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Vudu Is Now Streaming To The iPad, Uses Web App To Avoid The App Store Revenue Tax

Matt Burns — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:18:04 +0000

Walmart’s Vudu movie streaming service is ready to pipe movies directly to your iPad. But don’t look for the traditional iOS app. There isn’t one. Vudu is streaming movies over a web app, which doesn’t force Walmart to share revenue with Apple.

Vudu is skirting Apple’s new terms of service that requires sharing revenue. Much like Amazon’s new Kindle Cloud Reader, Vudu can offer all the functionality of a streaming vide app through the magic of Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) without dealing with the App Store and its approval police or revenue tax collectors.

The tablet-specific web app is already live and ready for consumption. Users will find Vudu’s 20k-strong streaming library accessible through an intuitive interface based around cover art. It allows for reviews, trailers, and even a wish list. This move to the iPad isn’t all that surprising as the service is now streaming, via the web, to desktops through Walmart.com. Movies purchased on Walmart.com are also available for viewing on the iPad.

Avoiding sharing revenue isn’t the only benefit to the web app. The company can roll out updates as it sees fit and doesn’t have to deal with the App Store’s approval process when adding new features. This sort of autonomy isn’t possible with the App Store.

iPhone users aren’t exactly left out of the phone. The service does currently work on the device, but it’s not currently optimized for the smaller screen. Vudu says the iPad is just the first supported device and other hardware platforms, including Android, are currently in the works.

Vudu has always been considered the little brother to Netflix. That might be changing, though. The streaming service tends to get movies online quicker than Netflix, and its recent expansion onto new hardware shows that it’s ready to expand from the set-top box. All they need now is a competitive all-you-can-eat subscription plan that includes access to their beautiful HDX titles and they’ll start winning over Netflix doubters.

Watch Out, Netflix. Walmart Now Streaming Vudu Video On Demand On Walmart.com

Matt Burns — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:02:08 +0000

Netflix just got some more competition. Walmart launched its video streaming service today and don’t just write it off as a “me too” service. This is a serious offering.

Walmart bought Vudu 18 months ago and has slowly evolved the business. Vudu, like Netflix, is available on a number of set-top boxes, gaming systems, and media streamers. Users have access to 20,000 titles, including titles the same day they hit DVD, when used on one of these devices. The just-launched service puts Vudu streaming directly on Walmart.com for instant viewing. The Walmart.com service doesn’t seem to have access to the entire library, but there’s still a good chunk available and that might be good enough to make Netflix slow its roll.

This isn’t a subscription service. It’s on-demand with rentals available from $1 to $5.99 and purchases starting at $4.99. That’s the same way Vudu has always worked. Except this time it’s available directly on the website of America’s largest retailer.

This release comes just two weeks after Netflix hiked a popular plan by 60%. Vudu, even with a smaller library, has always been considered the main alternative to Netflix, and now it seems as if Walmart is ready to give it the proper support and placement to make it a true competitor.

Vudu Now Streaming On Sony's 2011 Blu-ray Player Lineup

Matt Burns — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:00:13 +0000

Sony’s latest connected Blu-ray players just got a nice upgrade in the form of Vudu movies streaming. All eight of the firm’s 2011 Blu-ray players should have access to the service that pushes 1080p movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound through the Internet tubes to your HDTV. 3D content are even available on the 3D-capable models. Cord cutting what?

VUDU Goes Live on Sony 2011 Connected Blu-ray Disc Players

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–VUDU, the leader in HD streaming, today announced VUDU streaming movie service began shipping on the 2011 line of Sony connected Blu-ray Disc™ Players, offering instant access to the extensive VUDU library of Hi-Definition movies from all major Hollywood studios and leading independent distributors.

“By adding Sony Blu-ray Disc Players to our roster of top tier connected devices we provide yet another avenue for anybody to enjoy a great movie, with a simple click of a button.”
VUDU, a subscription-free service, provides consumers with the highest quality cinematic experience via instant streaming of 1080p movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The VUDU library boasts the most extensive collection of HD and HDX movies from all major Hollywood studios, offering most titles the same-day as DVD release. On Sony’s 3D enabled devices, users can also access 3D content.

