It's with mixed emotions that we present to you Netflix's latest partnership with Sony, which is awesome, but could be so (so!) much more. Today, the world's leading online movie rental service inked a deal that'll bring instant Netflix streaming to Sony BRAVIA Internet Video-capable HDTVs this fall along with older BRAVIA models that are compatible with Sony's BRAVIA Internet video link module. Sadly, the PlayStation 3 is glaringly absent in the announcement, which is a golden opportunity missed in our humble estimation. Ah well, at least there's PlayOn, right? Full release is after the break.

Just as we heard back in February, Time Warner and Comcast have joined hands in order to regain control on some of the content that is slipping right out from under 'em. In the olden days, the only portal for catching content was the 'tube; today, a vast array of television shows are available gratis on the web, and that's downright frightening for pay-TV operators. Today, both firms are detailing TV Everywhere in the most general way possible, only telling us that paying Comcast subscribers will soon have access to "premium long-form content" via a web portal. TNT and TBS are the only networks specifically named thus far, but considering that both of those already offer their best programming online to everyone, we're not terribly impressed.

The agreement also includes a trial with around 5,000 Comcast users, which will be used to heavily test a newfangled authentication technology that will be necessary to allow paying Comcast users to access the material from any internet-connected PC. NewTeeVee has also assembled a clean, easy-to-digest FAQ that explains what exactly all this is. To be frank, it seems like a solution in search of a problem from the consumer viewpoint. After all, with portals like Hulu and individual network websites already providing in-demand content online, why is there even a need for some "special portal" for Comcast users? We've heard that paying subs will have access to even more material, possibly movies or other premium shows. But we won't front: we certainly don't want TV Everywhere to convert some of the content that's already free into pay-only content in order to accomplish the aforesaid "even more" goal. At any rate, the public at large probably won't hear more about this until the trial sessions end at an undisclosed time, but you can bet we'll be keeping a cautious eye on any developments.

Read - TV Everywhere press release
Read - NewTeeVee FAQ

Though they make strange bedfellows indeed, with the OLED competition heating up daily, Samsung and LG are partnering in R&D work on display processing and source technology for core materials. Exactly what this OLED deposition equipment does for making flat panel TVs we don't know, but with more than a few waiting on new tech for our next televisions this can't come a moment too soon.

[Via OLED-Display.net]

Remember when seeing a movie was simple? You just strolled in, paid one low price for a ticket, and you saw the flick. No worrying over which theaters had 4K projectors, which had DTS sound or which had 3D support. As cinemas across the nation continue to leap on the three-dee bandwagon, RealD and AMC Entertainment has just linked up in order to bring up to 1,500 3D screens across Canada and the US. We're told that the rollout is already underway, with more and more screens getting equipped each month. All told, this will bring RealD's 3D network to nearly 8,000 total committed screens worldwide with approximately 2,600 RealD 3D screens installed today. Excited? No?

Details are still sparse, but Wired has it that LG Electronics has just inked a deal with OLED mainstay Kodak in order to use the latter's technology in all sorts of future devices. For those unaware, Kodak's actually been dabbling in OLED for ages now, though it rarely offers up dedicated products in order to take credit. Reportedly, LG could bake Kodak's OLED magic into devices such as mobile phones, televisions and digital photo frames, though we suspect LG has a few other out-of-the-box widgets planned as well. As much as we love the idea of an OLED watch phone, what we're really clamoring for is a big screen Scarlet with an OLED panel. Let's make it happen, alright folks?

[Via OLED-Display]

Just under a year ago, we heard that the relatively unknown Cavalier (bizarre slogan and all) was looking to make a dent in the Hampton Roads, Virginia TV market. Not sure what all went wrong there, but now it's looking to television mainstay DirecTV to help it get things off the ground. The company will be offering locals the shot at a Triple Play package, with the high-speed internet and digital phone service coming directly from Cavalier and the TV service coming from DirecTV. We're told that this C3 bundle could save customers upwards of $240 per year compared to similar packages, but we'd definitely call 'em up and run the numbers before jumping in blind.

See this sense of friendship? We admire it. Rather than keeping all of its content to itself, Hulu has decided to shake hands with online video portal Dailymotion in order to give its viewers access to loads of Hulu material. A newly reached distribution agreement will give Dailymotion's audience "access to an additional 40,000 premium videos from Hulu's online video library, including full-length episodes from major television studios, full-length feature films from major film studios, as well as news and other content from more than 130 content providers." The new videos from Hulu will be slotted into Dailymotion's channels (Funny, Film & TV, Music, Sports & Extreme), and by using the company's own Videowall, Videozap or Jukebox, viewers will also be able to program Hulu content into their own channels and playlists. No wonder pay-TV providers are hastily trying to get in while the gettin' is good.

