Pulse2 Technology and Social Media News » Netflix

New FCC Rule Could Benefit Cord Cutters

Amit Chowdhry — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:05:55 +0000

The FCC is considering changes that would benefit cord-cutters, people that decided that connecting their laptops and using services like Netflix and Hulu makes satisfies them enough to not have a cable TV account with Comcast, AT&T, etc. The FCC is considering changing the definition of “multichannel video programming distributor” (MVPD) to include websites like Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube. MVPDs have always been clearly defined as content providers like satellite and cable companies. Networks are required to sell their content to any MVPD that wants it. If the FCC includes YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix as an MVPD, these websites could purchase content from networks like CBS and the network would be forced to sell. CBS is one out of a few networks that has refused to put their content on Hulu.

The question about who is considered an MVPD came up when Christian online-based media company Sky Angel approached the Discovery Channel to have some of their content offered to Sky Angel customers. Discovery Channel refused to sell so Sky Angel appealed to the FCC. Initially the FCC ruled that Sky Angel is not considered an MVPD so Discovery was not obligated to sell. Sky Angel appealed so the FCC started to consider what an MVPD is today’s digital world is.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings Complains About Comcast On Facebook

Amit Chowdhry — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:48:30 +0000

It’s been about two weeks since Netflix CEO Reed Hastings publicly bashed on Comcast from his personal Facebook account. Hastings bashed on them one more time because of the way that Comcast handles bandwidth. Hastings is accusing Comcast of violating “net neutrality” principles by favoring their own web video services over those offered by Netflix, HBO, and Hulu when it comes to data usage. Last month Hastings had also complained that he was not able to watch HBO Go on his Xbox.

Comcast no longer following net neutrality principles.

Comcast should apply caps equally, or not at all.

I spent the weekend enjoying four good internet video apps on my Xbox: Netflix, HBO GO, Xfinity, and Hulu.

When I watch video on my Xbox from three of these four apps, it counts against my Comcast internet cap. When I watch through Comcast’s Xfinity app, however, it does not count against my Comcast internet cap.

For example, if I watch last night’s SNL episode on my Xbox through the Hulu app, it eats up about one gigabyte of my cap, but if I watch that same episode through the Xfinity Xbox app, it doesn’t use up my cap at all.

The same device, the same IP address, the same wifi, the same internet connection, but totally different cap treatment.

In what way is this neutral?

Net neutrality is a principle that advocates no restrictions by ISPs or governments on consumers’ access to networks that participate in the Internet.

Netflix Not Planning To Bring Streaming Service To PlayBook or BlackBerry

Amit Chowdhry — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:25:28 +0000

Streaming movie and DVD-mail rental company Netflix doesn’t have any plans to bring their streaming service to RIM’s BlackBerry or PlayBook devices. “We don’t have any current plans to support BlackBerry devices, including PlayBook,” said Netflix on Twitter.

Netflix has been available on the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices for a long time now. Netflix made the announcement despite RIM recently updating the PlayBook to the second version of the operating system to include e-mail support. Netflix currently has over 24 million U.S. subscribers.

Proposed Copy Protection On HTML5 Video Causes Debate

Amit Chowdhry — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:17:21 +0000

Mozilla has criticized a proposed web standard that would have DRM for HTML content implemented. The proposal was put forward by Google, Microsoft, and Netflix developers. It is meant to allow companies to add protection to HTML5 streaming audio and video. This is the reason why some content providers have not adopted the technology.

The proposed structure would need to rely on a “content decryption module (CDM)” possibly through hardware or firmware. With this CDM, a company would send a key to decrypt to a portion of HTML.

However Google’s Ian Hickson said that this proposal was unethical and that it did not provide enough content protection to make it worth implementing. Chris Pearce of Mozilla asked how the proposal would affect open source browsers, which could be patched to capture streaming audio and video. Netflix’s Mark Watson said that hardware solutions could some those problems and content could be streamed through a “protected media pipeline.”

