Google TV 2.0 Brings Android Honeycomb With Apps To The Sofa

Google already dominates a significant part of my life, but it hasn’t really infiltrated my living room just yet. The search engine giant wants to do that and that’s why it has just launched the all-new Google TV 2.0. This follows in the footsteps of the original Google TV launched last year, but it comes with some new hotness in the form of apps, Honeycomb, Discovery, and more.

Google TV is still meant to function as a supplement to your usual cable subscription, but they’ve expanded the scope to include more goods. For instance, you will notice that Google TV runs on the tablet-friendly Honeycomb Android operating system. This cleans up the UI and makes it a little more familiar. This also lets it run a whole whack of applications.

To be fair, most of the apps aren’t going to play friendly on your TV, but they have about 20 or so right now that have the proper resolution and formatting. This makes it easier for content providers like Pandora and Netflix to get to you through the Google TV framework. Google plans on creating a sub-section in Android Market for Google TV apps.

One thing that I think is pretty cool is that when you look up a TV show, it won’t just show you when it’ll be airing next on regular TV; it also gives you the other options to watch that show, including YouTube rentals and Amazon purchases. That’s flexibility. It’s also cool how YouTube automatically plays a related video when your chosen video ends, instead of just sitting there blankly waiting for you to choose the next clip.

The Google TV 2.0 update is set to hit compatible Sony devices on Sunday with the Logitech Revue update following “shortly after.”

Source is
http://www.mobilemag.com/2011/10/30/google-tv-2-0-brings-android-honeycomb-with-apps-to-the-sofa/

Logitech Revue on sale promising 'new & improved' Google TV with Android 3.1, Market

Well, well, what do we have here? These Logitech Revue boxes just hit the sales floor of a major electronics retailer, prominently sporting "New & Improved: Google TV with Android 3.1 and Android Market" stickers. Logitech also released its quarterly earnings overnight, claiming $7.9 million in sales from the Revue and accessories since dumping its CEO and slashing prices to $99. These haven't been cracked open yet to see if any Honeycomb leaks out, so it's possible they're just waiting for the long-delayed OTA update like all the others. Still, if you're trying to get a jump on the second major Google TV push without any hackery needed, it could be worth scouting store shelves in your area.

Update: As a few commenters have pointed out, a support rep on Logitech's forums indicates these boxes have been updated with a sticker only. You'll still have to wait Google to deliver the goods along with everyone else.

Update 2: Logitech reached out to us with the following statement:

We'd like to clarify that these products do not include the next version of Google TV software. The boxes were prematurely updated with the stickers in anticipation of the next release of the Google TV software, which, once available, will be a free and automatic update pushed to all Logitech Revue boxes that are installed and connected to the Internet.

Source is
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/logitech-revue-on-sale-promising-new-and-improved-google-tv-with/

Logitech admits Google TV is epic failure, drops price of Revue to $99

 Google TV is a failure.

Logitech, makers of the Google TV-based "Revue" set-top box, lost $30 million in the Q1, following a disastrous $34 million loss thanks to the Revue and its accessories based on the device.

The Revue debuted last October for $250 and was instantly met with criticism for the price and the fact that Google TV was buggy. Additionally, the media companies put a death knell in the service when they began blocking free streaming content from their own sites, like Fox.com or ABChd.com.

New CEO Guerrino De Luca, replacing recently fired Gerald Quindlen, said this of the set-top (eWeek):

We launched Revue with the expectation that it would generate significant sales growth in spite of a relatively high price point and the newness of both the smart TV category and the underlying platform. In hindsight, there are number of things we should have done differently.

Additionally, the Revue has now been priced down to $99:

With the price barrier removed, we believe Logitech Revue is the most compelling connected TV offering in the market, especially with the expected release of version 2 of Google TV later this summer. All new and existing Revue users will automatically receive this update, which is built on Android 3.1. Among other benefits, V2 will offer a simplified user experience and access to many more apps, made possible by the booming Android Market.

Source is
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/08/01/logitech_admits_google_tv_is_epic_failure_drops_price_of_revue_to_99

Minerva Networks unveils next-gen IPTV software

Minerva Network builds software for operators that want to roll out TV service over IP networks. That includes those that want to augment traditional TV services with on-demand IP video, as well as ISPs who are looking to build out greenfield video deployments without investing heavily in traditional TV infrastructure.

