Slingbox Rival Vulkano Flow Copies TV to Phones, Tablets - PC Magazine

Monsoon Multimedia said Tuesday that its Vulkano Flow, a $99.99 rival to the Slingbox, will now actually store recorded media on smartphones and tablets for later offline viewing.

Previously, the Flow - a set-top box that sits next to a DVR, and was launched this past January at the Consumer Electronics Show - only streamed live content to smartphones and tablets, allowing live TV to be "placeshifted" to digital devices.

Now, Monsoon will actually store the content on the tablet or smartphone, which must be connected via Wi-Fi to actually record the video to the device. Once on there, the video can paused, rewound, and fast forwarded, as a DVR can. (The Flow can also control and stream video from a DVR, Monsoon has said.)

The new Vulkano Flow capabilities are compatible with iPhones, iPads and Android devices, Monsoon said. To enable the connected device capability, however, users must also purchase the associated app for $12.99 each. The player software is free for Windows and Mac.

A representative of Monsoon said that more than one recording could be stored on a tablet or a phone for offline viewing. Although one might think that each video file could theoretically be copied, the video will be encrypted to prevent unauthorized copying, the Monsoon representative said.

Existing and proposed TiVo apps, as well as the SlingBox, allow content to be streamed to external devices, not stored. "You can watch live TV anywhere in the world, and what the news is is that you can directly record that television content to the mobile phone," the Monsoon spokeswoman said.

"The Vulkano line of devices has been created to offer consumers the ultimate flexibility in entertainment and we are proud to be the first to offer direct recording and DVR for mobile devices," said Colin Stiles, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Monsoon, in a statement. "Consumers are making smartphones and tablets an essential part of their every day lives and are expecting to view and browse the TV content that they pay for at their leisure, no matter where they are in the world."

Video can be stored on either the iPad, iPhone, or Android at "D1" or 640-by-480 resolutions or 352-by-240 resolutions. At maximum quality, each hour of video requires about a gigabyte of storage, the Monsoon representative said.

In related news, Sling Media has launched a beta program whereby users can sign up and watch their home Slingbox via a Google TV. "Soon you will be able to extend your complete living room HDTV experience to any TV around your home, or another TV in any location where you have an Internet connection," Sling said.

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Huawei unveils MediaPad - Al-Bawaba

Huawei, a leading telecom solutions provider, today announced the launch date of the Huawei MediaPad, the world’s first 7-inch Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet. The MediaPad is a complete entertainment powerhouse driven by Qualcomm’s dual-core 1.2GHz processor, supported by Huawei Device’s Hi-Space cloud solution and Google Android Market. The MediaPad provides a fabulous user-experience in a stylish, high-performing and ultra-portable package.

The MediaPad is Huawei Device’s smartest, slimmest and lightest tablet yet, measuring just 10.5mm (0.4 inches) deep and weighing approximately 390g (0.86 pounds). It supports 1080P full HD video playback and features a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera and 5 megapixel auto focus rear facing camera with HD video recording capabilities. With HSPA+ 14.4Mbps and high-speed WiFi 802.11n Internet connectivity, the MediaPad doesn’t just entertain – it keeps you connected.

“With the Huawei MediaPad, we are demonstrating yet again that design, functionality and performance is within anyone’s reach. The 7-inch tablet remains the preferred size for portability and Android Honeycomb 3.2 is dedicated to enhance the full potential of 7-inch tablets. Huawei is very pleased to be the first to offer this package to consumers globally,” said Dai Shengwei, President of Huawei Terminal Middle East. “The MediaPad opens up new worlds of entertainment for consumers by removing the barriers to tablet ownership, enabling access to a truly high-quality mobile entertainment experience fully integrated with cloud-based internet content.”

An Out-of-this-World Entertainment Experience

The MediaPad supports HSPA+ data services, Flash 10.3 videos and comes preinstalled with applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Let's Golf and Documents to Go. With the 7-inch IPS touch screen, the MediaPad offers a standout visual experience for photos, movies and applications. Entertainment and gaming experience are taken to the next level with the MediaPad’s 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor, HD playback and HDMI port.

Expansion of Huawei Device’s Smart Offerings

The MediaPad builds on the global success of the IDEOS S7 Slim tablet and cements Huawei Device’s ability to cater to the explosive demand for tablets. According to the International Data Corporation, sales in the tablet market are expected to increase more than fourfold in the next two years. The MediaPad will be showcased at Huawei’s “Smart for Transformation” booth at CommunicAsia 2011 in Singapore. Along with Huawei’s latest range of smart devices, the MediaPad is a prime example of Huawei Device’s focus on the power of practical innovation.

