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Google still pitching Google TV to networks

After a bumpy start convincing media companies to embrace Google TV, the search giant is still trying to get the big media companies to warm up to the software platform.

Disney, parent of broadcast network ABC, plans to meet again with the company to discuss Google TV, which enables users to view Web content on TV sets, according to a Reuters report.

Speaking at a conference held by the news service, Anne Sweeney, Disney's TV chief, said: "More conversations are planned. I can't characterize them as negotiations."

So far, all of the major broadcast networks have … Read more

HP Slate out and about

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded:

The HP Slate is available now and we have an in-depth look at it

Google TV seems to be blocked by ABC, NBC, and our parent company CBS

The Barnes and Noble Nook will go on sale at Wal-Mart this weekend

FaceTime for Mac may jeopardize your passwords

Microsoft announces Games for Windows, a PC gaming store

Some networks blocking Web shows on Google TV

Google TV has the network television industry's attention.

Certain television shows on the Web sites of broadcast networks CBS and ABC are currently being blocked when Google TV users try to access those sites. The Wall Street Journal also reported that NBC confirmed it was blocking streams to Google TV users, although CNET was able to view shows on NBC.com using Google TV. (CBS.com is published by CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET.)

The decision to block the programs only seems to affect full-length episodes available on the Web sites of those companies, and it began in … Read more

The 404 629: Where there must be some magic clue inside these tearful walls (podcast)

If you have time in the morning, be sure to check out CNET's The 404 Podcast every day at 8 a.m. PT on CNET LIVE; that way you won't miss things like yesterday's post-show, where the three of us spent half an hour reminiscing about the glory days of ABC's classic TGIF programming lineup.

All of us connected to legacy sitcoms like "Full House," "Perfect Strangers," and "Boy Meets World," but join us this morning as we belt out a pitch-poor version of the "Family Matters" theme song, … Read more

ABC taps YouTube Direct for local video curation

As rumored last month, YouTube this week unveiled its latest partnership: a collaboration with ABC's local Bay Area news station that makes it easier for users to upload relevant local content they've snapped on their cell phone or other mobile video device.

On YouTube's blog, YouTube's news manager Olivia Ma says that ABC will then choose uploaded videos to run as part of local TV news coverage as well as on ABC7's Web site.

Alongside video content it's already received, or curated from known local YouTube users, ABC is encouraging users to go out … Read more

Zuckerberg on the evening news: Yawn

Let's be honest: none of us was expecting Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's landmark ABC World News interview with Diane Sawyer on Wednesday night--coincided with the Palo Alto, Calif.-based social-networking giant's announcement of 500 million active users around the world--to drop any serious bombs.

Not only is Zuckerberg notoriously, even proudly noncolorful, he's also proven remarkably astute in his ability to stay quite stoic in the face of press interrogation. He's not one of those over-the-top CEOs who likes to throw wild claims around and talk big about himself publicly. When he was grilled … Read more

Free ABC on the iPad

Editors' take: The ABC Player app is one of the more advanced video player apps we've seen on the iPad. Mimicking ABC's Web interface, ABC's video player lets you stream the latest episodes of ABC's prime time TV lineup directly to your iPad. That includes shows such as "Lost," "FlashForward," "V," and more. Its interface is sleek and its images are sharply defined.

It's not TV. It's Google TV

It turns out Google TV is not Smart TV. Not that it isn't smart. It just isn't called Smart TV like we thought it would be. It still may be smart TV. To be determined.

Google released information about Google TV today. Here is what I can gather about it so far: It is Google Search on your TV and it will marry Web video with broadcast and cable TV. So if you want to watch Top Chef Masters (and why wouldn't you?), you could just search "Top Chef Masters" and it would tell you … Read more

Netflix on iPad, more to follow?

We're rash to say something as small as a single app could be a game changer, but the recent rumors of Apple having a Netflix app ready to launch on day one for the iPad are certainly getting our attention.

Links from what appear to be Apple's own servers show two images that certainly look like Netflix on the iPad. The app will let you manage your movie queue as well as stream Netflix on Demand movies. It also could be the first of many apps that could unleash the iPad from the shackles of iTunes Store content. … Read more

30-minute iPad ad on ABC's 'Modern Family'

Would anyone ever sit through a 30-minute ad for the iPad?

Wednesday, quite a few people did. One whole episode of the critically acclaimed ABC show "Modern Family" was dedicated to the deep and desperate desire associated with becoming one of the first to own the magic and revolutionary item that launches before your hangover disappears on Saturday morning.

In the show, the rather cool dad, who I believe is called Phil, is desperate to get an iPad for his birthday. In the great tradition of the sitcom dramatic arc, the script suggests he will be deeply disappointed. … Read more