YouTube Launches Another Development To Bring Internet Content To Television Screens
YouTube unveiled this week YouTube.com/XL, a revamped version of YouTube.com/TV that is intended to be viewed on a television set or on a large PC screen.
This YouTube.com/XL (YouTube extra large) works on any Web browser that can be connected to a TV, whether it is a game console, a PC or another device.
It can be controlled not only with a keyboard, but also with some remote controls (including Android phones).
Rather than a donwloadable app for viewing, like Hulu desktpop -see below-, YouTube is choosing to go all browser, no plug-in required (It is an AJAX-powered IU).
Not all the YouTube content is available here. Many content providers have been reluctant to allow television viewing of full-lenght episodes they post online.
Hulu Desktop
This development comes just a week after YouTube’s top online rival, Hulu, unveiled a desktop app that can be controlled through a remote. This free, downloable app, works either in Windows or Mac. It allows to navigate Hulu’s entire library with just six buttons.
Google Launches An Alpha Version of Chrome Browser For Mac And Linux
Google has developed a version of Chrome browser for Mac OS X and Linux.
“Please don’t download it unless you are a developer or take great pleasure in incomplete, unpredictable, and potentially crashing software” “How incomplete? So incomplete that, among other things , you won't yet be able to view YouTube videos, change your privacy settings, set your default search provider, or even print,” Google warns.
Some developers say that this is the fastest browser even seen.
However, there are just too many missing features that people expect in a browser.
Apple’s App Store Developers Nightmare
After the Apple App Store has passed the 30,000-titles milestone, developers are complaining that with Apple’s way of working it’s very difficult for an app to rise above the noise.
Experts say that Apple’s criteria for featuring apps is based not on how well they’re selling but because they show off the best features of iPhones and iPod Touches, so they can sell more devices.
For a developer wanted to gaining entrance in the playing field, he need to pay a nominal $99-a year for the iPhone Developer Program. A completed app must secure Apple’s approval before it is put on sale in the App Store. It’s often a slow process. Apple takes a 30 percent cut of App Store sales.
Multi-fingered Touch Technology Coming Up
PC manufacturers and software makers (HP, Dell, Microsoft and Intel, among them) are seeing a future in 10-fingered touch screens, far beyond the two fingers technology.
Computers with the special screens will cost consumers about $100 more than standard machines.
Now only two milion of about 300 million PCs sold last year were touch Computers. Among them is the $1,150 TouchSmart HP computer. Tablelike Computers with plastic pend remain a niche, too.
In addition, HP has been selling touch technology to large businesses. Customers can turn both desktops and laptops into kiosks, for, say, ordering merchandise at a sporting evento r flipping through a menu while waiting in a restaurant.
The new version of Windows 7 will use touch technology allowing people to interact with several fingers.
BBC World News App For Live-streaming on iPhones over 3G and Wi/Fi
BBC World News has launched this week the BBC World News app, allowing users of the iPhone and iPod Touch in sixteen European countries to watch the channel live on their devices over Wi-Fi and 3G networks.
This app is available for €7.99 at the Apple App Store.
Jim Egan, Director of Strategy and Business Development at BBC Global News, says: “This is an exciting new way for BBC World News viewers living in Europe to watch the channel anywhere. With live TV streaming alongside the BBC’s mobile news site the app is a complete on-demand news service. Having a news channel available live on the iPhone at this level of broadcast quality is a world first. We aim to extend this service to iPhone owners in other regions soon."
Nokia's New App Store Includes Video
Now some video apps are available through Nokia’s new app store, called Ovi Store.
It includes an app allowing users to download movies from Amazon. Users can also record video with their phones and upload it to YouTube. An app called MinimobiTV allows, as a subscription service, watch TV episodes and shows.
Like the iPhone App store, the Ovi Store features movie-related and other games, movie trailers, podcast and location-based services applications.
Ovi Store apps run on about 60 different Nokia S40 and S60 phone models.
