Netflix adds 'Lost,' other ABC shows to streaming lineup
Several of ABC's top shows will soon be available to watch via Netflix's "Watch Instantly" online streaming service. The first four seasons of "Lost" are already available, and they'll be joined in September by "Desperate Housewives" (seasons four and five), "Grey's Anatomy" (season five), and "Legend of the Seeker" (seasons one and two). The deal builds on an earlier agreement to make Disney Channel content available on Netflix (ABC is a division of Disney.)While most of these programs are already available for viewing online on ABC's Web site, the Netflix deal allows them to be watched on TV screens via a large and growing number of Netflix-compatible home video devices, including many Blu-ray players and home theater systems, some Internet-enabled TVs, the Xbox 360, and the $99 Roku Digital Media Player. The ABC content joins programs from rival networks, including Fox, NBC, and CBS, that have long been available on Netflix. (Disclosure: CNET is a division of CBS Interactive.) The online video streaming--available at no extra charge for Netflix subscribers on the $9 per month or higher rental tier--currently offers approximately 12,000 movies and TV shows.As far as I'm concerned, this seems like another feather in the cap for Netflix.These sort of serialized dramas are perfect fodder for sequential online viewing.(The final season of "Lost" starts early in 2010, and Netflix subscribers who want to catch up--or start from scratch--can do so at no extra charge.) What's interesting to me is that ABC's making this move, which could potentially lower demand for sales of the same episodes on DVD and iTunes. One wonders how Disney board member Steve Jobs feels about it.What do you think: Are you excited to see these ABC shows hitting Netflix, or does it just highlight some favorite shows of yours that still remain unavailable?
Latest iPhone 5 leak teases more RAM, map tweaks
Latest iPhone 5 leak teases more RAM, map tweaks
While Apple's next iPhone isn't expected to arrive until later this year, details of what the device will look like and how Apple might change some of its key software features continue to trickle out.The latest comes from 9to5Mac, which earlier this week posted purported photos of the front and back of upcoming iPhone models. Today the blog has a follow-up with details of a development version of the hardware, and iOS 6 -- the next major version of iOS Apple is expected to debut at the company's developer conference in a few weeks.Citing an unnamed source behind the specs, 9to5Mac says the prototype unit is running on an "ARM S5L8950X" processor, a model number that's higher than the ones found on Apple's latest iPhone 4S and third-generation iPad. No details were offered about its speed versus existing chips, short of a mention of a new graphics chip. The outlet also claims the phone will sport 1GB of RAM, up from the 512MB that ships on the iPhone 4S. On the software side, 9to5Mac suggests "Apple is far along" with iOS 6. That includes another shot of an updated maps app with imagery not from Google, which looks similar tothe one posted earlier this week by mobile tech blog Boy Genius Report.Apple is once again expected to introduce its next iPhone in the fall instead of the summer. The change last year moved up the public unveiling of iOS 5 in time for the company's annual developers conference, as well as timed the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 for a release closer to the lucrative holiday shopping season. Stay up to date with every iPhone 5 rumor out there with CNET's handy round up.
While Apple's next iPhone isn't expected to arrive until later this year, details of what the device will look like and how Apple might change some of its key software features continue to trickle out.The latest comes from 9to5Mac, which earlier this week posted purported photos of the front and back of upcoming iPhone models. Today the blog has a follow-up with details of a development version of the hardware, and iOS 6 -- the next major version of iOS Apple is expected to debut at the company's developer conference in a few weeks.Citing an unnamed source behind the specs, 9to5Mac says the prototype unit is running on an "ARM S5L8950X" processor, a model number that's higher than the ones found on Apple's latest iPhone 4S and third-generation iPad. No details were offered about its speed versus existing chips, short of a mention of a new graphics chip. The outlet also claims the phone will sport 1GB of RAM, up from the 512MB that ships on the iPhone 4S. On the software side, 9to5Mac suggests "Apple is far along" with iOS 6. That includes another shot of an updated maps app with imagery not from Google, which looks similar tothe one posted earlier this week by mobile tech blog Boy Genius Report.Apple is once again expected to introduce its next iPhone in the fall instead of the summer. The change last year moved up the public unveiling of iOS 5 in time for the company's annual developers conference, as well as timed the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 for a release closer to the lucrative holiday shopping season. Stay up to date with every iPhone 5 rumor out there with CNET's handy round up.
