Skip to Content

Listen to the Joystiq Podcast (because your ears can't read)
AOL Tech

SonyBmg posts

PluggedIn launches HD music video portal

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 16th 2008 at 9:09PM


We've had plenty of TV shows hitting the web in high definition recently, now PluggedIn is bringing music videos. Its site, just launched in beta, uses the same Move plugin as ABC.com to push over 10,000 HD and broadcast quality videos from EMI, Sony BMG and other labels. We watched a few videos, and while we've usually gotten good results with ABC's web site, we couldn't seem to get the "HD" meter filled up so far. Whether its bandwidth issues or the videos we checked just weren't HD was unclear, but hopefully the site is updated so its easier to find what we're looking for. Still, audio quality was decent and the broadcast-quality video we did get was clear. For now, take a look and see if this lives up to the competition offered by the networks, Hulu, or even Youtube.

BT Vision quietly launches V-Box, IPTV services

by Darren Murph posted Dec 16th 2006 at 9:08PM

Although it's likely being overshadowed by the Queen's recent HDTV spending spree, the UK's BT Vision has quietly launched its own set-top box (dubbed V-Box) and IPTV service in hopes of carefully gauging response during the first few months. The company asserted that it wanted to avoid the manufacturing backlogs and "embarrassing supply delays," so it was waiting until "next Spring" to hit the ad campaign in full force. Nevertheless, the V-Box and its subsequent services are live and ready to go, and the pricing structure is quite desirable indeed. The IPTV package brings the entire suite of Freeview channels to the viewer at no cost, and the V-Box (capable of holding "about 80 hours" of content) is also delivered gratis save for £90 ($178) of connection / installation fees. The business model relies on users not being satisfied with the free programming at their disposal, and instead indulging in the plethora of on-demand movies, music videos, sports, and TV shows / replays at their fingertips. While we doubt this launch will steal too many customers away from Sky and NTL (soon to be Virgin Media), this price is most definitely right if you're content with free.

Blu-ray concert titles on the way from Sony BMG

by Richard Lawler posted Jun 5th 2006 at 8:46AM

Sony BMG is adding some music muscle to the Blu-ray lineup, announcing two discs featuring Rod Stewart and John Legend they will be releasing on the format. Rod Stewart: Live at Royal Albert Hall and John Legend: Live at the House of Blues are both described as summer releases, but no specific date or price yet. Both were originally recorded in high definition and will feature uncompressed audio, as well as various behind the scenes features from both concerts. Rod Stewart fans can look forward to Maggie May, Stay With Me, and selections from his Great American Songbook series. R&B singer John Legend's disc will feature his hit Ordinary People as well as guest appearances from Snoop Dogg and Kanye West. After Paramount has delayed their high definition releases including U2: Rattle & Hum, Blu-ray may have the first concert releases between them and HD DVD. That said, the first one to put the Beyonce special that used to air on INHD all the time onto a round disc may get my dollars.




    AOL News

    Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in:

    Joystiq
    Download Squad
    The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
    BloggingStocks
    Joystiq Xbox
    Autoblog
    Big Download
    Fanhouse NFL Blog