There’ll also be what the cable companies and Verizon Wireless are describing as “an innovation technology joint venture for the development of technology to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.” Exact details on what each of the cable providers might use the Verizon services for are unclear, though Comcast has said it sees them as a way to potentially extend its Xfinity TV services to mobile users.

Bright House and Time Warner have been more circumspect with their plans, simply indicating that they may repackage and offer on wireless service as a sideline to their existing subscriptions.

Of course, Verizon is making no bones about its intentions for the spectrum, which will be used to bolster its LTE coverage. “Spectrum is the raw material on which wireless networks are built,” president and CEO Dan Mead said, ”and buying the AWS spectrum now solidifies our network leadership into the future, and will enable us to bring even better 4G LTE products and services to our customers.”

The deal will need to be approved by the FCC, among others, before it gets the green light to go ahead.

The Xbox 360 console is being promoted as a central entertainment hub where you can easily switch between playing games and watching DVDs or pay-TV. Microsoft will also be adding its Bing search engine and enhancing Kinect integration so that users can easily search for shows on the web or browse through content using voice commands.

Time Warner Inc., HBO cable channel, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Crackle streaming service, NBC Universal’s Bravo, and Syfy are among other content providers expected to sign deals with Microsoft for Xbox LIVE streaming. Although no dates are confirmed, Microsoft has revealed previously that many of the changes planned for the Xbox and Kinect should arrive by this holiday season.

[via Bloomberg]

Although no official announcements for the service have been made yet, MacRumors was able to glean some details off of the above screenshot they obtained. The service only allows Comcast subscribers to stream live TV to their iPads while connected to their home network, meaning WiFi from other locations or via 3G will not work.

This restriction most likely has to do with the distribution agreements between Comcast and content providers. Both Time Warner and Cablevision have already gotten into hot water with providers such as Viacom, which sued both cable companies for breach of contract regarding their TV streaming apps.

Users should be able to watch most channels that are available with their Xfinity TV service and can register up to 10 tablets. However, the service can only stream live TV to one tablet at a time and it’s not clear when the service will be ready.

The program was first announced back in early August and is part of Comcast’s regulatory obligation after its NBC Universal acquisition. The service cannot increase in price over time and there are no rental or activation fees. Generally all families that meet the low-income qualifications can apply unless the family has outstanding bills with Comcast or has been a customer within the past 90 days.

Eligibility for the program depends on individual circumstances, but families with at least one child in the National School Lunch Program will qualify. A family of four making less than $29,055 a year should qualify for the program, while a family of three making less than $25,000 a year should be able to qualify as well.

[via Ars Technica]

Plans for live Xbox TV were first hinted at during E3 2011. At the time, Microsoft revealed that it was partnering with several content providers to stream live TV, but did not confirm who those partners would be and whether the service would be entirely internet-based or if it would work with traditional cable providers.

Now, according to sources of DigiDay, Microsoft is seeking partnerships with Comcast and Verizon, with imminent deals that could go live within a month. Working with instead of against cable providers will help ensure larger selection of content and would allow Xbox 360 TV users to access cable subscriptions through Comcast or Verizon’s FiOS service without requiring an additional set-top box. This could also help the cable providers tap into a new demographic.

[via WinRumors]

The new program is part of Comcast’s regulatory obligation after having acquired NBC Universal last year. Although individual circumstances will affect eligibility, a rough estimate is that a family of four making $29,055 per year would qualify for the scheme, while a family of three making less than $25,000 would also qualify.

Comcast promises no price increases, rental fees or activation fees, and sign-ups will be accepted as long as they have no outstanding bills with the company and haven’t been a customer in the past 90 days. Obviously you’ll also need to live in an area with Comcast service, too. Service will begin in the 2011-12 school year.

[via NPR]

The app will allow Xfinity customers to browse TV listings by area, browse On Demand libraries, schedule DVR recordings, change channels, and easily filter and search for favorite shows and movies. The app is free to download and should also work for Android 3.1 tablets with a 1280 x 800 resolution.

An update to version 1.5.3 for the iPad and iPhone Comcast Xfinity TV app was also released today with some minor bug fixes and stability improvements. The apps are free to download, but of course will only work if you’re a Comcast Xfinity subscriber and have the set-top box.

[via Electronista]

Comcast is using Intel’s chip for its new Xfinity set-top box, which will be manufactured by Pace. Intel has been pushing its chips into the home-entertainment markets with Google TV products already employing them. However, sales for Google TV have not met targets, and so this new partnership with Comcast is a good opportunity for Intel to expand into the digital home space.

As for the Facebook integration, it goes beyond just being able to access Facebook from an app launcher. Xfinity will allow subscribers to suggest programming to friends and also receive recommendations. Other apps will also be delivered through Xfinity, such as real-time traffic and weather, although which ones have not yet been confirmed.

However, it has not been confirmed yet when and where the new set-top boxes will be deployed and whether there will be an additional cost for current subscribers.

[via VentureBeat]

Comcast already offers phone services to about 8.5 million customers. With the increasing popularity of video calling and more television sets coming equipped with built-in cameras, the Comcast and Skype partnership seems like a good move to jump into this arena and increase their service offerings.

The new service will come with a monthly fee, although how much has yet to be revealed. Customers that sign up for the service will receive an adapter box and a camera mount for their TV and be able to make an unlimited number of video calls for no additional fee.

The service will start with 720p resolution that will eventually be bumped to 1080p. However, Comcast is still figuring out how they will go about bundling the service. It will require at least 1.5 megabits per second download speeds but won’t necessarily require Comcast voice and TV services.

