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Where Does Google Play Fit in the Streaming Services Landscape?

Posted on April 6, 2012 9:10 am by Streamer
Image representing Google as depicted in Crunc...

Image via CrunchBase

Google, in it’s quest to become a major player in the digital content marketplace, as well as continuing to expand its reach through Google TV technology in a number of internet-connected devices, has just scored another victory.  The recently launched Google Play (formerly the Android Market) offers consumers much more choice in their entertainment quest.  It can be thought of as an entertainment shop for the Android operating system, just like what the Apple iTunes store is to iOS.

Integrated, One Stop Entertainment Shop

Just like the iTunes Store, Google Play has available an array of movies, TV shows, music, apps and games that integrate together with various Android devices.  Movies are available for rental, and the price points are similar to other VOD players in the industry, like Vudu, the iTunes Store and to a lesser degree, the Zune Marketplace, with content available in standard and high definition.  Google executives are engaging in discussions with the entertainment industry execs into allowing Google Play users to purchase digital content, which would make it a seriously powerful retailer if you consider the user adoption of Android.  Insiders say this may happen as early as this summer.

Google 的貼牌冰箱（Google refrigerator）

Google 的貼牌冰箱（Google refrigerator） (Photo credit: Aray Chen)

Google Play is also rumored to be working on upgrading features in it’s music area, including how users can organize their libraries, and improved song display features.

Google Play Not Yet in Netflix’s Rear View Mirror

Netflix and Hulu Plus need not fear Google Play or Apple iTunes as a threat to their customer base at this time.  This type of boutique, a la carte shopping tends to be a supplement to subscription streaming services with content that is newly released and not yet available through the all-you-can-eat buffet services.

Google & Paramount Sign Licensing Deal for 500 Movies

Just a few days ago, Google scored a deal with Paramount that will bring 500 new titles to both the Google Play store, as well as YouTube, to users in the United States and Canada.  Google’s movie rental library hovers around 9,000 right now.  This will give it a serious shot in the arm with titles like The godfather, Transformers, and Hugo.

Malik Ducard, Director of Content Partnerships at YouTube, noted “Paramount Pictures is one of the biggest movies studios on the planet.  We’re thrilled to bring nearly 500 of their films to movie fans in the US and Canada on YouTube and Google Play.”

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iTunes Store – New Features in Several Products This Month

Posted on March 29, 2012 9:44 am by Streamer
The logo for Apple Computer, now Apple Inc.. T...

The logo for Apple Computer, now Apple Inc.. The design of the logo started in 1977 designed by Rob Janoff with the rainbow color theme used until 1999 when Apple stopped using the rainbow color theme and used a few different color themes for the same design. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Apple Team is, of course, renown for their innovations that set the standard in the technology marketplace.  They are also committed to tweaking their products to make them more valuable to their customers.  Here’s a highlight of some of the new features, fixes & updates they have recently introduced.  These products are all available in the iTunes Store.

  • iTunes 10.6.1 available in Software Update, fixing glitches in the music and library app, including crashing issues, VoiceOver problems, and iTunes freeze-up while syncing with iPod shuffle or nano.
  • Features in iBooks 2.1 – adds new features for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.  Ability to highlight text by touching and dragging finger across desired text.  You control color, and can even enter a note, plus search for the text elsewhere using a convenient popup dialog box.
  • One of the biggest items of news for streaming services lovers is that movies are now available on iCloud.  In the past, you could only rent movies to view on Apple TV.  Now, you can access your purchased content via iCloud and view it on all your iOS devices at any time, including 2nd generation and later Apple TV.
  • Alert tones & ringtones for devices are now available through the Tone Store, to assign to special people who call you the most.
  • A new partnership between Netflix and Apple allows consumers to now order and pay for their Netflix subscription directly through their iTunes account.  However, Netflix and YouTube are currently the only services currently available through Apple TV.
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iTunes Recent Upgrade Means Flexibility of Playback Through Devices

Posted on March 11, 2012 7:12 am by Streamer

As of Wednesday, March 7, Apple says that consumers may save and retrieve movies they purchased wirelessly on the iCloud remote storage service without connecting with a physical cord.  In the past, if you purchased content through the iTunes Store and wished to view it on a different device, you needed to connect the device to a PC with a cord in order to access the content through the iTunes Player.

This change also means that anyone wishing to watch movies they purchased on any device, such as on the new Apple TV set top box about to go on sale, may do so wirelessly through iCloud.  In the past, consumers could only watch rented content on the Apple TV. Purchased content had to be synced to a mobile device via a wire or be viewed on your PC.

If you don’t wish to rent or purchase content through iTunes, you may opt to stream movies & rent DVDs through a service like Netflix, Blockbuster or if you live in the UK, LoveFilm.  You can pay a monthly subscription rate and select films through a queue, or Instant Stream if available.

 




Apple Wants You to Stream Through Them By Christmas

Posted on March 3, 2012 11:34 am by Streamer

Will consumers have even more choice in 2013 when it comes to internet entertainment options?  It appears that the answer is ‘yes’, in the form of Apple streaming tv subscription services, according to the New York Post.  The goal is to offer channels, similar to Roku or gaming consoles, in the form of downloadable apps for its devices, including Apple TV.  However, despite their massive clout, Apple is finding out just how hard Netflix has it when it comes to negotiating with entertainment companies who own the rights to movies and TV shows.

One of the issues appears to be that entertainment companies are concerned with how much control Apple wishes to have over the service.  One media executive noted “They want everything for nothing.”   Netflix pays a distribution fee, however, in the past Apple wanted to have a share in the ad revenue, and did not want to pay any distribution fees.  Apple also reached out to cable TV giants for web-based TV packages, but with the same revenue sharing notions that would cut into cable’s profits.  A deal with AT&T or Verizon may not be out of the question, but really, only time will tell when the players involved will be willing to transition to a new business model.  Cable & satellite giants are trying to stop the probable exodus from their expensive services by offering their own version of streaming services.

This is all one very interesting chess game being played out before our very eyes.  Who will emerge the winner?  We hope the consumer, for once.  It’s not that we don’t want these companies to make money . . . but not on the backs of a people trying to make ends meet in a very shaky economy.

 




iTunes Store Hack Not Costing Consumers

Posted on February 10, 2012 1:30 am by Streamer

There have been several reports online about the iTunes Store being hacked, where mysterious charges were showing up on users’ accounts for the last year, including the depletion of gift card credits and money extracted through paypal from checking accounts.  Apple responded with a statement as follows:  “Apple takes precautions to safeguard your personal information against loss, theft and misuse, as well as unauthorised access, disclosure. alteration and destruction.  Apple online services such as Apple Online Store and iTunes Store use Secure Sockets Layer encryption on all web pages where personal information is collected.”  Apparently, where any discrepancies lie, Apple has provided refunds.  An insider thinks that the iTunes gift card algorithm has possibly been compromised by hackers.  Regardless, no one has complained that Apple hasn’t made good on any charges related to it, including movies, music, eBooks and streaming television.