Set-top boxes could bottom out, thanks to Sony, NCTA deal
That sound you hear may be the death knell for the set-top box/dust magnet in your home entertainment center. Sony and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association have announced an agreement that will place the cable companies’ technologies inside future Sony TV models. This will allow consumers to dial up ALL their cable channels, access video-on-demand and use interactive services without having to find a place for a steaming-hot cable box near the TV.
The nation’s largest cable companies - Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Cablevision and Bright House - are on board, and the pressure is now on Samsung, LG and other big-screen makers to follow Sony’s lead. The NCTA says they’re welcome to do so.
DirecTV looks to start up their on-demand service
DirecTV has announced that they’re going to release their latest feature – some sort of video-on-demand which they had been testing out through the years. DirecTV stated that, although they have had been some trouble setting up a video-on-demand system on their satellite-TV, this time, it’ll be different. This feature will be release as a beta version for subscribers to try it out around this June or July.
Vudu XL now shipping, Vault online storage now an option
The Vudu XL has begun to ship. Available in the 1TB XL model, users will now have a pretty decent amount of available local storage for all your content. In addition, and just in case that large local storage is not going to be enough, they have also announced the Vudu Vault. Still listed as being in Beta, the Vault will allow users to store content online as opposed to taking up your precious local storage space. Access to the Vault will come with the latest software update, which brings it to version 1.3.
Vudu to compete with AppleTV, lowers price 25-percent
In what seems like a move to better compete with the newly priced AppleTV, Vudu has just announced a price cut for their video-on-demand box. Originally priced at $399, the box will now be selling for just $295, which is pretty close to the $229 for the 40GB and the $329 for the 160GB AppleTV. Competition is always a good thing, at least this way if the Vudu fails it will not be because of the price.
Good news for those customers who have purchased a Vudu box within the past 30 days, you can get a $100 movie credit by calling 888-554-VUDU(8838) and speaking with a customer service representative.
Read [CNET]
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