Category: Video (Page 6 of 16)

      Netflix sneaks past Hulu

      July 13, 2010 /

      Hulu vs Netflix.

      Netflix and Hulu started dueling for streaming dominance some time ago, and for the most part Hulu has been winning that fight. It looks like Netflix may have taken a leg up, though, and I’m hoping it stays that way.

      According to comScore, Netflix barely edged past Hulu in unique visitors this past month. I’ve really enjoyed Netflix streaming service, but the company needs to get up to current seasons if it wants to give Hulu a serious run for it. One of my favorite shows, Party Down (which none of you were watching, which is why it got the ax – shame on you), had current season streaming from Netflix and I watched it every week. It’s a fantastic alternative to a cable subscription, which tends to just fill my living room with a lot of noise.

      Hulu’s trying to keep the top spot with Hulu+, granting access to full current seasons and some legacy episodes for a fee. The company’s ad structure could really hold it back, especially when competing with the Netflix platform.

      Lifestyle, News, Video

      Hulu Plus brings mediocre video to mobile devices

      June 29, 2010 /

      Jack and Liz looking fuzzy.The fabled Hulu Plus is real, it seems, delivering “HD” programming to your mobile devices and internet-connected TVs for just $10 a month. You’ll have access to full current seasons of shows like 30 Rock and Glee and a library of older episodes from shows like Arrested Development.

      I say “HD” because you should take a look at that screenshot above. Yes, that’s a screenshot. Notice anything? That it looks like shit, perhaps? That’s a shot from my iPhone 4 on a Wi-Fi connection and it looks like total crap. Sorry, Hulu, but you’re going to have to do better. Even worse than the quality, you still have to watch ads despite your subscription fee. You guys do know how to make me feel like a dollar sign.

      What I really want for streaming video is something more akin to the Netflix Watch Instantly system. It’s painless, easy, and for serial programming it’s better than anything (even NinjaVideo). I’ve been watching Party Down recently – updated weekly with the new episode – and I’ve fallen in love with the Netflix system. If anyone has the future of online video in hand, it’s these guys. It’s not as expensive as Hulu Plus and you get access to a library of movies as well.

      If you want to see Hulu Plus for yourself, download the free app and check out some preview episodes or opt-in to the preview invite system over at Hulu.

      Apps, Digital Media, News, Video

      Blockbuster brings back late fees

      March 3, 2010 /
      Remember that crazy ad push Blockbuster made in 2005. No more late fees! There were huge blue-and-yellow signs everywhere proclaiming the company’s latest attempt at competing with Netflix. Well, Blockbuster is rescinding that deal and bringing you back to late fee hell. Things are pretty ugly, too. A dollar a day ugly, up to a 10-day maximum. That’s pretty brutal, especially when rentals cost so much to begin with.

      Obviously the company needs money, but this seems more like a reminder to sign up for Netflix than a “let’s save Blockbuster” move. The reasoning behind the throwback to days of yore is that customers who keep movies longer keep them away from other customers, forcing Blockbuster to purchase more copies to keep up with customer demand. To be honest, you have to wonder just how much demand is out there. When Netflix is delivering movies to my doorstep and provides streaming service across a couple different platforms, paying to keep movies an extra day or two seems downright stupid.

      Source: Slashfilm

      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      News, Video

      Blockbuster to close 500 locations

      February 26, 2010 /

      Blockbuster storefront.I used to think Blockbuster Online was the greatest thing on the planet. At the time, I was living close enough to a physical store that I was getting as many movies as I wanted plus the bonus of being able to turn them in for free movies for something like $10. It was great. It wasn’t long, though, before the store closed and I started mailing my movies back.

      That same thing is about to happen in 500 locations across the country. Blockbuster announced this week that it would close 500 stores over the course of the year. The news comes as the company continues to bleed money, to the tune of $435 million for its most recent quarter.

      “While we believe the future is bright, the next 12 to 18 months will remain challenging as we balance the secular decline of a single channel with the ascension of emerging channels, such as vending and digital,” CEO Jim Keyes said on Wednesday. The company is also trying to restructure its nearly billion dollar debt to stay afloat.

      Source: MSN

      News, Video

      Panasonic’s first 3DTV comes in under $6,000

      February 9, 2010 /

      Panasonic's first Viera 3DTVBehold, Panasonic’s very first 3DTV. Most display makers have been reluctant to talk about price when it comes to their 3D sets, and for good reason. They’re damn expensive. Take this 54-inch model, for instance. Though the price has only been announced in Yen, a simple conversion puts it at $5,900 USD. Ouch.

      You might be thinking, “hey, that’s not so bad – that’s what I payed for my plasma eight years ago.” That may be true, but look at prices now. A solid 40-inch LCD or better can be had for under a thousand bucks. Are you willing to pay six times that for a technology that won’t see a decent amount of media for several years? I thought not.

      Obviously prices will come down, and Panasonic already has plans to release 3D sets as small as 50 inches this year. It’s going to be some time, though, before home-theater-quality set breaks the $2500 barrier.

      Source: Gizmodo

      News, Video

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