Home Media server from Apple [ December 29th, 2008 ] Posted in » Latest gadgets and Technology

9to5Mac reports that Apple has been working on a home media server to access your iTunes and other files anywhere you have internet access. The site compares it to HP’s just updated Media Smart Server which offers a centralized location for backup, storage and file delivery to your computers locally as well as remotely:

Your music, photos, videos and other media are part of your life — but they’re scattered over multiple computers, disk drives, CDs, DVDs, and MP3 players…. Macs and iPods too. The HP MediaSmart Server centralizes all your files, from all your home computers, in one place so you can grab them anywhere you have an internet connection and share how you want.

Apple’s take on the system would reportedly expand out Time Capsule’s functionality from being a single drive backup system into a more robust multi-drive backup server. In addition, tie ins would be made to Apple’s MobileMe services to deliver access to your files and media from anywhere on the internet.

9to5mac suggests that media could also be shared to your iPhone and iPod touch, providing full access to your media while mobile. The device could also serve media files to other computers at home as well as to your Apple TV.

Source: Macrumors.com

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Vudu creates bargain channel: 99 movies for 99 cents

Vudu creates bargain channel: 99 movies for 99 cents

The 99-cent offerings include a good assortment of worthwhile movies–including some recent hits.

(Credit: Vudu)

One of the biggest beefs with the Internet video-on-demand services offered on the Apple TV, Vudu, TiVo (via Amazon Unbox), and Xbox 360 is that the movies are just too expensive–usually around $4 for new movies, $5 to $6 for HD films, and a bit less for older “catalog” releases.

Watch just five or six movies a month, and you can easily rack up a $30 charge–not very appealing compared with Netflix’s all-you-can-eat pricing plans.

But Vudu took a step in the right direction Wednesday with its new “99 for 99 cents” section, which will offer a rotating list of films for just under a buck. Even better, the initial list–already available on Vudu’s Web site–isn’t crammed full of the usual sort of dreck you see on such virtual bargain tables.

In addition to some older favorites (Animal House, Groundhog Day, Austin Powers, Chinatown, The Big Lebowski, and many of the Star Trek and Jack Ryan movies), you’ll also find recent hits such as I Am Legend and Cloverfield. Not bad at all–though it’s worth noting that all of these are in standard-def, not HD. Vudu’s also extending its recent “renewal” policy, which lets people rewatch movies they’ve already purchased in the past seven days (99 cents for standard-def reruns, $1.99 for HD).

Remember that nearly all of the pricing and viewing limitations–such as the fact that rentals must be watched within 30 days of downloading, and within 24 hours of first clicking “play”–are imposed by the Hollywood studios that own the films (rather than the hardware makers). To that end, it’ll be interesting to see whether Vudu’s rivals begin offering a similar discount tier. In the meantime, though, Vudu’s got a another distinguishing feature over its competition.

Vudu creates bargain channel: 99 movies for 99 cents

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August 13th, 2008 | Leave a Comment

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