An Arabized version of the MediaPad will be available in the Middle East by mid-November 2011, while the English version will be available by mid-September 2011.

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Juniper Networks and OnLive Partner to Deliver Instant Access to Any ... - MarketWatch (press release)

SUNNYVALE, CA and PALO ALTO, CA (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Juniper Networks /quotes/zigman/202982/quotes/nls/jnpr JNPR -0.83% and OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand, instant-play video games and applications, today announced they are entering into a strategic partnership under which Juniper will be the exclusive networking provider for OnLive's network infrastructure. Additionally, the two companies plan to jointly develop cloud-based services for the enterprise that will deliver a media-rich, interactive experience to mobile, desktop and presentation devices -- instantly, simply and securely from any location.

Powered by Juniper Networks, OnLive would provide consumers and enterprise customers with unmatched performance, security, reliability and true flexibility across both physical and virtual environments. Using OnLive's instant response video compression technology and Juniper Networks(R) Junos(R) Pulse client, the experience of remotely-accessed desktops and applications -- whether on a PC, Mac, iPad, Android tablet or OnLive-enabled TV or monitor -- would be indistinguishable from a local one.

By moving computing functions to the network, OnLive is defining the next generation of cloud computing. OnLive's cloud-based video compression technology has revolutionized the way video games are played, both in the home and on mobile devices, as a user's computer or device becomes nothing more than a means for display and input. By applying this same technology to the enterprise, even media-rich content and bandwidth-intensive applications can be delivered instantly, simply and securely to mobile desktops and devices via the cloud. With an end-to-end infrastructure powered by Juniper Networks, OnLive's new network would not only change the way OnLive's entertainment applications are created, delivered and consumed, but enable the security and robustness required for enterprise applications.

"OnLive's cloud gaming technology places unprecedented demands on network infrastructure, and Juniper is the only network provider that is able to meet these requirements," said Steve Perlman, president and CEO of OnLive. "Juniper's state-of-the-art performance and security also makes them the ideal partner as OnLive extends the same no-compromise cloud hosting technology to enterprise applications, leapfrogging the entire desktop virtualization industry. A remote desktop experience would be the same as a local desktop experience on any connected device, regardless of the application or content, so users could enjoy all the benefits of desktop virtualization without any of the hassles."

"Online gaming is among the most intensive applications in the world where users expect precision and immediate response. It requires a powerful and highly reliable network that doesn't compromise user experience," said Kevin Johnson, CEO of Juniper Networks. "OnLive and Juniper share a commitment to delivering innovative, ground-breaking technologies, and we are excited to partner together to push the boundaries of cloud computing and redefine how rich interactive media are delivered."

Today, OnLive already has an integrated network with Juniper Networks EX Series Ethernet Switches, MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers and SRX Series Services Gateways that ensure consistency, high performance, reliability and security at scale. To meet the growing demands of its cloud-based infrastructure, OnLive will also deploy:

-- Juniper Networks QFabric(TM) Solution-- As OnLive's exclusive data center fabric provider, Juniper will provide OnLive with a superior approach to building and securing its virtualized data centers in California, Texas and Virginia, and enable exponential improvements in data center speed, scale and efficiency. -- Junos Pulse-- A simple-to-use, comprehensive solution comprised of secure remote access for mobile devices, mobile device security, and comprehensive device policy enforcement and management, Junos Pulse would enable users of all mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and netbooks, to securely access OnLive cloud-based applications.

Through this strategic partnership, Juniper Networks is entering into an agreement with OnLive to jointly collaborate on creating additional value-added services and feature-rich applications using Junos Pulse. As OnLive looks beyond gaming and expands into new markets and platforms, such as enterprise systems, Juniper Networks will provide OnLive with a new network that will transform the economics and experience of networking for its customers.

The OnLive Game Service delivers users the latest high-performance, top-tier games instantly to almost any device, eliminating the need for expensive local consoles or high-end PCs. In addition to availability on almost all PCs and Macs, through partnerships with VIZIO, HTC and others, OnLive expects to be available by the end of 2011 on 25 million Internet TVs, 50 million Blu-ray players and 25 million tablets in the US and the UK. In 2012, OnLive expects to be available on most devices that support video streaming services such as Netflix, making console-class gaming as accessible as movies are today. Juniper's network infrastructure will enable OnLive to scale to this degree of ubiquity while maintaining the absolutely no-compromise performance that video games demand.

