Socialcam Startup

In the spring of 2011 Justin.tv launched a mobile sharing app that was designed to do for video what Instagram has done for photos. That being allowing smartphone users to share them with others across a range of platforms, social networks, and websites easily.

In the six months since the app made its debut it has become a major player in the market alongside the likes of BlipSnip, Viddy, and Vlix. So much so that Socialcam is being spun off from Justin.tv to be its own, independent entity housed in Founders Den in San Francisco.

Justin.tv co-founder and current CEO will be going with it and taking a small band of select engineers with him. Justin.tv will retain a stake in the new company, with additional funding and backers now being actively sought.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

Seibel is being replaced as CEO of Justin.tv by CTO Emmet Shear, who is charged with pushing TwitchTV (a live streaming video games portal launched in June) onto even greater things than it has already achieved.

I can only imagine TwitchTV will eventually be spun off into its own company as well. After all, 8 million viewers watching 1 billion minutes of video every month would suggest there’s a future for this endeavor. Which leaves me to question whether the original Justin.tv is being hung out to dry?

So What About Justin.tv?

Justin.tv is one of a number of live streaming video companies which offer people the chance to effectively broadcast online as if they owned their own TV station. But it’s a market that seems to have reached a certain point and remained there, slowly flatlining.

While it’s still a popular destination, there is clearly some effort by the Justin.tv execs to move into other territories rather than risk losing momentum to the point at which they do a Joost. Because no one wants that kind of memorial.

[Via TechCrunch]

Mobile Video

Mobile video is a growing sector, with the number of people owning mobile devices capable of displaying video in high quality lurching ever upwards. As we all carry our smartphones with us pretty much everywhere we go content is needed to fill the gaps between taking calls and sending texts.

The question is whether anyone wants to actually watch movies or television shows on a screen that’s barely even a few inches in diameter? Google obviously thinks so, which is why it has updated its Android Market Videos app and rolled it out to smartphones.

Android Market Videos App

The Videos app is the official video player for Android Market movie rentals. It previously only worked on devices running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) but has now been updated and rolled out to smartphones running the 2.2 and 2.3 versions of Google’s mobile operating system.

Once installed the Videos app gives you access to all movies rented through the Android Market, which can be bought for as little as $1.99. Rentals can even be saved locally to view offline, but once playback has begun it has to be completed within 24 hours.

The Videos app also deals with other videos, including YouTube content and clips you have recorded yourself.

Conclusions

I’m not convinced people will want to watch a movie on their phone at this point in time, especially one they have paid good money to rent. A tablet with a reasonable-sized screen, sure, but a smartphone? Really?

Luckily the Android Market Videos app does more than just allow you to rent movies, so even those who aren’t keen on that usage will find some worth in downloading and installing it. Assuming of course their phone is running Android 2.2 (Froyo) or higher.

[Via TechCrunch]

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Global iPlayer App

There has been talk of an international version of iPlayer for some time, with viewers in the U.S. being particularly keen on the idea, even though they know they’d have to pay for it.

America is going to have to wait a little while longer (the US, Canada, and Australia are expected to gain the app within months) but 11 European countries have now been blessed with iPlayer for the Apple iPad. This is seen as a year-long experiment to see how successful a wider and longer rollout would prove to be.

For 6.99 Euros-per-month or 49.99 Euros-per-year iPad owners can gain on-demand access to 1,500 hours of content which includes both new and classic shows. Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, and Sherlock are just some of the shows featured.

Domestic/International

The international iPlayer app has a couple of advantages over its domestic U.K. equivalent. Namely 3G streaming and offline viewing. There are also older shows on there to compliment the new shows, but U.K. viewers will be able to find the same classic shows on other services such as YouTube and SeeSaw.

It helps that BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the organization, isn’t governed by the same rules and therefore can concentrate on just one device. On this occasion the Apple iPad. Which makes sense as it’s by far the most popular tablet on sale at the moment.

If, of course, Android tablets take off as they are expected to in the next couple of years then the app can be expanded to include them.

Conclusions

This seems like a truly sweet deal. For what is just a few dollars a month European viewers can gain access to a host of BBC shows that they couldn’t otherwise. Unless they have a big satellite dish or watch online for free. Which most probably do. But still.

[Via The Guardian]

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Surprised? I Guess Not…

The release of another mobile device capable of streaming video is hardly news; these things are ten a penny now. The news that Hulu has blocked that mobile device from accessing its content is also unsurprising, as it’s the fate shared by the vast majority of mobile devices.

However, the speed at which Hulu acted to block the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is noteworthy. And Hulu’s actions are worth taking a closer look at.

