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Livestream Livepack: a 'satellite television truck in a backpack'

by Darren Murph posted Sep 30th 2009 @ 5:44PM

"Game changing" is thrown around way too frequently these days, but man, this thing just might be. The Livepack is being described as "a satellite television truck in a backpack" by creator Livestream, and for all intents and purposes, it is. Put simply (or as simply as possible), the pack includes everything one would need to stream "HD quality" footage: encoding hardware, a Firewire cable and the real kicker, a built-in wireless connection with six load-balanced 3G modems over three carriers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint if you have to know). Users simply provide their own camcorder, mash a button when it's show time, and out goes the signal. The Livepack can currently be rented for $2,500 per month (includes 30 hours of streaming) or $1,500 per month if you commit to a year-long agreement. So, who's up for showing the world their high school prom live in HD? Demo vid is after the break.

[Via Red Ferret]

Continue reading Livestream Livepack: a 'satellite television truck in a backpack'

Spotify for iPhone gets thumbs up from Apple, subscription music with offline playlists is a go

by Ross Miller posted Aug 27th 2009 @ 5:31PM

Streaming and subscription music services are a dime a dozen on iPhone, and they seem to get past Apple's app store approval hurdles with relative ease. But Spotify was one whose fate wasn't so clear cut, given its offline playlist function -- which as the name suggests downloads songs ahead of time for you to listen to when there's no WiFi or phone service to stream from -- could very easily fall into the category of "duplication of core iPhone functionality" and get deep-sixed at the drop of a hat. Turns out that's not the case here, as an Apple spokesperson has told paidContent UK that the app's been given the metaphorical stamp of approval and would be hitting the store "very soon." A premium subscription will run about £9.99 ($16.20) per month, with an option to pay annually coming at a later date. Of course, there's a catch, as Spotify's service is only available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, France and Spain for now. The company expects to invade America sometime later this year, but that means another round of app store approvals -- and with Apple's track record on consistency, there's no telling how that'll turn out.

Rhapsody brings subscription music to the iPhone, pending Apple's approval

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 24th 2009 @ 10:53AM

If the maniacs at RealNetworks have their way, you'll soon be rockin' out to Rhapsody on your iPhone or iPod touch, streaming all those pop tunes you crave over WiFi, Edge, or 3G, courtesy of your $15 Rhapsody ToGo account -- pending approval from Apple, of course. Sure, we can't imagine the company allowing Pandora but dissing Rhapsody, but stranger things have happened. If this isn't enough to get subscription music fans spinning in their office chairs, the company is also working diligently on Rhapsody for other mobile platforms and carrier app stores, including Google Android. And there's more! Check out the app in all its glory -- on video, no less -- after the break.

[Via PC World]

Continue reading Rhapsody brings subscription music to the iPhone, pending Apple's approval

UK group Underworld streaming footage of tonight's concert live to iPhone

by Ross Miller posted Aug 8th 2009 @ 7:42PM

Sure, Google Voice and Slingbox on iPhone might give carriers the willies, but at midnight tonight (ET) you can tune into a live feed of British techno duo Underworld's concert in Oakland, California. Being touted as the first-ever live event streamed to the iPhone -- and if not, it's certainly the highest profile -- the feed utilizes iPhone OS 3.0's HTTP streaming capabilities and plays via Quicktime. Simply point your iPhone's browser to either one of the two streams linked below to join in on the fun tonight. Assuming your local carrier's service (hello there, AT&T) doesn't cave in under the strain, that is.

[Via PC World and NewTeeVee]

Read - Akamai stream
Read - Underworld live

Sirius XM developing iPhone / iPod touch streaming radio app

by Darren Murph posted Mar 12th 2009 @ 1:26PM

My, my -- now isn't this something? Shortly after narrowly avoiding a dastardly collision with bankruptcy, Sirius XM is looking to connect itself with profitable enterprises in an attempt to build market share and regain interest from budget-conscience consumers. Just weeks after hearing that the sat radio company could be preparing a few Sirius / DirecTV bundles, CFO David Frear has now confirmed on a recent earnings call that the outfit is indeed developing an iPhone / iPod touch app. It's interesting to think that a satellite radio firm could be warming to delivering more content via the internet, but it's the apparent diversion from being a standalone offering that has us even more intrigued. It should be interesting to see how the pricing model works with this forthcoming app -- will users be able to get an iPhone subscription only? Will it be tossed in gratis with traditional subscriptions? So many questions, not enough patience.

