Xbox LIVE Diamond

Microsoft is being heavily tipped to unveil a new Xbox LIVE television service at the E3 Expo next week. Named Xbox LIVE Diamond (codename Orapa), the TV service would add even more video content to the bestselling games console which is already bulging with video content.

According to WinRumors, Microsoft is busy getting the final partners in place before making the big announcement. Orapa would be a monthly subscription service which would cost money on top of what Xbox 360 owners are already paying for the privilege of going online using their consoles.

Console TV Service

It’s unclear at this point exactly what form Xbox LIVE Diamond will take because the service is shrouded in secrecy and its existence is only based on rumor and speculation. The Diamond name suggests an added layer of features above what is currently available, with the paid plan currently known as Xbox LIVE Gold. And everyone knows Diamond is better than Gold.

It could be that the service is intended purely as a Mediaroom client, giving cable subscribers another device capable of streaming programming, or it could be that the service will be much, much more than that and effectively turn Microsoft into a TV provider in its own right. Or anything in between these two extremes.

Conclusions

This rumor is so strong I can only assume it’s based in reality. There have actually been rumors of a similar nature for months, so all eyes will be on E3 2011 next week waiting for this announcement.

Microsoft claims 40 percent of activity undertaken on the Xbox 360 is non-gaming, which would suggest there will be a lot of demand for this type of service. Games consoles are increasingly becoming living room entertainment hubs, and this will be another step in that direction.

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Hulu Premium

It was a full year ago when talk first began of a subscription-based Hulu. The announcement and subsequent release of the Apple iPad tablet brought new rumors.

The latest, emerging in April, being that the service is called ‘Hulu Plus’, costs $9.95-per-month, and is coming to iPad and smartphones via dedicated apps.

But what would Hulu Plus buy you exactly? The most recent five episodes limit would be lifted so that full seasons of popular shows could potentially become available. And adverts could, but not necessarily, disappear. Is that worth $9.95? I’m not convinced.

Hulu On Xbox 360?

E3 2010 is this year’s holding of the annual conference when games developers, publishers, and console manufacturers show off their latest wares. And while Microsoft is expected to show off Project Natal, there are rumors that Hulu could also play a part in its media briefing kicking off at 10am PDT on June 14.

Gear Live reports a very reliable source as informing them that Hulu will be unveiled as a new feature of Xbox Live (the online service) at E3.

This wouldn’t be a massive shock as the Xbox 360 already has Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’ fully integrated. However, it would be a surprise move as it would be the first time Hulu was available to watch on TVs rather than computers.

The further suggestion is that Hulu on Xbox 360 would require some kind of subscription fee. Which strongly indicates this would be the first sighting of ‘Hulu Plus’, the paid-for version of the service which we’ve all known has been on the way since last year.

Conclusions

This is merely a rumor at this stage, and one I can’t fathom actually being true. It would mean the networks behind Hulu doing a complete about-turn on allowing their content to be viewed on TV. They made damn sure Boxee couldn’t deliver the service to viewers in this way.

I would have also bet the farm on ‘Hulu Plus’ coming to the Apple iPad first, not the Xbox 360. I guess we’ll know the truth come June 14.

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Video Games Consoles

Games consoles are increasingly becoming a central hub for entertainment, way beyond gaming. Thanks to all three current-gen home consoles, the Xbox 360 from Microsoft, the PS3 from Sony, and the Wii from Nintendo, being able to connect to the Internet, a whole new world has opened up.

The three consoles offer different online TV services. All of them now carry Netflix, with the Wii being the most recent device to join the party. The Wii and PS3 also carry BBC iPlayer in the U.K., and the PS3 has VidZone, a free, ad-supported music video player.

Xbox Live TV

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft has held talks with Peter Chernin, former President of News Corp., about creating an online television channel on the Xbox 360.

The channel would be available exclusively to Xbox Live subscribers, and would offer a mixture of original programming and reruns of existing shows.

It looked for a time as though Conan O’Brien would be producing a show exclusively for Xbox 360 owners, but he eventually signed to TBS. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that O’Brien’s show would have been the headline act on this new channel. But it wasn’t to be.

To Pay Or Not To Pay?

