Roku Adds Ten Free Content Channels – Roku, maker of the small inexpensive wireless or wired device that streams content from the Net direct to any TV screen, is expanding over the next two weeks from three free channels to 13, including Pandora, Flickr, Facebook Photos, Motionbox and FrameChannel. They will be joining the current offering of Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand and MLB.TV. Users access them at no charge thru the Roku Channel Store. Content is sorted by “new,” “most popular” and “top-rated.” Roku says there will be a steady stream of new channels showing up between now and the January CES Show. The entry level of the three Roku models starts at $80, providing a major competitor to AppleTV and similar options.
Linn To Exit CD Player Market Jan. 1 – Scotland’s Linn Products Ltd. has announced that it will stop production of CD players as of January 1, 2010, due to the growing consumer demand for streaming media in the networked home. The RIAA says sales of downloadable music have increased nearly 30% from 2007 to 2008 and CD sales have declined about 25% in the same period. Linn will, however, continue to produce and sell their brand of SACDs and CDs, but will focus on their DS line of media streaming products. A Linn spokesperson said “…people now want better control of their music and the ability to enjoy it in any room of their home.” [So what’s the difference whether the source is a disc or download?…Ed.]
California Passes Rules Restricting Power-Guzzling TV Displays – The California Energy Commission has unanimously adopted new rules requiring TV manufacturers to cut the power used by their sets by one-third in two years and one-half by 2013. The restrictions are expected to save $8.1 billion in energy costs for consumers over a ten-year period, without sacrificing hi-def pictures in any way. A study also showed that the energy savings could help reduce greenhouse gases by three million metric tons a year – the equal of taking 500,000 cars off the road. The regulations apply only to screen under 58 inches. As an example, all new 42-inch TVs must use less than 183 watts by 2011 and less than 115 watts by 2013. The commission said there are already a thousand TVs on the market meeting the 2011 standards, but the Consumer Electronics Association disputes those numbers, and in fact claims the new regulations will hamper innovation and cost California $46 million in lost taxes every year.
Sony Steps Into 3D – Sony has announced they intend to bring out 3D movies on Blu-ray and to make their HDTVs more suitable to the display of 3D images. They will soon implement a major firmware upgrade to their PS3 Playstation and make it available to older models as well. It is expected that the firmware upgrade will force others to upgrade their hardware to take full advantage of the 3D movies and games that Sony will soon deliver. The company says they want to lead the world in the development of 3D technology in the home; however several competitors also have plans of their own. The PS3 upgrade will also be useless without a 3D-compatible video display.
Rupert Murdoch Looking at Buying MGM – Murdoch and his News Corp. operation are looking seriously at the debt-ridden Hollywood studio MGM, distributor of the James Bond movies and others. Burdened by over $4 billion of debt, the movie house is hoping for a potential sale, and has enlisted a resturcturing specialist to help turn it around.
