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BetaNews.Com (5 non lus)

Hulu Plus drops almost 30% in price on PlayStation 3, but is it worth it?

Publié: novembre 4, 2010, 9:34pm CET par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

Popular TV-over-the-Web service Hulu announced its subscription service Hulu Plus will be extended to Sony's 2010 line of Bravia HDTVs, and all PlayStation 3 owners next week. Previously, Hulu Plus on the PlayStation 3 required a PlayStation Plus membership.
With the PlayStation Plus requirement dropped, the price of Hulu Plus has effectively been cut by more than 29%, but the question remains: is it a worthwhile investment for those people looking to finally quit cable?
What $10 a month gets you
The idea behind Hulu Plus is that customers pay for access to Hulu on devices other than their computers; and at the same time gain access to content not available for free on the standard Hulu website.
So a $10 monthly fee lets users stream TV episodes to their mobile devices, Connected HDTVs, or video game consoles. Currently, iOS-based mobile devices, select Samsung and Sony TVs, and the Samsung BD-C6900 Blu-ray player, and Sony Playstation 3 all have access to the service. In the near future, Vizio devices, Roku set top boxes, and the Xbox 360 will be added to the list of devices supporting the service.
In August, media analyst group One Touch Intelligence released an analysis of the content available on Hulu Plus which found that the for-pay service added 3,564 full-length TV episodes that weren't available on Hulu. This amounted to roughly 12% more content than what could be obtained for free (28,418 full-length episodes in total, 3,564 exclusively Hulu Plus.)
"The unresolved question is whether these incremental content enhancements are enough to compel Hulu users to begin paying for a companion subscription service," said Senior Director for Industry Intelligence at One Touch, Stewart Schley.
I've been testing the preview version of Hulu Plus on PlayStation 3 for the last four months, and the experience has been mostly favorable. The stream quality is consistently excellent, and the interface is both easy on the eyes and informative. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 3 controller makes for an awkward and highly error-prone remote control, especially when scanning, which is controlled by the L2 and R2 analog triggers by default.
I repeatedly find myself searching for content in Hulu Plus that is not there, and end up browsing through content and watching something based solely upon its description. Yes, it's led to some pleasing discoveries (like the UK's Green Wing,) but it's no replacement for the content I'd originally hoped to find.
This is ultimately the problem with Hulu Plus when looking at it as a "cable cutting" solution. It is high quality, but not a likely replacement for your existent services.
Alternatives
PlayOn Media Server is kind of a bugbear to Hulu Plus because it brings the free Web-based Hulu to devices connected to a user's home network at a much lower price. PlayOn costs $39.99 for the first year and $19.99 each subsequent year, or a one-time license purchase of $79.99, and can stream to iOS devices, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, GoogleTV, and a handful of other connected media players. Furthermore, it access much more than just Hulu; it also provides access to Netflix, CBS, Comedy Central, TV.com, SpikeTV, ESPN.com, ESPN3, MLB, NHL, CNN, PBS, Amazon VOD, YouTube, MTV, Vevo, Pandora, and more through third-party plugins.
This does not mean PlayOn should be viewed as a stand-in for Hulu Plus. Assigning a value to the service is much more subjective. Hulu Plus, for example, can be accessed outside of your home network, while PlayOn is tied to a connected media server client running on a PC. Furthermore, Hulu Plus' user interface is infinitely nicer than PlayOn's, which is oftentimes a series of menus with blank icons and cut-off text.
But looking at strictly at the volume of content available, PlayOn wins hands down. Assuming that PlayOn's Hulu channel offers 12% less content than Hulu Plus, that service would cost around $8.80 per month according to Hulu's valuation. Even PlayOn's most expensive premium charge amounts to just $3.34 per month. Add into it all the other content you'll be able to stream from other sources, and it becomes a solid component in a cable-cutting home setup.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
EU looking to strengthen privacy rules amid new concerns

