[click image for a larger version]
Saturday 12 March 2011
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Alan Sugar takes hot seat at YouView
Lord Sugar is to become the new non-exec chairman of YouView, formerly Project Canvas. His predecessor, Kip Meek, had been in the job less than eight months.
Meek was formerly head of the Broadband Stakeholder Group and is best known as (effectively) Ofcom's No 2 from 2003 to 2007. Notable accomplishments, for sure, but it's hard to imagine anyone being compelled to outrage public decency by his autobiography, should he ever write one. A gentleman in Crawley Public Library was moved to onanism by the memoirs of the Amstrad founder.
But YouView had other accomplishments in mind.
"Lord Sugar's experience in delivering set-top box technology to the consumer is unrivalled and we are delighted that he will be with us as we introduce a new, enhanced television experience to homes across the UK," said the company in a statement. "As we move from the development to the delivery stage I can’t think of anyone better placed to help bring YouView to market than Lord Sugar."
YouView lost technical guiding light Anthony Rose before Christmas, and three weeks ago confirmed significant delays to the rollout, meaning the first set-top boxes aren't expected before 2012.
Meek was formerly head of the Broadband Stakeholder Group and is best known as (effectively) Ofcom's No 2 from 2003 to 2007. Notable accomplishments, for sure, but it's hard to imagine anyone being compelled to outrage public decency by his autobiography, should he ever write one. A gentleman in Crawley Public Library was moved to onanism by the memoirs of the Amstrad founder.
But YouView had other accomplishments in mind.
"Lord Sugar's experience in delivering set-top box technology to the consumer is unrivalled and we are delighted that he will be with us as we introduce a new, enhanced television experience to homes across the UK," said the company in a statement. "As we move from the development to the delivery stage I can’t think of anyone better placed to help bring YouView to market than Lord Sugar."
YouView lost technical guiding light Anthony Rose before Christmas, and three weeks ago confirmed significant delays to the rollout, meaning the first set-top boxes aren't expected before 2012.
from The Register
Sunday 6 March 2011
The YouView revolution will not be televised just yet
There's a lot riding on YouView. BBC director general Mark Thompson has described it as nothing less than the "battle for the living room" – pitching YouView as an "open" platform based around the legacy free-to-air public service broadcasters, against the barbarians of the pay-TV world and their "closed" platforms. You can see what he means. YouView – and the on-demand functionality it offers (such as an EPG that allows you to go back in time as well as forwards, to deliver iPlayer-style catchup on your TV) – will "change the way you view TV for ever", it's claimed. If that were to happen and consumers come to expect and then demand such services, the legacy PSBs would be seriously disadvantaged without their own platform. Or so the argument goes...
from Media Guardian, 28th Feb 2011
from Media Guardian, 28th Feb 2011
Tuesday 15 February 2011
Toshiba previews TV UI for cloud content
Toshiba today gave a sneak peek of the internet-TV-and-then-some user interface it plans to build into a number of its HDTVs later this year.
Called Toshiba Places, the smooth-looking UI goes beyond the more basic internet TV interfaces we've seen from the likes of Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and LG, to offer not just IPTV services like BBC iPlayer, Lovefilm and YouTube, and Twitter-while-you-watch apps, but also a media centre-style experience
Called Toshiba Places, the smooth-looking UI goes beyond the more basic internet TV interfaces we've seen from the likes of Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and LG, to offer not just IPTV services like BBC iPlayer, Lovefilm and YouTube, and Twitter-while-you-watch apps, but also a media centre-style experience
from The Register
Wednesday 2 February 2011
blinkx Introduces TV API
Wednesday 02 February, 2011
Blinkx Plc
blinkx Introduces TV API
RNS Number : 4979A
Blinkx Plc
02 February 2011
RNS REACH
blinkx Introduces TV API, Opens Online Video Index to Technology Partners Looking to Tap Potential of Connected TV
New Application Programming Interface Enables Partners to Leverage blinkx's Web Video Index to Build New Functionality and Apps for the OTT environment
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.-February 2, 2011-blinkx, the world's largest and most advanced video search engine, today announced the launch of a TV API (Application Programming Interface). The API is designed to provide partners in the fast-growing Connected TV ecosystem - from box makers and TV manufacturers, to app developers and game consoles - access to blinkx's index of over 35 million hours of online video.
The TV API draws from the wealth of video content across the entire web - but automatically filters results based on the capabilities of the user's device - such as the video formats it supports - so that the user is always offered compatible clips. For partners, blinkx's TV API offers both efficient access to a deep, diverse source of online content from top broadcasters and media companies, and can also help solve the navigation challenge that is inherent in the lean-back experience of Connected TV.
