Apple Launch Video Download Service In The UK

Apple have bolstered their UK iTunes service with the addition of video downloads. Now Brits will be able to download their favourite TV Programs right onto their pods!

For now the service is pretty much restricted to US TV shows, so if you are a Vicar Of Dibley fan, i wouldn't get your hopes up just yet (Yes, I've already checked). Considering your favourite programs are American then you are just fine! Some of the most notable programs available are Lost, Ugly Betty, Prison Break and Desperate Housewives but there is a whole galaxy more to choose from.

Of course there is a price involved, i mean it is iTunes. In the BBCs story on this new service they made it very clear that "UNLIKE the BBC, Apple will charge their customers £1.89 an episode" and even though they did mention that their own service is just "catch up", they didn't stress too much upon the fact that through iTunes you actually get to KEEP the program apposed to the BBC option where you only get 7 days to watch it before it is snatched from you, never to be seen again! Content downloaded via iTunes can be viewed on iPods, TV (both regular and widescreen) and can also be used through an Apple TV box.

You can check out iTunes new video service at iTunes UK. The variety of shows available is nothing short of excellent!

Topfield PVR - The Sky + (Plus) Replacement

The Topfield PVR Box: It is the Sky Plus Box without the monthly subscribtion fees...

Sky TV has the reputation of being the big boys of the TV world, with the amount of services and the quality of services Sky have on offer, such as Sky + and Sky HD, there is not really much else out there than can compete. Or is there?

Freeview boxes are very popular in the UK and although they don't give you the huge variety of channels that Sky do, at least you are not restricted to episodes of Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks! Plus they are great for the bedroom. Not to mention extremely cheap! With a freeview box however you cannot pause, rewind or record live television like you can with Sky Plus. Well you can now!

The Topfield PVR box is 2 freeview boxes in one and it has a 250 GB Hard Drive. As well as receiving loads more great digital channels for FREE! You can now pause, rewind or record LIVE TV just like the Sky + box. And there is no need for a disastrous dish bolted onto the side of your house, no monthly fees and no installation fee! You just buy the box and that is it, no more spending, no direct debit stealing your well earned pennies every month.... done!

The Topfield PVR can record 2 channels at once while you watch another 2 programs at the same time! Yeah, 2 at the same time, you heard right. But there is more, you'll love this. The Topfield PVR can be hooked up to your PC simply through USB. This means you can transfer stored TV programs from your Topfield box to your PC or transfer files from your PC to your Topfield box. So if you are totally Eastenders daft! You can put episodes of Eastenders on your PC then burn them to DVD! You can be the proud owner of the worlds first Eastenders DVD collection.

Price: £250
Available at: Firebox

BBC iPlayer Update: BBC iPlayer Is Launched Today

BBC iPlayer News

Today BBC have launched their new BBC iPlayer in Public Beta. Want to catch all of the top TV programs from the BBC on your computer? Click here to get BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer Goes Online This Friday

This Friday the BBC will launch the long awaited iPlayer. Having clicked on to the fact that online telly is pretty much in demand, they may have left it a bit later than they should have but who cares, it is here now, well almost.

This means that choosing between YouTube'ing and general web browsing or watching an episode of Eastenders on TV is a thing of the past, after all, why should you have to glance your eyes over to the TV, that just takes WAY too much effort right? Let alone having to stand up to go over and press the button to turn the thing on. Well now you can stay cemented to your computer chair and enjoy both like a "Computer Chair Potato".

A plus point on the iPlayer is that the Beeb have changed it from invite only (like Joost) to Public Beta which means everyone can give it a go! Or does it? Well.... unfortunately it doesn't mean that anyone can give it a go, along with plus points i guess you always have to have..... minus points?

Anyway, that means that their are some drawbacks. For example, BBC iPlayer will only work on Windows XP and will not work on Mac, Linux or Vista initially, down to DRM matters (Yes, damn those bloody DRMs!) Which has resulted in a strong appeal for the player to be banned until it is available to everyone. But fortunately the plan is full steam ahead and it will be released on the 27th July.