All 2011 Sony Blu-ray Disc Players and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater Systems feature VUDU, including:

BDP-S280
BDP-S380
BDP-S480
BDP-S580
BDP-S780
BDV-E280
BDV-E580
BDV-E780W
“From the newest Hollywood blockbusters to our extensive library of classics, VUDU continues to give people more options to discover and enjoy the highest quality movie experience in their living room,” said Edward Lichty, General Manager of VUDU. “By adding Sony Blu-ray Disc Players to our roster of top tier connected devices we provide yet another avenue for anybody to enjoy a great movie, with a simple click of a button.”

VUDU-enabled 2011 Sony Blu-ray Disc Players are available now in select stores and will be shipping nationally in March. Models include connected and 3D capable devices.

Boxee Box Gets Another Firmware Upgrade, No Netflix Yet

Contributor — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:45:48 +0000

Everyone likes the Boxee Box, even Viewsonic is adding Boxee inside their new TVs. It just that, most of the other streaming media boxes have Netflix — even Apple TV. When Boxee CEO responded to complaints about Boxee’s lack of Netflix he said, “[they] are working hard to get Netflix out the door.”

As of the latest update, they didn’t work hard enough, because Netflix still isn’t there. In the latest firmware update of Boxee Box, we get Vudu. Vudu, as you know, is the Walmart owned movie-streaming service. And not dissimilar to what Amazon is doing on Roku, is offering a $5.99 credit towards the first purchase for new users.

Also included in the update are a host of performance and other bug fixes.

Demo of the Boxee Box by CEO Avner Ronen

Boxee Box Update Rolls Out Today, Hulu, Vudu Imminent [Update]

John Biggs — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:53:55 +0000

A cryptic Tweet from Boxee points to a new firmware version rolling out in the next few hours, one that probably promises Vudu and Hulu content on what Matt calls “his favorite box.”

Matt here: Nevermind John. He meant to say Netflix, not Hulu.

Vudu For PS3 Goes Live Today

Devin Coldewey — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:00:16 +0000

http://www.viddler.com/simple_on_site/8fbf1b09
We heard last week that Vudu was coming to the PS3. They said it would launch on the 23rd, and if you’ll direct your eyes to the date portion of your screen, you’ll find that the 23rd is today. Conclusion: Vudu goes live today.

So head on over and download the Playstation Network app, and soon you’ll be enjoying 1080p movies with Dolby+ surround sound… just like the Netflix app you already have. But I’m guessing Vudu has a few things they don’t, and vice versa. It’s all on-demand, of course, not a subscription model, so if you’re not a constant watcher of movies, it might be a better deal than a Netflix subscription.

[via Playstation Blog]

Vudu Available On The 23rd For PS3

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 06:34:45 +0000

It really is that simple (if you’re in the US).

Download the app next week (it’s free) and start watching movies (they aren’t free).

VUDU Bringing HD Video Rentals To Boxee, Boxee Box

Matt Burns — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:15:22 +0000

The Boxee Box will hit retailers and livingrooms with in the coming weeks and because of Vudu, it will be a bit more versatile thanks to the addition of Vudu. The service provides 1080p movie streams with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound for a reasonable $2 for two nights of viewing. This isn’t your average HD-lite movie, either. It’s a high-quality stream that will probably satisfy most viewers.

Plus, seeing how it’s owned by Walmart, Vudu tends to have first run movies right away making the Boxee Box a legitimate contender in the media streamer pageant. The service should hit the platform within the coming weeks. It’s not clear if it will launch alongside the Boxee Box, but it will be available this November according to the press release.

VUDU Streaming to Boxee on Your Mac and PC

Users Can Now Watch the Latest Hollywood Blockbusters on PC, Mac and the upcoming Boxee Box by D-Link

San Francisco, CALIF (October 28, 2010) – VUDU is coming to the Boxee platform in November, bringing its best-in-class streaming movie experience to millions of PC and Mac users. Simply by installing Boxee’s free media center software, users gain instant access to VUDU’s massive movie collection anywhere they have a computer and an Internet connection. VUDU will be available on the Boxee platform downloadable on Mac, PC, and the Boxee Box by D-Link.

VUDU delivers the highest quality movie watching experience with a huge collection of titles, including the best indies and Hollywood hits, with new releases available to rent as soon as they hit the market and thousands of titles available for just $2 for 2 night rentals. Boxee’s free media center software gives viewers access to VUDU’s immense movie collection in standard definition. The Boxee Box by D-Link lets viewers experience the cinema-like quality of VUDU’s full HD and HDX library delivered directly onto their televisions in 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound.

