Netflix Watch Instantly fans could be due for a big upgrade, as CNET has heard the company will roll out 1080p and 5.1 surround sound later this year. No word on timing or any other details, but this could mean its moving to version 3 of Microsoft’s Silverlight streaming platform with its additional tweaks for adaptive streaming and hardware graphics acceleration. Also unknown is how much bandwidth would be necessary, but considering Microsoft already uses very similar technology for its 1080p Instant On videos on Zune Marketplace through the Xbox 360 while only requiring 3 Mbps and VUDU HDX 1080p videos only state a minimum of 4500 Kbps, a massive jump in available bandwidth might not be necessary if you already get clear 720p video. The last big hurdle? How much content will be available that way, Gizmodo points out only about 6 percent of current offerings stream in HD we’ll be watching carefully if the pace picks up going forward.

1080p, 5.1 surround sound coming to Netflix Watch Instantly in 2010? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1080p, 5.1 surround sound coming to Netflix Watch Instantly in 2010?

After Microsoft stated a week ago that it would look into reports of Windows 7 causing premature battery degradation, we’ve been staying up late at night with our frazzled lithium ion cells, reading them stories about Battery Heaven and generally trying to keep an upbeat tone around the Engadget HQ. Well, it turns out not everything is rosy in batteryville, but Microsoft says Windows 7 isn’t the one to blame. According to the company’s testing, the new tool, which reports when a battery is down to 40% of its designed capacity and suggests replacement, hasn’t reported a single false positive. Additionally, the tool uses read-only data from the battery, and is in fact incapable of tweaking the battery’s life span or internal data — it merely reports the data it receives, and stacks the theoretical design capacity up against the current full charge capacity. Microsoft attributes the reports of the tool dooming batteries to an early grave to the mere fact that many people might not have noticed the degradation already taking place in their batteries — most batteries start to degrade noticeably within a year. Of course, not everybody’s going to just take Microsoft’s word for it, and Microsoft itself will continue to look into the issue, but for now this sounds like a bit of a non-issue. The part about Windows 7 being less conservative with power use is a whole ‘nother issue, of course.

Microsoft says Windows 7 battery ‘issue’ isn’t one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft says Windows 7 battery ‘issue’ isn’t one

Looks like the movie studios are beginning to realize that Netflix is racing away with the streaming market, and things are starting to change fast: hot on the heels of Warner forcing Netflix to accept delayed DVD rentals in exchange for better streaming terms, Disney and Starz are reportedly renegotiating their deal, and blocking Netflix is one of the terms. Most new releases on Netflix right now are part of the StarzPlay package, and the studios don’t get a cut, since they’ve already sold those rights to Starz. As we all know, the studios aren’t big fans of not getting a cut, so what Disney is trying to do is block Netflix from dealing with Starz and force it to license streaming rights directly — not the end of the world and certainly not impossible, but a move that has the potential to disrupt service and raise prices. As of right now, things are status quo and no one’s talking on the record, but we’ve got the feeling there’s a shakeout coming — stay tuned.

Disney renegotiating Starz deal, might pull movies from Netflix streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disney renegotiating Starz deal, might pull movies from Netflix streaming

Looks like the movie studios are beginning to realize that Netflix is racing away with the streaming market, and things are starting to change fast: hot on the heels of Warner forcing Netflix to accept delayed DVD rentals in exchange for better streaming terms, Disney and Starz are reportedly renegotiating their deal, and blocking Netflix is one of the terms. Most new releases on Netflix right now are part of the StarzPlay package, and the studios don’t get a cut, since they’ve already sold those rights to Starz. As we all know, the studios aren’t big fans of not getting a cut, so what Disney is trying to do is block Netflix from dealing with Starz and force it to license streaming rights directly — not the end of the world and certainly not impossible, but a move that has the potential to disrupt service and raise prices. As of right now, things are status quo and no one’s talking on the record, but we’ve got the feeling there’s a shakeout coming — stay tuned.

Disney renegotiating Starz deal, might pull movies from Netflix streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disney renegotiating Starz deal, might pull movies from Netflix streaming

Western Digital support forums are filled with comments on the latest WDTV Live firmware update, few of them good. Many users are reporting that firmwares from 1.0.11 up are giving them trouble, at least, and in many cases outright bricking their hardware. If you’ve got one, hold off on updating for a while. Check out the source links for more info. [WD Community, WDTVHD.com. Thanks William.]

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WDTV Live Firmware Update Bricking Units? [Bugs]

The above quote comes from Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, whose daughter insisted her dorm room did not need a TV thanks to Hulu and other streaming sites. It’s the sound of panic setting in.

And she has good reason to be scared that an entire generation doesn’t find a television to be an essential household item. People are flocking to the web to watch streaming shows, but the networks still aren’t making any money off these views. Hulu, the largest streaming site, is getting over 40 million visitors a month who are viewing 5 billion minutes of shows and clips. And that number is only going up, while TV viewership is going down.

