Archive for July, 2008

Q&A: Nicolas Gramlich of anddev.org talks Android, Google’s developer relations, and more

by Steve O'Hear

July 24th, 2008 | Posted in Mobile | CommentsView Comments

Talking down Google’s Android mobile operating system has become pretty easy of late: An incomplete and buggy SDK, favoritism towards select developers, a general lack of transparency, and valid concerns that the platform could become fragmented and that Google has ceded too much control to carriers.

Yet, for the most part, the initial excitement and optimism over the long term potential of Android remains. Not least for 21 year-old Nicolas Gramlich, a computer science student at the University of Applied Sciences Mannheim in Germany, and founder of anddev.org, an online community for Android developers. “Android’s main attraction is its simplicity”, says Gramlich, which enables the rapid development of “feature-rich applications”.

See also: Interview: zintin CEO talks iPhone, Android and mobile future

“One can create an application that uses Google Maps, get the current GPS-position or read out the accelerometer within 10 lines”. The integration with Google Maps is especially tight, he says, something that doesn’t currently exist on other mobile platforms. And Gramlich should know. His first Android effort is a free navigation app called AndNav!.

In a short Q&A with last100, Gramlich discussed the slow progress Google appears to be making in updating the Android SDK, the company’s relationship with the developer community, competition from iPhone, and more. Read the transcript, edited for space and clarity, after the jump.

Continue reading »

Verizon bringing Internet TV to its set-top boxes

by Steve O'Hear

July 24th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsView Comments

Verizon bringing Internet TV to its set-top boxesAnother major player enters the PC to TV space. Verizon is currently beta testing web video on their set-top boxes, reports Zatz Not Funny.

Unsurprisingly, the content looks like it will be mostly user-generated or that which has been created specifically for the web, and therefore won’t compete directly with the telco’s own video-on-demand offering. Initial “marketing partners” to include Veoh, Blip.tv, Break.com, and YouTube.

On the downside, a PC is still required to act as a bridge between Internet content and the TV via Verizon’s DVR set-top box, notes Dave Zatz.

Unlike TiVo which taps directly into YouTube’s H.264 content, Verizon utilizes their Media Manager PC software as an intermediary. Sites are indexed on a regular basis and when a video is selected from the DVR, the PC software automatically transcodes and streams content on the fly.

In addition to pulling in content from supported video aggregation sites, Verizon’s Media Manager software “also facilitates shipping virtually any video podcast to your DVR”. Podcast subscriptions can be added directly to Media Manager in the standard way via the PC’s web browser.

The new features will be offered as part of Verizon’s top tier DVR package, which currently includes PC photo sharing and multi-room DVR playback, and is expected to be offered to customers later this year or early next year.

How big of an impact is Internet-delivered video making in consumer living rooms?

by Daniel Langendorf

July 23rd, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsView Comments

I’ve often wondered this, but my math skills suck. How big of an impact is Internet-delivered video really making in the consumer living room?

Dan Rayburn, the EVP of StreamingMedia.com and the blogger behind BusinessofVideo.com, crunched numbers in a post for GigaOm today and decided that the impact is not nearly as large as we think.

“While it is good to see more content options coming to consumers, adding up all of the install numbers for these devices gives a stark picture of just how small the install base really is,” Rayburn wrote. “The market is still too fragmented, with too many different devices, all limited by a lack of premium content.”

Rayburn bases his analysis on market penetration rates. His point is that the best technologies don’t always win — it’s what consumers adopt. The numbers for TV-connected devices are interesting.

Continue reading »

MySpace Music is reportedly set to launch in September as music store, subscription service

by Daniel Langendorf

July 23rd, 2008 | Posted in Audio | CommentsView Comments

TechCrunch noted today that MySpace’s music store will launch in September with three of the four major labels providing content. The lone holdout, EMI, is expected to give in soon.

Chris DeWolfe, CEO of MySpace, told TechCrunch co-editor Erick Schonfeld that MySpace Music will be a music store and subscription service, with unlimited playbacks of full tracks for free.

DeWolfe said the revenue model will be advertising and paid downloads. Advertisers are reportedly lining up.