Hulu Blocks PlayBook

The BlackBerry PlayBook from RiM went on sale in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday (April 19). Within just one day of this new tablet being available in stores, Hulu had blocked the device from accessing its content.

This is despite the PlayBook supporting Flash, unlike the iPad and many other tablets, which in turn means users could simply visit the Hulu website to watch all the video content they desire. If Hulu wasn’t so stringent in its efforts to prevent anyone it doesn’t seem worthy from gaining access.

The PlayBook is far from the first mobile device to receive such treatment, because Hulu wants you to pay for the privilege of watching its video library. Hence the need to purchase a Hulu Plus subscription and own one of the devices supported by it if you want to do so.

In terms of tablets that essentially means an Apple iPad currently.

Conclusions

I have no problem with Hulu trying to bring in revenue in order to pay for itself and keep the networks that populate its library happy. But why make people jump through hoops in order to do so?

Make the PlayBook a supported device, and do so in advance of the device being released. I know, strange concept, eh? Otherwise those who buy a PlayBook expecting to be able to access Hulu through it are left disappointed. And that’s hardly building a happy and loyal customer base.

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iTV, iPad, iPhone

Apple is one of the companies best positioned to take advantage of the move to online and streaming video. Not only does it lead the way with its iTunes service, it also has a range of products on the market, or about to hit the market, able to deliver video.

Apple’s three mobile devices, the iPad, the iPhone, and the iPod Touch are all capable of streaming high quality video. The iPad in particular is a device designed with the delivery of content in mind.

Meanwhile, the Apple TV is all but dead, with the iTV set to replace it. This will be cheap, cheerful, and designed for the mainstream. Giving it a good chance of succeeding.

99 Cent Shows

According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, Apple is in negotiations with media companies, including CBS and Disney, in order to secure episodes of TV shows for just 99-cents. Talks with News Corp., owner of Fox, have so far come the furthest.

For 99-cents, customers would be able to rent an episode for 48-hours within 24-hours of it being aired on broadcast television. What’s more, there will be no commercials included. This was first rumored to be in the works in January on the eve of the iPad being unveiled.

As part of the deal, Apple is letting go of its plans for a monthly subscription service, with sources insisting, “the a la carte rental plan follows an abandoned effort to create a subscription television service.”

The plans for that subscription service were leaked last November. If it had come to fruition, customers would have paid a flat rate of $30-per-month for as much programming as they wanted. But it appears this was one step too far for the networks.

Conclusions

This will only work if the majority of networks and media companies agree to the plan. Which they should do if they know what’s good for them.

Sure, they’re still tied to the cable companies but the future is looking a lot different than the present. And keeping all their eggs in one basket would be madness.

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Mobile Video Streaming

Streaming video is moving out of the home and onto the street, literally. Mobile devices, along with the connected living room devices such as Google TV and the new Apple iTV, are now seen as the future of online video.

The Apple iPad, the first of what looks to be a rush of tablets, has played a big part in this change. Many companies have released apps for the iPad, and are gaining viewers (and consequently advertising revenue) from them.

Now, more are looking to jump on the bandwagon.

HBO Makes Its Choice

HBO is keen to offer its content to more people through more sources, but it’s being picky about which sources it gives the OK to.

According to Bloomberg, HBO is forging ahead with its plans for HBO Go, promising to make the service available to subscribers at no extra cost through all cable operators, and on a range of mobile devices including the Apple iPad.

However, Netflix is unlikely to be able to do a deal to also gain content. This is despite the company recently announcing a deal which brings Epix content to its ‘Watch Instantly’ streaming service available exclusively to subscribers.

This seems short-sighted of HBO, but I suspect the company will see the light as Netflix continues to grow.

Verizon Prepares FiOS TV App

Meanwhile, according to CNET, Verizon is developing a set of applications which will see live TV coming to the iPad and other tablet devices.

Subscribers to FiOS TV will, from early next year, be able to watch the same programming on their iPad as they are on their television. The technology to make this possible is now ready, and Verizon is just tidying everything up before pushing it out to customers.

The service will initially only be available within the confines of a customer’s home, with streaming happening via Wi-Fi.

But the company hopes to expand the offering as time passes so that FiOS TV content will eventually be available everywhere. Still only to verified subscribers, however. Which is to be expected.

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Mobile Video Streaming

The world is going mobile, with smartphones, laptops, and tablets providing people with more methods of venturing online while out of the house than ever before. And the consumption of media, including video, is a big part of this trend.

Many streaming video companies are riding with this shift, offering viewers apps for their device of choice. But some, such as Hulu, are trying to profit from the move, by charging for the privilege.

However, there is now a way of bypassing this.