“We’re thrilled to offer our existing customers a new way to enjoy the VUDU service and to bring VUDU to a whole new community of movie watchers. Boxee allows VUDU to deliver our best in class streaming movie experience to anyone with a Mac or PC, through a simple and free download. ” said Edward Lichty, General Manager, VUDU. “VUDU is the best way to get high-definition Hollywood movies in full surround sound to the connected home and Boxee is a state-of-the-art multimedia platform with the power to play it.”

Boxee lets users play most popular media file formats from a home network along with ad-supported and premium TV shows and movies, videos, and music from the Internet, with support for full 1080p and 5.1 surround sound. With tens of thousands of movies and TV shows, access to the most popular web series, and applications from MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter LIVETM, Pandora, and FunnyOrDie, Boxee is a great way to bring entertainment from different sources into one place. Additionally Boxee has been built from the ground up to be social so users can easily share recommendations about their favorite movies with one another via Facebook and Twitter on Boxee.

“Boxee is all about giving the user what they want, and that means everything from the most viral video on YouTube to the acclaimed international films, and VUDU gives Boxee a deep library of incredible movies,” said Avner Ronen, CEO and co-founder of Boxee. “The fact that Boxee Box users will have access to the largest selection of HD content through Vudu in the highest quality available today really sets us apart from our set top box competitors.”

VUDU will be available as a free download from boxee.tv for your PC, Mac and Linux computer, and on the Boxee Box by D-Link this November.

The Great Porn Purge of 2010

Contributor — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:16:50 +0000

Porn has been around forever. Sometimes celebrated, sometimes persecuted, porn has gone through various levels of social acceptance throughout history. A cyclical porn journey, as adult content becomes too pervasive and socially acceptable, there is always an effort by government and social groups to squash it. In recent news, Apple’s purge of the app store caused widespread disappointment when even the tamest sexy apps were removed. In similar news, Wal-Mart bought out video on demand company VUDU and made the decision to completely block the sale of anything pornographic – even if you’ve already bought the video, soon it will not be viewable. With adult content purveyors targeting technology like smartphone applications and video on demand as part of the constant struggle to monetize porno, could this mass effort to purge the world of porn seriously put a damper on porn industry profits?

Let’s go back, way back to the 1800s. Early porn was shared in the form of nudie postcards that could be purchased from the local optician (weird, yes), instrument maker, or art dealers. As these postcards became more and more popular, there was a huge movement to get rid of them. Although the masses loved this form of porn (sales were astronomical), the few elite that found it offensive had the power to end it. In 1802 Britain had a specific government task force whose sole purpose was to fight porn and the U.S. government took measure to remove any pornographic pictures circulated through the mail. This story epitomizes the power struggle between the majority of porn lovers and the minority of porn haters and their ability to regulate it.

With sexy iPhone applications dominating best-seller lists and porn sites like RedTube and Pornhub listed as part of the top websites on the Internet, there is clearly a large demand for adult content. If people are demanding adult content, why are government groups and corporations like Apple, VUDU, and Google trying to block it? Many ad networks including Google won’t even advertise on sites that have been deemed adult. Some say it’s to maintain a certain type of branding image, others say it’s simply an issues or being prude. In a society where a sex tape makes a career (cough cough Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian), and where everyone from school kids to public figures like John Edwards and the cast members of the Bachelor are involved in some sort of sex scandal, could this porn persecution be in response to a complete loss of control? We see Lindsay Lohan’s side boob on E! every night, but the entire state of New York won’t stock the new issue of Q magazine because it shows the bottom half of Lady GaGa’s breast? Hell, even the infamous Janet Jackson Superbowl “wardrobe malfunction” is back in court this week to decide whether the $550,000 fine is a sufficient punishment for the broadcasters who aired the footage. Perhaps corporations and government regulators are attempting to regain control in a world where sending nude text messages has become endemic and sex tapes are the norm. From a corporate standpoint, perhaps pulling sexy apps and banning on demand porn is an attempt to distance their brand name from such scandals.

The problem that the adult industry faces with Apple and VUDU’s porn purge comes in the form of profits. Smartphone applications and video on demand have been targeted by the adult industry as the future of the porn industry. In a world where free content outweighs the amount of purchased content, tapping into new technology for profit making purposes is essential to keep the adult industry afloat. Even if corporations and policy makers try to squelch it, porn is an industry based on demand. As long as there is a demand, porn will always be around. Porn will always exist in one form or another, but without profits, the quality will clearly suffer. And we don’t want that!

