Fi protocol. CNET Report: Netflix swallowing peak Net traffic fast. Not so fast: Sony's PlayStation Network hacked again!

Episode 823 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Free PBS app streams kid vids to iPad

When the PBS for iPad app debuted last year, I bemoaned the lack of any PBS KIDS content (other than previews).

Well, I will bemoan no more: PBS Kids Video for iPad is a brand new app that streams--you guessed it--video for kids. Specifically, it serves up over 1,000 clips from shows like "Arthur," "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That," and my personal favorite, "Word Girl."

Yes, unfortunately, I did say clips. The app doesn't offer full-length episodes, but rather a whole mess of snippets--most of which run … Read more

Netflix, Miramax finally sign streaming deal

Miramax and Netflix have signed a multiyear content deal, the companies announced today.

Starting next month, "several hundred" Miramax movies, including "Pulp Fiction," "Shakespeare In Love," and "Good Will Hunting," will be made available on Netflix's streaming service in the U.S. The deal marks the first time that Miramax has ever brought its content to a digital subscription service, the company said.

"From day one, we've been very clear about the importance of digital and our desire to respond to the significant pent-up demand for our films--delivering to … Read more

Netflix now streams on Android platform

Netflix, the popular movie- and TV-streaming service, has just landed on the Android platform. Already a staple for many iOS and mobile Windows 7 users, the Netflix mobile app now lets Android owners in on the instant-streaming party. It also comes with a full browsing experience, and it enables you to manage your Instant Queue.

The Netflix Android app is now available for free download in the Android market, but only for the following supported phones: HTC's Incredible, Nexus One, Evo 4G, G2, and Samsung's Nexus S. While the list does seem a bit thin, Netflix says it'… Read more

MLB.com offers smartphone-only subscription plan

Calling all baseball junkies! Major League Baseball just lowered its subscription prices, at the same time introducing an even less expensive plan for smartphone owners.

The new MLB.TV Mobile Phone Only subscription lets you watch unlimited live out-of-market (meaning non-home) games on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or Android phone for $49.99 per year. That breaks down to just over $4 monthly, which strikes me as pretty cheap for that much baseball.

It's also a nice alternative to the $89.99/year and $109.99/year standard and premium plans, respectively, (which, incidentally, also include smartphone streaming), especially … Read more

Analyst to Netflix: Beware of desperate competitors

After posting another sizzling quarter, Netflix seems poised for continued growth. But one analyst believes the company should watch out for the competition.

"We think that new services from Hulu, Amazon, Google TV and Apple, as well as the potential launch of a Dish Network/Blockbuster streaming service, each have the potential to create a bidding war for a relatively small amount of available content, and have even greater potential to create pricing pressure on subscriptions," Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter wrote to investors in a research note today.

Pachter is concerned that, in an attempt to catch up … Read more

HBO streaming content comes to Dish Online

Dish Online viewers can now watch HBO and Cinemax content.

More than 1,800 pieces of HBO's and Cinemax's programming, including movies, television shows, and other content, are now available on the satellite provider's online-streaming service. However, only Dish subscribers who pay for access to those movie channels will be able to watch the content on Dish Online, the company said in its announcement yesterday.

"Dish Network customers with an HBO or Cinemax subscription can also get new series titles after their premiere--plus bonus content including interviews, recaps and behind-the-scenes extras--none of which are available through … Read more