Based on technology that was perfected over 12 years at Cambridge University, blinkx uses a combination of patented conceptual search with speech and image recognition software to understand rich media more thoroughly than any other solution available today. This deep understanding of content enables blinkx to deliver the unrivaled discovery, personalization and recommendation functionality which is critical to a successful user experience in the Connected TV environment.
"blinkx is an unparalleled source for online video search and discovery through any platform. The blinkx Web API was launched five years ago and today accounts for two-thirds of our global search volume, but mobile and TV are coming on strong," said Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO, blinkx. "We introduced our mobile API last summer, and already it has generated significant traction with partners like Samsung and EVRI. Providing an API for TV brings blinkx into the living-room and enables our partners to tap a flourishing audience as more consumers access Web video from their TVs. In addition to search, our technology offers personalization, discovery and recommendation capabilities to integrate Web video into the Connected TV experience - functionality that's critical in the lean back TV experience, when users are less inclined to type out search queries."
The new API also enables blinkx to increase its distribution footprint across more screens and drive millions of new searches through its engine. blinkx already has several significant partners in the TV space including Amino Communications, known for its award-winning IPTV and Hybrid set-top boxes, as well as Belgacom and Miniweb. These and other companies are leveraging blinkx's vast video index and software to deliver a better search, navigation and personalization experience for consumers.
About blinkx
blinkx plc (LSE AIM: BLNX) is the world's largest and most advanced video search engine. Today, blinkx has indexed more than 35 million hours of audio, video, viral and TV content, and made it fully searchable and available on demand. blinkx's founders set out to solve a significant challenge - as TV and user-generated content on the Web explode, keyword-based search technologies only scratch the surface. blinkx's patented search technologies listen to - and even see - the Web, helping users enjoy a breadth and accuracy of search results not available elsewhere. In addition, blinkx powers the video search for many of the world's most frequented sites. blinkx is based in San Francisco and London. More information is available atwww.blinkx.com.
Press Contacts for blinkx
Tim Turpin
Sparkpr
tim.turpin@sparkpr.com
Nicole Love
Marlin PR
nicole.love@marlinpr.com
Charles Lytle
Christopher Wren
Citigroup Global Markets Ltd
NOMAD and Broker for blinkx plc
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Monday 31 January 2011
Dont Blinx or you might see BBC's Iplayer Reviews
Blinkx the Video search engine website has signed a deal with the ripe BBC and its iPlayer service. This will provide Blinkx viewers with the BBC online video on demand service and access to the latest BBC TV programs and footage.
The founder and CEO of blinkx, said in a statement: “BBC capability is noted for its high quality and universal appeal. Through this partnership, we’re able to further our dedication to our users by rendering them a comprehensive archive of professional TV programming available on the internet.”
BBC’s iPlayer TV and Radio player shows BBC content on demand and is a free seven day catch up service. It enables viewers to stream and download any BBC programs. Its service also offers the option to sentry live streaming tv on the PC, Mac and Linux platform. After downloading the content users have to watch the programs within a 30 day period.
Blinkx will catalog and indicant all BBC iPlayer content to make it easier for their audience to search video and TV clips.say that a commit of BBC programmes, which include comedy, drama and sports sourced from the many BBC TV channels.
The BBC has also struck deals to show its TV show clips to Yahoo and MSN as well as Blinkx. The only downside is viewers will only see clips of BBC programs and will need to call in the BBC site to view full content and of words the BBC only allow UK residents to view their content. Time to get the IP changing packet out and become a UK resident.
from Lifestyle Choices
The founder and CEO of blinkx, said in a statement: “BBC capability is noted for its high quality and universal appeal. Through this partnership, we’re able to further our dedication to our users by rendering them a comprehensive archive of professional TV programming available on the internet.”
BBC’s iPlayer TV and Radio player shows BBC content on demand and is a free seven day catch up service. It enables viewers to stream and download any BBC programs. Its service also offers the option to sentry live streaming tv on the PC, Mac and Linux platform. After downloading the content users have to watch the programs within a 30 day period.
Blinkx will catalog and indicant all BBC iPlayer content to make it easier for their audience to search video and TV clips.say that a commit of BBC programmes, which include comedy, drama and sports sourced from the many BBC TV channels.
The BBC has also struck deals to show its TV show clips to Yahoo and MSN as well as Blinkx. The only downside is viewers will only see clips of BBC programs and will need to call in the BBC site to view full content and of words the BBC only allow UK residents to view their content. Time to get the IP changing packet out and become a UK resident.
from Lifestyle Choices
Comment: admittedly not the most unimpeachable of sources (I'd never heard of the site before I spotted the link) but still great news if true...
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Mike Lynch speaking in Cambridge
Mike Lynch's presentation from Cambridge Phenomenon on Vimeo.
At about 6.57 he starts talking about Blinkx, and mentions that it might be about to create its own spin-out. What could that be, I wonder?
Monday 24 January 2011
Saturday 8 January 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)