[via SeattleTimes]

Comcast originally rolled out Xfinity in the Houston area, and has now opened up these services to Comcast customers in Philadelphia; Portland, Ore.; Jacksonville and Sarasota/Naples, Fla.; Chattanooga and Nashville, Tenn. Other markets are likely to be announced later on. The basic home security package starts at $39.95 a month. The other features like cameras and digital thermostat control cost extra, but we had difficulty finding price details for the advanced packages on the Comcast site. No doubt, they are following the model set by other companies in the industry and want to quote service prices to individuals on a one-to-one basis.

Naturally the Xfinity system can be controlled via iOS or Android app, as well as through an internet browser via PC or Mac. Consumers seem to like the concept of being able to remotely monitor their house, or have the ability to save money by remotely controlling their thermostat while not at home. In the past some companies have had difficulty introducing these types of services due to limited bandwidth in some areas. But as the broadband provider, Comcast has that covered as well. Comcast also has some wireless business partners that it can call upon for wireless broadband support as well.

[via Comcast]

After several tests and numerous user reports, TorrentFreak discovered that Comcast subscribers from across the United States were unable to connect to The Pirate Bay. The traceroute was going to the right place, thepiratebay.piratpartiet.se, but the website would not appear. Further tests showed that the block is not DNS related. The Pirate Bay has now confirmed that one web server was down, but has now been fixed. Still, only certain users were unable to access the site. The Pirate Bay is investigating, and trying to fix the issue from their end if possible.

Comcast’s Executive Director Internet Systems Engineering, Jason Livingood, stated: “Please note that we do not block websites and we are NOT blocking The Pirate Bay.” It is strange, though, that only Comcast users were having problems accessing the site. Comcast does have a reputation of blocking BitTorrent in the past. In 2007, Comcast was found to be actively blocking BitTorrent traffic, which they later admitted to doing. This action by Comcast has fueled the Net Neutrality debate, and resulted in an investigation by the FCC and several lawsuits.

Are you a Comcast user who also uses The Pirate Bay? Have you had any problems? Let us know in the comments!

[via TorrentFreak]

Comcast and TiVo had been working together for more than six years to try and make the TiVo user interface an option for Comcast customers. After facing delays and other bumps in the road, Comcast has terminated that agreement. Instead, the company will now offer TiVo Premiere users access to its Xfinity TV On Demand content that includes over 25,000 titles.

The new partnership will be jointly promoted by Comcast and TiVo, with Comcast offering TiVo Premiere set-top boxes for free to its Xfinity video on demand subscribers. However, it’s not clear whether TiVo would be offering any special discounts or freebies for its own service to help promote the new venture.

[via Electronista]

The Novatel 4G/3G MiFi 4082 mobile hotspot device used by Comcast isn’t your typical hotspot. It comes with software preloaded so that there is no installation required and it features an e-ink display to show battery status, signal, and number of connected devices, as it can connect up to five. It also has a MicroSD slot for an up to 32GB memory card. The hotspot is also sleek and small, about the size of a credit card.

As the Comcast XFINITY Internet 2go, the device will cost only $25 to purchase. The monthly plan will cost you about $40 per month for the first 12 months, after which it goes to $55 per month. This is still much lower than what’s offered by competing services such as Sprint and Verizon. But do note, that nationwide coverage is 3G, with only select areas able to enjoy 4G speeds. So, to find out if you’re in one of the lucky areas, check out this map.

Press Release:

Novatel Wireless MiFi 4082 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot Now Available Through
Comcast

SAN DIEGO ­ May 6, 2011 ­ Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a leading
provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced that its
new MiFi® 4082 is available to purchase through Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:
CMCSA, CMCSK), one of the nation¹s leading providers of entertainment,
information and communication products and services. Novatel Wireless will
supply its MiFi® 4082 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot and support Comcast as the
company continues its nationwide rollout of Xfinity® Internet 2go. The MiFi
4082 is commercially available through Comcast¹s website:
www.comcast.com/2go and will be offered to new Xfinity Internet 2go
customers for a $25 one-time fee with a qualifying Xfinity Internet 2go
service plan.

³We¹re excited to assist Comcast in rolling out their next generation
Xfinity Internet 2go 4G/3G Mobile Hotspot device, perfect for watching TV
and movies on-the-go,² said Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless. ³The new
MiFi 4082 delivers 4G speeds and complements Comcast¹s broad connectivity
and entertainment offering perfectly, providing innovative services ­ not
only for the home but now also on-the-go².

The MiFi 4082 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is the newest version of the
award-winning MiFi family of products ­ bringing 4G WiMAX to consumers with
one-touch connectivity for up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The MiFi 4082 device comes preloaded with MiFi OS , widgets and application
support, offering customers capabilities beyond just Internet connectivity.
It also features an external e-Ink display with status indicators for
battery, signal strength and number of connected devices. The device also
features shared storage capability through a microSD slot with up to 32GB.

Delivering industry-leading performance and best-in-class session continuity
between 4G and 3G, the award-winning MiFi 4082 Mobile Hotspot requires no
cables or software installation and easily supports all the needs of a
family household, a frequent traveler who wants to avoid Wi-Fi charges, or
even a small business team in a form factor about the size of a credit card.

FEATURES:
- Intuitive eInk display with status indicators for battery, signal and the
number of connected devices
- Browser user interface for configuration
- MicroSD slot for up to 32GB memory card
- Supports Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems
- Datalink 3G/4G
- No software required for Wi-Fi connection
- Battery: 1500mAh ­ over four hours of usage; 60 hours of standby time
- Weight: 85 grams with battery (3 oz.)
- Antenna: Integrated Wi-Fi antenna
- Wireless Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n

Visit www.comcast.com/2go for additional information, pricing plans and
service packages.