[Image courtesy of SiriusBuzz]

Qik video streaming service now ready for J2ME phones

by Darren Murph posted Oct 23rd 2008 @ 6:36PM

There's a decent chance you completely forgot about Qik, a nifty little startup that enables live audio / video streaming from feature phones to PCs, after hearing absolutely nothing from it since July. If so, it's all good -- the folks at Qik still want you to indulge in its first public alpha release for a slew of J2ME phones. For users with a Nokia 5300, 6300, 6500 classic, 6500 slide, 6555 or 8800 Arte, you can join your brethren with a Sony Ericsson K850, K858, W890, W910, W908, K660, G502 or Z750 in streaming live content right from your phone to your lovely posse. Give it a go and let us know how it turns out, will you?

BBC iPlayer comes to iPhone, not as interesting as originally thought

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 10th 2008 @ 11:28AM

After a groundswell of hype that the rumored BBC iPlayer for the iPhone might be some crazy, Apple co-developed, SDK-usin' piece of kit, the reality is just a little underwhelming. Fact is, yes, the BBC-only streaming app has migrated to the iPhone -- but it's built entirely on the handset's existing technology stack, prior to the SDK announcement. Ah well, it's probably just as well considering that the content available on the beta-quality player is limited at the moment, and let's be honest: they're gonna need 3G to really rock, anyway.

[Via TUAW]

AT&T gets cozy with Pandora for on-device radio

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 13th 2007 @ 2:49PM

XM radio not so much your thing? AT&T's starting to roll out another officially sanction choice for streaming radio on some of its devices through a new partnership with Pandora. Basically, users can access their personalized Pandora stations directly from their handset -- up to 100 of 'em -- and the carrier specifically mentions that users can enjoy those stations anywhere within its 3G network, suggesting that the streams are probably of a high enough quality to actually be worth listening to. Check it out now on Samsung's SYNC, A717, and A737, the Motorola V3xx and V9, and the LG Trax, CU400, and CU405 for $8.99 a month.

NTT's HC-1000 puts you in control of home security

by Darren Murph posted Aug 8th 2007 @ 4:32AM

Here in America, we don't take our home security systems lightly, but for those in Japan, it appears that they haven't resorted to installing sensor-triggered weapons in their windows just yet. The HC-1000 camera can be controlled via the internet or a FOMA mobile, and allows users to take a peek at what's going on without actually being on the premises. The device sports a three-megapixel CMOS sensor, Ethernet port, 802.11a/b/g, 2x digital zoom, and a QVGA video mode to boot. Additionally, a "defense support" system can enable the piercing siren to let loose a wail, and the built-in microphone / speaker can even open up two-way communication between you and your home-wrecker (or faraway relative). The HC-1000 itself will run you a modest ¥29,400 ($247), but those looking to totally lock down their dwelling can spend up to ¥141,750 ($1,191) for an elaborate whole home system.

[Via CScout, thanks Mike]

Kyocera Bluetooth Music Gateway streams jams from your mobile

by Darren Murph posted Apr 3rd 2007 @ 3:37PM

Kyocera's Bluetooth Music Gateway most definitely isn't the first of its kind, but the dashing musical liaison is indeed adding a hint of differentiation to the streaming Bluetooth middleman category. Encased in a sleek black / metallic gray enclosure "about the size of a deck of playing cards," the three-ounce BT-enabled device receives streaming tunes via your A2DP-capable cellphone, DAP, or PMP, and then channels the audio to your home stereo via a pair of stereo RCA cables. Furthermore, users with an AVRCP device can enjoy volume / track control right from their mobile, removing the need for a separate remote control and furthering its overall appeal -- and before the non-Bluetooth users go crying foul, Kyocera's also offering up an optional $34.99 adapter that converts any 3.5-millimeter stereo jack into a Bluetooth transmitter. The Bluetooth Music Gateway should be landing sometime in the April timeframe, and you'll be looking at $99.99 with the Wireless Audio Adapter thrown in, or $79.99 without.

