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Sprint Makes NFL Mobile Free to PCS Vision Subscribers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 24, 2006 - 5:53pm.
Overland Park, Kan. - Sprint announced on Monday that it has made its NFL Mobile service free to subscribers to its Sprint PCS Vision and Power Vision services.
tags: Pricing | Mobile | Sports | Mobile Pricing | Promotions | Sprint | NFL | Football | PCs |

Intel "Viiv" Technology to Facilitate Media Downloads to PCs, Portable Devices

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:24am.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Chipmaker Intel announced on Wednesday that it is working with over 40 content companies to provide support for its Viiv digital home technology, which it says will facilitate the download of music, movies, games and other content to Viiv-enabled PCs, portable devices and home media networks. The Intel Viiv technology, set for release in the first quarter of 2006, will be embedded in PCs, laptops, portable media players, digital TVs, DVD players and other devices. In the second half of 2006, Intel said that content providers including British Sky Broadcasting, Movielink, TiVo, Loudeye, Napster, VirginMega, Capcom, Square Enix and Ubisoft will begin utilizing Intel software that allows their content to be shared across home networks. Intel will provide engineering support, specifications and verification tools to content owners, content distributors, portals, software application developers and device vendors to help deliver Internet-based content services and software applications that are tested and verified to work with an Intel Viiv technology-based PC.
tags: Downloads | Intel | PCs | Media | Viiv | Portable Devices |

TiVo, Intel Partner on TV Show Transfers to PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2005 - 9:15am.
Alviso, Calif. - TiVo announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with chipmaker Intel to enable users to transfer recorded TV shows to a PC containing Intel's Viiv technology using only a remote control. The new feature will also enable TiVo users to edit and view their digital photo collections on their televisions. Separately, TiVo said on Wednesday that it has now surpassed 4 million subscribers to its digital video recorder service.
tags: Deals | TiVo | Intel | TV Show | PCs | Transfers |

Microsoft, Cable TV Firms to Bring Cable TV to PCs, Laptops, Xbox

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 16, 2005 - 4:44am.
Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft on Wednesday announced an agreement with Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs), the cable TV industry's research and development consortium, that will enable Microsoft and PC makers to sell digital-cable-ready Windows Media Center-based PC by the fall of 2006. The agreement will let consumers view standard and high-definition cable channels on their PC or laptop, as well as through networked devices such as the Xbox 360, by installing a digital cable card. Microsoft said its Windows Media Digital Rights Management will be approved for copy-protection security, although multiple DRM systems will be available.
tags: Cable TV | Xbox | Microsoft | PCs | Laptops |

Report: Americans Increasingly Storing Large Video Files on PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 24, 2005 - 6:50am.
Port Washington, N.Y. -- The number of Americans with large video files stored on their PCs rose from 8% last year to 13% in March 2005, according to a survey conducted by New York-based market research firm NPD Group. Of the 13% who had a 150MB video file on their computers -- about the size of a half-hour TV show -- each additionally had an average of 15 such files on their PCs. "What will trouble many, especially in the film and video industry, is that some consumer collections include material that is clearly pirated," said NPD analyst Russ Crupnick. "In March, we noted several dozen full-length theatrical films on computers well before their expected DVD release date, including 'Ocean's Twelve,' 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events,' 'Million Dollar Baby,' 'The Aviator,' 'The Ring Two,' and 'Team America World Police.'" NPD plans to launch an ongoing PC survey of 40,000 panelist volunteers called MovieWatch Digital in the fourth quarter of 2005, which will monitor consumer interaction with digital video files.
tags: Video | Reports | Americans | PCs | Files |

HP to Sell Custom-Built Video Gaming PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2004 - 2:33am.
Los Angeles -- Looking to capitalize on the burgeoning video game market, PC maker HP on Monday announced that it will begin selling custom-built PCs for video game enthusiasts, with the most heavily-equipped models selling for over $3,000. The company's Compaq "X Gaming" machines will go on sale in June or July both online and via custom configuration kiosks located in retail stores, starting at around $1,599.
tags: HP | Video Games | PCs | Custom-Built |

