A version of the BBC’s UK-only TV catch-up service, iPlayer, will be available to iPod Touch and iPhone users within “the next few weeks”, reports The Register.

Optimized for streaming over Wi-Fi rather than O2’s slower EDGE network, the new version of iPlayer will employ the iPod-friendly H.264 video codec, according to the report. While this would limit iPlayer use on the go, the BBC has a partnership with UK-wide hotspot provider The Cloud to deliver free Wi-Fi access to the BBC’s website. Continue reading »

It’s official: Toshiba, the leading partner in the HD DVD camp, has waved the white flag. The next generation DVD format war is over. Blu-ray wins.

The move to stop production of HD DVD players and recorders was an “agonising decision”, according to Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida, but one that the company had to take after “judging that there is no way of winning the competition.” Continue reading »

Unfortunately, the juiciest detail to us in the U.S. is not known.

The Register reports that BBC Worldwide will soon offer its content on iTunes, presumably through the iTunes UK store only.

The Register’s “TV industry” source says that BBC Worldwide digital media director Simon Danker has contacted the BBC’s third-party production partners to inform them of the new distribution channel.

However, The Register provided no additional details.

Rats.

At the same time, Ashley Highfield, the director of BBC Future Media and Technology, indicated on the BBC Internet Blog that the iPlayer may become available via the AppleTV set-top box. The iPlayer is the BBC’s on-demand television service that allows UK residents to watch programs broadcast in the last seven days online for free. Continue reading »

The news wasn’t exactly “stop the presses!” worthy, but it’s interesting nonetheless to see what the folks at YouTube are thinking about and how they are looking to improve their product.

At an invitation only event last night in New York dubbed “Videocracy,” YouTube gave advertising moguls a sneak peak at some upcoming initiatives. In this day and age is it even possible to give a “sneak peak” of anything? Deep Focus CEO Ian Schafer jotted down a few notes, which he shared on his blog. Continue reading »

PlayTV, Sony’s digital TV tuner and DVR add-on (see last100’s earlier coverage) is still on track to launch in Europe later this year.

After being privy to a private demo of PlayTV at Sony’s UK offices, BBC News correspondent Darren Waters reports: “The hardware itself is uninteresting – it’s the software and features that are worth talking about”:

• “PlayTV is a small black box which connects to a USB port on the machine and has an aerial port in (and a pass through port) to pick up digital terrestrial signals.”
• “It’s a very slick piece of user interface design. The Electronic Programme Guide and menu systems are well designed and laid out.”
• “Just like a PVR, you can pause and rewind live TV, as well as record programmes. The PlayTV has a dual tuner so you can record one channel while watching another.”

However, the feature that got Waters most excited about is the “ability to watch TV on your PlayStation Portable from anywhere in the world using PlayTV, turning the PS3 into a Slingbox on steroids.”

One limitation that surely must be resolved: You can’t record TV in the background while playing a game on the PS3. According to Waters, “the software developers are working hard to add the feature. If it isn’t available at launch, the feature could be added later as a software update.”

And that sums up the PS3 in general. It has so much future potential as a home entertainment hub. Bit by bit that potential is slowly being realized, either through software updates (like the recently added DivX support) or through hardware add-ons such as PlayTV.

Of course, Microsoft, Apple, Sling Media, TiVo et al. aren’t standing still either. The battle for the digital living room has only just begun.

Watch the video demo after the jump… Continue reading »