About OnLive OnLive is the pioneer of on-demand, instant-play video game services, delivering real-time interactive experiences and rich media through the Internet. With groundbreaking video compression technology, OnLive harnesses cloud computing to provide the power and intelligence needed to instantly deliver the latest, premium game titles to any HDTV via the OnLive Game System or nearly any PC and Mac via a small browser download. The OnLive Viewer app is available for the iPad and is coming soon for Android tablets. OnLive technology is backed by hundreds of patents and patents pending. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. OnLive investors include Warner Bros., Autodesk, Maverick Capital, AT&T, British Telecommunications (BT), The Belgacom Group and HTC. More information is available at www.onlive.com .

About Juniper Networks Juniper Networks is in the business of network innovation. From devices to data centers, from consumers to cloud providers, Juniper Networks delivers the software, silicon and systems that transform the experience and economics of networking. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks ( www.juniper.net ).

Juniper Networks and Junos are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The Juniper Networks and Junos logos are trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. OnLive is a registered trademark of OnLive, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Juniper Networks Media Relations: Cindy Ta (408) 936-6131 cta@juniper.net Juniper Networks Investor Relations: Kathleen Nemeth (408) 936-5397 knemeth@juniper.net OnLive Media Relations: Jane Anderson (650) 543-5508 jane.anderson@onlive.com

SOURCE: Juniper Networks

mailto:cta@juniper.net mailto:knemeth@juniper.net mailto:jane.anderson@onlive.com

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Sony's cloud-based, digital music service now on Android - msnbc.com

Sony

Xperia arc Home, "Music Unlimited" cloud-based digital music service

Following recent announcements this spring from Apple, Amazon and Google about cloud-based, digital music services, Sony has now made available on Android its version, Music Unlimited, which boasts access to about seven million songs. 

The licensed songs are available from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide. 

Unlike Amazon, Google or Apple, you'll have to pay for this cloud, no matter if you go for the basic monthly subscription plan or the premium. For $4 there's a music matching service, similar to Apple's for $25 a year; for $10 there's an unlimited catalog on-demand access to music, like Rhapsody or Rdio, and access to hundreds of music channels. The premium level also allows for synced playlists, consolidation of old and new in one library and a free 30-day trial.

Music Unlimited has been in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand since February (debuting it in December in the U.K. and Ireland), but the company has, after all, been mired in the PlayStation Network security breach this spring in which hackers took private information from some 102 million personal accounts.

The digital music service (powered by the Qriocity App on Android Market) will be available to users in the U.S., France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.

Users can access the service on Sony Ericsson’s Android-based mobile devices, including: Xperia arc, Xperia Play, Xperia X10, Xperia X8 and Xperia neo as well as other Android-based devices. The vast array of Sony Internet-connected devices can also be used, including 2010 and 2011 models of Bravia HDTVs, blu-ray disc players and home theater systems, as well as the PlayStation devices, which were the primary ways to access Music Unlimited before the expansion of service to Android. 

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Dolphin Browser HD 6 beta for Android turns web pages into magazines - Mobiputing

The folks behind the popular Dolphin Browser HD web browser for Android have finally worked out the page loading kinks in version 5.x of the mobile browser. So what’s next? Dolphin Browser HD 6 beta, of course. You can download an early version of the next-generation browser for free from the Android Market.

There’s one major new feature in Dolphin 6.0. It’s called Webzine, and it basically allows you to populate your home page with a list of icons for news, entertainment, sports, or tech web sites. But when you tap on the icon instead of simply opening a web page you’re greeted with a streamlined page with headlines, images, and maybe a little text. You can swipe left or right or up and down to load additional articles. And tapping any article will bring up an article excerpt.

Dolphin Browser HD 6 strips the advertising and formatting from the articles in the Webzine view, but since the app shows excerpts instead of full articles, and links to the full web site, I’m not sure if this will cause any problems in the long run. On the other hand, the fact that Dolphin only shows excerpts makes the Webzine view kind of useless. Pretty, but useless.

You can install Dolphin Browser HD 6 beta alongside version 5.1, and you can even import your settings.

via Android Police

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Brad Linder is editor of Mobiputing.com and Liliputing.com. He's been tinkering with mobile tech for decades and writing about it since 2006. Brad has also worked with NPR, WHYY, PRI, and Download Squad.