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of
intelligent wireless solutions based on 2G, 3G and 4G technologies providing
wireless connectivity. The Company delivers specialized wireless solutions
to carriers, distributors, retailers, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide.
Novatel Wireless’ Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products, software, USB modems,
embedded modules and smart M2M modules provide innovative anywhere, anytime
communications solutions for consumers and enterprises. Headquartered in San
Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more
information please visit www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

However, theater owners are unimpressed with the proposal, concerned that premium VOD will eat away at attendance figures. “These plans fundamentally alter the economic relationship between exhibitors, filmmakers and producers, and the studios taking part in this misguided venture” the National Association of Theater Owners argues, though the studios behind Home Premiere have said they will delay any titles still performing well at the box office beyond the initial 60 day period.

On the other side, DirecTV and other providers have been arguing for even shorter periods between theatrical release and on-demand access, though at least one theater chain has supposedly threatened to not to screen films should that happen. Paramount is not taking part in Home Premiere over what is believed to be concerns over potential piracy.

The update brings more shows and channels including the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and BBC. But more importantly, are the additional customization features. You can now mark channels as favorites and access channel history to flip back to previously viewed channels. A custom channel listing can be created to display just the shows on your most watched networks.

It’s not clear when Comcast will offer streaming of live TV such as that boasted by Time Warner Cable’s iOS app. However, the current Xfinity app does allow you to play certain movies and TV shows on your iPad via a WiFi connection. The app is free to download from the iTunes App Store.

[via Electronista]

Other channels that’ve appeared before this Xfinity 3D are ESPN 3D, n3D (a limited channel on DirecTV,) and 3net (another very similar channel that seems to be running many special presentations in the same manner as Omnimax theaters – those big fat domes at the science museum you went to as a kid.) This also isn’t the first time Comcast itself has offered 3D content, as they’ve shown the 2010 Masters Golf Tournament and the FIFA World Cup matches in such a format as well.

This makes us feel like 3D might not go away nearly as fast as it did in the 1980′s, this and the seemingly neverending array of video games, glasses, and devices that’ve been coming out for the past few years. Have a peek at our 3D portal to see what I mean. After that, if you need more convincing, have a peek at the post over on Android Community at a post by the name of Why These Two Android Phones will Change Everything – one of these two phones is dipped in the hot lead that is 3D capturing and sharing. Welcome to the 3D fun cooker.

[via Consumer Reports]

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The purchase of NBC Universal by Comcast has been approved by the FCC, in a 4-to-1 vote. The details of what’s to come next are still being ironed out we imagine, and therefore haven’t been made public quite yet. Commissioner Michael Copps was the only one to vote no on the proposed purchase.

Details of the proceeding are expected to be released soon. However, the Justice Department still needs to put their two cents in on the deal. They are expected to look at the FCC approval next week.

[via CNBC]

The DirecTV deal will see Samsung integrate RVU chips into its LED D6000, LED D6400 and LED 6420 TV models, allowing each HDTV to receive streamed content from a single DirecTV server. They’ll go on sale in March 2011, offering DVR services, live pause on all screens in the home, 200hrs of shared storage, PiP and the ability to record up to five shows simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Samsung has also announced a deal to put Adobe AIR 2.5 on its smart TVs and Blu-ray players, together with adding Flash Player 10.1 support to the browser on its sets. Apps written in AIR will be cross-platform compatible with Samsung HDTVs just as they are on PCs, Macs and other platforms today.

Press Release:

Samsung and DIRECTV Partner to Deliver World’s First RVU-Compatible Production Television

DIRECTV and Samsung Showcase Multi-room DVR Technology On Samsung Smart TVs

2011 International CES
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today at the International Consumer Electronics Show, DIRECTV and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced they have partnered to present the world’s first RVU-compatible production televisions, which will provide more than 19.1 million DIRECTV subscribers with the ability to watch live broadcast and stored content from their DVR on Samsung smart TVs, without the need for additional set-top boxes. As founding members of the RVU Alliance, Samsung and DIRECTV are committed to providing a more seamless entertainment experience for consumers across multiple rooms and a variety of screens, through the use of standardized Remote User Interface (RUI) technology.

“Making DIRECTV features and content available to Samsung’s televisions through the RVU server allows consumers to enjoy our innovative service without the need for additional set-top boxes. We are pleased to see our successful partnership with Samsung expand to include support for RVU in their 2011 model range.”
The RVU protocol will be supported on Samsung’s LED D6000, LED D6400 and LED 6420 TV products that reflect the company’s commitment to delivering consumers high-quality, visually enhanced and connected entertainment experiences in their home. A RUI technology based on industry standards such as DLNA and UPnP, RVU allows a set-top box server to provide a multi-room, complete viewing experience that includes DVR services, without the need for additional set-top boxes in homes that have more than one connected TV.

“We are very happy to be working with an esteemed satellite provider like DIRECTV and provide the world first RVU service to consumers with Samsung TV,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung’s Visual Display Business. “Products developed on RVU standards, one of the major RUI standards, will help accelerate the development of features and applications that can provide our customers with a truly customizable, immersive entertainment experience that can be enjoyed from the comfort of the home.”

“The CES demonstration of the first RVU compliant television is exciting news for the industry and consumers who want a consistent, superior user experience throughout the home,” said Romulo Pontual, CTO of DIRECTV. “Making DIRECTV features and content available to Samsung’s televisions through the RVU server allows consumers to enjoy our innovative service without the need for additional set-top boxes. We are pleased to see our successful partnership with Samsung expand to include support for RVU in their 2011 model range.”

