Category: Video
A new update for both second and third generation Apple TV devices was released Monday, Software Update 5.1.
Though the update brings a few new features and upgrades into play, there aren’t many major improvements.
Chief among the additions is the ability to view Shared Photo Streams, which now allows you to ‘browse photos and comments, and receive notifications of new content,’ according to Apples support page.
Additionally, 5.1 allows users to have more than one iTunes account per device, and will make switching between those accounts simple and easy.
While there are also some performance-related improvements to Apple TV, some smaller additions have also been implemented.
There’s now some better AirPlay functionality, including the ability to ‘send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices.’
That includes both AirPort Express and additional Apple TVs.
Fortunately, users can protect their AirPlay with an onscreen code, which should help prevent others from hijacking things like party playlists.
Users will also be able to search for movie trailers right from their Apple TVs, and U.S. users can now local theater times.
New screen savers have been added, and users will also find better options for subtitling after updating their Apple TV.
New YouTube iOS app arrives, gives service a home on iPhone 5. YouTube is set to be without a home on the iPhone 5, so Google has released a new version of the service for iOS.
The app brings advertising to the service for the first time on iOS and is available from the Apple Appstore now.
Speaking about the app, Google said on its blog: ‘The new app is built by YouTube engineers, to give our iPhone and iPod touch users the best mobile experience.’
New features on the app include tens of thousands more videos, new YouTube channel guide, faster search functionality and better sharing.
At the moment, the app is for iPhone and iPod users but there will be an iPad optimised version ‘in the coming months’ according to Google.
Back in August, Apple confirmed that it was severing ties with YouTube and would no longer pre-load the app on to its devices when iOS 6 rolled out.
This prompted Google to create a new app and have it downloadable from the app store.
This isn’t the first time Apple has shunned Google – it also revealed back at WWDC, when it first announced iOS 6, that it was no longer using Google Maps, preferring to partner with TomTom for its own version of the software.
Folks, it looks like Pinterest has just opened its doors to the public. If you’ve ever used Pinterest before, then probably someone invited you to join in. Now, those who are planning to sign up but were previously discouraged by the waiting process, can opt to create an account using their Facebook or Twitter account, as well as their email address. The pinboard-style social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections based on their hobbies and interests, just hit 10 million unique monthly U.S. visitors way back in February.
Ben Silbermann, and his team are hoping that by finally opening the registration to the public after two years, more users will enjoy what Pinterest has to offer. ‘Today we’re thrilled to announce open registration! We’re really excited to have the capacity to offer Pinterest to more people and if you’re a Pinner with friends who’ve been waiting on the sidelines, we hope you’ll let them know. Happy pinning to everyone!’ the company said.
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(Via Tybee Guy.)
Something awesome just landed on your iPad, courtesy of Algoriddim, the maker of cool DJ-ing app dubbed djay. Their newest release is a music video mixing program for the iPad called vjay. Now, I’ve been to parties where high-tech DJs perform live mixes using just Algoriddim’s djay app, but this one takes the concept of fun to the next level…
(Via iDownloadBlog.com.)
Besides using Skype for instant messaging and video chats, a musician has found a way to use the service to his advantage – by giving his fans personal one on one concerts over the internet. Denison Witmer, a singer/songwriter, had to turn down a tour to spend time with his wife and newborn child but he still wanted to keep performing for other people. Fortunately with the technology available today – he managed to make it happen.
(Via Ubergizmo.)
The BBC’s popular on-demand catch up service iPlayer has been released to the international community for a monthly fee. The app itself is free to download but use of the service will cost users €6.99 per month or €49.99 for the entire year.
At present the service is only available in Europe in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. It is understood that the service hopes to launch in the US soon, although no date has been set.
The service will provide users with on-demand access to top BBC television and radio shows, many of which are currently sold via services like iTunes on a per-episode basis. Downloads from these paid content providers has risen 45.7% through 2010-2011, and the BBC hopes to capitalize on this rising popularity with the subscription model iPad app.
Speaking to paidContent, the BBC revealed that this ‘global iPlayer’ will differ from the UK’s current version:
The global BBC iPlayer app will be a different proposition to the UK on-demand service, which is partly based around catch-up of the BBC’s linear channels. As such, programming will not automatically transfer to the global iPlayer – instead it will be an editorially curated mix of contemporary and classic programming.
In the UK, the BBC’s iPlayer service served 159 million requests in May 2011 alone.
(Via MakeUseOf.com.)
If you’re looking to set up a media center, you need to know what free software is out there. Choose the media center application that works best for you by comparing the best programs on the market.
If you’re looking for a program to watch your favorite videos from the comfort of your couch, you’re going to need a good TV media center program. These programs are designed to be readable and browsable from your couch, and present you with the media on the web and on your hard drive. All vary in terms of features, and all have something to offer. One of them is right for you. This list is by no means definitive, but it does cover most of the major players.
Browse the list, find more information. Try them all out if you have to; after all, all of these programs are free.
It started as a media center for the original Xbox, but it’s evolved to become so much more than that. XBMC is considered by many to be the best media center out there, and it’s not hard to see why. Insanely customizable, and giving you quick access to your movies, music and TV shows, it’s simply a hard program to top. Like XBMC, but want more online content? Check out NaviX, the ultimate extension for XMBC. You’ll find lots of streaming content there, so enjoy.
Built using code from XBMC, Boxee can seem overwhelming at first. There are TV shows, movies and more to browse, and even an entire App store. Start using it for a while, though, and you’ll wonder how you lived without it. That’s because Boxee allows you to customize everything enough that your favorite videos on the web are only a few clicks away.
Want to learn more? Read 5 things you should do after installing Boxee.
Simply put: it’s all of Hulu’s videos, from your TV. There’s really not much more to this program; you can’t add your own videos, or watch any videos that aren’t on Hulu.com. This makes it useless outside of the USA, naturally, but assuming you’re in the States and most of the shows you like are on Hulu, this can be a good program to have around. Read more about the Hulu Desktop
This one’s a little different. Basically a web browser built for television, Kylo is a pretty good media center in itself. Links to most of the major video sites on the web are easily accessible, and an interesting control paradigm makes for easy browsing. Sadly, Hulu is blocked, but there’s still a lot to discover here. If you want your media experience to be the web, try out Kylo.
A slick user interface for browsing your own videos. While lacking in online content, Moovida is a great option for those looking to organize their desktop video collection. Lots of customization options await, so check it out!
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A recent addition to the field, Linux media center Enna comes with some capabilities not seen elsewhere. Support for couchbound book reading, for example and a pretty slick photo browser as well. This exciting new application also gives you access to your local music and videos, so give it a spin.
(Via MakeUseOf.com.)
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