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OnLive Viewer Available Today on iPad

Posted by Brad Hilderbrand on December 7th, 2010
iPad App - Designed for iPad

OnLive, the streaming game service that plans to take the world by storm, has announced today as the launch day for its official OnLive iPad viewer. The free service allows users to watch any game being played by any member of the OnLive community at any time. So if you're feeling like a video game voyeur then this may just be the perfect app for you.

The app comes with a few strings attached, so make sure you know what you're getting into before you install. First off, this is a viewer only, so you won't be able to actually play any games, but rather instead only watch them. If you want to interact with the titles available on OnLive first you'll need to set up an account and then stream the games to either a PC or the newly released MicroConsole. Also, keep in mind that OnLive requires a rather large chunk of bandwidth, even to simply watch games, so make sure you're running an Internet connection that can keep up with the requirements. In our quick tests, the quality was not so great on 802.11g, but very good on 802.11n. But it's free and your mileage may vary.

Some might scoff at merely releasing a viewer rather than a full-on OnLive client, but OnLive representatives have explained to us that the games on the service have been tuned for consoles and PCs and aren't yet ready to run on the iPad. The conversion of PC video games that are used to a full keyboard and mouse to a touch only device, just isn't that easy. Does that mean we might see a true iPad client down the line? Absolutely, it's just a matter of letting the OnLive crew continue to tweak and hone the service until it's ready to support actual gameplay. Basically, users should think of this as an important first step and a sort of proof of concept for what will be available on down the line.

PlayOn Gets An App

Posted by Chris Hall on October 5th, 2010
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Not so long ago, PlayOn launched the web app version of their popular streaming media service. Among other features, PlayOn allows you to stream content from your computer (with an installable server application) straight to your iDevice without needing any sort of plug in box or fancy connection. This meant that from your iOS Safari browser you could watch anything that was being pumped through your PC.

Now the service is a bit sweeter as Apple has approved the native PlayOn app. PlayOn Platinum subscribers (free for 14 days, after which a subscription will be required for only $39.99 for the first year and $19.99 for each year thereafter) can now download the app and cleanly stream whatever they want to their iDevices, including including "Hulu, Netflix, Amazon VOD, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, TV.com, PBS, CNN, SpikeTV, and The Ultimate Fighter."

“We’re very pleased to receive approval on the native app, which will make PlayOn even more accessible to iPhone users,” states Jeff Lawrence, CEO of MediaMall Technologies. “Although the HTML5 development surpassed our expectations about what a web app can do, we’re happy to be a part of Apple’s official app ecosystem and provide consumers with another way to easily find and access the video content that they love. We look forward to continuing the expansion of our library with additional content providers, so stay tuned!”

PlayOn Mobile is available for free in the App Store, and can be downloaded as soon as now!

MOG Mobile Music App May Be Spotify For The Rest Of Us

Posted by Ben Harvell on July 21st, 2010
iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad

Those wishing that the currently Europe-only Spotify music streaming service and iPhone app would hit to the rest of the world now have another option - MOG Mobile Music.

The MOG network has been around for a while but its new iPhone app makes it a serious contender in the audio subscription market offering similar, if not better, features by comparison to its rivals.

Highlights of the service include a library of eight million songs and some 700,000 albums that can be streamed to your iPhone over 3G and Wi-Fi and bundled into playlists. An unlimited number of songs can also be downloaded to the iPhone and stored for periods when you’re outside of Wi-Fi or cell areas.

The above features are all par for the course when it comes to this type of app and service but there are a few gems to be found in MOG Mobile Music too. The first is the true on-demand nature of the listening. Songs can be played at any time and repeated unlike many similar services that prevent repeat play, and you can listen to user playlists and customizable artist radio stations on the go. Artist radio isn't as strict as the others either, with a simple slider determining how much of the artist you hear and how many similar artists are played.

It’s flexibility that seems to be the key difference between MOG and its rivals and, for a $9.99 per month fee, looks set to take a lead in the cloud-based music subscription game.

If you fancy trying out MOG Mobile Music, a three-day free trial is currently available when you download the app. No credit card is required either so you can sample the service risk free during this period.


More Music Apps Join The Background-Enabled Party

Posted by Ben Harvell on June 30th, 2010
+ Universal & Apple Watch App - Designed for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch

While Pandora got the top billing when Apple demoed iOS 4 multitasking, other music services are also updating their apps to support background play.

Multitasking in iOS 4 allows compatible apps to run in the background while another app runs in the foreground. Apps in the background can continue to perform tasks such as play music streams.

Slacker Inc has announced that its personal radio application, Slacker Radio, has been updated to support multitasking and is available now for free on the App Store. The currently Europe-only Spotify is also headed for background-centric adjustment with the company announcing on its blog that an update has been submitted to Apple. The blog post goes on to suggest that a “surprise” will also be included in the update to thank users for their patience.

As well as music streaming, GPS navigation apps and social networking clients are also popular background enabled apps. Expect to see many more updates of this type in the coming days.