Publié: novembre 4, 2010, 9:26pm CET par Ed Oswald

By Ed Oswald, Betanews

The European Union will begin work shortly to revise and strengthen its more than 15-year-old privacy laws already on the books, reacting to the increasing popularity of social networking. Privacy advocates worldwide have targeted the industry as of late, arguing many are lax with their user's personal details.
"We need to bring our laws up to date with the challenges raised by new technologies and globalization," Commissioner Viviane Reding said in statement. "The protection of personal data is a fundamental right." The European Commission plans to introduce legislation to the Parliament sometime next year, she added.
The original set of online privacy laws were passed in 1995 and made data protection a personal right. Last year the Commission began work on revising the rules to meet modern needs, and was made a priority by Reding and EU Digital Agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes.
Among the goals of the proposal will be to streamline privacy controls across all 27 member states of the EU, and to give more power to local privacy authorities in prosecuting privacy cases. The Commission believes that consumers should have more control over their personal information on sites like Facebook.
For example, when a user deletes his or her profile, the social networking service would be mandated to completely erase all data. This has become a point of contention for some, after it was revealed that the site may retain some data on former users even if their profiles had been deleted.
It also calls for more "clear and transparent" methods of disclosure on service provider's uses of personal information, and notification when their data may have been used in an unlawful manner.
The commission will continue to accept further comment from both the industry and public through January 15, it said.
Both Google and Facebook have been frequent targets of ire from EU officials ??" Facebook most recently for changes in its privacy policy to allow for "instant personalization", and Google over its Street View feature which is being investigated for privacy breaches by several member nations.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
New in Beta: Skype 5.0 for Mac

Publié: novembre 4, 2010, 6:02pm CET par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

More than six months after the Skype 5.0 beta came to Windows machines, the popular VoIP, IM, and video chat client has been updated on OS X.
Like its Windows counterpart, the big addition to Skype 5.0 for Mac is five-way group video chatting; but it's also received some Mac-exclusive treatments. For example, the Mac address book is now integrated into the Skype app, a revamped mini Skype toolbar, and an overall refreshed appearance. Additional new features include: searchable chat history, offline IM, floating contacts monitor, and improved call rejoining.
This version requires OS X 10.5.8 or higher, at least a 1GHz Intel processor, and an down/up connection of at least 1Mbps/256kbps for one on one voice calls, and at least a 4Mbps/1Mbps down/up for group video calling.
Click Here to get Skype for Mac 5.0 beta.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Will you connect with Xbox Kinect?