The xTVFusion 5 platform is designed with that latter case in mind, and was created specifically to enable live and on-demand video services to be deployed over low- and high-bandwidth IP networks. Specifically that will enable new entrants to take advantage of their existing networks to roll out new services.

For customers with high-bandwidth connections, Minerva’s platform lets carriers deliver IPTV services including whole-home DVR, remote scheduling, and blended pay TV and over-the-top video capabilities. That lowers the requirement for ISPs to add new video service options to their customers.

More importantly, xTVFusion 5 can also be used for networks with as little bandwidth as 5Mbps, over which ISPs can still offer broadband TV services. That means ISPs offering DSL services — and even those running some high-powered LTE 4G mobile networks — should be able to launch streaming TV services over those networks, Minerva Networks CEO Mauro Bonomi told us in a phone interview.

Today, its average ISP partner can only reach about 20 percent of its customer base with IPTV services due to bandwidth constraints. But the new offering can expand that availability to up to 80 percent of its customers, Bonomi said.

The combination of IP connectivity and new managed networks could create interesting new business models for ISPs looking to boost sales and add new services. Take Sonic.net, for instance: the broadband provider has filed a video franchise application with the California Public Utilities Commission, and is expected to launch a low-cost streaming TV offering over its existing network. With technology like xTVFusion 5, more ISPs could follow suit.

Source is
http://gigaom.com/video/minerva-networks-xtvfusion-5/

Android movie rental store goes live in UK

Google has announced that their digital movie rental store for Android devices is now live in the UK. The store offers 1000 films, and the rentals start at £2.49.

New titles like 'Green Lantern' and 'Fast & Furious Five' are available as well as British classics like 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.'

As is standard, the titles must be viewed within 48 hours after you hit play, but you have 30 days to start watching the movie.


Source is
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/10/24/android_movie_rental_store_goes_live_in_uk

Nintendo adds Hulu Plus, 3D video recording to 3DS, Wii

Nintendo has said today that a new firmware update to the 3DS and Wii will bring a couple of anticipated features.
For the 3DS and Wii, Nintendo is adding Hulu Plus support. The service costs $8 per month and gives users a chance to watch current and full back catalogs of TV shows like "The Office," "Family Guy," "Lost" and many more.

ABC, Fox and NBC are owners of the streaming content site.

For the 3DS by itself, Nintendo is adding support for 3D video recording.

Gamers can record 10 minutes of video and even build their own stop-motion animation videos.

Nintendo says the updates will hit in late November.

Source is
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/10/21/nintendo_adds_hulu_plus_3d_video_recording_to_3ds_wii

UltraViolet reviewers hate Hollywood’s digital locker

Talk about a bad first impression: The first two Blu-ray discs featuring Hollywood’s new UltraViolet cloud locker have been met with a lot of criticism from consumers, who have been calling the technology an “awful move,” “bogus,” a “joke” and a bunch of other things we can’t reprint here in numerous reviews on Amazon.com. Many consumers took issue with the fact that they couldn’t download the digital version onto their iPad, and one wrote: “All I can say is that their digital cloud is a bunch of hot air that smells REALLY bad.”

UltraViolet is Hollywood’s attempt to prolong the life of its physical disc business, create an alternative to digital movie rentals and sales through Apple’s iTunes store and at the same time curtail piracy by controlling what users can do with downloaded copies and cloud-hosted versions of a movie.

Warner Bros. was the first studio to market with two UltraViolet-enabled discs, The Green Lantern and Horrible Bosses. At least in theory, consumers can use Warner’s Flixter service to access digital streams of both titles. However, in practice, it looks like the experience isn’t quite as streamlined as the studio had hoped for. Check out the Amazon reviews for both movies, and you’ll hardly find a good word about UltraViolet. Instead, you’ll find a number of accounts like this one:

    “After creating accounts for both Flixster and Ultraviolet, [sic] linking the accounts, enabling WB to view my personal information, the system hangs and doesn’t download the movie. I contacted Ultraviolet first with the issues and error messages. After a day, I was told this is not an Ultraviolet issue, but a Flixster problem. I then contacted Flixster. They responded by sending me to the FAQ. To date, I have not gotten a proper response from Flixster on the error messages. I plan on canceling both accounts and will NEVER buy another DVD tied to Ultraviolet.”

