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Sky is adding 24, Bones, Girls and other TV box sets to its on-demand library

Feb13
by on February 13, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, Product Updates, UK

UK broadcaster BSkyB has added popular TV box sets like 24, Girls, Bones and Modern Family to its collection of on-demand titles that are available to watch via a customer’s Sky box.

The freshly added collection of boxsets are available for Sky customers to stream from today, and will see more new additions next month in the form of Spartacus, Black Books and Da Vinci’s Demons. Subscribers to the service will also be able to catch up on any Mad Men they might have missed before the final series starts in April.

➤ Sky On-Demand

Featured Image Credit – Getty Images

 

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Rovio gives Stella the limelight in a new female-focused Angry Birds spin-off

Feb13
by on February 13, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Posted In: Around the Web

Rovio is expanding the Angry Birds universe once again with a new brand called Angry Birds Stella. The spin-off will revolve around the pink character Stella – who first appeared in Angry Birds Seasons – and her friends through various forms of entertainment including games, books and toys.

tumblr n0xlt7Us6U1tsg5t3o1 1280 730x550 Rovio gives Stella the limelight in a new female focused Angry Birds spin off

Although the Finnish game developer is careful not to detail its target demographic, the artwork, characters and branding point towards a female-focused audience. Angry Birds is still incredibly popular, so it’s not surprising that the company wants to capitalize on that success with further tie-ins.

➤ Press Release (Blog Post)

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Time Warner Cable and Comcast confirm they will merge in deal worth $45.2bn

Feb13
by on February 13, 2014 at 11:56 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Insider

Time Warner Cable and Comcast are merging to create the largest cable subscription service in the US that will serve more than 30 million customers.

The deal was confirmed on Thursday and will see Comcast’s existing president and CEO Neil Smit lead the resulting business. For users, the companies say they will provide the opportunity to speed up development of existing and new products and services – Comcast already offers a wide range of services including subscription services, on-demand TV options and streaming content from XfinityTV.com.

“Through this merger, more American consumers will benefit from technological innovations, including a superior video experience, higher broadband speeds, and the fastest in-home Wi-Fi,” Comcast said in a statement.

Under terms of the deal, Comcast will acquire all of TWC’s stock for $158.82 per share, making the total value of the acquisition around $45.2 billion.

➤ TIME WARNER CABLE TO MERGE WITH COMCAST CORPORATION TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA COMPANY [Comcast]

Featured Image Credit – TIM BOYLE/Getty Images

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Xbox One Media Remote incoming, according to Amazon listings

Feb13
by on February 13, 2014 at 10:33 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Gadgets, gaming, remote, xbox one

XboxOneMediaRemote Xbox One Media Remote incoming, according to Amazon listings

The Xbox One may have arrived without a remote for controlling media playback and volume, but it looks like this situation is about to be rectified according to a product listing on Amazon UK.

The device is set for release on April 4 and will cost £19.99, according to the retailer’s listing. There are scant details of the item, but it does say that the keys are backlit and will illuminate whenever the controller is picked up. It also seems like you’ll be able to control your TV volume and power using the device too, as well as an Xbox One.

The device was also listed on other pages, like Amazon Canada, but has since been removed. Interestingly, the date on the Google-cached product listing says it’s set for release on March 4 in Canada. We’ve asked Microsoft for details and will let you know if we hear back.

➤ Amazon UK

Featured Image Credit – Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

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500px updates its iOS app so you can finally upload photos directly from your iPhone or iPad

Feb13
by on February 13, 2014 at 9:13 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web

4 520x520 500px updates its iOS app so you can finally upload photos directly from your iPhone or iPadPopular photo sharing service 500px has updated its iOS app to finally allow users to upload photos directly from their phone. To date the app — which is also available for Android — has been read-only, with users forced to use the regular Web interface to add new images.

The service prides itself on showcasing quality photographs, so does enabling uploads from an iPad or iPhone threaten that? Not necessarily, 500px says:

We know that for some, there is the concern that the quality of 500px will diminish with the ability to easily share mobile photos on the platform. Let’s remember the way our community lives and thrives together. It’s up to the community to share, but also to help each other improve in our crafts.

Perhaps in response to the potential influx of images taken on smartphones, 500px advises that the new feature allows images taken on a standalone camera to be uploaded quicker than before. It advocates using an SD-card-to-iOS adapter to transfer photos to an iPad, from where they can be uploaded via the 500px app.

➤ 500px for iOS (there’s no word on when the feature will roll out to the Android app)

Related: 500px relaunches Market as 500px Art, a new place for photographers to print and sell their work

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