Capable of supporting multiple connected televisions, DIRECTV’s RVU server enables the UI and features to be displayed directly on those connected TVs. Under this partnership, Samsung will embed support for RVU in their smart TVs and provide its customers with the full DIRECTV experience, including DVR services, live pause abilities on all screens in the home, 200 hours worth of shared storage, picture-in-picture capabilities and the power to record up to five shows at once. Samsung’s RVU-compatible TVs will be available in March 2011.

More information on Samsung’s Smart TV strategy and Samsung’s new partnerships were announced during Mr. Boo-Keun Yoon’s keynote address, which can now be viewed at www.samsungces2011.com.

Press Release:

Samsung and Time Warner Cable Announce Collaboration for Smart TV Service and Multi-Room Solutions

Time Warner Cable App to be Available to the Company’s Subscribers on Samsung Smart TV and Samsung Galaxy Tab

2011 International CES
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Time Warner Cable shared the stage today at the International Consumer Electronics Show to announce a collaboration that will allow Time Warner Cable customers to access their cable subscriptions on the Samsung Smart TV and Samsung Galaxy Tab in their homes. Time Warner Cable Chairman and CEO Glenn Britt joined Samsung Visual Display President Boo-Keun Yoon on stage during Mr. Yoon’s keynote speech, where the two companies jointly announced the collaboration and demonstrated the services.

“The era of smart TV is here, and innovative partners like Time Warner Cable, that can utilize this ground-breaking technology to deliver new entertainment solutions to their consumers, will be the first to succeed.”
Available as an app within Samsung’s application storefront, the Time Warner Cable service ultimately will give Time Warner Cable’s subscribers access to all of their cable channels directly on Samsung smart TVs and Galaxy Tab in the home. All of the content can be consumed through Samsung’s award-winning LED, LCD and Plasma smart TV line-up, which delivers a high-quality, visual enhanced and connected entertainment experience to the home.

In addition to watching live TV on the Smart TV and Tab, Mr. Britt demonstrated the capability for Time Warner Cable customers to access recorded content from a DVR elsewhere in the home directly on the Samsung Smart TV, without the need for a connected set-top box. This creates a multi-room viewing experience that doesn’t require multiple set-top boxes in homes that have more than one connected TV.

“We are very excited to announce Time Warner Cable as our newest partner in delivering new smart TV experiences,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung’ Visual Display Business. “The era of smart TV is here, and innovative partners like Time Warner Cable, that can utilize this ground-breaking technology to deliver new entertainment solutions to their consumers, will be the first to succeed.”

“We’re excited to bring together Time Warner Cable’s high-value content and high-quality delivery with Samsung’s innovative products,” said Mr. Britt. “Time Warner Cable is committed to making it easier for our customers to watch what they want, when they want, on multiple devices. We’re giving customers more control than ever in ways that are simple and easy for them. Samsung’s leading technology and large base of consumers make the company the perfect partner as we deliver services that will change the way people watch TV.”

The Time Warner Cable applications will be demonstrated at the Samsung booth in the Central Hall at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 6-9, 2011.

Time Warner Cable anticipates beginning to offer the apps commercially on Samsung devices later this year.

Press Release:

Samsung and Comcast Partner to Transform TV Viewing on Smart Televisions and Tablets

New Comcast Xfinity TV Experience to Launch on Samsung Smart TVs and Tablets This Year

2011 International CES
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today at the International Consumer Electronics (CES) Show, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) jointly announced the companies’ partnership to continue to revolutionize the way consumers access content and watch TV. For the first time on a connected TV, the new Xfinity TV service will offer a rich, Web-like interface, enabling simpler navigation and the ability to seamlessly search across linear TV, DVR recordings, and video on demand among tens of thousands of content choices. A sleek graphics-rich display will guide the viewer to their favorite programming.

“As we begin this exciting new decade, Samsung is also launching a new era of TV technologies that will delight and amaze consumers unlike ever before”
The partnership also will deliver a customized and integrated multi-platform viewing experience on Samsung smart TVs and the Android™-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab. On the tablet, the Xfinity TV experience is a virtual television guide and a mobile video player all in one. Xfinity TV digital customers will be able to browse, discover and sort video content, change the channel on a Samsung smart TV in real time, and program DVRs. In addition, they can watch streaming TV programming and movies directly on the tablet, and access that content across multiple devices. The service’s roadmap includes the ability to begin watching a favorite movie on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, then pause the movie and resume watching it on a Samsung smart TV from the exact moment it was paused, and vice versa.

The Xfinity TV service was unveiled today at the International Consumer Electronics Show by Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts during a keynote speech by Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, and will also be demonstrated at the Samsung booth in the Central Hall.

“As we begin this exciting new decade, Samsung is also launching a new era of TV technologies that will delight and amaze consumers unlike ever before,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung’s Visual Display Business. “To partner with the renowned Comcast brand enables us to deliver on our promise of giving consumers greater variety, easy access and control of the content they discover and deliver a more immersive and entertaining experience to Comcast customers.”

Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation, said, “Our partnership with an industry leader like Samsung is another important step in Comcast’s plan to totally reinvent how consumers watch television wherever and whenever they want. We have the technology framework in place to deliver new features to Comcast customers faster than ever, including on connected TVs, tablets and multiple devices, which is core to our strategy and a key facet of the future of television.”

The Xfinity TV experience will be distributed later this year on the Samsung smart TVs and on the application store for the Galaxy products interacting through the Comcast set-top box, giving consumers yet another access point for discovering and connecting to Comcast Xfinity TV services. Content can be watched through Samsung’s award-winning LED, LCD and PDP TV products that reflect the company’s commitment to delivering consumers high-quality, visually enhanced and connected entertainment experiences in their home.

