Another day, another mobile device blocked by Hulu. But is this level of control over who can stream its content and from where really all that necessary?

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.

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The good news is that Apple is pushing to secure a 99-cent price for individual episodes of shows for its customers. The bad news is that to do so it’s had to abandon plans for a monthly eat-all-you-can subscription offering. Shame.

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.

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The iPad really is becoming the mobile device of choice for companies looking to spread their wares further afield. And the Apple tablet should open the door for many other devices to gain streaming video apps.

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.

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PlayOn has managed to bypass the Apple App Store completely using an HTML5-powered Web app. Which gives access to Hulu, Netflix, and other online video services through the iPhone, iPod Touch, and (with a workaround) the iPad.

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.

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The first reviews of Hulu Plus are in, and they’re generally very positive about the service and the longterm potential of it. But persuading reviewers granted early access to like it is one thing, persuading paying customers to do the same is quite another.

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.

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Finally, Hulu has decided to let us in on its plans. All the rumors turn out to have been true, with the name, price, compatible devices, and content having been guessed at prior to today’s official launching of what Hulu hopes is the future of online video.

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.

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As the world becomes mobile, every sector of the tech world is going to have to adapt. Broadcast TV is one of those sectors, which is why the testing of an Integrated Mobile Broadcast technology is big news.

The Future Is Mobile

There’s a definite feeling that the future is mobile. Desktops have had their day, and even bulky laptops and netbooks are slowly going out of fashion. The reason for this change? Mobile devices.

Gone are the days when a mobile phone could only be used to call people, and to send and receive text messages. Now, smartphones are becoming increasingly complex and able to multitask.

Then there are tablets such as the Apple iPad which are able to stream media content such as music and video via the Web.

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