internet@tv

Poor picture quality

While this video player does come preloaded with tons of channels, it also comes with nag screens, error messages, and poor picture quality.

Each time we tried to access Family Internet TV, we were hit with a nag screen asking us to purchase the program. It has an easy-to-navigate user interface. Simply choose the kind of media you want to play--TV/Video, Radio/Music, YouTube--and select the specific channel from a long list. The file then plays in a large window. As we navigated through the hundreds of preloaded TV and radio files, we found that some played and some … Read more

Social networkers want TV airtime

Social networkers are looking to score some airtime, with 36 percent of them wanting to access their networks via TV screens, according to an ABI Research survey released Thursday.

The survey of more than 1,000 households found that younger consumers are most interested in chatting and messaging with friends while watching TV. Middle-aged adults want a more passive experience, such as the ability to check on status updates via their TV sets. And those over 50 are most interested in knowing what their friends are watching.

"Just as video entertainment is moving fluidly across various screens, so is … Read more

Telecom-delivered TV subscriptions to triple by '12

Worldwide subscriptions to telecom-delivered TV are expected to grow threefold by 2012, according to a report released Monday.

Despite the dire economic climate, the number of such subscriptions is expected to reach 71.6 million by that time, according to market researcher In-Stat's report.

Telecom-delivered TV--offered in the United States by AT&T and Verizon Communications--includes IPTV, which is television delivered via Internet Protocol. Elsewhere in the world, France Telecom, Telefonica, Deutsche Telecom, and China Telecom are jumping aboard.

The telecommunications providers are trying to take on the giants of TV service--satellite and cable.

Key markets over the … Read more

Not all Samsung LCDs have LED backlighting

Samsung is clearly intending to make a big push with its LED-backlit LCDs, but the company did announce one new line of LCDs without LED. The Samsung LNB750 series uses standard CFL backlighting, but includes other cutting-edge features such as 240Hz refresh rate, a slim inch-thick design, and access to Samsung's new Internet@TV content. Here are the details.

Key features of the Samsung LNB750 series:

240Hz refresh rate Slim design, around an inch thick Ultra Clear antireflective screen Wide Color Enhancer Pro Internet@TV capable (Yahoo widgets) Built-in Ethernet Wi-Fi-ready, with purchase of additional adapter Energy Star 3.… Read more

Podcast: Walt Mossberg on Palm Pre, Yahoo TV

From the Consumer Electronics Show, Larry Magid talks with Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Mossberg about Palm's new Pre cell phone and Yahoo's new Internet TV. Both Mossberg and Magid were impressed by the Palm phone, and Mossberg had some good things to say about Yahoo's TV initiative.

Listen now: Download this podcast

Today's stories:

Palm calls it a comeback with the Palm Pre

High hopes at Yahoo, Intel for Internet-enabled TV

Samsung slims PNB850 plasma TV series to an inch

LED-backlit LCDs are certainly winning the hype war at CES 2009, but home theater buffs know that plasma TVs often offer better performance for your dollar. Samsung's new top-of-the-line plasmas, the PNB850 series, feature a superslim, inch-thick design and offer the new Internet widgets available via the Internet@TV platform. Here are the important details.

Key features of the Samsung PNB850 series:

Slim design, about an inch thick Ultra FilterBright Plus antiglare screen Real Movie (24 frames per second) mode Wide color Enhancer Pro Built-in Ethernet Wi-Fi-ready, with purchase of additional adapter Energy Star 3.0 compatible

Pricing and … Read more

Samsung's step-down LED-backlit LCDs feature Yahoo widgets, 120Hz

The A950 series was Samsung's only LED-backlit LCDs in 2008, but the company is serving up several LED-backlit lines in 2009. The UNB7000 is the step-down from the top-of-the-line UNB8000 series, but includes nearly all the same features except 240Hz refresh rate. Here are the details.

Key features of the Samsung UNB7000 series:

120Hz response time Slim design, around an inch thick LED-backlit Ultra Clear antireflective screen Internet@TV capable (Yahoo widgets) Built-in Ethernet Wi-Fi-ready, with purchase of additional adapter Energy Star 3.0 compatible

Pricing and availability of the Samsung UNB7000 series (estimated street prices):

40-inch UN46B7000 ($2,… Read more

Samsung UNB8000 LCDs put LED-backlighting and 240Hz in a one-inch frame

Samsung has put a big emphasis on LED-backlighting on this year's LCDs, and the UNB8000 series are the most souped-up models the company has at CES 2009. Here's a quick rundown of the feature set.

Key features of the Samsung UNB8000 series:

240Hz response time Slim design, about an inch thick LED-backlit Ultra Clear antireflective screen Internet@TV capable (Yahoo widgets) Built-in Ethernet Wi-Fi-ready, with purchase of additional adapter Energy Star 3.0 compatible

Pricing and availability of the Samsung UNB8000 series (estimated street prices):

46-inch UN46B8000 ($3,299, May) 55-inch UN55B8000 ($3,999, May)

Like the step-down … Read more

Netgear unveils Internet TV Player

Together with the Digital Entertainer Elite, Netgear showed on Wednesday its new Internet TV Player (ITV2000).

This is an Internet set-top device with a simple remote control that allows viewers to watch Internet videos from various sources on their TV screens. It works with both new HDTVs and old analog TVs.

The purpose of the device is to display on a big screen TV what you would normally watch alone on your computer.

Currently, the device can stream content from popular sites such as BBC.com, CNN.com, ESPN.com, EuroSport.com, NBC.com, PGATour and TMZ.com, as well … Read more