More information on Samsung’s smart TV strategy and Samsung’s partnership with Comcast were shared during Mr. Boo-Keun Yoon’s keynote address, which can now be viewed at www.samsungces2011.com.

Press Release:

Samsung and Adobe Bring Adobe AIR to Smart TVs

Samsung Becomes First to Integrate Adobe AIR 2.5 into Televisions and Blu-ray Players; Announces Plans to Bring Adobe Flash Player 10.1 to Smart TVs

2011 International CES
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Adobe announced that Samsung’s Smart TV platform will be the first to integrate support for Adobe® AIR® 2.5 for TV, making it easy for developers to build, distribute and monetize standalone applications through Samsung’s Smart TV applications store, Samsung Apps. The integration of AIR for TV with Samsung’s Smart TV platform will create new opportunities for a growing community of more than three million Adobe Flash® Platform developers who can use Adobe Creative Suite 5 to author content for AIR for TV. All of Samsung’s 2011 Smart TVs and Smart Blu-ray players will include support for Adobe AIR for TV.

“Adobe is a key partner for Samsung and we are thrilled to be the first TV manufacturer to support Adobe AIR across the Samsung Smart TV platform”
Samsung also announced plans to bring Adobe Flash Player 10.1 to its Smart TV browser, extending the company’s current support for Flash Player 10.1 on Samsung smartphones and tablets. With the addition of Flash Player 10.1, users will enjoy a more complete web browsing experience on the TV, with access to millions of websites with rich videos, games and other multimedia content.

“Adobe is a key partner for Samsung and we are thrilled to be the first TV manufacturer to support Adobe AIR across the Samsung Smart TV platform,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business. “Together, Samsung and Adobe are transforming the ways in which consumers interact with devices and content, providing rich, interactive applications built with industry-leading, cross platform tools.”

“Content publishers want to extend their reach from smartphones to the largest screen in the home – all without sacrificing the unique context and experience of each screen,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and CEO of Adobe. “Samsung is the first device manufacturer to embrace Adobe AIR for TV, and together we will enable developers to extend media applications, social games and other forms of rich content to televisions and a wide range of Samsung devices.”

With Samsung’s Smart TV platform and Adobe AIR for TV, developers are able to leverage existing code to create and deliver standalone applications across devices and platforms. The Samsung Smart TV platform was built with the developer in mind, enabling content creators to develop applications on an open platform, using common web standards like Javascript and XML and now support for Adobe AIR. The platform uses a single Software Developer Kit (SDK) for Apps that runs across HDTVs, Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theater systems so developers can write once and deploy apps across several platforms. This gives developers the opportunity for more versatile monetization and enables a consistent and intuitive experience for consumers.

More information about Samsung’s Smart TV strategy and Samsung’s new partnerships was announced during Mr. Boo-Keun Yoon’s keynote address, which can now be viewed at www.samsungces2011.com. For more information about Adobe AIR for TV visit http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/flash_platform_tv.html

In the letter, Comcast says that they would be willing to, maybe, provide some households with their previously unpublished Economy speeds. Price wise, customers would have to pay only $10 per month for the access. To be considered for the cheaper prices, though, your home would have to make $20,000 or less per year. Additionally, there would have to be one child in the household that is part of the No Child Left Behind program. So, if you do not have a child, or make more money than what Comcast would require of you, these options would not be possible.

Comcast also outlined their plans for expansion, noting that they would cover over 400,000 more homes within the next three years. However, that seems to be only about 2.3 percent more than what they already cover, so the expansion isn’t likely a reason that the FCC would consider the proposal.

As of right now, the FCC hasn’t said whether or not they will extend the conditions or accept the proposal from Comcast.

[via Electronista]

According to the WSJ, one of Genachowski’s key goals is to ensure that online video content would be broadly available, even after the proposed deal goes ahead:

“Comcast would be required to offer NBC Universal programming to any online video provider that has reached a similar deal for content with some of NBC’s competitors, such as Walt Disney Co. or Fox Television, a division of News Corp.” WSJ

However, it’s not entirely clear what Genachowski hopes to achieve by that. As AllThingsD suggest, it could mean that NBC would not be allowed to prevent Hulu from syndicating its content to other sites, as is currently the case. Alternatively, it might be a sign that NBC has to directly offer its content to other sites, in effect cancelling out Hulu’s exclusivity agreement and potentially bypassing the site altogether.

The proposed deal will be voted on in 2011.

Unlike Google TV, which allows full access to the internet through set-top boxes like the Logitech Revue, Xcalibur has been designed with a more walled-garden approach to browsing. It’s unclear which video sites Comcast has opened access to, but there’s no full browser app; instead, users can access rudimentary versions of social networking sites – presumably Facebook and Twitter – to share feedback on shows with other viewers.

The STBs are apparently codenamed “Parker” – after the Spiderman hero – and are IP-enabled, though the bulk of the content they show (including on-demand video) are routed via the traditional cable network. Comcast is also looking at tailored advertising options, sending out adverts according to the shows users watch most frequently, though that functionality is not part of this current trial. What the STBs do get is a new “fluid and graphical” UI, with a redesigned program guide that can be browsed in split-screen with the current show, and a shortcut bar to recently watched channels and programs.