Other consumers report problems playing streams in Firefox, a crashing Flixster app and disappearing streams in their cloud lockers. What seems to enrage most reviewers, however, seems to be the fact that Warner labeled the discs as having a “digital copy”: a term that previously was synonymous with a separate file that can be played back through iTunes or Microsoft’s Windows Media Player. UltraViolet does allow downloads that can be played through a dedicated application, but the emphasis is on streaming. The inability to play files in iTunes seems to anger many consumers, and quite a few mention returning the movies. Said one:

    “I called the store and returned this Blu-ray… they have had numerous complaints and returns.”

Warner Bros. downplayed these issues when contacted by me. Studio representatives insisted that the vast majority of consumers had “an absolutely great experience,” with fewer consumers complaining than during previous digital access initiatives. I was also told that the ability to download files to tablets and mobile phones would come soon.

However, consumers will still have to sign up for two separate accounts when first using UltraViolet for the foreseeable future. That’s because UltraViolet set out to bring multiple studios and CE vendors together to allow cross-platform compatibility.

Still, everything will work itself out, according to a spokesperson for DECE, the initiative behind UltraViolet, who told me:

    “The development process for creating a breakthrough new media ecosystem, such as UltraViolet, is an ongoing one. DECE is actively involved in overseeing UltraViolet’s gradual rollout driven by individual companies, who are working tirelessly to address consumers’ concerns to ensure the most enjoyable, user-friendly digital home entertainment experience possible.”

This almost convinced me that everything will be just fine. The I went back to Amazon for a quick reality check: Horrible Bosses currently has 36 reviews. 16 of those are complaints about UltraViolet, which has resulted in the movie’s rating dropping down to 2.5 stars. It seems like Warner Bros. and the other participating studios have their work cut out for them if they want to convince consumers that UltraViolet is more than just hot air. And remember: If access to DRM-protected online copies is too difficult, then people may just go back to ripping their DVDs or downloading files from various Torrent sites.

Source is
http://gigaom.com/video/ultraviolet-bad-reviews/

Seagate GoFlex Cinema promises expandable Full HD entertainment

Seagate has launched its latest home entertainment storage center, the Seagate GoFlex Cinema multimedia drive, packing up to 3TB of internal storage and the ability to extend that by docking the company’s GoFlex removable drives. Capable of connecting directly to your HDTV or projector via a choice of HDMI or composite video outputs, and with a bundled remote control for sofa-friendly use, the GoFlex Cinema supports up to 1080p Full HD video playback.

Other ports include stereo audio output, an S/PDIF digital optical audio output and a USB 2.0 connection which allows you to treat the GoFlex Cinema as an external drive and dump media straight onto it. Meanwhile the drive can also be used standalone with digital cameras and camcorders, pulling your content straight across ready for playback.

Format support includes Xvid HD; AVI; MPEG-2 (VOB/ISO); MPEG-1; MPEG-4 (Xvid); AVC HD; H.264; TS/TP/M2T; MOV; M2TS; MKV; FLV; VC-1; and WMV9 video, along with ASF; MP3; WAV; AAC; FLAC; WMA; LPCM; WMA Pro; Dolby® Digital; and DTS audio. There’s also support for up to 20-megapixel images and subtitles.

Source is
http://www.slashgear.com/seagate-goflex-cinema-promises-expandable-full-hd-entertainment-12187545/

Uh oh, Skype founders working on Vdio, a rival to Netflix

According to GigaOM, Skype founders Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström are working on an online video service that will compete against market leader Netflix.
The service is to be called Vdio, similar to the entrepreneur's online streaming service Rdio.

For now, the site for Vdio is just a landing page with a "coming soon" sign, but Om says "Skype's founders have apparently been quietly assembling an A-team of media and web technology experts to launch a site that seems destined to replicate the model behind their music subscription site Rdio in the video space."

The service has been secretly under development for two years.

An upcoming closed beta service will let users "instantly watch the best in TV and movies."

More info when it becomes available.

Source is
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/10/18/oh_uh_skype_founders_working_on_vdio_a_rival_to_netflix

Kodak Licenses Movie Projection Patents to Imax in Bid to Meet Cash Needs

Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) agreed to provide laser-projection technology to Imax Corp. (IMAX), bolstering revenue as the unprofitable 131-year-old camera company seeks to stave off bankruptcy.

Kodak, based in Rochester, New York, will receive an upfront payment of more than $10 million, a milestone payment and ongoing royalties, said a person with knowledge of the matter. Imax gains technology allowing it to expand the use of digital projection on its giant-screen theaters, the Mississauga, Ontario-based company said yesterday in a statement.