[Via Slashphone]

QuickPlayer does "audiocasts" for BlackBerry

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 22nd 2006 @ 2:14AM

Streaming content just got a little more bountiful for (some) BlackBerry users -- but at a cost. QuickPlay Media has launched QuickPlayer for BlackBerry, doing for ~~podcasts~~ "audiocasts" what SonaMobile has done for video by streaming audio content to the normally multimedia-challenged devices. QuickPlayer rolls deep with 100+ channels of content in pretty much every conceivable category from name-brand providers, though users will be paying $7.95 a month to do so. RIM's 7130e, 8700 series, and Pearl are currently supported, so grab the player download (if you've got a decent data plan, that is) and start listening to those Accuweather forecasts in style.

[Via Pinstack]

ClearChannel, Cingular to offer radio station streams

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 7th 2006 @ 3:16PM

ClearChannel, purveyor of all things terrestrial radio, think they see the writing on the wall when it comes to mobile streaming -- and they don't intend to get left out of the fun. A fairly far-reaching deal with Cingular announced this week gives customers the option to download radio broadcasts from ClearChannel stations for $2.99 a month, while streaming adds another 99 cents to the bill. Only New York's WHTZ-FM is available initially, but plans are in the works for "up to 100" additional stations to launch in the next year. The download plan gives folks access to interviews and features, but it looks like the closest they'll be offering to music will come in the form of a list of the last 10 titles and artists that graced the airwaves. And if you thought $2.99 was enough to buy you out of advertising, think again -- "sponsor announcements" will be part and parcel with the service.

[Via MocoNews]

ESPN Mobile to offer full-length college football games

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 31st 2006 @ 8:27PM

Mobile ESPN might not have attracted quite the following they'd have hoped for so far, but that's certainly not to say they won't keep on keepin' on. In a deal with potentially broad-reaching implications for 3G data, MVNOs, and mobile entertainment in general, the sports-oriented carrier has announced plans to broadcast live college football games to their handsets, with as many as 25 planned for the 2006 season. Details are slim for the picking -- including the all-important question of pricing -- but if they can get this feature out the door for little or no additional cost on top of their basic service plans, we can definitely see this winning a few converts (not to mention flooding Sprint's EV-DO pipes in the process).

[Via Moco News]

Sprint announces on-phone MLB audio

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 10th 2006 @ 4:41PM

Just in time for the playoff race to heat up, Sprint's inked a deal with Major League Baseball to provide every -- yes, every -- major league game via streaming audio to Vision and Power Vision-enabled handsets. What's more, each game will be available via both team's flagship stations in addition to a Spanish feed. Called "Gameday Audio," the service will run ya $5.99 and should be available this month. Now just throw in a little A2DP, maybe some Sirius for entertainment during the seventh-inning stretch, and you've got yourself a pretty wicked setup for baseball on the move.

[Via PhysOrg.com]

MobiTV hits the VC jackpot, lands $70 million

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 16th 2006 @ 5:17PM

Perhaps looking to get a quick hit of cash before the onslaught of competing services gets into full swing, MobiTV has announced a deal with Oak Investment Partners, a venture capital firm, to provide $70 million in exchange for a board seat. No word on what kind of spending spree will ensue, but MobiTV's saying that the cash will "fuel the Company's rapid expansion in response to the overwhelming demand for its mobile television and radio service across international markets." To their credit, the numbers show that these guys are growing pretty rapidly, clocking over a million total subscribers at latest count -- not bad for a company whose domestic carrier partners have launched at least partially competitive services. Having sampled MobiRadio, though, we'll say this much: we hope a few bucks of that VC cash goes toward offering higher-bitrate streams.

[Via BusinessWeek]