Hulu Streaming TV Finally Arrives On iOS Devices, Introduces Hulu Plus Subscription Service

Posted by Ben Harvell on June 29th, 2010

The Hulu Blog today confirmed what many have been murmuring about online for some time. Hulu is bringing its streaming TV service to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The aforementioned murmurs also questioned how this delivery of most of America’s top TV shows would be paid for, they too were given an answer with the introduction of the Hulu Plus subscription.

Formerly only available via a PC or Mac, the Hulu Plus app and subscription service will combine to deliver episodes from current and classic TV shows on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 as well as the iPad and third gen iPod touch.

At present the service is working on an invite-only basis (apply for one here) and will cost users $9.99 per month but, for this fee you do get a good deal of benefits. Full seasons of TV shows will be available including big hitters such as Family Guy, 30 Rock and The Office with up to 720p HD resolution available. Through the Hulu Plus app, users will be able to browse, search and resume playback at the same point on different devices. For iPhone and iPad users, you will even be able to stream over 3G!

While we’ve not had the chance to fully test Hulu Plus yet, this sounds like the service Apple’s portable devices have been crying out for and one that will likely bring about a few discussions inside Apple HQ. With the recent acquisition of media streaming startup Lala, it is rumored the company is gearing up to introduce a cloud-based iTunes service that could include streaming TV shows to iPhones and iPads.

The Hulu Plus app is available for free on the App Store and includes a bunch of freebies that don’t need a subscription in order to try out. The movie Super Size Me is included as well as clips and episodes from a number of TV shows as well, so it’s worth sampling the app for these bonuses alone.

Check it out on the App Store here

EyeTV 1.1 Introduces Streaming TV For iPad Users

Posted by Ben Harvell on June 23rd, 2010
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Elgato has announced that the 1.1 update to its EyeTV app now provides iPad compatibility for streaming TV wherever you are.

Now, before you get too excited, the EyeTV app does need Elgato's EyeTV software and tuner as well as a Mac or PC in order to stream TV but. if you fulfill these requirements, today is a good day for you. An Elgato package isn't that expensive either, with products starting around the $150 mark and taking advantage of the free digital video signals it catches.

Elgato is renowned for its EyeTV software that turns your computer into a digital TV and allows for recording live shows as well as scheduling using a small tuner that connect via USB. The EyeTV app for iPhone and now iPad allows users to view all of their recorded content as well as watch TV live on their device, taking advantage of the in-built TV guide. The app even allows you to set recordings on your home computer remotely.

At $5.99, the EyeTV app is a worthy investment for existing EyeTV users and will more than likely lure many new customers too.

Fox Mobile Releases Hulu-like App, Won't Be Totally Free

Posted by Chris Hall on May 27th, 2010

Having Hulu on the iPhone would be a dream and a half, but without Flash support, the service is a no go. Instead, Fox Mobile is releasing an app called BitBop, which quietly came out as a beta yesterday. It's only compatible on four Blackberry phones at this point, but will eventually be available for the iPhone and Android operating systems.

Like Hulu, BitBob is coming loaded with content from 25 content partners including NBC, CBS, The Food Network, A&E, and MTV, and will include all of their most popular shows and series. In an earlier interview with mocoNews, Joe Bilman, Fox Mobile’s EVP of Global Products said that the application would be free but access to the entire catalogue would probably cost $10 a month. I think it's safe to say that the many content partners are quite a bit more excited about BitBop's monthly access plan than Hulu's ad based model.

Aside from a few snafus, such as the horrible BitBop name and the monthly subscription pan, the service seems like it will be a big in the mobile market. As much as I love iTunes, the ability to stream content directly to my phone seems a bit more exciting. Hopefully BitBop will follow Hulu in the movie department too, because there's nothing like having a movie on the go.

[ Source: mocoNews ]

mSpot App Allows Full-Length Movie Streaming...from iPhone!

Posted by Bonnie Eisenman on May 27th, 2010
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

If you'd asked me a while back which company would first release an iPhone app for streaming full-length movies, I'd have probably guessed Netflix. ABC. Blockbuster. Redbox. Hulu. Maybe even Apple.

A much less famous company called mSpot, however, has stolen the crown of "first!"

Not that mSpot is new to the movie streaming business. They've already been offering movie streams for PC, Android, Palm, and Blackberry devices; they also have a music cloud-based storage/streaming service. Now, however, their mSpot Mobile Movies app has reached the App Store. The app allows you to browse movies, watch trailers, and rent movies for watching on your iPhone...or, if you decide you want to switch screens, you can hop onto your PC partway through!

The streaming quality looks pretty solid, and works on both 3G and WiFi (how did that get past AT&T?). As for prices, they offer both a "club" option and an a la carte method. The prices aren't too outrageous, either; movies like Inglourious Basterds and Star Trek are shown as costing just $4.99 to rent, while a small number of old titles like Night of the Living Dead are available for free. mSpot's library isn't enormous, but there are enough good titles there that it's definitely worth a look.

Now, if mSpot can just expand its library, its early advantage could transform it into yet another movie-source contender.

iTunes Streaming Not On The Cards Just Yet

Posted by Ben Harvell on May 5th, 2010

After Apple acquired music streaming service Lala Media at the end of 2009, many believed it would be bringing this cloud-based technology to its iTunes service very soon. While Lala will shut down on May 31st it appears that it may still be a while before a streaming version of the iTunes Store for both desktop computers as well as iPhones and iPads will be launched.

Lala offers a catalog of over 7 million songs that stream directly to users over the internet. In order for listeners to listen to a specific song at any time and as many times as they wish they are required to pay a $.10 fee. Songs are also available to download at prices similar to the iTunes Music Store. Apple acquired the company in December 2009 for an undisclosed fee thought to be around $17 million.

However, after initial excitement at the Lala Media shutdown announcement, it appears not to denote an imminent launch of Apple's own streaming product.

Apple is said to be talking to record labels regarding a streaming service but these discussions have been pegged as "preliminary at best" according Peter Kafka writing for MediaMemo at All Things D.

The success of streaming music and video applications like Spotify and Pandora for the iPhone and the new ABC Player for iPad have added weight to the rumours that Apple will begin to deliver music and movies in the same way via iTunes but it appears this move could still be a way off.

Apple is well aware of the demand for streaming music services after showing Pandora's application streaming music while making use of the new multitasking feature found in the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0.

One of the key factors in such a service is the method in which payment would be made by consumers. While Apple has strong ties with the major record labels it took a long time to thrash out a mutually beneficial deal. Changing the landscape for music delivery may introduce further issues. Streaming music a user already owns on iTunes is one possible outcome however a subscription model may also be made available which would tie in to an iPhone and iPad application.

With Apple's World Wide Developer Conference only a month away, those hoping for an announcement on the topic will likely be disappointed, with many sources claiming the launch of a streaming iTunes service won't happen before the third quarter of this year.


[via MediaMemo ]

Add a Camera to your iPad, No Duct-Tape Necessary

Posted by Tony Kicks on April 11th, 2010

So the rumored "One More Thing...iSight in the iPad" turned out to be another case of wishful thinking by us fanboys...it happens. I can't say I'm disappointed in my iPad, quite the opposite actually, I love the darn thing, but not having a camera is a little depressing. Fortunately though, the dev community has come to the rescue where Apple has fallen short by giving us apps that add camera functionality, assuming you have an iPhone, that is.

This amazing feat is done by streaming an iPhone's camera feed directly to the iPad via wifi or Bluetooth and using the iPad as a remote to take and store photos. As of now the 2 apps I've found using this concept, Camera for iPad or Camera A, are limited to taking stills but it's certainly better than nothing. While both apps ultimately perform the same function, there are some key differences between them, grab more details after the break.

App from Lynda.com for On The Go Video Learning

Posted by Jeff Scott on March 19th, 2010
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Lynda.com has been around for a long while now. Their video training series have been helpful to me in the past when I've needed to quickly learn a whole new platform, a new app, or just want to find out the right way to do something, not the way I do it.

Well now, Lynda.com have released a new iPhone app that gives you access to all of their video training from the app itself. You can now pick up where you left off on your training if you are on Wifi, 3G, or even Edge. The app features multiple streaming qualities that adapts to your connection speed.

Full access to all 700+ video courses requires a subscription starting at $25/month. If you haven't ever tried any of the video learning featured from Lynda.com, the app lets you sample thousands of their training videos for free so you can get a taste of their gentle but informed teaching style. Here's a quick video introduction to the app.

Pocket Tunes Radio

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Bonnie Eisenman on November 10th, 2009
Our rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: AWESOME
Pocket Tunes Radio is a brilliant radio streaming application that spots over 16,000 streams, a slick interface, and tons of features. It even includes support for Sirius and XM Radio.
Read The Full Review »

iCam (Webcam Video Streaming)

+ Universal & Apple Watch App - Designed for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
By Brendan Lutz on August 3rd, 2009
Our rating: starstarstarstarstar :: SHOW OFF
Use it for security, baby monitoring, watching a pet, or just plain show it off to friends, iCam is a must buy
Read The Full Review »

Wunder Radio

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Kyle Flanigan on June 29th, 2009
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: A MUST
Wunder Radio is an internet radio application that gives live feeds from thousands of stations across the world. Whatever you're in the mood for - you'll find it in here. From the Bahamas to Poland, United States to United Arab Emirates .. there's no shor
Read The Full Review »

Slingbox App Rejection Rumor Debunked

Posted by Bryan Barletta on April 16th, 2009

Last week, I was lucky enough to receive a Slingbox and an ad-hoc copy of the latest build of the Slingbox iPhone app for review purposes. While I won't be able to release a review of the app until it goes live, I'm thoroughly impressed.

Today, all over the internet there has been "an unconfirmed tip from a source close to Apple’s approval processes" claiming that the app had in fact been denied due to pressure from AT&T. The app is slated to allow use over 3G and WiFi, meaning that it would in fact be a bandwidth burden for AT&T, but considering the app already exists on the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile phones which AT&T sure carries a few of, there's no reason to believe this rumor to be true (even BGR agree's!)