901am

New Media News Every Morning

Microsoft Launches the MSN Video Player in the UK, BBC iPlayer Rival

By

When it comes to online video watching in the UK, the only service that I know of and keep on hearing and reading about is the BBC iPlayer.  This online video player has been dominating the UK online video scene for quite some time now without a worthy opponent. Until now, as Microsoft just launched its own MSN Video Player in the UK.

The free MSN Video Player is threatening BBC iPlayer’s dominance in the market because of several reasons. For one thing, it will also feature a thousand hours of television programming geared for the young market – youth, young families and professionals in the UK.

The free online video player will also allow viewers to watch full series of various TV shows instead of letting them watch shows a few days after they are aired on TV.

The MSN Video Player which has been in test mode for several months now will be offered for free and that includes watching the TV programs. However, users will be required to watch a single 30-second ad before, during and after a program’s run. If you’re from the UK and you don’t mind these ad setup, then say hello to countless hours of watching TV programmes on your computers.

Interestingly, the MSN Video Player was launched by Ashley Highfield, Microsoft’s consumer and online managing director who also happens to be one of those responsible for the creation of the BBC iPlayer. So Microsoft is hoping that its online video player will get the same success as the BBC iPlayer had.

Originally posted on March 10, 2010 @ 5:34 pm

Sony Playstation Network Starts Offering HD Movies

By

Sony Computer Entertainment America has just snagged a content distribution deal with several major movie studios that will allow Playstation 3 owners to have some great movie titles delivered via the Playstation Network.  This deal just made the Playstation as the first to offer HD movies from practically all the major studios, hence establishing itself as a powerful home entertainment platform not just for video gaming but for total entertainment as well.

Among those who agreed on the movie distribution deal are 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. The deal includes both purchase and rental of the major studios’ titles on their movie catalogs.

To kick this deal off, here are new titles available today on the Playstation Network:

  • “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”, “Jennifer’s Body” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” – 20th Century Fox
  • “Up”, “G-Force”, “Earth” – Walt Disney Pictures
  • “Star Trek”, Paranormal Activity”, “Zoolander” – Paramount Pictures
  • “This Is It”, “2012”, “District 9” and “Zombieland” – Sony Pictures
  • “The Hangover”, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”, “Wizard of Oz” – Warner Bros
  • “Inglorious Basterd”, “Couples Retreat”, “Public Enemies” – Universal

There are great movie titles. One is even nominated for the Oscars recently – Inglorious Basterd”. So if you own a Playstation 3 and have registered for the Playstation Network, you can grab these great movies and have delivered to you via your connected Playstation 3 console.

Originally posted on March 9, 2010 @ 5:32 pm

Wal-Mart to Enter the VOD Market, Eyes Vudu Movie Service

By

Wal-Mart has been in the DVD retailing business for quite some time now. And while this has been doing good for them, the company lacks one service which has been the the more popular way of bringing digitial movies to U.S. consumers – video-on-demand service.

But Wal-Mart may be preparing up to enter this arena soon, as New York Times is reporting that the video company is eyeing Vudu, an online movie service provider. Although the deal has not been confirmed yet by both companies,reports had it they have began informing Hollywood studios about the deal.

If the deal is indeed true, Wal-Mart maybe facing up stiff challenge against the likes of iTunes, Netflix and other online video-on-demand services. While Vudu for its part has been pretty much making some noise especially during the recent CES Event wherein the company managed to struck some deals with LCD TV manufacturers in putting Vudu services in their products.

Previously, Vudu has been advocating the use of a separate device that would connect to home TVs but could not manage to get some leverage. Since then, the company concentrated on delivering online movie service instead.

We’ll see whether this deal would make some headway in the coming days. It will be exciting to watch how Wal-Mart would put up a challenge against iTunes, Amazon, and other big names in the video-on-demand service. And whether which one will emerge as the households’ choice of VOD provider.

Originally posted on February 22, 2010 @ 5:32 pm

Verizon, HBO Launch HBO GO Online Video Hub, For Subscribers Only

By

Verizon Wireless through its FiOS program and HBO has just announced a deal that would bring free, unlimited online access to HBO programming for FiOS and HBO subscribers. Dubbed HBO Go, this online video hub delivers over 600 hours of movies, featured programs and other HBO goodies to you if you’re a FiOS TV and FiOS Internet.

HBO GO will go live starting tomorrow. And if you already have a FiOS TV credentials, you can simply log-in to FiOS TV Online Web site or at www.hbogo.com to enjoy setup the service on your account.

Once setup, you can now enjoy HBO programming not only at your home but anywhere there’s broadband connection in the U.S. Now here’s the exciting part. HBO Go allows you to create up to 3 simultaneous subaccounts per household. These subaccounts will enjoy the same browsing and viewing options while at the same time allowing parents to enforce restriction on certain programming with user-friendly parental controls.

In addition, HBO also allows you to create a Watchlist that serves as a bookmark for contents that you want to watch later. You can also get exclusive bonus material, soundtrack and cast information by setting up a Series Pass with notifications about new and upcoming HBO series episodes.

If you’re interested with this entertainment service and you’re not yet a member of FiOS, check out this link for information on how you could join.

Originally posted on February 17, 2010 @ 5:01 pm

Hell Has Frozen Over When Google’s Parisian Love Ad for the Super Bowl Rolled Out

By

As rumored awhile ago, Google indeed run their own Super Bowl commercial right after the 3rd quarter of the games.  And staying true to what it has grown accustomed to doing, Google’s Super Bowl ad was very simple sans all the fanfare of other Super Bowl ads. Google was not advertising any upcoming product or gadget or anything but rather decided to show the power of its localized  search engine. Simple as it is, the ad was able to convey its message well and has probably endeared many who have watched it.

Actually Google’s ad dubbed “Parisian Love” is an old clip. It has been on YouTube for three months now. So, instead of coming up with an explosive ad which could have cost them a lot of money, like the other ads Google was able to save some money as well. Except for the $30 million fee that it has to pay for the highly coveted 30 seconds  Super Bowl slot.

In case you’ve missed it during the airing, the Google Super Bowl commercial started with a search for “study abroad in paris france” and ended with “how to make assemble a crib.”  Yup, it’s a love story  for crying out loud! It shows how Google search can be a part of everyone’s life.  Simple, straight forward and extra-ordinary way of telling a love story with the help of a search engine. You’ve got to give it to the Google folks for pulling this one out effectively.

Originally posted on February 7, 2010 @ 10:38 pm