The 10-year deal helps Kodak narrow a cash shortfall and advances a goal of generating $250 million to $350 million in revenue this year from licensing intellectual property. The company said on Sept. 30 that it has “no intention” of filing for bankruptcy.

“This is the ordinary course of business and I think, if anything, it demonstrates that they have intellectual property other than the image capture and printing side,” said Mark Kaufman, an analyst at Rafferty Capital Markets in New York.

The cash will be used for general corporate purposes, said Gerard Meuchner, a spokesman for Eastman Kodak. He declined to disclose terms.

Kodak put a separate set of digital-imaging patents valued at an estimated $3 billion up for sale in July. The company is facing pressure from its bondholders to use cash from asset sales to pay down debt, people familiar with the situation said last week. Some bondholders have met with bankruptcy lawyers and restructuring advisers to help ensure they are paid, the people said.
Bright Image

The Kodak technology will enhance the brightness of digital projection, Imax Chief Executive Officer Rich Gelfond said. This will enable Imax to display pictures using digital images on its screens larger than 80 feet (24 meters) instead of being dependent on 70mm film, as well as in dome theaters, Imax said. The technology is expected to debut by the second half of 2013, the company said.

“The Eastman Kodak technology helps present a really bright image,” Gelfond said in a telephone interview. “The cost comes down and enables this to happen.”

Kodak engineers will work with Imax employees during the next 18 months to bring the technology to Imax theaters, the company said. Kodak’s technology is expected to illuminate screens as large as 100 feet and dome theaters with a brightness and clarity not currently available, Imax said.

Kodak’s operations used $847 million in cash during the first half of this year, company filings show. At the end of the second quarter, Kodak had $957 million in cash and near-cash items.

Eastman Kodak shares fell 4 cents to $1.24 on Oct. 14. The stock has declined 77 percent this year. Imax slid 2 cents to $17.38, and the shares have fallen 38 percent this year.

Source is
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-16/kodak-licenses-movie-projection-patents-to-imax-as-solvency-issues-mount.html

UltraViolet Puts Blu-ray, DVD Purchases in the Cloud

It just doesn't seem fair. Once you buy a Blu-ray, you should be able to enjoy it anywhere, right? That could be a reality if UltraViolet catches on.

UltraViolet is a new technology that allows consumers to store Blu-ray and DVD purchases in a "digital locker" for later use. Unlike Digital Copy, however, it's not limited to just one iPod or other portable device (or to devices linked to a single iTunes account). Instead, UltraViolet can stream your content directly to connected TVs, game consoles, smartphones, tablets, and other devices. No special equipment is needed.

The digital movie technology made its official debut yesterday, with the Blu-ray release of Horrible Bosses. The dark comedy stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell., and Jamie Foxx. If you bought a copy of Horrible Bosses on Blu-ray or DVD, it comes with a code that can unleash that UltraViolet copy.  On Friday, Green Lantern will become the second UV-enabled Blu-ray/DVD title.  Unfortunately, our request to Warner Bros. for review samples of either title went unanswered so we can't test this feature out in any detail to verify its behavior.  But you can be sure we will dig deeper once we have product in hand.

From what we understand, to use UltraViolet you'll need an account -- and registration is currently open (and free) on the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE)'s UltraViolet website. Just enter your name and email, and confirm your registration.

According to The Wall Street Journal, users will also need to register with Flixster, which was purchased earlier this year by Warner Bros. Once both accounts are linked, you can redeem the UltraViolet Digital Copy from specially marked Blu-ray and DVD purchases.

Everything in your digital locker can be accessed by up to six different users on 12 different devices. That basically means that dad can purchase Horrible Bosses at home, and one of the kids could be watching it on a tablet in a dorm on the other side of the country.

The DECE plans to also launch an UltraViolet movie store. Currently, there's no word on how it would work and/or who is participating. However, it would most certainly compete with the likes of iTunes and Amazon. Of course, both of those retailers have cloud plans of their own.

That said, we expect UltraViolet to be more than just a flash in the pan. It's kicking off with backing from Universal, Warner Bros. and Sony. Expect future UltraViolet releases to include Warner's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (November 11), as well as Sony's release of The Smurfs (December 2) and Friends with Benefits (December 2).

Source is
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/UltraViolet-Puts-Blu-ray-DVD-Purchases-in-the-Cloud.shtml

Online TV & video revenues to soar

Global online TV and video revenues will reach $21.52 billion in 2016, a massive increase from the $3.48 billion recorded in 2010, according to the Online TV and Video Forecasts report from Digital TV Research.

