If you recall, Yahoo purchased Meedio and then promptly released a beta of Yahoo Go TV. The beta was impressive, but a little rough around the edges (it is pre-release software, after all) — tonight’s update responds to some of the original complaints by adding support for additional tuners while improving responsiveness and consistency through-out the app. Additionally, personal Flickr photostreams, picture in picture, and LAN music streaming features have been implemented. The download is available here.

Amazon has jut launched their video download service, consisting of both movies ($10 - $15/ea to purchase) and television shows ($2/ea). Purchased shows can be archived to DVD, but are not playable on set-top boxes. Rented movies must be watched within 30 days, and once started must be completed within 24 hours like similar services (Movielink, CinemaNow). Amazon’s video player only runs on flavors XP, presumably built around Windows Media Player using Microsoft DRM as video files are Window Media Video (WMV). Amazon provides a FAQ explaining the terms of rental versus ownership, file size, download times, etc. They say they support portables, but I wasn’t able to find any detailed info at this time — I assume support will be limited to the usual suspects running Windows portable media software such as the Zen Vision and Gigabeat S. One interesting factoid… if you accidentally delete a movie you’ve purchased you can download it again from an online “media library,” a feature iTunes sorely lacks.

I’m still not convinced there’s a large market for movies delivered in this fashion unless you’re running an HTPC (or FrontRow once iTunes adds movies next week) connected to a TV or projector. There’s also a small market of road warriors who might put this to use along with curious early adopters — but I continue to fantasize of a TiVo/Netflix collaboration which delivers a wide selection of movies to my TV. In the movie download space, Vongo still leads the pack with their all-you-can eat movie rental plan for only $9.99/mo.

HTPC enthusiast Eirik Solheim spent some time with TVedia and came away very impressed, despite the software’s lack of DVR functionality. However… What immediately caught my eye was the Amazon affiliate advertising built into the interface (in addition to the $35 software fee). I exchanged a few emails with Eirik who informed me the “feature” is optional and sent along a screenshot showing how users can toggle the ads. It’s an interesting strategy and well executed given TVedia’s spartan interface and disable options.

Eirik writes: TVedia is a media center frontend with some extremely interesting networking functionality and a very nice interface for YouTube, Google Video, Flickr, LastFM and other media related web sites. I recently gave it a run on my Windows Media Center Edition box. So far this is one of the most interesting products I have seen in this space for a long time! The music library, networking and online features are way better than what I am used to in MCE.

Read the rest of this entry »

I get tons of blog-related email, but this one really stands out for its length, passion, lack of spell check, and frequent use of the word chump.

Dave,

Hey chump……I think you need to try a 622 hddvr which cost me exactly $0. Chump….did you even realize that the 622 has a 300gb hard drive, records three programs simultaneously (two satellite. one ota) has four search speeds including 300x (visibly scan a one hour hd recorded event in 12 SECONDS!), has the fatest program seach possible, has four independent favorites lists, the hands down best remote tactile configuration and easily the best feeling buttons on any remote, even tivo morons can learn to use this remote WITHOUT looking at it within 15 minutes and did I mention one of the remotes is UHF allowing you to ‘listen’ to any recorded program from 60′ away and NOT direct line of sight.

Hey chump…I could never understand how a technophile with any respect could deal with the infantile tivo interface and that disgusting sound every f*cking time….while the transistions are beautiful as they slide back and forth…..it’s SLOW compared to the 622. The 622 has instantaneous transitions and I mean instantaneous. The command speed is astoundingly fast. You can create a event ‘to record’ in under 10 seconds and I don’t mean clicking the OPG I mean going into the DVR timer page and creating a ‘unique’ event to record. Maybe you did not realize that ‘name based’ recording is not the ‘private domain’ of Tivo. The search methods and speed is mind boggling. There is a ’search history’ which allows you to see EVERY program you previously searched and search again. Did I already say that the search function was blazing fast, how fast you ask….I just searched “modern marvels” from the History Channel it took exactly 2.97 seconds to search the guide and come up with 32 hits!!!!

Cable Cards my ass!! For what? Where the hell is the HD content…its all with Dish chump. Untill cable and Direct radically increase their HD content Dish subscribers just smile and chuckle.

How about PocketDish chump Were you aware that in conjunction with Archos Dish sells the AV500e portable pmp/dvr to Dish subcribers for $299/30gb, where the retail price is $399-450. TivoTtoGo my ass… did you know that I can DIRECTLY download any recorded programs (not HD) inluding Sirrus channels on to my AV500e by USB2 from the 622 front panel (one hour recording/5 minutes). Who the hells needs to convert files and download from pc to PMP. That the Av500e is the HIGEST RATED pmp available for video quality and is a full function DVR.

The 622 is by no means perfect. You do have to occasionally reboot…once or twice a week, and there is an unresolved problem with the pause and single frame advance which could drive sports fans nuts untill they release a software upgrade.

The tone of this email is a result of reading countless forum posts on various sites disseminating the view that all other DVR’s are inferior to Tivo and concluding the ultimate superiority lies with Tivo which is simply laughable. I have spent serious time with EVERY DVR available from Cable and Satellite in the US and nothing comes close to the performance of the 622.

I suggest you read the CNET review on the 622. It echos exactly what I stated in this email. The result from CNET…8.5 rating. While you’re at CNET search the highest rated products in any category and you immediately realize that VERY FEW products in any category are rated as high.

Hey chump…If you want to view the most sophisticated and best designed OPG head for the 622. There are four options available one being the incredible 7 channel 3 hour guide WITH preview window. Viewing previous Tivo, Motorola, and Sa8300 guides is like going back in time to the ’stone age’.

Hey chump..did I mention that the 622 thirty second advance feature allows you to press as fast as possible without waiting for the first 30 advance meaning you can press five times in ONE SECOND and advance 2 1/2 minutes instantaneously!!

I have friend who recently visited from Ohio who is eagerly waiting for the new Direct mpeg4 hddvr. He’s read every available word on the subject simmering in anger as one delay after another arises. He loves his current Tivo/Direct 250gb hddvr and never considered looking anywhere else…..untill…you guessed it! He was simply blown away by the speed of the interface transtions, search options, OPG grid, UHF remote…..untill he called home to Ohio the next day and switched to Dish for the 622 and the PocketDish Av500e. I belive it was $299 as a first time Dish subscriber for the 622 and $299 for the PocketDish Av500e.

I think its reasonable to call the ‘Tivo enthusiasts’ ignorant and arrogant, not for embracing the original Tivo with its fluid command transistions and ’season pass’ features but for ‘living in the past syndrome’ and the constant drone of accolades undeserved in 2006.

ML

Never enough time… back home.

• Sprint thinks you’ll rent feature-length films on your cell phone. (Engadget)
• TiVo puts investors in suicide squeeze play. (Davis Freeberg)
• Nero adding PVR and video streaming functionality. (eHomeUpgrade)
• TiVo showcases CBS’s new fall season. (PVRWire)
• SanDisk V-Mate records video to memory cards on demand. (SanDisk)

Never enough time… in Vegas!

• Second gen HD-DVD player unveiled. (HD Beat)
• October 3rd Declared “Day Against DRM.” (Defective By Design)
• Windows Media Player 11, Beta 2 released. (Sean Alexander)
• Movielink reviewed. (Business Week)