As a consolation for Mac, Linux and Vista users, a version is expected to be released for the Mac in the Autumn with Vista and Linux expected to be slightly later. You know, that ain't really much of a consolation is it? If you have ditched XP for a more hip Vista or converted to Mac or Linux, i suggest you fetch it back out of the bottom of the cupboard!

YouTube Launches 9 New International Versions Of The Network

As of today YouTube has launched 9 different new sites. The 9 different sites have been launched across Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. This is apparently only the first step in YouTubes quest to go completely international. So expect even more to come! Each site will be fully translated to the specific country and searches, content and homepages will all be localised.

YouTube have also unveiled new content partners from all around the world. They have struck deals with companies including France 24 and Antena 3 in Spain not to mention football giants such as AC Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid! Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace have also struck deals with the video sharing network.

YouTube Local Sites List:

YouTube Brazil - http://www.youtube.com.br/

YouTube France - http://www.youtube.fr/

YouTube Ireland - http://www.youtube.ie/

YouTube Italy - http://it.youtube.com/

YouTube Japan - http://www.youtube.jp/

YouTube Netherlands - http://www.youtube.nl/

YouTube Poland - http://www.youtube.pl/

YouTube Spain - http://www.youtube.es/

YouTube UK - http://www.youtube.co.uk/

The Nokia N77: Live Television Broadcasts Via Mobile

About a month ago i wrote a post on how Mobile TV was going to be the next big thing on mobile phones, with Italy, Japan and South Korea already in the Mobile TV game. Now Nokia have announced that their Nokia N77 Multimedia computer phone has been released in Finland and is also heading to Vietnam and India later on in the month. Now the guys in Finland can keep up to date on the latest news and see their favourite team in action while on the move. Damn them!

The Nokia N77's TV key gives users direst access to a whole world of TV programs. You can even set a program reminder just like on your Sky box at home! and a 7 day program guide! The N77 also comes with an MP3 player, 2 megapixel camera, web browsing, email access and a 2.4 inch flatscreen.

Check Out The Nokia N77 Here

Online TV Joost Announce 5 New Investors

Online TV service Joost have announced they have raked in $45 million from 5 different investors. The investors include CBS, Viacom, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Li Ka-shing, the chairman of Hutchison Whampoa. CBS and Viacom have already provided content for the service but with other investment the service has been updated and i have seen the channel count rise from around about 10 to 150!

Joost creators Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstroem who were also behind the music site Kazaa are making a good job of dropping their unpopular reputation by creating what is shaping up to be a top service!

Mobile TV To Push Out Music And Games On Phones

Top mobile researchers have announced this week that they believe that it wont be long before TV via mobile will be the peoples number 1 mobile application, ahead of music and gaming. It is pretty unlikely that us Brits will be flicking through the channels on our mobiles any time soon, but, there are services currently available in Japan, South Korea and Italy and they are attracting millions of subscribers! Statistics say that in Japan and South Korea there are 5.8m people watching TV on their mobile phones with millions more watching on other hand held devices and in-car equipment. In Italy, Vodafone and Sky Italia's recently launched Mobile TV service has attracted half a million subscribers. The service has 17 channels to choose from and can be paid for monthly or you can get it for free if you sign up to a contract.

The argument against Mobile TV at the moment is, the majority feel that the quality is not all that great and watching TV on the smallest of screens is not exactly ideal, to be honest, squinting into a mobile phone with my hands cupped around the screen to keep the light out isn't my favourite way to watch TV. One point i want to make here however is that, it wasn't all that long ago where the idea of taking pictures with a phone was wild! and browsing the Internet on your mobile was amazing! and recording your own videos was just insane! The exact same things were said about these applications and now people cant imagine these luxuries not being a part of their mobile. If these guys say that mobile TV is going to be huge, then it is most likely to be true!

Check Out This Video On Mobile TV

ITV Online Service Slaps BBC & C4 In The Face!

Channel 4's On Demand service once looked new and exciting and the BBC's recently announced iPlayer IS the new "new and exciting"online service right? Well, no! ITV have decided to ruin it for BBC and have announced details of their very own online service.