PlayOn Bypasses Apple Store

PlayOn is a company which allows you to stream media from the Web to a variety of devices. And these devices now include the iPhone and iPod Touch. And the iPad as well if you’re willing to follow some instructions.

PlayOn was going to release an app via the Apple App Store, but after continual delays decided to bypass iTunes and offer an HTML5 Web app independently. And this means Hulu can be watched on Apple devices without the need for a Hulu Plus subscription.

The mobile app is free, but it requires a PlayOn subscription to work. This costs $39.99 for the first year, and then $19.99 every year after that. Or you can pay a one-off $79.99 for lifetime membership. There is a free 15-day trial for those not willing to stump up the cash without first trying it out.

Conclusions

I highly suspect Hulu will go all-out to prevent access via the PlayOn app, at least if past experience with Boxee is anything to go by. If that doesn’t happen then this seems like a good deal.

The quality may not be as good as Hulu Plus, but PlayOn is certainly a lot cheaper.

[Via VentureBeat]

Hulu Plus

After months (over a year in fact) of speculation, Hulu finally unveiled its plans for a subscription-based service. And there were very few surprises in the final announcement as we knew it all already.

Hulu Plus will cost $10-per-month, and buy access to: full seasons of current shows; back catalogs of classic shows; access to the service via televisions, games consoles, and mobile devices including the iPhone and iPad.

Reviews Galore

Hulu Plus is currently in beta, with only invited guests able to check out the service. This, of course, includes some websites, many of which have posted their first reviews of Hulu Plus.

Streaming Media appreciated the 720p video over the 480p video available on Hulu.com. They did, however, have a couple of issues with the encoding settings and adverts playing twice. They sum up with “exactly what one would expect it should for ten dollars a month.”

CNET is very pleased with the service, exclaiming, “Hulu Plus freakin’ rocks,” explaining that the “video and audio quality are superb when connected via 3G and Wi-Fi networks.” However, the reviewer is undecided whether they’d pay $10-a-month for Hulu Plus, especially as he’s already a Netflix subscriber.

Engadget also likes the improved video quality over Hulu.com. However, they found the service to be sketchy, and they don’t like the fact that you still have to sit through ads on top of paying the monthly subscription fee.

Will Consumers Bite?

The question still remains as to whether consumers will buy into Hulu Plus when the time comes to actually hand over credit card details and commit. The presence of advertising is clearly going to put some potential subscribers off, while the range of content may be lacking for others.

Until Hulu Plus is fully available to all rather than just the select few, we won’t know whether Hulu is offering enough to justify the $10-per-month fee.

[Via NewTeeVee]

Worst Kept Secret

More than a year after the first talk emerged of a paid version of Hulu, the company has actually got its finger out and unveiled the service.

Spurred on by News Corp. boss Rupert Murdoch, Hulu has been eyeing up a way to charge for a service that is currently available for free. The solution? To keep the free version intact and as is, but offer more, more, more to those people willing to stump up the cash.

Hulu Plus Detailed

Hulu’s subscription service is called ‘Hulu Plus‘, as was expected, and it brings Hulu to a whole range of devices beyond the home computer. Including, as was predicted, the PS3 and Xbox 360 games consoles.

Apple’s iPhone and iPad are also welcome to the party, alongside Internet-connected Samsung televisions and Blu-ray players.

‘Hulu Plus’ has the tagline, “More wherever. More whenever. Than ever.” Which is accurate, if not a little convoluted. As well as more devices, ‘Hulu Plus’ offers more content, both current and classic.

The big selling point is full seasons of current top-rated shows on ABC, NBC, and Fox. These include Glee, Family Guy, The Office, 30 Rock, House, Grey’s Anatomy, and Desperate Housewives. Many of these will be offered in 720p HD.

Full seasons of classic shows also form part of the package, with all seasons of The X-Files, Ally McBeal, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and more available to watch at anytime. Which is a dream for someone with a penchant for DVD boxsets.

Costing & Availability

‘Hulu Plus’ costs $9.99 a month for those who are interested. Those who aren’t are assured the free version of Hulu will remain available as it has been from day one.

The subscription service is being rolled out slowly, with invitations already sent to the first selected few. However, anyone can request a preview invite to get a taste of what will be on offer in the months to come.

Conclusions

This is a bold step by Hulu and the U.S. TV networks backing the company. But it’s highly likely it’ll be a successful one. Bringing Hulu to multiple devices was going to be a must, and charging a subscription fee while retaining advertising could prove a money-spinner.

However, that’s all reliant on people actually paying for the service on offer. $10 a month really isn’t expensive, but being cheap doesn’t necessarily guarantee people will be happy and willing to pay.