“What Level 3 wants is to pressure Comcast into accepting more than a twofold increase in the amount of traffic Level 3 delivers onto Comcast’s network — for free. In other words, Level 3 wants to compete with other CDNs, but pass all the costs of that business onto Comcast and Comcast’s customers, instead of Level 3 and its customers” Comcast statement

Level 3′s stance is that Comcast is using its control over customer cable access to limit which companies can compete and unfairly drive up costs while holding them to ransom. Comcast was issued a C&D order by the FCC in April this year for throttling video bandwidth to better balance overall traffic for all users (a ruling which was overturned recently by a court of appeal); Level 3 is pushing for this incident to be seen in a similar light.

It seems Comcast would be happy if Level 3 started paying it the same as other CDN providers currently do, but of course Level 3 is reluctant to lose its price advantage over rivals. Meanwhile Comcast is apparently threatening that Level 3 must accept the terms or face a block on its traffic. The FCC is likely to vote on net neutrality later this month.

SlashWOOPS Today, on Reddit, a fine young man found a loophole in the way Comcast internet connects to your home. All he needed was Comcast cable TV, a cable modem (any cable modem) and a few clever clicks later, this young fellow had free cable internet. The reason his discovery became so popular today is the same reason why he posted it in the first place: the person on the other end of his helpline when calling up Comcast to ask a question was very rude, insistent, and above all else, unprofessional. Now Comcast is destined to lose untold amounts of potential dollars while they figure out a way to close their loophole, untold amounts of dollars that could have been saved by a bit of niceness and a dash of common sense. I wont post any more details here, but I know you’re a resourceful lot – have fun with it!

R3 Media Network

Android Community
Samsung Continuum Hands-On [FEATURE]
HTC Paradise for AT&T heads to FCC [RELEASE]
LG Vortex for Verizon Free After Mail-In Rebate and New Contract [RELATIVELY FREE]
NTT DOCOMO Unveils Three New Android Phones, Coming Soon [UNVEILING]
Vodafone to Stock HTC Desire Z
T-Mobile’s Wifi-Calling Now Useable on Nexus One [HACKS]
3D displays needed in Mobile phones? Sharp thinks so [THREE DEE]
Verizon DROID PRO Nov 9 pre-sales confirmed for $180 [PRE]
Android 2.3 Gingerbread imminent tips Open Handset Alliance member [THE GINGERBREAD MAN COMETH]

SlashGear
Samsung Continuum for Verizon Hands-On [FEATURE]
Samsung Continuum for Verizon Due in Stores November 11th [FIRST HAND]
5 New Downloadable Games Available from Nintendo Today [NEW GAMES YAY]
Public Relations Head Brandee Barker Leaving Facebook [TINY EXODUS]
Oakley Releases Non-Tron Edition Gascan “World’s First Optically Correct 3D Glasses” [THREE DEE]
Google Sponsoring In-Flight WiFi This Holiday Season [SEASONABLY FREE]
Call of Duty: Black Ops Will Sell 20% Less Than Modern Warfare 2, Says Analyst [CONVERSATION OF WAR]
Movie Review: The Millenium Trilogy [COLUMN]
iPad 2 adverts already filmed ahead of 2011 launch? [SHINY]
Isabella Fable kids’ tablet packs 3G, ebooks & rugged design [RUGGED]
Rocket Man dons jet suit and does loops for grins [ROCKETMAN]
Windows Phone 7 on sale in US [LINEUP]

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash]

A Cisco event is scheduled for next week, promising “a new Cisco consumer experience”; the company’s PR has declined to comment on whether the star of the event will be the unnamed telepresence gadget.  It’s unclear whether it will be a standalone video phone, like the ASUS AiGuru SV1T Skype videophone or something that plugs into an existing display – such as an HDTV – as we’ve seen offered from Panasonic and others.

More interestingly, perhaps, it could be a consumer version of the Cisco Cius, a 7-inch enterprise-centric tablet that runs Android and is targeted at mobile video calls.  That’s expected to begin shipping to enterprise customers in Q1 2011.

Zucker informed NBCU employees of the decision and movement in an email he sent out to everyone. GE then sent out an internal memo to the company, basically putting the last nail into the coffin for Zucker’s carrer at NBC Universal. Comcast is expected to finalize the takeover of NBCU, after it finishes purchasing 51 percent of NBCU, by the end of the year. Zucker has been in the Chief position for the company since 2007, which oversees cable channels like SyFy, as well as the Universal theme parks, and Universal Pictures studio.

As should be expected, until his departure from the company, Zucker will be working with the new CEO of NBCU, making sure that the transition is smooth. No announcements have been made for the replacement, but it’s believed that the new Chief of NBCU will be someone from Comcast.

[via BusinessWeek]

But, it’s not all good news. While unlimited WiFi at a park, for free, sounds great, and that’s indeed what you’re getting here, it’s not always free. In fact, you only get 30 minutes of free WiFi access per month. And it’s not in a 30 minute increment, either. You get 10 minutes per access, and then you have to take a break. The WiFi access itself will be supplied by Comcast and Time Warner, which means an exchange was made: for their efforts, the two companies get a ten year extension of their city cable contracts.

After you finish up your 30 minute access, probably sooner than in that month time, you’ll have to pay 99-cents to access the WiFi network. This probably means that the companies involved will see a boat load money, considering 99-cents doesn’t seem like all that much to get that extra access — especially considering you’re (hopefully) in a nice park. We’ll see how this pans out — it will probably start popping up all over the place soon enough.