These content creators need to figure out a way to monetize this phenomenon, and fast. Because the genie is out of the bottle, and there’s no putting him back in. [NY Times]

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Yeah, TV Executives Are Terrified of Streaming Video [Blockquote]

There are two ways for a device to access YouTube: either through the regular web interface, i.e. Flash, or for cleaner integration, through its back end APIs. As of December, Google is shutting off the tap.

The news comes from the COO of Syabas, the company that makes the Popcorn Hour set-top box. Up until now they’d had a loose agreement with the ‘Tube: They can stream video from YouTube for free, but YouTube can change the terms of the deal whenever they want. Which they did!:

YouTube has always retained the right to change its terms of service in the future should it ever wish to do so. As a result of Google’s decision, Syabas is no longer allowed to access YouTube through its APIs. To be clear, Syabas is not being singled out. With the exception of a few strategic partners Google has chosen to work with, the company has informed Syabas they are asking all over-the-top device makers that are currently connecting to YouTube content through its APIs to take down the service.

To quote every set-top box manufacturer in the world, probably: “shit.” YouTube access had become the kind of thing you take for granted in a connected box or Blu-ray player, and it was nice to have. Now, it’ll be limited to devices like the PS3, Wii, and TiVo—backed by the kinds of players who have the clout to pressure Google, or the money to pay them—leaving everyone else to search for some kind of hacky workaround.

I understand that Google wants to squeeze some ad revenue out of YouTube, and that letting anyone and everyone access raw, ad-free through the backend probably isn’t the best business plan, but this isn’t Hulu—it’s not like they have many powerful content providers to appease, just a bunch of teenagers with webcams. Set-top box folks: watch your free video cornucopia dissolve on December 2nd. [Syabas via Engadget via Lifehacker]

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YouTube Shuts Down API Access, Leaves Set-Top Boxes High and Dry [YouTube]

There are two ways for a device to access YouTube: either through the regular web interface, i.e. Flash, or for cleaner integration, through its back end APIs. As of December, Google is shutting off the tap.

The news comes from the COO of Syabas, the company that makes the Popcorn Hour set-top box. Up until now they’d had a loose agreement with the ‘Tube: They can stream video from YouTube for free, but YouTube can change the terms of the deal whenever they want. Which they did!:

YouTube has always retained the right to change its terms of service in the future should it ever wish to do so. As a result of Google’s decision, Syabas is no longer allowed to access YouTube through its APIs. To be clear, Syabas is not being singled out. With the exception of a few strategic partners Google has chosen to work with, the company has informed Syabas they are asking all over-the-top device makers that are currently connecting to YouTube content through its APIs to take down the service.

To quote every set-top box manufacturer in the world, probably: “shit.” YouTube access had become the kind of thing you take for granted in a connected box or Blu-ray player, and it was nice to have. Now, it’ll be limited to devices like the PS3, Wii, and TiVo—backed by the kinds of players who have the clout to pressure Google, or the money to pay them—leaving everyone else to search for some kind of hacky workaround.

I understand that Google wants to squeeze some ad revenue out of YouTube, and that letting anyone and everyone access raw, ad-free through the backend probably isn’t the best business plan, but this isn’t Hulu—it’s not like they have many powerful content providers to appease, just a bunch of teenagers with webcams. Set-top box folks: watch your free video cornucopia dissolve on December 2nd. [Syabas via Engadget via Lifehacker]

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YouTube Shuts Down API Access, Leaves Set-Top Boxes High and Dry [YouTube]

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

BBC redoubles its Wii efforts with dedicated iPlayer channel originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC redoubles its Wii efforts with dedicated iPlayer channel

While it may not sport the same egregious number of buttons and blue and white aesthetics as last week’s affront to ergonomics, Sony’s VGP-BMS80 VAIO Bluetooth Laser Mouse certainly doesn’t offer much better looks. It does, however, allow for wireless control of either a PC or a PS3 and, with an optical sensor on top, can be used in the air like a trackpad or on a flat surface like a mouse — a place where that “bar of soap” design will surely not do your carpal tunnels any favors. It’s available now at various internet destinations and, if you’re still interested, about $80 will get you into this party.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wireless

Sony’s VAIO Bluetooth Laser Mouse pictured in the wild, almost as ugly as last week’s OpenOfficeMouse originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s VAIO Bluetooth Laser Mouse pictured in the wild, almost as ugly as last week’s OpenOfficeMouse

Shootanto: Evolutionary Mayhem (Wii)
Travel through time, shooting everything in sight. With monkeys.

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Shootanto: Evolutionary Mayhem Review

Texas Hold ‘em Poker (Wii)
Don’t go all in, but do stick around to check this one out — it’s not a flop.

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Texas Hold’em Poker Review

Texas Hold ‘em Poker (Wii)
Don’t go all in, but do stick around to check this one out — it’s not a flop.

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Texas Hold’em Poker Review

Romance of the Three Kingdoms Touch (iPhone)
Some gameplay shots of the strategy title’s transition to the iPhone.

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Romance of the Three Kingdoms Touch Images

Live streaming video from the CoD: MW2 launch party in NYC featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff.

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Modern Warfare 2 Launch Party