See also: Live and in concert: Why MySpace music has a chance against iTunes

MySpace Music first surfaced in March when Sony BMG and Warner were close to signing deals. Universal entered the picture in April, but this is the first time that a launch date has been discussed.

It’s interesting to see how important music is to MySpace, which hosts pages for five million artists. Sixty-five percent of MySpace users embed music on their pages and more than five billion songs are streamed on MySpace monthly.

Music, undoubtedly, will be a growth business for MySpace.

Interview: Eventful attracts new users through iPhone app, not just Web site

by Daniel Langendorf

July 22nd, 2008 | Posted in Mobile | CommentsComments Off

This is the power of the iPhone.

In less than two weeks, Brian Dear, the founder of the event discovery Web site Eventful, has seen “a whole new wave of users coming in” — so much so that he predicts that “in the very long term, everybody will be going mobile and the Web will be secondary.”

These new users, of which I am one, are not all coming to Eventful through its popular Web site, which helps more than six million people discover, share, and create events from concerts to dog shows. They’re signing up for Eventful because of the iPhone.

“This is what happens when you offer mobile,” Dear said in a discussion with last100.

By the end of last week, Apple had not provided Dear with specific numbers on Eventful downloads, although the app has consistently ranked among the favorites downloaded by users. In many respects, the number doesn’t matter. The decision to keep developing Eventful for the iPhone has already been made.

“Absolutely we are going to evolve it,” Dear said.

Of all the programs I’ve downloaded and fiddled with, Eventful is one I use nearly everyday. And it’s a far-from-perfect app, as many people point out in App Store ratings. Even so, Eventful demonstrates the power and promise of the iPhone platform because it integrates digital technology into my lifestyle in a fun and productive manner.

Dear, who lives in San Diego, spoke with last100 about developing the application for the iPhone, the challenges he and his team faced, the shortcomings of the Eventful app, and future plans.

“It was by far the most fun software development project I’ve done in years,” Dear said.

Continue reading »

Sky offers subscription-based music service

by Ryan Jarrett

July 22nd, 2008 | Posted in Audio | CommentsComments Off

Rupert Murdoch’s Sky announced today that they are launching a new music service in the UK, that offers both streaming and downloads of tracks for a monthly subscription.

Downloads will be in mp3 format, compatible with any digital music player including iPods.  According to the press release, “a range of subscription options will be available, offering different download packages tailored to customers’ needs”, suggesting that downloads will be limited per month depending on how much you pay, but streaming maybe unlimited.

Continue reading »

Video: Netflix streaming on XBox 360

by Steve O'Hear

July 22nd, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsComments Off

Now it’s official that Netflix is coming to the Xbox 360, although not until this fall, we’re as curious as the next person to see just how well it’s been implemented. Luckily, Inside XBox has published a brief – and we mean brief – video walk-through of the new feature.

Initial impressions: the UI is slick, and the integration between the XBox 360’s newly designed dashboard and Netflix.com, where you still manage your Watch Now cue, works as expected. We’re not sure what kind of Internet connection they were using, but movies start playing almost immediately. Check out the video for yourself after the jump.

Continue reading »

TechCrunch interested in developing own web tablet — with your help

by Daniel Langendorf

July 21st, 2008 | Posted in Mobile, Other | CommentsComments Off

last100 editor Steve O’Hear has been a big advocate of the so-called ultra-portable Netbook computer from Day One. Now we see others are just as interested.

TechCrunch today announced interest in building its own Web tablet using open source everything. As TechCruch founder Michael Arrington wrote, the basic idea is the “machine is as thin as possible, runs low end hardware and has a single button for powering it on and off, headphone jacks, a built in camera for video, low end speakers, and a microphone.”

The specs continue: It will have Wi-Fi, maybe a USB port, a built-in battery, a half a gig of RAM, a 4 GB solid state hard drive. Its primary method of input is an iPhone-like touchscreen, it runs on the Linux operating system, and it uses Firefox as its browser.

Continue reading »

Don’t buy a Netbook pleads PC industry

by Steve O'Hear

July 21st, 2008 | Posted in Mobile, Other | CommentsView Comments

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the Netbook, an emerging new product category of low-cost and ultra-portable notebooks. But it seems many in the PC industry aren’t.