U.K. ISP Telewest Developing "Scent Dome" for PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 19, 2004 - 8:17am.
London -- U.K.-based ISP Telewest Broadband announced on Thursday that it is developing a hi-tech scent device that would plug in to PCs and release odors on command. The "scent dome" device, which would retail at about 250 pounds ($472), would come with a replaceable cartridge containing about 20 basic smells that could be combined to produce up to 60 different aromas, the company said. "We are always looking at ways to enhance the broadband Internet experience of the future," said Telewest Broadband Internet Services Director Chad Raube. "And this time we are sure consumers will come up smelling of roses." A similar device was marketed several years ago by the now-defunct U.S. firm DigiScent.
tags: ISP | U.K | PCs | Scent Dome |

HP to Release Branded IPod Player, Will Bundle ITunes Software on All PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 8, 2004 - 4:02am.
Las Vegas -- PC maker HP announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Apple to release an HP-branded digital music player based on Apple's iPod, as well as a version of Apple's iTunes digital music store for its customers. One part of the alliance -- which will serve as a boon for Apple -- includes the provision that HP consumer PCs and notebooks will now come preinstalled with Apple's iTunes jukebox software. The HP-branded iPod will be released this summer, and will be priced competitively with similar products.
tags: HP | iTunes | Software | PCs | Branded | IPod Player |

Sprint PCS Launches Cell Phone Video Mail Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 3, 2003 - 6:43am.
Overland Park, Kan. -- Wireless network operator Sprint PCS on Wednesday announced the launch of a Video Mail service, which will allow its PCS Vision customers with compatible phones to record, send and receive 15-second video clips. The service, which costs $5 per month for unlimited use, is powered by technology from Santa Cruz, Calif.-based LightSurf. Currently the service is compatible with the $379 Sanyo VM4500; a similar handset made by Toshiba is expected to become available by the end of the year, with two more video mail-compatible phones to be released in early 2004.
tags: Cell Phone | PCs | Video Mail |

AMD Releases New Gamer-Friendly 64-Bit Processor for PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 23, 2003 - 11:09am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- In a move that could give it a leg up on rival chipmaker Intel, AMD on Tuesday launched its new Athlon 64-bit processor for desktop and notebook PCs. Until now, most desktop computers have relied on 32-bit processors, with only servers relying on the faster chip. The company plans to initially target the new chip at scientists, engineers and hard-core gamers. The release is expected to help Athlon move toward profitability following eight straight quarterly losses. Intel currently has no announced plans for releasing its own 64-bit processor.
tags: AMD | PCs | New Gamer | Processor |

AMD Releases New Gamer-Friendly 64-Bit Processor for PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 22, 2003 - 11:21am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- In a move that could give it a leg up on rival chipmaker Intel, AMD on Tuesday launched its new Athlon 64-bit processor for desktop and notebook PCs. Until now, most desktop computers have relied on 32-bit processors, with only servers relying on the faster chip. The company plans to initially target the new chip at scientists, engineers and hard-core gamers. The release is expected to help Athlon move toward profitability following eight straight quarterly losses. Intel currently has no announced plans for releasing its own 64-bit processor.
tags: AMD | PCs | Processor | New Gamer-Friendly |

TiVo Launches Home Media Option, Offering Streaming From PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 8, 2003 - 2:58am.
San Jose, Calif. -- TiVo, a manufacturer of digital video recorders, announced on Tuesday that its Home Media Option is now available, enabling TiVo owners to link the device to their home computer networks. The $99 add-on will let users access broadband remote scheduling of programs to be recorded by TiVo and stream digital music and photos from their PC to their TV, as well as stream programs recorded on one TiVo unit to another within the home. The Home Media Option functions either in a wired environment or else as part of a wireless 802.11b network. TiVo rival ReplayTV's parent company Sonicblue recently filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection, and will put its ReplayTV digital video recorder business up for auction next week.
tags: TiVo | Home Media | PCs |

WSJ: German Patent Office Wants Copyright Levy On New PCs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 5, 2003 - 4:02am.
Brussels -- The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the German Patent Office has asked PC makers to pay a $13 levy to copyright holders on each new computer they sell, to compensate for private digital copying. No similar levies exist on PCs, although the U.S. and other countries have explored taxing the cost of recordable CDs, paying the extra fees to copyright holders. The German Patent Office will likely face a court battle from the PC industry. "Fujitsu Siemens and the rest of the industry presumably will reject the suggestion," and the case will head to court, Thomas Vinje, a Brussels lawyer who represents German PC maker Fujitsu Siemens Computers, told The Journal. Fujitsu Siemens is also currently involved in a dispute with German reprography rights society VG Wort over copyright issues. http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1044385225838491533,00.html
tags: Copyright | WSJ | PCs | German | Levy |