[via NY Daily News]

The Best of R3 Media

Meet the Motorola A955: We’ve got no idea what it is. It’s either the Motorola Shadow, the Nexus Two, or the Droid 2. All of which haven’t officially been announced, or even spied on camera (completely), but we know that at least one of those handsets exist. And, sure enough, the Motorola A955 fits right in with the Droid 2 mythos, as it follows the first version of the Droid’s model number (A855) quite nicely. So, that’s our bet. But, then again, it could be something completely different, too. [via Android Community]

Apple Asks “What’s the iPad?”: Good enough question for some, we imagine. While the iPad has been basically a smash hit here in the States, there’s still no telling how well it will do around the world once the tablet starts showing up in people’s hands. So, Apple wanted to make sure that you get the point of the iPad, or at least something close to that. That’s why they made a nice little video for you. Hopefully it answers your questions. [via Everything iPad]

Microsoft Mobile Office Available Now: For Windows Mobile 6.5, no less. Considering that Windows Phone 7 is getting its own, pretty spectacular version of Windows Mobile, there’s no doubt that this version won’t be making it to the next iteration of the mobile platform. But, it’s good to see Microsoft giving Windows Mobile some love, even in the shadow of what’s coming. Features include mobile versions of Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Excel. It’s available for download right now, so get crackin’ and let us know what you think. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge Net

One Man Wants to Give All of Africa WiFi: Yes. All of it. Not just the large metropolitan areas, or even some villages. But all of the villages out there, and everything else in between. Paul English is the co-founder of the travel search engine Kayak (which is also available in an application format on some smartphones) has an idea to use satellites, along with terrestrial infrastructure, to give the entire continent access to free, high-speed WiFi. It would basically be like the “closed” Internet that you get at a local, public library: access to Skype, Gmail, and Google, but “non-essential” things like pornography, or high-bandwidth intensive videos wouldn’t be allowed, either. A lofty goal, yes, and it probably won’t be done for a decade, but at least he’s trying. And using his own money, no less. [via DVICE]

Comcast Makes an iPad App: Yes, two pieces of iPad information tonight. We couldn’t really help ourselves. As soon as we saw this app, we had to share it here. It’s a pretty simple, relatively, channel guide, which shows you all the available channels for your account with Comcast. The User Interface (UI) is great, and it looks really, really easy to navigate through. One of the most simple features, like having the TV station’s logos visible, is also one of the coolest. Definitely worth a look if you’ve got an iPad and are using Comcast, that’s for sure. [via CrunchGear]

Netflix Begins Streaming HD to PCs and Macs: This one’s quick, because we know as soon as you read that title, you closed this window and went right on over to Netflix. We don’t blame you. The video streaming and disc-sending company is now starting to stream HD videos to PCs and Macs, which should make pretty much everyone happy. Why are you still here? [via Netflix]

The program in question will be The Masters golf tournament. The broadcast will be the first 3D broadcast of a major sporting event on TV, the first live simulcast of a 3D event online, and the first live multi-camera 3D production.

A dedicated 3D channel will be in use during the tournament and will show about two hours of content per day in 3D. The channel will offer different angles of the action than normal broadcasts. Naturally, you will need 3D-ready TV or computer gear to be able to view the 3D broadcast. Golf is a boring sport to watch, but in 3D it might be cool.

The key here is that Comcast is reminding everyone that they need HD service to go along with it. Don’t be like the woman up the street from me who bought a new HDTV and then watches it with basic cable and brags about how good the picture is.

Comcast says that only 36% of HDTV owners are told how to receive HD programming when they buy their new TVs. You might not need cable or satellite in your area to get HD programs if you have local affiliates with OTA broadcasts.

Apparently, the rumor stated that Comcast would be adding on between 40 and 50Mbps of bandwidth to their current offerings. Only downstream upgrades are mentioned, not upstream. Plus, it’s not know if this update would cause a change in the plan pricing or if the 250GB cap would be adjusted.

Comcast has already said they would be upgrading to 100Mbps last year, but missed the mark. It seems that current network capacity has been the company’s biggest hurdle in completing the upgrade.

The suite alleges that Comcast’s policies violate the Sherman Anti-Trust Act as well as business and professional codes. Corraleio’s main argument is that the customer pays more in rental fees for the equipment than the devices total value. Comcast does provide the hardware needed, but it all must be rented in order to receive their services.

With this suit Corraleio is seeking compensatory and other damages as well as her attorney fees, court costs and interest. Layers of Comcast were eventually granted an extension to respond to the allegations, the deadline has been moved from December 17th to January 30th.

These upgrades come at no additional cost. However, the two new speed tiers will cost extra. The 22Mbps tier, dubbed the “Ultra” will cost $63 while the 50Mbps tier, or the “Extreme 50″ will cost $140. Those in the New England area are the first to get this service, though there are plans to expand it across the nation.

[via Gizmodo]

With tru2way, cable subscribers will now be able to receive cable and interactive features without an external cable box. The TVs will go on sale toward the end of this month from Circuit City, Abt Electronics and Ultimate Electronics stores.

Some options you will have include a 42-inch and 50-inch model called the TH-42PZ80Q and TH-50PZ80Q, respectively, and will retail for $1,600 and $2,300. More cities are expected to get the device in the months that follow, though there’s no word on when Comcast will have their systems prepared for the new CableCARDs. Update: We just got word that Comcast cable systems in Chicago and Denver are tru2way-ready now, so the new HDTVs will be supported immediately after going on sale. [Thanks, Jenni!]

[via Gizmodo]

The Cisco STA1520 tuning adaptor is available at selected areas for now, with no extra cost. User can connect the adapter via USB connection to TIVO DVR (with software 9.4 or higher). Early adopters have reported successful SDV channels access with this adapter on their TIVO. If you have such tuner devices and are residents of Denver or New Jersey with Comcast cable services, it’s time to call the customer services.

Comcast’s notification to Subscriber

Dear Valued Customer:

As a part of a system upgrade in your area this fall, we are introducing an exciting new way of delivering video programming to your home, called Switched Digital Video (SDV).