Guest columnist Lydia Leavitt writes about sex and, oddly enough, social media. For more information on the latest intimate technology, check out 69adget.com.

Hot And Bothered: Walmart Shutting Down Vudu's Adult Section

MG Siegler — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:35:09 +0000

When it was announced that retailer Walmart would buy streaming movie startup Vudu a couple days ago, a number of sites wondered what it would mean for Vudu’s adult content. Here’s what it means: bye bye.

An email is currently being sent out by Vudu letting its After Dark (the adult portion of its service run with adult publication AVN) partners that the section will be discontinued in the “coming days.” Find the full email at the bottom of this post.

Vudu has the distinction of being the only major streaming service with an adult section which includes hundreds of titles (including many in HD) from the leading porn studios. This section also allowed for “discreet billing” so movie titles wouldn’t appear on statements. Walmart, on the other hand, couldn’t be any more the opposite with regard to its adult content policy. As in, there is none allowed in its stores. Famously, in some cases it will also only agree to carry edited versions of explicit music albums.

This move comes at a time when Apple is also removing what it considers to be explicit material from the App Store (though none of it was technically porn). Though there are now hints it may launch a new explicit area of the store at a later time.

Below, find the email going out to Vudu partners. As you can see, it’s asking partners to voluntary terminate the agreement amicably, even though the existing terms aren’t up yet. We’ve reached out to Vudu and Walmart about the shutdown, but they have yet to get back to us. We’ll update when they do.

Dear VUDU After Dark Partner,

As you may have recently heard, VUDU was acquired by Wal-Mart. In conjunction with this acquisition we will be discontinuing the “After Dark” adult service over the coming days. Upon completion of the shutdown process, we will settle all accounts with you and ensure that you are paid the full amount you are owed under our existing agreement.

Attached to this agreement, please find a voluntary termination notice to our existing distribution agreement. As there has been no breach of contract by either party, there are no grounds to terminate the agreement under its existing terms. However, given the discontinuation of After Dark, we believe it makes sense for both sides to voluntary terminate the agreement. The alternative is to allow the agreement to expire under the existing terms, but we believe this is cleaner for all parties.

We ask that you complete, sign and return this termination notice at your earliest convenience. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Update: A Walmart spokesperson further confirms the news:

“I can confirm that we no longer offer that content and that customers who previously purchased movies with adult content will receive a full refund.”

Walmart buys VUDU

Scott Merrill — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:30:25 +0000

The title says it all, ladies and gentlemen. Walmart plans to buy VUDU. The deal is expected to close in a few weeks.

Here’s the full press release.

Walmart Announces Acquisition of Digital Entertainment Provider, VUDU

Company takes next step to enhance home entertainment and information delivery options for consumers

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 22, 2010 — Walmart announced today a definitive agreement to acquire VUDU, Inc., a leading provider of digital technologies and services that enable the delivery of entertainment content directly to broadband high-definition TVs and Blu-ray players. The deal is expected to close within the next few weeks.

VUDU is a revolutionary service, built into a growing number of broadband-ready TVs and Blu-ray players, that delivers instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows directly through the television. Customers with broadband Internet access and an Internet-ready TV or Blu-ray player can rent or purchase movies, typically in high-definition, without needing a connected computer or cable/satellite service. New movies and features will be added continually, enabling customers to enjoy a product that continues to become more robust long after they have left the store.

“The real winner here is the customer,” said Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman for Walmart. “Combining VUDU’s unique digital technology and service with Walmart’s retail expertise and scale will provide customers with unprecedented access to home entertainment options as they migrate to a digital environment.”

VUDU has licensing agreements with almost every major movie studio and dozens of independent and international distributors to offer approximately 16,000 movies, including the largest 1080p library of video on-demand movies available anywhere. Via their broadband Internet connection, users have the ability to rent or buy titles and begin viewing them instantly.

VUDU will continue developing entertainment and information delivery solutions such as VUDU Apps, a platform that delivers hundreds of streaming Internet applications and services to TVs and Blu-ray players with built-in Internet connectivity. VUDU has partnered with some of the leading names in Internet and media entertainment to offer applications on its platform including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, The New York Times and The Associated Press.

