Don’t expect Comcast to stop its Xfinity VOD streaming to the living room rollout with just the Xbox 360 this Christmas, as executive Sam Schwartz promised during a CTAM panel that it plans to develop apps for the PS3, Wii, Roku and other connected TV platforms. Multichannel News reports it doesn’t plan to roll out streaming to as many platforms as Netflix, so we’ll have to wait and see where this initial venture into IPTV stops. Think big cable is scared of over the top services? Maybe not yet, since Comcast claims Netflix subscribers tend to be the most voracious users of its VOD. Also in Comcast’s future is its completely revamped Xcalibur guide software with internet and social media tie-ins (check out our early sneak peek here), which Schwartz reiterated would be available nationwide at some point next year.

Comcast promises Xfinity VOD streaming on more devices, new Xcalibur guide in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast’s Xfinity TV app made its tablet debut on the iPad last year and now it’s finally ready for Android tablets too. The most recent update on the Android market adds a Honeycomb version with remote control and video on-demand browsing seen above (only officially certified for the Xoom, but it should work on others as well) — but not Play Now streaming, yet — and also should fix the app on phones running Gingerbread. iOS users haven’t been completely left out, as a minor bump has been issued that should fix a few technical issues on those platforms too. The free apps are available at the source links below, choose your preferred flavor and download away.

Continue reading Comcast Xfinity TV app updated for Honeycomb Android tablets, Gingerbread phones and on iOS

Comcast Xfinity TV app updated for Honeycomb Android tablets, Gingerbread phones and on iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts treated Cable Show 2011 attendees to a quick demo of the company’s latest and greatest tech earlier today. The presentation consisted of the new Xfinity TV platform with all its cloud processing and internet content from Facebook and others, as well as a speed test running on a Comcast cable modem that broke through the 1Gbps speed barrier on the production network. There’s no word on when home users might see such speeds but the company promised to “keep up the pace as the internet continues to evolve” — let’s hope that extends to the increasingly restrictive 250GB bandwidth cap. The demo of new DVR software also went off without a hitch, appearing to run smoothly and showing off a vision of “cloud processing” that speeds up search, personalization and recommendations in the program guide by handling them at the head end instead of on the box itself. We’re still waiting to get our hands on the RF remote and see if the experience is just as smooth ourselves, but for now you can get a taste in the 17 minute video embedded above.

Comcast Cable Show 2011 demo features 1Gbps cable modem speeds, new Xfinity TV UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After debuting on the iPad and iPhone, Comcast has finally released its Xfinity TV app for Android. Right now it only supports basic features like remote controlling cable boxes, scheduling DVR recordings and searching the VOD library but other features like video streaming to the app and tuning to VOD on the TV will be add later, just like on iOS. Unfortunately right now it’s optimized for phones, according to the notes it should work on tablets too but official support isn’t ready yet. Features on their way to both platforms include recommendations and better filtering of watchlists and personalized TV listings. Other than having to turn our cable box off and on at first, we got it to work without a hitch, for now it’s at least one more option to use a cool new device when you can’t find the regular remote — have you looked on top of the refrigerator?

Continue reading Comcast releases Xfinity TV remote control app for Android devices

Comcast releases Xfinity TV remote control app for Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that the world has had a few weeks to get used to the new Comcast/NBC collabo (but not that ugly purple logo), CEO Brian Roberts talked to the Wall Street Journal about plans for the future, including his claim that Netflix is actually a good thing for his company. Roberts referred to Netflix as the new version of reruns, and explained his view that it raises the value of NBCUniversal’s content while reiterating statements made earlier about lower-than-expected subscriber losses being tied more to the economy than anything else. Beyond the soft jabs, he discounted the possibility that Comcast might launch its own internet video service for non-cable subscribers, pushing the vision of adding internet video streaming options for existing customers and explaining how they’d “be able to use the devices that are cool and new, that they typically purchased themselves, to now control and interact with the device they also love, which is a brand new high def 3-D TV.” Of course, it doesn’t look like we’re closer to choosing our own UI for browsing content, but with nicely designed apps for tablets, phones and connected TVs maybe the platform for future innovation he references has something for us to look forward to after all — we’d consider new cable boxes that don’t suck to be a good start.

Comcast CEO talks about the merger, ‘cool new devices’ like the iPad and why he doesn’t fear Netflix originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast announced live streaming to its iPad and (upcoming) Android Xfinity TV apps was not far off last month, and now it’s announced a new long term deal with Time Warner that brings more content to all of its TV Everywhere-related efforts. That means shows from TNT, TBS, CNN, HLN, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim on Xfinity TV.com, cable VOD and mobile apps and the addition of live streaming video later this year as part of a larger agreement between Time Warner and Comcast. The keen eyed will notice that window of “a few weeks” for the debut of live streaming to iPads has expanded to simply “later this year,” let’s hope this doesn’t slip while the company focuses on other balls in the air like its purchase of NBC, a potential new set-top box interface and apps for Smart TVs.

Continue reading Comcast, Time Warner deal ensures TNT, TBS shows for VOD & live streaming

Comcast, Time Warner deal ensures TNT, TBS shows for VOD & live streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Xfinity remote app Comcast CEO Brian Roberts showed off earlier this year is now available in the app store for the iPad and iPhone. Currently they allow Comcast customers with compatible digital TV service to browse listings and On Demand content from their portable device and change channels right from the app. Video streaming, additional remote features and enhanced search are all promised for future releases, while other platforms should also get their own versions soon. Android apps are promised for later this year, with Blackberry to follow. For now, check out the press release and original demo video embedded after the break or grab the app from iTunes and break out your Comcast e-mail address to try it out prior to a live demo at 8:30 (EST) this evening at the Web 2.0 conference. It may not be the improved interface for our cable boxes we’ve been expecting for such a long time, but it’s at least a step in that direction.

Continue reading Comcast Xfinity remote app for iPhone, iPad launches, video streaming & Android version on the way

Comcast Xfinity remote app for iPhone, iPad launches, video streaming & Android version on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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