Huge internet content backbone Akamai is introducing their new on-demand, streaming HD Network, along with support for… the iPhone. Says Macworld:
Akamai worked with Apple to make HD Network video run on the iPhone using the standard H.264 format. The iPhone 3.0 software upgrade, introduced in June, added support for live video. Content providers can use the HD Network to deliver programs for the iPhone through the Safari Web browser or an application offered on the App Store. The videos can play on the phone’s video player, as YouTube videos do now.
We’ve heard about iPhone 3.0’s HTTP Live Streaming capabilities before, and if this uptake is real, we’re getting increasingly excited about our iPhone media future…
Multichannel News (via Apple Insider) is reporting that an industry source claims Netflix “Watch Instantly” is coming to the iPhone.
Netflix currently uses Microsoft’s proprietary DRM, however, so unless they’re planning on switching to something more iPhone friendly — namely H.264 like YouTube did — we’re not quite sure how they’ll manage it with anything approaching decent results.
That’s if Apple even allows an iTunes competitor onto the iPhone (and before people howl “unfair!”, it’s not like you can load up PlayStation or Wii games on an Xbox 360 — consoles control their media). And, of course, if AT&T allows streaming over 3G, which they wouldn’t do for SlingPlayer Mobile…
(We’ll also point out that Netflix is a US-only service, unlike iTunes which is available in many countries internationally).
Apple Insider took a closer look at the HTTP Streaming Media feature that was highlighted as part of iPhone 3.0, but hasn’t received a whole lot of attention since:
The real benefit to HTTP Live Streaming is that the server can maintain multiple versions of the clips in different formats. This allows an iPhone user with a WiFi connection to negotiate a higher quality version of the video than if only EDGE were available. Even better, the phone can renegotiate a higher or lower quality dynamically if it improves or loses signal. This enables the watcher to experience the best video quality possible at the current bandwidth available, continually optimized as new segments are requested.
We saw this demoed by ESPN during the iPhone 3.0 Sneak Peak Event. Better still, Apple is proposing it as an open standard, platform and player neutral, which could spur adaption, meaning more content for users.
Check out the full article linked above, and iphone.akamai.com for examples.
While Big Media wants you to stay off their lawn (i.e. not stream their content to your TV’s), it looks like they’re increasingly okay-ish with their streaming it to your PC and… iPhone. Macworld brings word of the latest content streamer to hit the App Store, TV.com (iTunes link):
Most of the content consists of clips, interviews, and promos, but you’ll also find full episodes of some TV shows, such as “CSI: Miami” and the aforementioned [MacGyver] mixed in (well, to be honest, there weren’t many other shows I could find full episodes of at first glance). Full episodes are presented as multiple clips instead of as a single video. You can search for shows using the Search box at the top, or tap on the Shows and Channels buttons to browse in other ways.
Of course, a few more things need to happen to flesh out this category. Getting other networks on board via apps for Hulu and other services is one. Also, realizing it’s the 21st fraken century and NOT restricting streaming apps from international users would be grand. (TV.com is US App Store only).
Anyone tried it yet? If so, how was the quality? Would you use this over your laptop for TV to go? Over your TV for viewing in general?
Apple has posted a streaming Quicktime video of Phil Schiller’s Macworld 2009 Keynote, covering iLife 09, iWork 09, the unibody 17″ MacBook, and iTunes Plus — and more importantly for us, iPhone 2G/3G music downloads, the Keynote Remote App, and iPhoto slide export for the iPhone.
If Apple stays true to form, the event should also show up in their iTunes Podcast Keynote Feed some time soon-ish. Meanwhile,
watch it now, and let us know what you think!
Joost, from the P2P masters who brought us Skype and Kasaa, went from hyper-anticipated start-up to barely whispered almost-forgotten in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
Well, according to Gizmodo, they’re back baby, and with free WiFi streaming movies and media to sweeten the deal — if only slightly:
It’s kind of crashy, could use a better navigation UI and takes too long for movie streams to get going (and then when they do it’s kind of finicky) but we definitely appreciate being to stream The Fifth Element over Wi-Fi in decent quality, when it actually gets going. More than anything though, it just makes us soak our pillow with even more drool dreaming of a Hulu app.
So, is the free-ness worth the — what might just be growing — pain? Think Joost has something here? If you try it out, let us know!
(Thanks Matthew for the tip!)
While an iTunes Podcast downloadable version will no doubt follow, Apple has just launched their usual Quicktime Streaming Video of the “Spotlight on Notebooks” Keynote.
Go check it out!
Monday was analyst prediction day, as RBC Capital analyst Mike Abramsky and Banc of American analyst Scott Craig separately provided the following guestimates on Apple’s next gen iPhone:
Abramsky predicts him some amped up CPU, more memory, and the faster 3G speeds that allow for higher def (HD?) video, voice capture, streaming HD video, real-time GPS, and other Trekkie goodness. All this would, coupled with a mid-2008 release, would let Apple blow past 10 million, and hit a potential 11 million unites sold by year end.
For his part, Craig skipped features and stuck to the money: “We believe that demand in the U.S. may have been impacted by the anticipation of a new 3G phone…” (Perhaps because of continued analyst bombardment of same?) Craig also sees a 3G handset in 2008 as necessary to complete the 10 million handset march.
Check out AppleInsider for more.