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Vizio Readies 8-Inch Tablet - Twice

New York - Vizio announced summertime availability of its first tablet, a Wi-Fi model equipped with 8-inch touchscreen and IR blaster to double as a universal remote.

The VTAB1008 tablet from Vizio
The company did not mention which version of the Android OS is used, nor did it disclose a price, but it did say the VTAB1008 would use an interface that the company will adopt across multiple home entertainment products, including TVs and Blu-ray players, that will access the web and download apps from the Android Market.

Vizio outlined its plans here at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Line Show, though it also showed the product and its first smartphone, also Android-based, at January's International CES.

The tablet, due in retail stores nationwide in the summer, features 1GHz processor, 8-inch 1,024 by 768 capacitive touchscreen, built-in GPS, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity and extended battery lasting up to 10 hours depending on usage, the company said. Other features include  2GB of onboard storage, MicroSD card slot supporting an additional 32GB, HD video playback, micro HDMI output and front-facing camera video chats.  Three embedded speakers deliver stereo playback in portrait and landscape mode.

A built-in universal remote control app features codes for 95 percent of remote-controllable devices on the U.S. market, the company said.

Shopatron is the world's leading provider of global eCommerce for consumer goods. With Shopatron, orders placed on branded websites are offered to a managed network of global partners for fulfillment, typically for assignment to local retailers. Local fulfillment translates to..more

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Sorry HTML 5, mobile apps are used more than the web - GigaOm

Mobile applications are commanding more attention on smartphones than the web, highlighting the need for strong app stores on handset platforms. For the first time since Flurry, a mobile analytics firm, has been reporting engagement time of apps and web on smartphones, software is used on average for 81 minutes per day vs 74 minutes of web use. Just a year ago, mobile web use outnumbered time spent on apps with 64 minutes as compared to 43 minutes. Trends are ever subject to change, but this one indicates that we’ll be waiting longer for HTML 5 web apps to unify the world of mobile devices.

What are our mobile app minutes spent doing? Flurry, which monitors software on  iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and J2ME platforms, says we’re a growing community of gamers, with 47 percent of our app time spent playing. Social networking followed up with 32 percent, while news, entertainment and other activities each accounted for single digits.

The entertainment figure of only 7 percent seems low to me given that mobile video, a time-intensive activity, is popular: Some data suggests that iPad users watch 2.5 times more video than traditional web users, for example. While YouTube has a solid mobile web interface, many platforms kick users into a native YouTube application. Last July, YouTube said it was serving 100 million videos per day through both its mobile software and website.

Regardless of that potential anomaly, the data underscores a few points I’ve made about mobile app ecosystems: If a platform doesn’t have a strong set of third-party apps available, consumer adoption of the platform becomes a greater challenge. To some degree, we’re now seeing that with Google Android Honeycomb tablets as well as RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook. There are other issues facing each of these, but a lack of optimized apps isn’t helping any, especially with the move from web to apps on mobiles.

Flurry’s data also has me pondering the future of web apps; namely, will HTML5 become as strong of an “app” platform as some would hope? As Chetan Sharma noted last year, the beauty of the web as an application distribution point is the reduced fragmentation it brings:

[T]he fragmentation issue in mobile only gets worse with each year with new devices, different implementations and operating systems, the cost of rolling out an app across multiple devices around the world can increase exponentially. As such, the browser provides the prospect of being the great unifier so you can truly design once and run everywhere (where the browser is available). For the simple apps that are less interactive and require less multimedia capability, like the popular social networking and news/weather apps, browser provides the perfect avenue to maximize impact with least amount of development.

Sharma’s thought made perfect sense to me back then, and while I’m still in general agreement with him, I’m beginning to wonder if the situation has changed. Instead of a mobile market with a number of platforms, we’re now witnessing the space become dominated by just two in Android and iOS. The third spot is up for grabs, although Windows Phone 7 has recently gained perceived momentum. BlackBerry / QNX and webOS are in transition, while Symbian is on the way out.

All the smartphone platforms are using WebKit browsers, so there’s still opportunity for web apps to unified across a large number of devices, but with such dominant operating systems in play, there may be less need for the web browser as a “great unifier” in mobile than there was just a year or two ago. And as long as apps keep appearing, the trend indicates consumers will keep buying.

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