Whitney Houston Movie Pulled From Netflix To Capitalize On DVD Sales Following Her Death

Amit Chowdhry — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:21:19 +0000

Dan McDermott, the host of Google Plus Week, wrote a blog post on Google+ about how he wanted to watch “The Bodyguard” starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner on Netflix this past weekend. He was inspired after watching Costner’s tribute to his former co-star during her funeral. The Bodyguard was not available for streaming on Netflix anymore even though it is a 20 years old movie. The movie was available for streaming up until Whitney’s death. Here is what a Netflix rep told McDermott regarding the situation.

“Okay Dan, I just went and talked to my main supervisor as to why the movie had been pulled and the reason it was pulled was the production company pulled the streaming rights from us because all the publicity after Whitney Houston’s passing there was an opportunity to make really a very large amount of money on the DVD sales of her movies. So they’re going to pull all the streaming titles we have of Whitney Houston so they can make more money off the DVD sales of her movies.”

This a clear example of how media companies capitalize on tragedies. Personally I like how the Netflix rep didn’t hold back and was completely transparent about what happened.

Netflix To Bring Back DVD-Only Rental Service

Amit Chowdhry — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:34:13 +0000

Netflix is rumored to be bringing back a DVD-only rental service. The new plan is $8 per month for DVD rentals and customers will get access to a catalog of 100,000 titles on DVD and Blu-Ray. You can also sign up for a free month-long trial if you want to test out the service. You can link the DVD service with an existing streaming account. [Gizmodo]

Netflix Launches In The U.K. and Ireland

Amit Chowdhry — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:08:03 +0000

Netflix has been launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. Netflix chief product officer Neil Hunt made the announcement. Interested customers can utilize a one month free trial. After that, the cost will be £5.99 or €6.99. Netflix users in the U.K. and Ireland will have access to the same shows and movies that are available to the U.S., Canadian, and Latin American customers. [Netflix Blog]

Verizon Is “Serious” About Bidding On Netflix [RUMOR]

Amit Chowdhry — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:17:34 +0000

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is rumored to be “very serious” about making a bid on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) according to sources with Bloomberg. Verizon may end up causing a bidding war, which could potentially result in Netflix being sold for about $4.6 billion by Easter. Netflix currently has a market capitalization of $4.17 billion. Although I cannot imagine Verizon actually buying Netflix, it would be an interesting merger. [Bloomberg]

Nook Color Now Has Netflix, Flixster, and Marvel Comics Support

Amit Chowdhry — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:39:59 +0000

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) has updated the Nook Color to support Netflix, Flixster, and Marvel Comics. Other updates include the ability to read books in landscape mode. The Nook Color currently is priced at $199. Future software updates will include access to Pandora and Rhapsody. Check out the press release below:

Barnes & Noble’s Award-Winning $199 NOOK Color Now Even Better with Streaming Entertainment and More Breathtaking Content in VividView

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, continues to enhance its critically acclaimed NOOK Color with the largest-ever software update to the device now available at no cost (www.nookcolor.com/update), adding over 100 feature enhancements, access to top video and music services, popular apps, comics and more. With new tablet features and access to the best names in entertainment, the first-ever Reader’s Tablet™ is now even better at the incredibly low price of $199. Customers can enjoy popular movies and TV shows through leading services like Netflix and Flixster, with others coming soon. The update also brings faster, easier access to the world’s largest digital catalog of color and interactive books, magazines, children’s books, high-quality apps, and now comics and graphic novels.

The perfect holiday gift for those who love to experience all types of content in rich, beautiful color on the world’s most advanced VividView™ display, NOOK Color is available for new customers to purchase immediately in NOOK Digital Shops™ at their neighborhood Barnes & Noble stores, www.nookcolor.com and other leading retailers. Today only, customers who purchase any new $199 NOOK Color online with a MasterCard will receive a free $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card, along with free shipping. This offer also applies to the #1-rated $99 NOOK Simple Touch™, and the all-new $249 NOOK Tablet™, the company’s fastest, lightest tablet with the best entertainment displayed in stunning VividView. Additional details are available at www.nook.com.

