Beyond the Box

May 8, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

As reported by CNET’s Ina Fried, neither Microsoft nor NBC is considering including blocking technology in the Zune that would keep people from playing shows they had downloaded – um, less than legally, shall we say – off services like BitTorrent or Pirate Bay. At least that’s what Microsoft is now saying in an official statement: “Microsoft has no plans or commitments to implement content filtering features in the Zune family of devices as part of our content distribution deal with NBC," the software maker said in a statement. Interesting, since all of that is in direct opposition to what Saul Hansell wrote in his NYTimes blog that appeared yest...Read More

May 7, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

                NBC Universal went with Microsoft and Zune to sell TV shows because Microsoft is willing to include software that will keep the Zune from playing any video that’s unlawfully gathered, reports the NY Times. That means if you downloaded the latest episode of Heroes on BitTorrent and didn’t pay for it, the Zune won’t let you play it. Apparently, Apple wasn’t willing to offer similar concessions (or flexibility on per-episode prices) so NBC U picked up its toys and went ...Read More

May 6, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Microsoft plans to try to expand the Zune’s user base – currently at two million-plus compared to iPod’s more than 100 million sold – by adding TV shows to its media offerings. Networks that have already signed on include NBC (which pulled its shows from iTunes just before launching Hulu.com), Sci Fi, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Turner Broadcasting, Starz and Ultimate Fighting Championship. Episodes will be available at $1.99 each.

It seems pretty clear to me that Microsoft lost this battle before it ever entered, but this article by the AP lists some cool things the Zune does that the iPod currently doesn’t: one is update wirelessly from any...Read More

May 5, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Yahoo! is leading its own Finance page with news that investors are downgrading its stock after Microsoft pulled its $47.5 billion offer for Yahoo! after a tough earnings quarter and Yahoo!’s refusal to sell for less than $37/share, or $5 billion more than what Microsoft wanted to pay. Mid-day Monday, Yahoo!’s stock had dropped nearly 16%.

 Here’s Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s letter to Yahoo!, saying thanks but no thanks. And thanks to CNET for posting it.

Forbes provides th...Read More

May 1, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Bloggers are abuzz today about Sezmi, yet another new way to deliver digital TV to households without the cost of cable or satellite. As far as I can tell, Sezmi is a klooged-together system that grabs some stations over-the-air and brings others in via a broadband Internet connection. It can’t handle full HD, so it will download the most-watched shows in HD and them store them on your local TV set-top box/hard drive. Will Richmond, of VideoNuze, is all a-twitter about this concept, but I’m more inclined toward Cynthia ...Read More