While many are still eagerly awaiting their tuning adapter for utilizing tru2way on their existing TiVo box, said company has announced two partnerships today that look to solve issues with cable carriers that don't currently have an OCAP / tru2way deployment plan. The tie-up with SeaChange will enable those lagging carriers to bring cable VOD services to the TiVo HD DVR experience, giving them the option to highlight offerings on a TiVo guide, for instance. The second partnership involves Alticast, and while details are a tad fuzzier here, we get the impression that TiVo's looking to possibly push its heralded interface out onto other devices, such as embedded within a Blu-ray deck or other set-top-box. Or as Joshua Danovitz, Vice President and GM of International at TiVo puts it: "[We need to make] the TiVo experience available on a broad range of platforms, both in the United States and around the world." Hit the read links for more on each, and don't be surprised if you dig the vibes you get.\

[Via Yahoo! / PC World]

Read - Alticast partnership
Read - SeaChange partnership

Whoa, Nelly. This is getting serious. As 3D looks to infest each and every cinema it can, Sony has just inked a potentially ginormous agreement with 3D guru RealD that will provide "3D digital cinema systems that combine a single Sony 4K projector and its new 3D dual lens adapter with RealD technology." In other words, you could soon be seeing 3D cinema through a 4K projector, which just might lead to your head exploding from visual overload. The agreement makes mention of a "specially designed optical filter tuned for the projector, resulting in the ability to deliver crisp 3D images to screens up to 55 feet in width." Also, the relationship makes it possible for existing 2D installations to be upgraded with 3D capabilities, and honestly, even we're excited about 2K of 3D resolution per eye.

For those of you that enjoyed the NBA All-Star circus in 3D this weekend, you'll soon be able to indulge in similar events in far more places. Cinedigm has announced today a partnership with Sony Pictures Releasing Corporation that will bring Live 3D HD capabilities to upwards of 10,000 digital cinema projection system across the US. Make no mistake -- companies can force consumers to pay attention if enough money and marketing is poured into something, and we get the feeling that these 3D events in cinemas aren't going away anytime soon. In fact, Cinedigm ultimately hopes to showcase spectacles such as the Super Bowl and the Olympic Games via its 3D HD technology, and with support like this, we don't see any reason why it won't be able to.

If you're setting out to develop PHOLED (phosphorescent OLED) technology, it can't hurt to have friends in the chemical industry, which explains why Universal Display and Korean company SFC have become industrial BFFs. The two companies have agreed to jointly develop and commercialize those super-efficient PHOLED materials that our HD-loving eyes will want to have in displays if we're to soak up visuals without putting the planet in meltdown. Universal Display will help SFC with non-emitter materials and in return, SFC will transfer "certain existing phosphorescent" materials to Universal Display. Sounds good to us, and we're hoping to see Universal Display's numerous industrial partnerships to pay off in the form of tangible tech soon.

It's one thing for Amazon to toss a few free Blu-ray Discs in with the purchase of a PlayStation 3, but we'd expect a little something extra from Denon. After all, when the least expensive Blu-ray deck you make rings up at $749 (MSRP), we'd say a free universal remote or weekend at the lake would be a more appropriate gift. At any rate, Denon and Warner Home Video have linked up to provide buyers of Denon Blu-ray players (the DVD-1800BD, DVD-3800BDCI and DVD-2500BTCI) with a BD copy of The Dark Knight and Batman Begins. The promotion is set to run from November 23rd to January 10, but you've still got to deal with that whole "mail in with the proof of purchase" rigmarole to get your money back. Groan.

We already knew that MTNL was looking to expand its IPTV services from Mumbai to more parts of India, and now we're seeing progress towards completion. Thanks to a recent tie-up between said company and Aksh Optifibre, FTTH (fiber to the home) and HDTV services will be delivered to Indians in desperate need of more high-def. Unfortunately, the announcement doesn't mention when or where the services will be expanded, but hopefully we'll be given more insight on the whole deal real soon.

With the growing emphasis on ROHS (reduction of hazardous substances) and energy efficiency in the electronics industry, it's no wonder that LEDs are replacing fluorescent lamps for backlighting LCDs. So expect to see more partnerships like the one that Samsung and Freescale Semiconductor just entered into, with Samsung providing the glass (and some sweet moolah for custom parts) and Freescale bringing its LED drivers to the party. Heck, we figure even the cheaper white LEDs make it easier to achieve uniform illumination across the screen and higher contrast ratios, which get high marks around the Engadget HD offices; for folks not obsessed with picture quality (yeah, they're out there), LEDs offer up lighter and thinner displays.

YouTube has been dabbling in full-length professional content for a good while now, and as it seeks to compete more directly with the likes of Hulu, today it has landed a real big fish. Soon, a number of films and TV shows from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's archives will pop up on the video sharing site including episodes of the original American Gladiators and films like Bulletproof Monk and The Magnificent Seven. For all content added, it will obviously be free for anyone to view, though advertisements will be running "alongside the video." Now, if only we could convince Google to offer YouTube HD (or anything close), we'd be set.