“Building upon our award-winning reading experience and vast digital content catalog, we are excited to offer our largest NOOK Color software update ever that will bring access to movies, TV shows, hundreds of new apps, comics, graphic novels and more to our time-tested, critically acclaimed Reader’s Tablet,” said William Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble. “This innovative product continues to receive high acclaim as an Editor’s Choice and is ranked among the most highly rated eReaders by many leading technology reviewers. At the incredibly low price of $199, customers can discover all types of interactive content specifically designed for the stunning, 7-inch display, in addition to staying connected through email and the web. We encourage customers to stop by their local Barnes & Noble this holiday season to learn about the whole portfolio of NOOK devices and receive free support from one of our highly-trained NOOKsellers.”

More High-Quality NOOK Apps™, Including Top Entertainment Services

Adding to the growing collection of high-quality NOOK Apps, children’s apps, games and more, NOOK Color customers can download Netflix to watch movies and TV shows, and Flixster which, through the UltraViolet™ standard, will allow consumers to access their digital movies and TV shows on the go. Coming soon, more leading services will be available. NOOK Color owners can also listen to millions of songs using the hottest music services, including Pandora, Rhapsody®, Grooveshark and MOG, all available with a free 14-day trial. In addition, NOOK Color owners can listen to their own songs wherever they go with the built-in music player. From music to movies and more, all NOOK Apps are the highest-quality versions available, optimized for NOOK Color’s beautiful and ultra-responsive 7-inch VividView display to ensure a stunning and seamless user experience.

The NOOK App library continues to grow with hundreds of new titles added each week to bring all the top requested and most popular apps to both NOOK Color and NOOK Tablet. Exciting new NOOK App additions include games published by Chillingo such as Roll in the Hole and Spider Jack, I Can Read, Cozi Family Organizer, Audobon Insects, Pat the Bunny, and more. Enjoy fun new holiday-themed apps including How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Berenstain Bears’ Christmas Tree, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Tacky’s Christmas – all with a special reduced pricing promotion for the holidays. Also, find All I Want from Santa, Emma In: A Sweet Christmas plus an extensive lineup of holiday-centric live wallpapers, themes and much more.

Barnes & Noble’s Vast Collection of Interactive Content at Your Fingertips

NOOK Color customers can shop the world’s largest bookstore, featuring more than 2.5 million books, enhanced books, interactive magazines, newspapers, children’s books, and now comics and graphic novels. Highlights include:

NOOK Newsstand™: Choose from more than 300 newspapers and full-color, interactive magazines, delivered instantly to the device. Barnes & Noble offers the largest digital collection of top 100 magazines for subscription or single issue purchase – all available for a risk-free, 14-day free trial – including bestsellers PEOPLE, Food Network Magazine, Us Weekly, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, TIME, National Geographic and many others. Most interactive magazines offer Barnes & Noble’s ArticleView™, new animated and lightning fast page turns, smooth pinch, zoom and panning. Many special edition NOOK Magazines™ feature videos, animation, image galleries and more. Newly added publications include People StyleWatch, Southern Living, SmartMoney, Official Xbox Magazine, WIRED, SELF and TransWorld Skateboarding with more titles being added each week.
New NOOK Comics™: NOOK Color customers can now access a large collection of full-color comics, graphic novels and kids’ comics in high resolution that allow readers to pinch, zoom and discover this content like never before. NOOK Comics features the largest digital collection of Marvel’s graphic novels available through a third party – including Halo Uprising and other Marvel greats like Ultimate Spider-Man, The Astonishing X-Men, and Hulk: Planet Hulk, among others. NOOK Color customers can also enjoy titles from other leading publishers, including Archie – with series starring the redheaded star, plus pals Jughead and Betty & Veronica– IDW and Dynamite.
NOOK Kids™: With an incredible collection of more than 1,000 interactive children’s picture books and more than 12,000 chapter books, NOOK Color offers the world’s largest digital selection with hundreds of titles offering enhanced Read to Me and Read to Play functionality, so children and parents can interact with built-in narration and engaging in-page animation and activities. Newly added popular titles for the holidays include A Charlie Brown Christmas and Elf on the Shelf, both only on NOOK with engaging narrations and entertaining activities built right in to the stories, plus an exclusive edition of Sandra Boynton’s Christmas Parade, narrated by the author. Beginning readers can also enjoy new I Can Read series titles, plus Judy Blume’s popular Fudge series including Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and many more through the expanded chapter book collection.
NOOK Books™: Barnes & Noble continues to expand its NOOK Bookstore™ with the vast majority of books available for $9.99 or less. New PagePerfect™ NOOK Books™ feature cookbooks, craft and art books rendered with rich precision to retain all the beauty of their stunning print versions. Customers can also enjoy new titles including 11/22/63 from Stephen King and Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch, or bestsellers including Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich, Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible, Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and many more.