“We are excited about the opportunity to take our company’s vision to the next level,” said Edward Lichty, VUDU executive vice president. “VUDU’s services and Apps platform will give Walmart a powerful new vehicle to offer customers the content they want in a way that expands the frontier of quality, value and convenience.”

VUDU, based in Santa Clara, Calif., will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walmart. The company is not disclosing financial terms of the agreement as the acquisition is not material to its first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2011.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,400 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

Zoran SupraHD TV processor to include VUDU apps

Scott Merrill — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:30:17 +0000

VUDU apps is going to start being a lot more available with the announcement today that Zoran, “the U.S. market share leader in flat panel televisions according to DisplaySearch,” is integrating VUDU apps and VUDU Movies into its SupraHD processor. This announcement comes on the heels of a recent deal with Entone to bundle VUDU apps with a variety of IPTV set-top boxes. All this in addition to existing VUDU integration with TVs from LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Toshiba and VIZIO means that VUDU is more and more available.

ZORAN CORPORATION ANNOUNCES INTEGRATED VUDU APPS REFERENCE DESIGN FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF INTERNET CONNECTED HDTVS
SupraHD-Based HDTV Reference Platforms Designed for U.S. & Europe Available Q2 2010

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Feb 18, 2010 – Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq: ZRAN), the U.S. market share leader in flat panel televisions according to DisplaySearch, today announced that VUDU Apps, a platform for the delivery of Internet entertainment services on HDTVs, and VUDU Movies, the leading HD on-demand movie service currently available, are being integrated on Zoran’s advanced SupraHD TV processor design platforms.

The new reference designs, enabling the rapid deployment of Internet-connected HDTVs for Zoran’s OEM and ODM customers, provide integrated software that includes both Zoran’s TV Applications and VUDU Apps. Zoran customers that deploy VUDU-enabled HDTVs will provide TV viewers access to over 100 apps, ranging from news providers to popular Internet services and VUDU Movies.

Current VUDU Apps include:

VUDU Movies, featuring the world’s largest catalog of HD movies, with over 3,000 titles, and HDX, the only streaming 1080p HD video with high resolution 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus surround sound available directly on Internet-connected televisions

VUDU Ticker, an Internet powered real-time ticker that enables the display of user specific Internet content updates over live TV

Popular Internet services, such as Pandora, Dailymotion, Picasa and Flickr

Leading news providers, such as The New York Times and The Associated Press

Popular Video podcasts such as Revision3 and DiggNation

“Providing a pre-integrated version of VUDU Apps, running on top of our most advanced HDTV processor platform, will enable our TV customers to deliver the kind of Internet-connected TVs consumers are starting to demand,” said Mustafa Ozgen, general manager Zoran’s Digital TV business unit. “Our highly integrated SupraHD product line provides the best cost-performance solutions in the industry, while delivering the high performance needed to support advanced applications such as VUDU Apps.”

“Solidifying our relationship with Zoran allows us to expand the extraordinary value of VUDU Apps to a broader range of HDTV OEMs and ODMs,” said Edward Lichty, VUDU’s EVP of Corporate Development. “By leveraging VUDU’s unique cloud architecture, Zoran’s HDTV customers’ products will be able to run a constantly expanding suite of applications and services without having to download or install new software in the field.”

About VUDU
VUDU is a leading provider of streaming media technologies and services that deliver Internet entertainment to broadband-enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray disc Players (BDP). VUDU is the creator of VUDU Movies, which delivers on-demand movies in HDX, the only format to offer streaming 1080p resolution and 5.1 surround sound. In addition, the company offers VUDU Apps, a platform to deliver streaming Internet applications to HDTVs and BDPs; examples of applications on the VUDU Apps platform include Pandora, Dailymotion, Picasa, Flickr, The New York Times, The Associated Press, VUDU Movies and many more. For more information, visit http://www.vudu.com/.

About Zoran Corporation
Zoran Corporation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading provider of digital solutions for the digital entertainment and digital imaging markets. With over two decades of expertise developing and delivering digital signal processing technologies, Zoran has pioneered high-performance digital audio and video, imaging applications, and Connect Share Entertain™ technologies for the digital home. Zoran’s proficiency in integration delivers major benefits for OEM customers, including greater capabilities within each product generation, reduced system costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran-based DTV, set-top-box, DVD, digital camera, multimedia mobile phone, and multifunction printer products have received recognition for excellence and are now in hundreds of millions of homes and offices worldwide. With headquarters in the U.S. and additional operations in China, England, France, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Sweden and Taiwan, Zoran may be contacted on the World Wide Web at www.zoran.com or at 408-523-6500.