An online TV channel exclusive to the Xbox 360 sounds great, obviously, but the funding for it has to come from somewhere. And this is where the controversial part of the plan comes into the equation.

Chernin is said to have suggested the subscription price of Xbox Live gets raised by $1- to $2-a-month. Xbox Live Gold subscribers currently pay $50-per-year for the privilege, so a $12/$24 charge on top of that would certainly be noticed.

If this were to happen, I’d suggest instead that the whole venture be funded by advertising, which is less likely to cause dissension amongst the ranks of Xbox 360 owners. Make them pay and they’ll likely resent the channel rather than embrace it.

Conclusions

I’d love to see this happen. It would further cement the role games consoles are filling as an important driver of online video, and would be another option alongside Netflix and the like for Xbox 360 owners’ consumption of online media.

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Adhering to a budget is the name of the game during tough economic times like these and many Americans are looking for ways to cut bills. One popular way has been eliminating ye olde cable bill from your life.

By pulling the plug on cable and satellite television, consumers may be saving more than $1,500 a year. There are many popular options out there such as plugging in your computer to the TV to watch Hulu, a Apple TV/Boxxee box or Roku, but for many, purchasing more equipment defeats the purpose of a budget. 

Streaming television on a video game system is becoming a popular method for those looking to save some cash and since many Americans already have a gaming device, it’s really just a natural progression. Though it’s possible to use a Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii for streaming TV, we’ll focus on Xbox 360 as there seems to be more content capabilities. 

Xbox 360 Streaming in the UK

If you live in Great Britain, using Xbox 360 to stream content over a broadband internet connection will be pretty easy and best of all, it’s supported. Sky, one of England’s most popular channels for sitcoms, sports and movies offers Sky Player, a premium online service that can be used on your PC or Xbox 360. As Satellite TV Guru says

"a downer in this is that there is no current streaming of HD since English broadband speeds are not fast enough".

The non HD service will enable residents to watch their Manchester United or any show through Sky Player’s “on demand” features. Think Hulu only with dry humor. Sadly this capability is restricted to viewers inside the friendly confines of Great Britain so Yanks are out of luck.

Or are they?

U.S Viewers & Xbox 360 Streaming – PlayOn

PlayOn, a console application from MediaMall, can be loaded on your Xbox 360 and through the application, viewers can access streams from Hulu, YouTube, CBS, ESPN, CNN and Netflix to bring you some of the best internet video content.

Also if you live in or near a major city and have a standard local antenna, you can also have access to digital signals so visibility to local channels is also possible. Through Hulu, viewers can watch popular programming from ABC, NBC and select shows from Fox. The content provider, brought to you by said networks, has become a popular alternative to cable.

PlayOn is available for a free 14-day full-featured trial and after that it is a one-time $39.99 fee to purchase a license. Considering what viewers can potentially save from having cable, the savings is incredible.

Configuring PlayOn

Configuration isn’t a big deal. Enter in your Netflix and Hulu account information and PlayOn can access your account settings or stream information from those sites. You don’t need an account for Hulu but by signing up you can quickly gain access to saved content without having to skip through multiple pages.

PlayOn also features Amazon VOD, which offers rentals and some pre-theatrical releases along with television shows. While the service is paid, the content is not. Amazon makes purchasing content easy by using your existing Amazon account and credit card on file. 

The Downsides?

Some things to consider if you’re using your Xbox360 is your internet connection and resolution on your TV. Streaming content does take a massive amount of bandwidth so if you don’t have a solid connection, viewers may run into never-ending buffering issues.

Also, if you have a HDTV, don’t expect HD content or the resolution to appear as it did with Cable or Satellite TV. Those are just aspects to consider if you’re planning on cutting the cord.

Also See

• Xbox 360 Gets More Downloadable Movies | Consoles Important Drivers Of Online Video
• Get Movies from Vongo on the Xbox 360
• Watch Netflix Movies On Xbox 360
• Stream SopCast channels to your TV with an Xbox

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Netflix On Xbox 360

Xbox 360 owners gained access to Netflix’s ‘Watch Instantly’ video-on-demand streaming service last November with the roll-out of the long-awaited New Xbox Experience. This gave Xbox Live subscribers access to the 12,000-plus movies and television episodes Netflix gives away to its subscribers.