Enhanced Reading Experience Makes it Easier than Ever to Find New Great Content

NOOK Color customers can now explore new reading experiences and Shop enhancements that make it easier than ever to find great books, children’s content, magazines, newspapers and apps. Simply tap to open the redesigned NOOK Store to find a clean, customized interface and great social features that showcase the vast amount of content available. Explore customized reading features to enjoy all your favorite content like never before.

Customized reading: In response to customer feedback, NOOK Color now offers the flexibility to read books in portrait or landscape mode and to adjust the text with even more font sizes to choose from. And now reading is even more interactive with PDF thumbnail page views, and image pinch, zoom and pan in books and PDFs.
Unparalleled reviews and recommendations: Learn what to read next from Barnes & Noble’s knowledgeable booksellers, from new releases to up-and-coming authors. Barnes & Noble’s personalized NOOK Recommendations™ suggest titles by customer’s favorite authors in many different categories – helping them find selections in all subjects, from the most popular to hidden gems. In any book a customer is reading, a simple tap on the new NOOK Discover™ icon offers instant recommendations. Customers can also find new content through:
NOOK Daily Find – Discover a new read every day at an amazing price.
NOOK First – Exclusive content for NOOK owners from leading authors.
NOOK Snaps – Bite-size reads for “snackable” content on the go.
NOOK Spotlight – Twice a month, Barnes & Noble features great books at a great price.
New Release Tuesday – The weekly scoop on the bestsellers and the newest releases.

Get more social: With NOOK Color, customers can connect with Facebook friends and others through NOOK Friends™, and find out what they have to say about their books, magazines and newspapers. Customers can also share their thoughts about the books they’re reading via email, Facebook and Twitter. Owners can share books, as well as browse and borrow books, from NOOK Friends using Barnes & Noble’s exclusive LendMe® technology.
Continuous reading: Read what you love, anywhere you like™ on NOOK devices and with free NOOK Reading Apps. NOOK Cloud™ automatically syncs a customer’s library, last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across all of their devices, so a customer can start a book on NOOK Color, and pick right back up where they left off on their computer or smartphone.’

DreamBox Learning Raises $11 Million From Reed Hastings, John Doerr, Deborah Quazzo, and GSV Capital

Amit Chowdhry — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:52:34 +0000

DreamBox Learning is an e-learning company for students that has raised $11 million in a new round of funding. netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Kleiner Perkins partner John Doerr, Deborah Quazzo, and GSV Capital Corp. is participating in this round of funding. DreamBox has raised a total of $18 million in funding.

DreamBox Learning launched in 2008 and has over 500 math lessons, puzzles, games, etc. These lessons have been designed for children that are between kindergarten and 5th grade.

DreamBox assesses the mathematical abilities of students and provides them with hints if they cannot figure out the answer. DreamBox provides teachers with assessment tools so that they can track the progress of children.

“DreamBox Learning has cracked the code on improving early educational outcomes for every child – regardless of zip code,” stated Doerr in a release. “Their robust math curriculum and adaptive learning technology is a game-changer, transforming education across the country.”

About 500,000 elementary students have logged in to DreamBox since fall 2010 from all 50 states. About 11 million lessons have been viewed altogether. DreamBox will be using the funds to expand their curriculum and for future product development.

[TechCrunch]