Publié: novembre 4, 2010, 4:37pm CET par Joe Wilcox

By Joe Wilcox, Betanews

Overnight, Microsoft launched its innovative and somewhat imitative Kinect game controller ("Look, ma, no hands!"). If you stood in line at Midnight -- and, more importantly, if you used Kinect in the wee hours afterwards, please share your story, either in comments or by sending email to joewilcox at gmail dot com. I would prefer email because you can be identified and I can more easily ask followup questions. If you're planning on Kinecting, particularly if you preordered, I ask you to share that story, too. Most importantly is why. Why Kinect?
The game controller's success is hugely important to Microsoft, which needs something more to reinvigorate its consumer brand image. Good start: Successful game titles like Halo Reach, next week's Windows Phone 7 U.S. launch and great TV commercials for Bing, Internet Explorer 8 and Windows 7. Kinect is about generating buzz by generating long lines of Xbox enthusiasts. From marketing and branding perspectives, the games begin outside stores before one controller is sold.
Ahead of today's launch, buzz spread across the InterWebs that Microsoft had upped its Kinect sales forecast by 2 million to 5 million units by year's end. While seemingly ambitious, Microsoft knows how many preorders are already in.
Last night, I stopped by Microsoft Store San Diego, where employees prepared for Kinect launch festivities scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ahead of Midnight sales. Had I been on the East Coast in New York or Washington, D.C. instead of San Diego, or had there been a long line, I would have camped out and done a live report. But I figured the news would be over by more than three hours long before I could post. Hey, look, I was an energetic 20 year old three decades ago.
My colleague Tim Conneally stopped by a Baltimore, Md. GameStop around 12:30 a.m. EDT today. "I went out and there was nothing going on." I asked if there was a line, to which he responded "nope" but then qualified: "I'll be precise, the store was open and there were people there, but no lines. It wasn't like the Halo launches or anything."
Outside a real Microsoft Store, seven people waited for Kinect around 8 p.m. PDT last night. The line had doubled an hour later, when I gave up any pretense of hanging around for the fun and freebees. The first person in line wasn't even sure about buying Kinect, but she defied gamer stereotypes, and that could be good for Microsoft if it's a trend: African-American woman in her early twenties. She gladly spoke to me. The hardcores -- those stereotypical young and male Xboxers -- were too engrossed in playing games on cell phones.
Microsoft Store San Diego employees prepare for Kinect launch
"I came here to find out about the new Kinect," said first-in-liner Katrina. "I heard about it and wanted to see what it was about." I asked if she planned to buy one. "I'm not sure. I'm really into Xbox, so I'm really contemplating about doing it." Katrina is into role-playing games. Favorite series include Sonic the Hedgehog and Spyro the Dragon. I asked if Katrina roleplayed with other gamers via Xbox Live. She tried but couldn't stick with it. "They're kind of mean online," she said. "But I'm starting to think about going back online. I'm in the military, so I don't have much time to really do that." I couldn't resist asking if she could justify buying Kinect as training. "Yes!" she exclaimed and laughed. "That's what I'm going to justify it as."
Next to Katrina waited a twenty-something couple, who had preordered the Kinect Bundle, which includes Xbox 360. Neither of them gave names, and I didn't ask. The male gamer expressed enthusiasm for the bundle, which he ordered about a month a ago. The female gamer pushed in and interrupted: "Your Shape Fitness for Kinect!" She was "excited" about the game. I warned him to be careful about answering my next question -- whether he was excited about her getting Your Shape Fitness Evolved for Connect. Weight and women can be touchy subjects for men. The male gamer gave even worse relationship answer than I expected: "I'm not excited as much as her, because once she gets it, she's going to post all her stats and everything on Facebook for the world to see." She interrupted with a condemning giggle: "No." By the way, the male gamer likes Madden, among other series. While the female gamer prefers less combative titles, she expressed: "I'm really excited about Kinect. It's a good thing for girls." I said that would be a good slogan for Microsoft to adopt in its Kinect marketing.
Further down the line -- and not really that far given the number of people waiting -- a mother prompted her younger son to answer questions. Mario was there with his brother, who also had preordered Kinect. I asked if the brother would share Kinect. "Yeah, he's pretty generous with his games." The teen plays his brother's action games, such as Halo 3. Mario is interested in Halo Reach, but his brother doesn't own that title. The brothers do Xbox Live, but I didn't hear much enthusiasm about it in the answer. Mario looked like a high schooler to me, but I've never been good at judging ages. So I asked if he goes to school. "Yeah." I wondered what he was doing in line for a Midnight sale on a school night. "I don't have a first period, so I start at 9:30." Lucky teenager.
How was the launch elsewhere? The answer is interesting, because it looks like if you missed the festivities last night there will be more -- as in schwag -- for you today. At TG Daily, Mike Luttrell writes this morning:
I'm still getting over my hangover from last night's festivities, but as I look over my more than a half dozen free t-shirts, umbrellas, beanie cap, ponchos, Burger King gift cards, Xbox Live Gold yearly membership, and two free Kinect games, I can only imagine how much money was poured into this illustrious event. Instead of taking my press pass and hanging out backstage with free food and drinks, I joined the throws of people waiting to get their hands on Kinect and, more importantly, free goodies. And boy were there a lot of them...
An event representative told me that Microsoft printed up no fewer than nine thousand t-shirts for the event. The first 3,000 people in line got two free Kinect games with their Kinect purchase. From what I heard, the total number of people didn't even come close to approaching that, so people this morning can assumedly still cash in on that deal.
Luttrell was lucky enough to catch the Kinect launch in New York City. Now it's your turn to share something. Did you Kinect? Will you Kinect? Why Kinect? Please answer in comments or e-mail joewilcox at gmail dot com.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Facebook going for Foursquare's heart with new Places features

Publié: novembre 4, 2010, 12:57am CET par Ed Oswald

By Ed Oswald, Betanews

Foursquare may have been a willing participant in Facebook's initial announcement on its Places application, but the social networking site's latest announcement likely further drives a wedge between the two once friendly companies. Facebook unveiled Deals on Wednesday, a feature which allows retailers to list special offers for those checking in.
Such a feature had become a staple for Foursquare, and helped the service gain a foothold among consumers. Facebook's move to add the functionality seems to suggest that the company is serious about Places and not just as a secondary feature.
Deals would be available to Places users through its iPhone application and mobile website (touch.facebook.com) beginning today. 22 partners have signed on initially, including The Gap and the Palms Hotel. Some would even offer free items to users checking in: the first 10,000 checking in at The Gap get a free pair of jeans for example.
Facebook says the "deals" given could be discounts, free items, pledges to donate to charity, or other rewards: all a user needs to do to unlock these items is to check in.
"We launched Places to let you share where you are with your friends and see who's nearby," Facebook's local marketing chief Jon Fougner said. "Now with Deals, you also can see what offers are nearby and share those deals with your friends."
The site also launched Places for the first time on the Android platform as part of Wednesday's announcements. It was not clear however at what stage of development Facebook's application for Windows Phone 7 was, although CEO Mark Zuckerberg described a "horizontal strategy" for development across all mobile platforms.
Don't expect an iPad specific application from Facebook anytime soon though -- Zuckerberg said that the company considers it a computing platform and not a mobile one, despite what Apple may wish the industry to think.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010