Report author Simon Murray said: “The OTT television and video sector is on the brink of a huge take-off as the key players expand internationally, companies consolidate [with Hulu about to be sold to one of existing major players] and as new partnerships are announced on a daily basis.”

This impressive growth will be helped as more and more households watch more and more TV and video online. By 2016, 415 million homes in 40 countries will watch online television and video, up from 177 million in 2010.

The US will remain the dominant territory for online TV and video revenues. However, its share of total revenues will drop from 54% in 2010 (when the US recorded revenues of $1,868 million) to 36% in 2016 ($7,722 million). China’s online television and video revenues will surge from $50 million in 2010 to $1,380 million in 2016.

Online TV and video advertising has been the key driver in the OTT television and video sector, recording revenues of $2.18 billion in 2010. Rapid advertising expenditure growth will continue, to reach a global total of $9.98 billion in 2016. However, advertising’s share of total OTT revenues will fall from 63% in 2010 to 46% in 2016 as paid-for revenues skyrocket.

For this report, online TV and video advertising is defined in net terms (rate card prices less discounts, agency commissions and production costs). Furthermore, online TV and video advertising is calculated from digital video revenues (for the relevant sites) as well as display advertising featured on the relevant web pages.

Sony boosting streaming services with Video Unlimited 'preview'

Sony recently introduced its new “Video Unlimited – preview” application, a revamped and much more beautiful program with more than 40,000 movies and TV episodes to rent.
For the past few weeks, only PlayStation Plus subscribers have had access, but now it is available to download for free by all PlayStation Network members.

Don’t confuse this with Crackle, Sony’s app available on the PlayStation 3 as well as via web browsers and mobile applications. The Video Unlimited preview includes new releases, popular television programs and classic films. The interface is an advanced and more aesthetically pleasing than most other menus seen on the PlayStation 3, and this look will likely be adapted by most other Sony console applications.

Video Unlimited offers users a plethora of ways to search for favorite or new titles, ranging from the movie title to the genre down to even the writers, producers or composers attached to the project. Although it might seem easy to get lost down the rabbit hole while searching, I tried it out myself recently, and it’s actually very simple to navigate backwards using the PS3 controller. Sony has also thrown in a special history menu that allows users to flip through screenshots of where they’ve been, and the user can jump back in to the search wherever they please.

Along with being a complimentary application to Music Unlimited within Sony’s Qriocity digital media content catalog, this next generation of Sony’s video streaming platform is aiming to win back the hearts of customers who might still feel burned by the security breach on the PlayStation Network this past spring.

That breach isn’t the only thing that is keeping Sony behind the competition these days. Sure, there are plenty of streaming services available on the PlayStation Network that are supported on Bravia HDTVs and Blu-ray players, the PlayStation 3, and even the Sony Google TV. That last one is the most limited in app options, but that could very well change soon as we should be seeing more of Google TV 2 before the end of the year.

Yet for now, Microsoft has really surged ahead thanks to deal with Comcast and Verizon for its Xbox Live platform, significantly boosting the amount of content available on the Xbox 360, including Xfinity on-demand programming.

Video Unlimited is a lovely platform with tons of content, which is surely in the right direction for Sony. But PlayStation Network members can only look at their Xbox 360 friends with jealousy at this point.

For a closer look at the new Sony Video Unlimited interface, check out the promo video below:



Source is
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/sony-boosting-streaming-services-with-video-unlimited-preview/60433

TiVo Premiere Elite set-top box now available

This week the fine folks at TiVo have today announced availability of their new TiVo Premiere Elite set-top box. This box will be the company’s first and only retail DVR with a full four tuners allowing users to record four channels at once, all while viewing a fifth recorded program. Never ever miss any TV show again, ever! You’ll also have a gigantic 2-terabyte hard drive, this allowing you to record “up to 200 hours” of HD programming, two times the recording space that any other current comparable solution offers.

You won’t be able to use this new Elite system with analog cables or over-the-air antenna, such is the nature of this digital cable system ONLY solution. This device is a THX Certified DVR, and it maintains TiVo’s “gold-standard,” user interface, Neflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and YouTube. The TiVo Premiere Elite outputs to HDMI, component video, composite video, optical audio, and analog audio.