Korea court delays Apple's iPhone, iPad ban
Korea court delays Apple's iPhone, iPad ban
A South Korea judge in Seoul today granted Apple's request to stay an injunction against its iPhone and iPad.According to Bloomberg, which spoke with a spokesman for the court, a judge in the Seoul Central District Court decided to keep the iPhone and iPad on store shelves until Apple's appeal process is concluded. If Apple loses that appeal, it could very likely see its products banned from sale in South Korea.The injunction was imposed on Apple's products back in August when the Seoul court ruled that Apple and Samsung violated each other's patents. In addition to damages amounting to several thousand dollars, the court ordered Apple's iPhone 4 and iPad 2 be banned from sale. Samsung's Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Nexus, as well as the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1, were also ordered to be banned.Samsung has so far not requested a stay on its sales ban, according to Bloomberg's source.South Korea is just one of many battlegrounds Apple and Samsung have decided to war on. Earlier this year, Apple won a major victory in a San Jose, Calif., court that could pave the way for the company to receive more than $1 billion in damages, and block the sale of several Samsung products in the U.S. when a hearing on Apple's victory is held later this year.Elsewhere around the world, neither Apple nor Samsung has been able to take the high ground. When one company wins a case, the other quickly appeals or wins another. Still, there's no end in sight to the lawsuits. Just last month, Samsung said that it would roll the iPhone 5 into yet another lawsuit.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
A South Korea judge in Seoul today granted Apple's request to stay an injunction against its iPhone and iPad.According to Bloomberg, which spoke with a spokesman for the court, a judge in the Seoul Central District Court decided to keep the iPhone and iPad on store shelves until Apple's appeal process is concluded. If Apple loses that appeal, it could very likely see its products banned from sale in South Korea.The injunction was imposed on Apple's products back in August when the Seoul court ruled that Apple and Samsung violated each other's patents. In addition to damages amounting to several thousand dollars, the court ordered Apple's iPhone 4 and iPad 2 be banned from sale. Samsung's Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Nexus, as well as the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1, were also ordered to be banned.Samsung has so far not requested a stay on its sales ban, according to Bloomberg's source.South Korea is just one of many battlegrounds Apple and Samsung have decided to war on. Earlier this year, Apple won a major victory in a San Jose, Calif., court that could pave the way for the company to receive more than $1 billion in damages, and block the sale of several Samsung products in the U.S. when a hearing on Apple's victory is held later this year.Elsewhere around the world, neither Apple nor Samsung has been able to take the high ground. When one company wins a case, the other quickly appeals or wins another. Still, there's no end in sight to the lawsuits. Just last month, Samsung said that it would roll the iPhone 5 into yet another lawsuit.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
Kindle iOS app enhanced for the blind and visually impaired
Kindle iOS app enhanced for the blind and visually impaired
Amazon has enhanced its Kindle iOS app with new features of benefit to anyone but especially to those who are blind or visually impaired.Released Wednesday, the latest version of the app supports Apple's VoiceOver technology, which reads aloud text that you've selected. More than 1.8 million books in the Kindle store are compatible with VoiceOver, according to Amazon. More than 900,000 of them are less than $4.99, while more than 1.5 million are less than $9.99.Related storiesDOJ, schools settle over Kindle's blind accessThe Amazon.com of potAmazon expands Kindle self-publishing worldwideYou can turn on VoiceOver through the Accessibility options in the Settings menu on your iOS device. Once the feature is enabled, taping on a line or swiping down a page with two fingers reads that text aloud. You can listen to the text line-by-line or continuously from the top to the bottom of the page.The Kindle app also supports other iOS accessibility features. The Zoom feature allows you to magnify the screen by double-tapping three fingers. AssistiveTouch lets you create your own gestures to control and navigate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. The app can also work with connected Braille devices.The new accessbility features will make their way to other Kindle apps in the future, Amazon said. Windows PC users can also take advantage of the new features through the free Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin.
Amazon has enhanced its Kindle iOS app with new features of benefit to anyone but especially to those who are blind or visually impaired.Released Wednesday, the latest version of the app supports Apple's VoiceOver technology, which reads aloud text that you've selected. More than 1.8 million books in the Kindle store are compatible with VoiceOver, according to Amazon. More than 900,000 of them are less than $4.99, while more than 1.5 million are less than $9.99.Related storiesDOJ, schools settle over Kindle's blind accessThe Amazon.com of potAmazon expands Kindle self-publishing worldwideYou can turn on VoiceOver through the Accessibility options in the Settings menu on your iOS device. Once the feature is enabled, taping on a line or swiping down a page with two fingers reads that text aloud. You can listen to the text line-by-line or continuously from the top to the bottom of the page.The Kindle app also supports other iOS accessibility features. The Zoom feature allows you to magnify the screen by double-tapping three fingers. AssistiveTouch lets you create your own gestures to control and navigate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. The app can also work with connected Braille devices.The new accessbility features will make their way to other Kindle apps in the future, Amazon said. Windows PC users can also take advantage of the new features through the free Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin.
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