Initially targeted at the education market or those wanting a third machine, Netbooks are resonating with a much broader market — and not just because of their lower price point compared to more traditional and higher specced sub-notebooks. Despite years of industry propaganda, consumers are wising up to the fact that they don’t have to step on to the processor upgrade treadmill. Instead, in an age where more and more of our applications and data resides in the cloud (on remote servers, rather than stored locally), a machine with Internet connectivity and one that is powerful enough to run a modern web browser – that’s a Netbook by the way – is often all that we need.

Continue reading »

Weekly wrapup, 14-18 July 2008 (E3 coverage and more)

by Steve O'Hear

July 19th, 2008 | Posted in last100 weekly wrapup | CommentsComments Off

Here’s a summary of the week’s digital lifestyle action on last100. Note that you can subscribe to the weekly wrapups, either via the special weekly wrapup RSS feed or by email.

Enter your email address:

E3 Coverage

This week’s last100 coverage was dominated by the E3 Media and Business conference, the annual event for the gaming industry. As the battle for the living room continues at a pace, both Microsoft and Sony made big announcements…

Netflix is finally coming to Xbox 360, which is getting a dashboard makeover and Mii-like avatars

Long rumored, finally here. Netflix is coming to the Xbox 360. Xbox 360 owners and Live Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers will be able to stream online movies to their consoles at no extra cost. Microsoft also announced that the Xbox 360’s dashboard will be getting a total overhaul this fall. New features will include fancy Mii-like 3D avatars popular on the Nintendo Wii game console and an improved emphasis on community with IM, video chat, and photo sharing.

Xbox Live Video Marketplace gets content from NBC, Universal and other E3 tidbits

Microsoft’s deal with Netflix and the Xbox 360’s impending makeover wasn’t the only news from the E3 Media & Business Summit Monday. A few other tidbits include Microsoft, Universal, and NBC; hard drives; and a new Wii controller.

Sony to open its PS3 and PSP video download service tonight

Sony unveiled its own movie/TV show on-demand download service for its PlayStation line of products at the E3 Media and Business Summit. Sony made a point to note that the service will feature more than Sony-produced content, including movies and TV shows from Fox, MGM, Lions Gate, Warner, Disney, Paramount, Turner, and Funimation.

Continue reading »

Remaining the good neighbor: Google improves Google.com for iPhone and iPod Touch users

by Daniel Langendorf

July 18th, 2008 | Posted in Mobile | CommentsComments Off

Take a look at the picture to the right. Is this a preview of what Google apps will look like on the upcoming Android-powered, non-Google Gphones? All the Google apps nestled together in a nice, tidy bundle?

Of course this is the iPhone interface, but change out the icons at the bottom and with Google.com, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs, News, Notebook, Photos (Picasa), Google Talk, Maps, and YouTube already set up, this could be what the so-called Gphone might look like, no matter if it’s manufactured by Samsung, Motorola, LG, HTC, or Sony Ericsson.

As if not to completely disappear in the onslaught of iPhone 3G, MobileMe, App Store, and software update 2.0 news of the past week, Google snuck in its brand twice — once for the Google Mobile App (available for free at the App Store) and, more importantly for the Google faithful, significant improvements to Google.com for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Continue reading »

No PlayStation 3 video store in the UK until sometime next year

by Steve O'Hear

July 18th, 2008 | Posted in Net TV | CommentsComments Off

Sony’s launch of its online video store for the PlayStation Network feels like playing catch-up as it is.  But for those PS3 owners in the UK or anywhere in Europe, the wait will continue.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head honcho, David Reeves, has confirmed that the PS3 video store won’t be available to European gamers until sometime next year, reports The Register. While Reeves wasn’t specific, he told attendees at a conference in Santa Monica earlier this week that video downloads through Sony’s online gaming service “will not come to the PAL markets this year”.

The problem is an all too familiar one: the company has to work through country-specific licensing deals with each major studio before any launch dates can be announced.

As we’ve noted in the past, there are many challenges that any company faces to deliver a European-wide online movie service. Not least are the disparate licensing agreements that exist across different countries in Europe, along with the staggered release ‘windows’ imposed by Hollywood which govern when and how new titles can be distributed in the various different formats.

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »