Speculation about Apple’s plans for its massive new data center in North Carolina has been running rampant for quite some time, and we’re always hesitant to place too much emphasis on claims of research analysts, but one report from Jefferies analyst Peter Misek is gaining some attention today for its claim that Apple may be preparing to take on Netflix in the streaming video subscription market.
Apple is on the cusp of launching a “a new far reaching cloud-based service” focused on video, writes Jefferies analyst Peter Misek in a big report this morning.
Misek says Apple will use its new massive data center in North Carolina to offer an advanced web-based video subscription product that rivals Netflix.
Last week, a report surfaced claiming that Apple had locked in as much as 12 petabytes of storage purportedly set to support video download content. While Apple has been said to be preparing to roll out a cloud-based MobileMe revamp that would allow users to store video, music, and photos on Apple’s servers, Misek argues that Apple will further use the capacity to launch a Netflix-like service that would serve to further drive sales of Apple hardware.
Misek sees Apple’s plans to potentially double the size of its new data center in the future as the first step towards a massive expansion of its server capacity that could see the company rolling out multiple such sites around the world in the years to come in order to support massive storage and streaming capabilities for such services.
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Engadget reports that Time Warner Cable has taken Viacom to court to ask for declaratory judgement over the usage of cable content.
Time Warner Cable announced this afternoon it has filed a request in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for a declaratory judgement regarding Viacom’s cable networks. Time Warner continues to maintain its carriage agreements give it the right to allow subscribers access on any screen in their home, not just the TV and is apparently ready to prove that in court — or at least drive Viacom, Discovery, Fox and other complaining networks towards more favorable negotiations.
Viacom, of course, disagrees with that assessment and claims that existing content agreements don’t cover the streaming of cable television to devices like the iPad.
The controversy began after Time Warner launched a free app for cable providers that allowed customers to stream cable television to their iPads. Time Warner, however, had to quickly pull several channels from the app due to complaints by several networks. Meanwhile, Cablevision followed up with their own app that offers 100% of their channels. Cablevision claims that this usage of content is fully permissible based on current content agreements. They claim that broadcasting onto additional screens within the home is permissible as the content is never streamed over the internet.
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That may be changing at the last minute, however, as several European outlets are reporting that they have received word from their local Apple representatives that the event will in fact be streamed live.
- setteB.IT (Italy)
- MacLife.de (Germany)
- MacWorld Sweden
We have yet to hear similar word from U.S.-based outlets, and Apple has not yet posted any information on its site regarding the video stream.
Update: Gizmodo is confirming a similar alert from Apple’s UK media relations representatives.
Update 2: Fortune now has confirmation from Apple in the U.S.
As with the previous event, Apple is using its HTTP Live Streaming technology, limiting the platforms on which the feed will be available.
Apple will broadcast its October 20 event online using Apple’s industry-leading HTTP Live Streaming, which is based on open standards. Viewing requires either a Mac running Safari on Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard, an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad. The live broadcast will begin at 10:00 a.m. PDT on October 20, 2010 at www.apple.com.
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As hinted early in the keynote with the mention of TV show rentals, Steve Jobs today announced the second generation of Apple TV hardware, a significant redesign for the device. At one-fourth the size of the original Apple TV, the new device features HDMI and digital audio outputs, as well as Ethernet and 802.11n Wi-Fi and will offer only rentals from the iTunes Store.
Unlike the previous Apple TV, the new model will not have any significant internal storage, relying on streaming content only. Additionally, media can no longer be purchased but only rented. First-run HD movies can be rented for $4.99 on the day the DVD is released. Renting HD TV shows will cost $.99. At launch, only ABC and Fox will offer their HD shows for rental at this price.
Apple today announced the new Apple TV which offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. Apple TV users can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents.
Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe, as well as music, photos and videos from PCs and Macs to your HD TV. Enjoy gorgeous slideshows of your photos on your HD TV using Apple TV’s selection of built-in slideshows. Apple TV has built-in HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and an internal power supply for easy set-up, and features silent, cool, very low power operation in an enclosure that’s less than four inches square – 80 percent smaller than the previous generation.
The new Apple TV’s support for Netflix’s streaming service allows subscribers on a DVD rental plan costing $8.99 or more per month to access streaming content for no additional charge. Apple TV users will also be able to stream content from YouTube, Flickr, and MobileMe.
Apple’s new AirPlay, which replaces AirTunes, will allow the streaming of content from an iOS device to an Apple TV. During the keynote, Jobs demonstrated streaming a movie from an iPad to an Apple TV over a Wi-Fi network.
Apple TV content will be available in six countries to start, with more coming later this year. The new Apple TV, priced at $99, comes with a remote control and will be available starting in about four weeks, with pre-orders starting today.
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It came as a surprise to everyone tonight when Apple announced that they would be live streaming video of their September media event across the web. The news, however, was somewhat dulled by the fact that Apple announced that the stream will only be viewable on an OS X 10.6 Mac or an iOS device (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). The reason for the limitation isn’t entirely arbitrary, as Apple is using a new streaming technology called HTTP Live Streaming which was introduced alongside Snow Leopard’s QuickTime X and iOS 3.0.
While the protocol has been proposed as a standard, so far Apple is one of a few companies who has implemented it. As a result, the video will only be easily viewable on the specified platforms. There seem to be some advantages to the system over existing streaming technologies. Notably, there should be no router/firewall issues as the stream is sent over standard HTTP protocols.
If you’re not sure you will be able to view stream, you can try loading this HTTP Live sample stream that Apple has provided.
For non-supported readers who are desperate to watch the stream close to live, it seems likely that you will be able to watch it — at least in stops and starts. The HTTP Live Stream protocol is based on very standard technologies. The stream is simply provided in an MPEG2 playlist (m3u file) that is added to as the stream continues. These standard playlists will load in VLC for both Mac and Windows. VLC, for example, will play the above sample stream using this url:
http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/gear1/prog_index.m3u8
VLC will load all parts of the stream into its own playlist. It works fine for this pre-recorded stream as the entire playlist is already constructed. The catch for tomorrow’s live transmission is that VLC doesn’t know that more will becoming, so it looks like you’ll have to repeatedly reload the playlist manually to get the next few segments. It’s not an elegant solution, but with some persistence, it seems like it will work.
Of course, if you’re not so desperate, you can watch our text coverage here, on Twitter, or wait for the official stream to be posted later in the day.
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Gracenote’s MusicID-Stream in New smart drive kit for the iPhone Represents First Deployment of Streaming Music Identification Technology from an Automotive Manufacturer read more
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Gracenote Powers Smart Drive App for the iPhone With Streaming Music Identification Technology
This streaming Internet radio tuner offers excellent options and features across all of the devices running Apple’s iPhone OS.
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Review: Spark Radio for iPhone and iPad
With today’s news that Apple is planning a May 31st shutdown for Lala Media, the streaming music service it acquired last December, speculation has arisen that Apple may be on the verge of launching its own cloud-based version of iTunes. Med…
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Apple’s Discontinuation of Lala Streaming Music Service Not Likely Leading to Imminent Launch of Web-Focused iTunes
OK, it’s not all that surprising that the streaming movie & DVD shipper would plan an iPhone app to go along with the now-only-hours-away iPad version… but tonight’s blog post on the Official Netflix Blog is downright cheeky
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Netflix blog all but promises iPhone version of app