This was just the latest step in the evolution of video games consoles from being meant just for games to becoming true multimedia devices designed as living room entertainment hubs.

Games Consoles = Entertainment Hubs

Since then, all three home games consoles, the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii have added video to their line-up of offerings.

The Xbox 360 has secured more television and movies on both sides of the Atlantic, with content from NBC Universal amongst other. 1080p HD Zune playback and a console version of the Sky Player are also on the way to the Microsoft console.

The PS3 has added a music video service called Vidzone to its line-up, which acts like an on-demand MTV. Thanks to its in-built Web browser, the likes of Hulu and the BBC iPlayer can also be viewed on the Sony console.

The Wii hasn’t faired quite as well, but its Web browser can also stream video in the same way the PS3 can. And with YouTube rolling out a version of the site intended purely for watching on television, Wii owners aren’t without options.

New Netflix Features

Today saw Microsoft unveil another update to its Xbox 360 dashboard. It includes several new features for Netflix playback. Party Watch is a social feature that enables Netflix users to watch content together on their Xbox 360 consoles.

While improved playback functionality, an improved search function, and more information regarding what your friends are watching all add to the usefulness of Netflix on the Xbox 360.

Netflix An Xbox 360 Exclusive?

Interestingly, the patch notes for the update also includes a section concerning the exclusivity of Netflix on games consoles:

“This exclusive partnership offers you the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via Xbox 360. Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience, available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix unlimited plan subscribers, at no additional cost.”

This promise for the Xbox 360 to “be the only game console” featuring Netflix Watch Instantly flies in the face of rumors from April which suggested the service was also on its way to the PS3 and Wii.

Either Microsoft has secured a long-term exclusivity agreement with Netflix or it’s hedging its bets that Netflix will decide not to branch out and welcome rival consoles to the party. Either way, the Xbox 360 looks to have secured Netflix for the foreseeable future.

[Via NewTeeVee]

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Games Consoles

I’ve been banging on for a while now about the importance of video games consoles in getting online video into the living room. That’s because I firmly believe these Internet-connected devices are key to getting quality streaming content onto people’s televisions rather than only on computers as it generally is at the moment.

We’ve already seen a fair few advances in this area. Both the Wii and PS3 are able to provide users with access to Web-based television services such as the BBC iPlayer, Joost, and Hulu. While the Xbox 360, which has no Web browser capability, has Netflix and now the Sky Player providing both downloadable and live streaming video.

Microsoft At E3 2009

At E3 2009, this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo held in Los Angeles, Microsoft unveiled even bigger and more ambitious plans for online video on the Xbox 360, which are detailed below. What’s clear is that Microsoft realizes the potential for online video and has also realized that in the Xbox 360 it has a ready-made delivery system installed in millions of homes around the world.

The Xbox 360 video service will be rebranded as the Zune video marketplace. Streaming content will now be available in 18 countries up from 8, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Australia. TV shows and movie will now be available instantly rather than the current system of queue and view.

Full HD On Xbox 360

Xbox 360 video is already available in 720p high-definition but this is being pushed to 1080p full high-definition. Video playback will begin at low bitrates in order to allow for instant viewing but will soon ramp up to 1080p with 5.1 audio. Microsoft claims this new method of video delivery will be as close to the “disc in the drive” experience as is possible over the Internet.

Microsoft’s hook-up with BSkyB to bring the Sky Player to the Xbox 360 in the UK and Ireland was confirmed. And the feature mentioned alongside that which allows for social viewing of sports is to be rolled-out for other content in other territories as well. So a bunch of Xbox 360 friends will be able to watch a movie together using a virtual theater.

Conclusions

These are exciting times for console owners because they are getting treated as the innovators and early-adopters of online video coming to the living room. Microsoft, for once, is actually leading the charge rather than following in other’s footsteps. Whether Sony and Nintendo can now keep up remains to be seen.

Games consoles are ready-made set-top boxes just waiting for online video content to be added to them. All three of the current-gen home consoles, the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii, can be hooked up to the Internet and that feature can easily be used for streaming video as well as the intended use of online gaming.