Video outputs range from 480i to 1080p, and you’ll be able to input video with CableCARD, Cable coax, and of course, ethernet for all your internet-based content. You’ll get 2 USB 2.0 ports, eSATA for external recording space, and TiVo wireless N or G network adapter capability. This system supports digital cable, HD digital cable, and Verizon FiOS, and the entire system is built on TiVo Series4 architecture. This Elite system will be available through tivo.com, authorized home theater installers, and Magnolia stores nationwide immediately if not soon for $499.99 MSRP.

Source is
http://www.slashgear.com/tivo-premiere-elite-set-top-box-now-available-10186580/

Like a TV Network, Yahoo Launches Fall Programming

With TV network style, Yahoo is launching a fall slate of shows in a bid to strengthen its original programming.
On Tuesday, Yahoo Inc. announced that it will begin premiering seven new Web series this week, all targeting female audiences. That adds to the approximately two dozen original series on Yahoo, which often pull in much higher viewership than other, higher profile video hubs.
Yahoo sites generated 45.5 million unique viewers in August, according to comScore Inc., which was sixth best and above both Hulu and AOL. In the same month, Yahoo Studios had all 10 of the top 10 most-watched online video series, according to comScore.
"I absolutely liken us to the fifth network or really the first digital network," says Erin McPherson, vice president and head of original programming at Yahoo.
The new shows generally take an unscripted, lifestyle programming strategy. Judy Greer ("Arrested Development") hosts "Reluctantly Healthy," a series about cooking and exercising for those with little time. Niecy Nash ("Reno 911") hosts a relationship show, "Let's Talk About Love." "Ultimate Proposal," with Cameron Mathison ("All My Children"), will use a team of experts to help men deliver a memorable marriage proposal.
An eighth show, not specifically targeting women, is also set to launch in November: "The Failure Club," a show about people trying to overcome a fear, produced and hosted by documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.
Yahoo is also planning further additions, with series focusing on other demographics and genres. With its own Los Angeles production house, it's easy to see Yahoo as a budding video factory -- only making 3-minute to 5-minute videos instead of 30- or 60-minute programs.
On Monday, Yahoo announced a partnership with ABC News, which will further Yahoo's video news coverage. Yahoo is also considered a possible suitor for Hulu, the online video service that Yahoo syndicates.
Original and syndicated programming will be gathered in a new video site, Yahoo! Screen.
Yahoo's push into original programming is taking several pages from the broadcast book, like marketing shows' start times, a Web rarity, and offering up finished programs to advertisers rather than have a series sponsored by one brand.
"We're both a TV network and a studio," says McPherson. "We're creating our own original content -- we do have an in-house Yahoo Studios team -- and then we partner with folks like Ben Silverman's Electus and Morgan Spurlock's company and others."

Source is http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=021002KERKRU

Sony Pictures already acquiring rights for Steve Jobs film

Sony Pictures is preparing a very large bid to acquire the feature rights to the upcoming "Steve Jobs" biography written by CNN chairman and Time Magazine managing editor Walter Isaacson.
The deal is expected to be at least "$1 million against $3 million" for the rights and Mark Gordon seems to be signed up to produce. Gordon is best known for Saving Private Ryan.

Sony Pictures recently put together the Social Network and Moneyball based off popular books so the new move seems to be a "good fit."

Isaacson's book was set for a November 21st release but following the passing of Jobs this week, the book's release date has been pushed to October 24th.

"Steve Jobs" is the only autobiography ever authorized by the former Apple CEO.

Source is http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/10/09/sony_pictures_already_acquiring_rights_for_steve_jobs_film

YouTube starts movie rentals in the UK

YouTube has now launched its movie rental service in the UK, the third such region to gain access.

Earlier this year, Google introduced the rentals to Canadian and U.S. users.

For now, there are 1000 different titles including indies and big-ticket films.

Rentals will be somewhat expensive, however, costing £2.49 (USD $3.87) to £3.49 (USD $5.42) for a 48 hour window.

The movies are synced with your YouTube account you can access it anywhere with Internet during that two day period.

Furthermore, Google says you can access the movie through Google TV devices, Honeycomb tablets and "some" Android phones.

Adds YouTube (via Crunch)

We've got some cracking films to keep everyone entertained through the upcoming winter months and beyond. From blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Reservoir Dogs, to new releases such as Hanna, Fast Five, and Red Riding Hood, and even British classics like Monty Python's The Meaning of Life and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Source is http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/10/07/youtube_starts_movie_rentals_in_the_uk