Tech News and Reviews
Posts tagged Hulu
Google TV’s Fancast.com backdoor to Hulu video closed; Syfy starts blocking too
0561 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
Even though Hulu has been blocking Google TV, for a few days users could still access the videos through Comcast’s Fancast.com portal, but that loophole has been closed, repeating a pattern seen after the launch of Flash on Froyo and the overall path of Google TV up to this point. Even more notably, Syfy has joined corporate parent NBC in blocking its streams from the devices. So there you have it, despite being technologically able to play most video on the internet, the Google TV’s selection is still limited by license agreements. Obviously a HTPC is the access route of choice if you’re into cord cutting or just don’t like limits, but if it can’t fix the access problem soon, where does Google’s baby really fit into the connected TV market? Check NewTeeVee for a list of what streaming services you can still check out on Google TV, at least, when you’re not playing WoW.
Hulu CEO: we’re ‘complementary’ to cable
0687 days
by Raymond.J
in Peripherals
Hoping to trade in your expensive cable or satellite plan for a nice, juicy melon ball of cottage cheese-like… we mean, a portable Hulu Plus subscription at $10 a month? Not so fast, my fine fingered friend, because Hulu CEO Jason Kilar has revealed that killing cable is not a part of the company’s evil plan, and he’s not entertaining any ideas to the contrary. Kilar told AllThingsD that the service is “broadcast-focused” and “complementary to your cable and satellite service” by design, which is a nice way of saying the incestuous relationships between cable companies, content providers and Hulu itself keep it from offering premium programming — at least, not at this sort of price.
Speaking of getting what you pay for, you may be surprised to hear Hulu Plus displays advertising even if you slap down currency every month, but the CEO said lengthy consumer research found that users were more willing to pay if the service were partially subsidized by ads. Think of them as tiny little brain tenderizers, and we’re sure you’ll be just fine.
Myka ION brings Hulu, Boxee and other web content to your TV
0928 days
by Arlene.L
in Peripherals
It’s been almost a full year since we heard a peep from the fine folks at Myka, but it looks like we could be talking about ‘em a lot more often judging by the specs list on its latest contraption. The simply-titled ION is an Atom-based media PC that relies on NVIDIA’s Ion graphics set and a customized interface that brings Hulu, Boxee and pretty much any other web content you can stumble upon to your television. Within, you’ll find a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, ten USB 2.0 ports, VGA / DVI / HDMI outputs, an eSATA connector, Ethernet and plenty of audio outputs. The fanless design ensures that things remain quiet, and for those oozing cash, a Blu-ray drive, HDD and WiFi module can be implanted. It’s up for order right now starting at $379, but you’ll be stuck waiting four to six weeks for delivery.