Channel 4's online simulcasts and downloads and BBC's new 7-day web catch up service don't really look all that hot anymore. ITV have really up'd the ante and are offering FREE live streaming of all ITV channels plus a 30-day catch up service. All they ask in return is that you wear a huge grin so they can rub it in the silly monkey faces of the BBC. In saying that however, i have to tell you that watching the Champions League online will still cost ya £20 for a season ticket, no changes there.

The service supposedly will be available in the next few weeks which is another one notched up over the BBC, whose iPlayer isn't due for release until later in the year.

BBC TV Broadcasts Via Mobile Phone

For a trial period BBC have announced they are to broadcast certain BBC TV channels and Radio channels continuously via mobile phone. When i say "certain" TV channels, it is more like "limited" TV channels, no that is a lie as well, i mean more along the lines of "almost no TV channels at all". TV channels on offer are BBC One, BBC News 24 and BBC Three but hey! come on, its better than nothing right? (i say rather sarcastically). Radio channels on offer are Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 6 Music, BBC 7 and the Asian Network.

The trial is expected to start before the end of April and is for a period of 12 months. The service will only be available via Vodafone, Orange and the 3 network.

Viacom Join With Joost To Deliver New TV Programs

TV big boys Viacom are adding programs onto the Joost TV guide. Joost have always said they were looking to add quality to the service sooner rather than later, as i mentioned in my previous post on Joost. Personally i thought it was going to be another flop and nothing half decent was ever going to be available. The new deal between the two however includes programming from Paramount Pictures, the MTV Networks and BET Networks. Some new programs include Real World, Punk'd and Beavis and Butthead. OK they ain't masterpieces or works of art but at least its new! and with this new deal struck up, I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time before it is up and running with a proper package.

Joost are also rumoured to be in talks with Channel 4 and ITV about putting their programs onto the online service. Channel 4 recently started their own online service with 4 On Demand and ITV are thought to be starting the same kind of thing.

Nintendo Wii News Channel Launched

Today Nintendo launched their news channel live on the Wii. Now you don't have to put your Wii controller down and walk away from your beloved Wii when you start to feel that you really should make some contact with the outside world. Simply hop over to the News Channel, find out whats happening in the world, find out what the weather is like outside if your too lazy to get up to open the curtains and see for yourself, and then hop back over to your game! No need to leave the house ever again, your whole life sorted in one box.

Skype Founders Start Internet TV Service Joost

The guys behind Skype are launching what they say is the worlds first broadcast quality online TV service. This new Online TV service has been unveiled under the name of Joost. Joost has been designed in order for broadcasters to get their programmes viewed in front of a global audience allowing viewers to see all kinds of television via Internet.

Chief executive, Frederik de Wahl claims that Joost provides a different experience from all other Internet TV companies. Here's what he had to say about Joost: "We are trying to replicate the complete television experience, it has full-screen, broadcast quality, you've got instant channel flipping, and interactivity - a viewer can come to us and get all their TV needs."

Joost is also going to be supported by advertising which will make it a free service and is currently undergoing trials, but i know what you really want to know, yes, your thinking "what can you actually watch on it". At the moment the line-up consists of sports, documentaries and music programming but Frederik de Wahl says that this is only trial programming and that when the full service is launched it will be much more impressive with a lot more content on offer.

Check out this video on how Joost will work: Joost Video

You can try Joost's trial version for yourself by going to Joost.com

Bt Vision Television

UK Telephone company BT officially launches its new Vision Television service. It includes access to over 40 Freeview Channels via your existing aerial, all the standard channels plus great extras like BBC Three, E4, Film 4, Sky News and CBeebies and over 20 crystal-clear radio stations all for free. Other than the Freeview Channels they have launched are BT Vision Film, BT Vision Sport, BT Vision Kids, BT Vision Music and BT Vision TV and have just signed a contract to view Premiership football Bt Vision also includes Total Television Control which means you can choose WHAT you watch, WHEN you want to watch it! Choose your own start time, pause and rewind live TV and record up to 80 hours of Freeview TV shows. To receive BT Vision in your home you'll need BT Total Broadband. But you simply sign up when purchasing BT Vision. They give you the the BT Vision V-box and a free BT Home Hub wireless router for BT Total Broadband.

Have a look of BT Vision some more at http://www.btvision.bt.com/

Click here to go directly to the online BT Shop