Vudu tries plan B, offers 1080p streaming on LG TVs

John Biggs — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:52:03 +0000

Vudu had a great run. The company made boxes you set up near your TV that could download stream HD video without glitches, a sort of Netflix On Demand, as it were, without the popularity.

Well, Vudu is teaming up with LG to offer Vudu streaming in their new LH50 and PS80 TVs which puts their position as one of the better and more promising hardware providers and video streaming services in serious doubt.

When we reviewed the Vudu box back in 2007 we found it to be amazingly intuitive with a great UI. Fast forward to today and we find it to be considerably overshadowed by everything else that can stream video – HD and SD – including the XBox 360, a cheap little box from Roku, and the PS3. In short, Vudu was first to the party but the cool kids got all the attention when they rolled in drunk at midnight.

Standard definition movies cost 99 cents to $3.99 to rent while HD movies cost $3.99 to $5.99. There is not contract. The box itself now costs $149, down from a high of $399, and features 2000 HD movies.

Maybe I’m cynical but when a streaming service with little brand awareness outside of the geek world becomes just another logo on a box (“This LG TV is Vudu-ready!”) you’re nearing the end of the line. Netflix can do it because they’re Netflix. Blockbuster might be able to do it because they’re Blockbuster. But Vudu was a blip on most radars at best. Sure it streams at 1080p, sure it has some good content including Pr()N, and sure it was a great idea in 2007. 2009? Not so much.

VUDU’s Streaming Movie Service Transforms HDTVs into Movie-On-Demand Video Stores

VUDU Launches Unparalleled New Movie Streaming Service For Next Generation Smart TVs

Santa Clara, CA – July 29, 2009, VUDU Inc., a leading provider of on-demand Internet entertainment services today announced its second-generation service platform specifically optimized for Internet capable smart TVs.

“Smart TV’s are part of an exciting new industry trend. VUDU is partnering with leading consumer electronics vendors to embed the new VUDU service directly into the TV, eliminating the expense and hassle of purchasing, installing, or connecting another device to the TV”, said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU.

The new VUDU service delivers a compelling environment for consumers to discover and watch high definition 1080p movies on-demand. The company is also announcing that industry leader LG Electronics will ship new HDTVs that include the new VUDU service.

VUDU customers can instantly buy or rent from the largest library of on-demand high definition movies – including the newest releases from all major Hollywood studios, with no monthly fees. The VUDU’s service uniquely delivers movies in true 1080p high definition and high resolution Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound, setting the industry standard for on-demand HD movies.

“Internet-delivered video to the TV, sans box, is the Holy Grail for what the TV industry today calls ‘over-the-top’ providers, “said Jimmy Schaeffler, Chairman and CSO of The Carmel Group. “I believe VUDU’s widely acknowledged excellence in video quality and user experience is likely to be a key driver for customer adoption of this next generation of smart devices in the living room.”

“With our second generation platform we are pushing the envelope even further by delivering for the first time features such as instant fast forward and rewind, instant start for all movie qualities including HDX, and an even faster and more refined user interface” said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU.

Key VUDU Features:
Instant viewing experience: unlike typical Internet and on-demand video streaming, VUDU movies start immediately, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with buffering.
Highest quality on-demand experience: VUDU’s unique HDX format delivers true 1080p resolution, TruFilm picture enhancements, and high resolution Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound
No monthly fees: customers can instantly buy or rent from VUDU’s extensive library of standard and high definition movie and TV titles.
Largest HD library anywhere: over 2,000 titles are available in HD or HDX format.
New releases: Newly released titles from all major studios are available day and date with the DVD release, months before they are typically available on subscription-based services.

The new VUDU Service for smart TVs will make its debut on LG Electronics’ upcoming models of Broadband TVs [later this fall – subject to completion of availability language by LG in the LG release].
 

CrunchBase Information

Vudu

Netflix

Information provided by CrunchBase

Vizio releasing Twitter-, Flickr-, Netflix-enabled TV

Matt Burns — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:28:15 +0000

Widgets and gadgets are the latest trend to hit HDTVs. Vizio is upping the game by equipping its soon-to-be-released HDTVs with an impressive suite of Internet applications and video streaming sites. So much so, that this portfolio will place them on top of many people’s wish list as these TVs will be better equipped than a TiVo or even Windows Media Server.