Console Content

Each of the three consoles has seen some movement of late on video content being added. The PS3 is probably in the best position because its built-in Web browser means the Sony console is able to access Hulu, the BBC iPlayer, Joost, and any other streaming video service available on the Web. Xbox 360 owners instead have to rely on applications being added to their console’s dashboard.

It has secured quite a lot of content though. Xbox 360 owners in the U.S. have access to Netflix’s ‘Watch Instantly’ playlist, although they’re not alone. It’s rarer these days for a set-top box or Internet-enabled device NOT to have Netfix integration. Thus proving the company’s commitment to video on-demand.

Xbox Sky Player

Now, it’s been announced that Sky Player is coming to the Xbox 360 in the UK. PS3 owners can already access Sky Player online through their Web browsers but this is a new, specially developed version just for the Microsoft console.

A rough release date of Autumn has been given but there are no details on pricing yet. The Web-based Sky Player service sees existing subscribers with multi-room given access to the channels they subscribe to; non-multi-room subscribers having to pay a fee for a Sky Player account; non-subscribers having to pay the same fee they would to have the full Sky service in their homes. I can’t see it being much different on the Xbox 360.

Xbox Sky Player viewers will have access to sports, movies, and other programming, all of which will be streamed live or on-demand. A 1Mb Broadband connection is required and all programming will be delivered in SD DVD quality. The service will be integrated into the Xbox 360 dashboard and will have Xbox 360-specific features such as the use of avatars and the ability to talk to other viewers in real-time.

Conclusions

The Sky Player service, on the Xbox 360 or otherwise, is only available to people resident in the UK and Ireland. But there is speculation that this deal could be followed by similar ones in the States with content-providers other than Sky, possibly to be announced as early as E3 2009 next week.

This is just yet another example of how games consoles are becoming an important element in the evolution of online video and digital streaming. They are already sat next next to your TV, hooked up to the Internet, and powerful enough to stream good-quality content. So it makes sense to use them to their full potential.

[Via BBC News and TechRadar]

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Netflix Overstretches

Netflix is making huge headway in making the idea of digital downloads and streaming mainstream. By making its ‘Watch Instantly’ service available on all manner of devices, it is getting into millions of homes in the U.S. But is it overstretching itself?

Netflix is now available not only on PC, but on a range of devices including the Xbox 360, the Roku box, a hybrid Blu-ray player, and even a new range of Internet-enabled televisions. But in order to serve these different devices, is it throttling some aspects of its streaming service?

Bandwidth Throttling

There is one glaring issue facing the streaming and downloading of movies and television content, particularly as high-definition becomes more common. That is, Broadband speeds and Internet connections being able to handle the bandwidth needed to allow for a good user experience.

This is already an issue, with many ISPs not offering fast enough speeds, or the infrastructure not in place in many areas of the world to make these distribution methods a possibility. But the issue is compounded by the problem of throttling, with ISPs known to purposely slow down the connection speeds for people downloading a lot of data.

In the United States, this has mainly been confined to people downloading torrents over P2P networks, with ISPs such as Comcast being warned over such behavior by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). In the UK, ISPs have expressed displeasure over the BBC iPlayer and how it is costing them money. And it’s happening all around the world.

Netflix Throttling Itself?

A thought-provoking post on The Break it down Blog investigates whether Netflix has started throttling its service to PC users. The author, Riyad Kalla, has noticed a deterioration of the Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’ service on his PC compared to on his Xbox 360.

He details how he determined that it was Netflix rather than his ISP, Qwest, doing the throttling and asks whether this is due to Netflix having contractual obligations to provide a certain level of service to Microsoft via the Xbox 360.

Conclusions

The comments on the blog post address the various issues, and make for interesting reading. While it’s not 100 percent cut and dried that Netflix is to blame for this worsening of its service, the possibility does make me wonder if the company has maybe overstretched itself by moving onto one too many devices.

Streaming and digital downloading isn’t going to truly take off if the companies involved, including the ISPs who effectively act as middle-men cannot guarantee a fast and efficient service. With Netflix looking to offer a streaming-only service in the future, this could prove to be a business-killer in the long run.