Currently our system sends all channels simultaneously, all the time, whether they are being viewed or not. SDV is a two-way video technology that lets us deliver individual channels over our fiber optic network at the moment you tune to them. This new technology will allow us to expand the services we offer our customers, including by providing more high-definition programming and faster internet speeds.

Because SDV is a two-way interactive technology, you will not be able to view SDV channels using one-way devices such as your TiVo equipment without some additional assistance. To ensure that you will be able use all the features of your TiVo equipment and enjoy all the channels you currently receive, Comcast, in partnership with TiVo, has developed a special tuning adapter to use with your TiVo equipment.

Starting on October 6, 2008, you can bring this letter to one of your local Comcast payment centers at:

[centers vary by area]

where we will give you a tuning adapter at no additional cost. Or, you can call us at 1-800-COMCAST and refer to “the TiVo letter,” and we will schedule an appointment for a technician to visit your home to install it for free. Representatives are available by phone 24/7 to assist with any questions you may have.

Please refer to the FAQ section of this letter for more information on SDV. Remember, you can reach us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-COMCAST or chat with us online at www.comcast.com.

Thank you for being a Comcast customer!

credit tivocommunity

He goes on to claim that he was a 2.5 tier support agent, which means he was about as good as it gets as far as Comcast support goes and that he was actually employed by Convergsys, a company that Comcast had outsourced some support work to in Canada. Well apparently he got sick of the crap, looked up the kid’s IP, and thus had access to his account information, then called his father, who was the real owner of the account. Informed the father of the potentially illegal activities his son was involved in.

Then Sir Lagzalot claims to have heard the man beat his kid with the whole thing ending in what he swore was the sound of an Xbox being smashed. Then the father put the kid on the phone with the “Comcast Rep” and Sir Lagzalot identified himself as the guy they were just being dicks to, talk about Pwned. Anyways, through various efforts he was eventually identified as Mark Ribeiro, his picture above, Comcast has requested Convergsys remove him from the Comcast account and that he be investigated for the likely several acts of unlawfulness displayed by this event. Maybe Sir Lagzalot will write a book about it, “Power Corrupts; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”.

Sir Lagzalot also offered up screenshots of the App he used to perform this activity and has also made claims of giving up credit card info of Comcast customers. So, this gentleman may in fact be in a lot of trouble, lets see how far his claims of “I can restart your modem with a push of a button…so don’t piss me off,” go now.

[via DSLReports]

The $150 price tag is only for personal use, business accounts will have to pony up $200 a month for the same service. That 5Mbps upstream speed would be great for hosting a personal server, or even an internet connected file server so you can get to your stuff from anywhere, but is it worth the hefty price?

This amazing feat is accomplished using the new DOCSIS 3.0 technology on top of at least a partially fiber based connection and can actually provide up to 100Mbps, or up to 160Mbps in the future. As I said, right now it’s only in Minneapolis/St. Paul (how do they choose these test sites?) but they plan to have 20% coverage by the end of this year and full coverage by 2010. Personally I could care less how fast the service gets, as soon as Verizon or ATT bring their Fiber here I’m done with these fools.

[via digitaltrends]

They are going to start re-working their network management tools so that they treat all network traffic equally instead of discriminating against BitTorrent or other P2P traffic. The reason? Well you might be surprised to hear this, but there are increasing number of uses for BitTorrent and other P2P networks that is completely legal.

More an more companies are offering up the standard download channels as well as torrents of their products. Recently I’ve legally downloaded several underground albums, mixtapes, Linux Distros, all of these things specifically being given away for free by their creators and being passed out via BitTorrent. Chances are this was just an attempt to save face over a stunt that they were eventually going to end up looking quite bad for.

[via digitaltrends]

Comcast will be reportedly buying in for a cool billion dollars. Time Warner will pony up half a billion with Bright House dumping in a measly 1-2 hundred million dollars.

This deal isn’t set in stone, and I reckon I’m not too terribly set against more than one or two companies being in on this deal as it would presumably aid in getting things done right the first time and done a lot faster as a nationwide rollout of any network can be a bit of a pain. Hopefully they get the backing of Intel soon and start putting this network into place so I can end my contract with Comcast and just get a WiMAX card.

[via abcnews]

Law firm Gilbert Randolph LLP represents the class action lawsuit, accusing Comcast of false advertising in relation to the speed of its Internet service. The fastest Internet connection is misleading as it advertises because it “intentionally blocks or impedes its customer’s access to peer-to-peer file sharing,”

The suit names the plaintiffs as Sanford Sidner and D.C. residents who have subscribed to Comcast’s comcrapstic high-speed Internet service during the past three years. Sidner’s complaint concurs with most of the comments from our last post. The service will often “slow to a crawl” when using file-sharing applications and also says that “I’ll bet most paying customers out there have no idea that Comcast is secretly blocking and slowing down their high-speed Internet service,” and such practice “cuts at the heart of the service we all purchased.”

Comcast has no comment on the lawsuit but still sticks by its network managed practice does not block content, just delays one briefly. “To be clear, Comcast does not, has not, and will not block any Web sites or online applications, including peer-to-peer services, and no one has demonstrated otherwise,” but “Sometimes we have to delay [the sharing] because of the volume of it,”

Some of our readers have commented the slow-down affects more than peer-to-peer application like Bittorrent. It’s awfully terrible if they do that on others multimedia downloading as well. I was pretty upset when TWC switched over North Dallas area with Comcast; I missed the only Cable network that would rent TIVO DVR in the future. But I guess we got lucky after all, at least TWC doesn’t manage my internet content.

[via arstechnica, msn]