Forget about Vizio being a mid-tier, Walmart brand. These features might make some people question why they pay a monthly fee for a TiVo. Owners will be able to stream content from Revision3, Showtime and Pandora for free, while also able to subscribe to Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster OnDemand, Amazon Video On Demand and Rhapsody. Plus, the sets are able to work with Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and the Yahoo Widgets Engine.

All this content should be easily controlled and managed with a Bluetooth remote that features a slide-down QWERTY keyboard. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing this feature finally becoming available. Hopefully similar remotes will soon be available from TiVo and Moxi as there is nothing more annoying than typing via an on-screen keyboard.

The HDTVs connect to the local network via either 802.11n or wired networking. There is no word on DLNA support, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that finds its way into spec list.

Expect the new XVT series to be available next month and start at $749 for a 32-inch. The series continues up in price as LED-backing and 240Hz options are added. The top of the line VF551XVT has both options as well as five HDMI ports for $2,199 and will be available this September.

We’re just hoping that the picture matches the impressive feature list…

Disney signs up with VUDU, releases 60 library films for sale

Matt Burns — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:31:39 +0000

Great news for VUDU owners this morning. Well, great news if they happen to have kids. VUDU just announced that Disney has released 60 library films for purchase and future titles will be up on the same day that the Blu-ray/DVD titles are released.

This is the first time VUDU says that Disney has allowed a downloadable service to sell their titles. Previously the films were only available on a rental basis. It’s always good news to see large additions to the VUDU catalog, but how about dropping the price a bit on the device itself? $150 is still kind of expensive even if Pandora is now available on the set-top box.

VUDU announced today that Disney is the first major studio to broadly license their HD catalog for purchase to any online service. Until now, HD movies have been available for rental only or offered for purchase in a one off basis. Disney is licensing 60 of the library films and all new HD releases for purchase day and date with the DVD/BluRay release of the film. Disney is offering this through VUDU in large part because of the quality of HD that VUDU offers, showing that Disney is a leader among the major studios who are making steady progress toward embracing the digital lifestyle of today’s consumers.

Vudu set-top boxes to get Brightcove videos, starting with Sony MyPlay

Devin Coldewey — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:17:45 +0000

Streaming video platform Brightcove has added another partner to its already-impressive group of associates. Vudu, purveyors of fine set-top boxes, have struck up a deal to stream Brightcove-associated content. Brightcove has, at last count, about twenty-one trillion API partners, and delivers video for big names like AOL and the NY Times. Those aren't available on the Vudu box yet, though; it's just launching now and the first (and only) video service to hit is Sony's MyPlay, through which you'll be able to watch Sony Music videos to your heart's content. Joy of joys!

Brightcove Brings Its Ad-Supported Videos To Vudu Set-Top Boxes

Devin Coldewey — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:03:58 +0000

Streaming video platform Brightcove has added another partner to its already-impressive group of associates. Vudu, purveyors of fine set-top boxes, have struck up a deal to stream Brightcove-associated content. Brightcove has, at last count, about twenty-one trillion API partners, and delivers video for big names like AOL and the NY Times. Those aren’t available on the Vudu box yet, though; it’s just launching now and the first (and only) video service to hit is Sony’s MyPlay, through which you’ll be able to watch Sony Music videos to your heart’s content. Joy of joys!

Of course, it’s just a matter of the right people to sign on the right dotted lines to get other Brightcove-supported sites and services onto the Vudu. Ad-supported content is being tentatively embraced by big media, which is almost certainly a good thing, and this is one of the first real forays into pushing it onto a set-top box. A year ago, I would have considered the idea of Sony letting me stream their content onto my TV for free a ridiculous notion, but here we are. Pleasant surprises are mighty rare in this sector.

The battle for the top of the TV set (or in the closet nearby for wifi-enabled ones like the Vudu) is getting pretty heated, and major deals like this tip the balance of power significantly. Plus, it ends up being good for the consumer as they pack more and more into a box you already paid for.

We’ve just got our one screenshot for now, but tomorrow we’ll try to put up some video so you can see how she handles.

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Vudu gets it, embeds streaming software on Entone's IPTV set-top box

Matt Burns — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:50:55 +0000

People do not want multiple devices hooked up to their TV. They don’t. What they really want is the functionality of all the devices without the physical boxes and it seems that Vudu understands this. The movie streaming company has teamed up with Entone to provide the IPTV company’s set-top boxes with the Vudu software. This is the first time that the service has been available without the actual Vudu box and it’s fantastic news.