Netflix U.S. Only

When the Xbox 360 recently got a makeover to the New Xbox Experience, Xbox Live users in the U.S. gained access to the full range of ‘Watch Now’ movies on Netflix. That’s over 12,000 titles that are now available to stream through the Xbox and onto your television.

Unfortunately, Netflix is a U.S. only operation, and so Xbox 360 users in Europe and elsewhere weren’t afforded such luxury. But now, those of us in the UK and Ireland are at last starting to get some titles filtering through. Paramount, Warner Bros., and MGM already offer titles through the system, and now another studio has climbed on board.

Universal Movies Deal

Universal Movies has done a deal with Microsoft to bring its movies, both old and new, to Xbox Live. All the titles will be downloadable for between £2.10 and £4.50, depending on the age of the movie and whether you want it in standard or high definition.

The initial offering of 29 films includes classics such as The Incredible Hulk, Shaun Of The Dead, The Blues Brothers, and Scarface. Once downloaded, a movie will remain on the console’s hard drive for 14 days, but once playback is commenced, you have just 24 hours to finish watching.

Movies But Not TV

So, that’s movies sorted out, but what about TV shows? Stephen McGill, Head of gaming and entertainment at Xbox 360 informed T3 that streaming television isn’t a priority at present, with the main focus being on delivering the best film titles.

The reasoning behind this decision is, rather bizarrely, that Microsoft thinks people already have enough ways to watch television. McGill stated:

“People are already consuming TV shows through other mediums – if I want to watch something, I can watch it on my TV, my laptop or use services like the iPlayer. It’s not necessary to offer consumers another way of watching TV, Xbox users want movies”.

Unfortunately, this means Microsoft doesn’t seem interested in having the BBC iPlayer available through the Xbox 360. The iPlayer is already available on the Wii and on the PS3 via its built-in Web browser. YouTube has also been given a TV friendly makeover for PS3 fans.

Conclusions

The Universal deal just underlines how important games consoles are in making online video and television and movie downloads mainstream and accessible to all. Between them, the three current-gen consoles offer a multitude of different options for gamers to download or stream content.

As the range of devices in the living room, from Internet-enabled television, set-top boxes, and Blu-ray players increases, games consoles also have their place. All of the modern ones offer multimedia experiences in which online video is a key ingredient.

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The New Xbox Experience is an overhaul of the existing Xbox Live online service available to all Xbox 360 owners with an Internet connection. And Web video is now part of the deal.

Xbox 360 owners can now stream any of 12,000 movies and television episodes through their console direct to their TV. And it’s all free for existing Netflix subscribers and Xbox Live Gold members.

Netflix On Xbox 360

The deal between Microsoft and Netflix was announced back in July at the E3 Media and Business Summit. But the service was delayed until the New Xbox Experience was launched on Nov. 19.

This deal is just one of a number made by Netflix in recent months which is seeing its library of streaming content becoming available on a huge range of products.

Netflix Growing In Stature

Netflix is rapidly becoming one of the most important player in the streaming video business, and has existing deals already in place with Roku and LG. The Xbox 360 is now the third TV-connected living room device with the ability to stream Netflix content.

High Definition Video

Netflix is also now offering high-definition movies as part of its online service, following in the footsteps of VUDU. There are initially only 300 HD choices available but the range will increase massively over time.

Sony Show Bitterness

There is one omission to content available on Xbox 360 however, with Sony decided to make any movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment unplayable on the Playstation 3’s rival console.

The Sony movies will still be watchable on PCs, Macs, and other Netfix enabled set-top boxes but Sony seems to have taken a rather obvious and snide decision to prevent the competition from benefiting from its intellectual property.

Bigger Issues

There also seems to be some problems with getting the Netflix ‘Watch Now’ feature to work on the Xbox 360, but that’s probably just teething problems that will be fixed sooner rather than later.

One issue that is here to stay is the ever-present one of territorial rights control. With DVDs and TV shows region locked, so is Netflix, so any Xbox 360 owner outside of the U.S. is out of luck. So for me in the U.K., the New Xbox Experience just means new reasons to be disappointed.

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