Netflix made its way onto numerous devices last year and hopefully this announcement means 2009 will be Vudu’s year. Vudu’s interface is slick and users can select any movie without the assistance of a computer. It’s definitely a better overall experience than the Netflix streaming app. Most people, including myself, would love to have access to the Vudu library, but have avoided the service ’cause it will just add another box to the AV rack and remote to the coffee table. Give me Vudu – and Roku – on my TiVo and I’ll be a happy, happy man.

Pandora now available on VUDU

Matt Burns — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:50:15 +0000

VUDU seems to always be growing and expanding its Internet content and Pandora is the latest app on the device. It joins services such as Youtube, Picasa, Flickr but is the first Internet Radio app on VUDU and it seem to be a great implementation of the popular service.

Pandora has a great service and it’s high time that it makes its way onto the main stage. This VUDU app should put the service within reach of those technology fiends that would actually use it. The little VUDU remote allows users to add music stations and comment on songs. Plus, there is the ability to add multiple accounts to the service as there might be a few people within the household with different listening interests. Nice. The app is available now, so go get it.

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VUDU Introduces Pandora, First Music Application for VUDU

Latest Major Application Built on the VUDU RIA Platform Enables VUDU Owners to Bring Truly Personalized Radio to their Televisions and Home Theaters For Free

Santa Clara, CA, March 16, 2009 – VUDU, a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment products and services, announced today that VUDU owners can get immediate access to Pandora’s free, personalized Internet radio service on VUDU. Pandora represents VUDU’s first music application for its growing RIA (Rich Internet Application) platform. Pandora joins YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and a selection of more than 120 channels of web based video content available to VUDU owners in their living rooms for free.

“As we continue to expand our RIA platform, we look forward to bringing many more popular services like Pandora to the VUDU Service,” said Edward Lichty, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Content. “Our open development environment allows us to easily release new applications in partnership with some of today’s most popular services and content delivery platforms, increasing the value of the VUDU service platform for our users and partners.”

“Pandora is committed to enabling our listeners to enjoy their Pandora stations in all the places they listen to music; at home, at work or on the go,” said Tim Westergren, Founder of Pandora. “We were impressed with VUDU’s speed and the quality of development and think that VUDU is a great way for our listeners to access their favorite Pandora stations in the comfort of their living room.”

VUDU customers can now experience Pandora on their televisions with all of the functionality that has made Pandora the leader in Internet radio. Using VUDU’s award winning remote control, VUDU customers can create new stations and personalize them by adding new variety to the station and “thumbing” songs up and down as they play. Additionally, Pandora on VUDU supports multiple accounts enabling every member of the family to play his or her own personalized Pandora stations.

Pandora (www.pandora.com) is a free, personalized Internet radio service based on the Music Genome Project, which began in 2000 and is the most thorough analysis of popular music ever undertaken. Each song in the massive collection, which includes Pop, Rock, Jazz, Electronica, Hip Hop, Country, Blues, R&B, Latin and Classical, is analyzed and assessed against up to 400 distinct musical attributes (encompassing melody, harmony, rhythm, etc.) to capture its unique musical identity. Pandora uses this information to build playlists based on musical similarity. By entering a favorite song or artist, a listener is instantly launched into a personalized listening experience. Listeners can create up to 100 of these personal radio stations and refine them by providing thumbs up or thumbs down feedback.

Introduced in late 2008, VUDU’s RIA is a standards-based platform that makes Web-hosted rich applications and services easily accessible through the VUDU Labs area of the VUDU service. Consumers can now use the VUDU remote control to access their favorite Internet content in their living rooms, optimized for display on their HDTVs. Combining the openness and ease of development of Web applications and a lean-back user experience optimized for television, VUDU RIA will be opening to developers later in 2009.

Vudu now offering HD/HDX movies for purchase

Peter Ha — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:10 +0000

Attention Vudu owners-

You now have the privilege of downloading and owning HD movies from an on demand online distributor. There are roughly 50 titles that you can download in both HD and HDX. Magnolia, Kino and FirstLook are among the indie studios who have films available at the moment including “Man on Wire.”

But don’t let the capacity of your box hinder you from downloading content because you can use the Vault to store your movies. The HD content is priced between $14 and $24. That is all.