HBO’s CEO says it will begin streaming its premium TV content to iPads within a few months. The service, HBO Go, will be extended to mobile devices in a bid to outmaneuver Netflix, which already offers an iPad app.
In a Bloomberg interview, HBO CEO Reed Hastings said within six months, it will extend its current HBO Go service to mobile devices. Currently, subscribers to the premium TV channel can view original programming on their computers. In July, video rental service Netflix began offering a similar iPad app.
The iPad is hands down the best mobile internet browsing device I’ve ever owned. Its design, shape, and the easy to use iOS interface make surfing the web feel a lot more natural and less awkward than a notebook. Therefore, it is nice that Apple is allowing alternatives to the default Safari browser which lacks features we’ve been used to using on our computers.
One of those alternatives is a new browser called iLunascape from Lunascape, Inc. and it is available for free (iTunes link) in the iTunes App Store.
This browser takes a new approach to browser user interfaces (UI) on the iPad and I’m wondering why no one else has thought of this yet. The developer’s new specialized UI called the “In Reach Interface” has clustered most common movements and tabs down near the bottom of the iPad display where the user generally holds the device. In addition to this the iPad user experience is the center of attention, but now includes desktop-class tab browsing, easy screen capture and storage, fast and smooth scrolling, simple bookmarking, and iPad rotation controls.
Holding iLunascape in portrait mode on an iPad. Note clustered controls at the bottom.
iLunascape may not be for everyone, since not everyone holds their iPad the same way. However, if you are looking to replace Safari this app is a good start with its unique interface and useful desktop like features. Its free and if you care about your browsing experience on the iPad — go get it.
The rub? It’ll be later than usual, not earlier: Kara Swisher’s floating a mid-September date as the most likely bet for the event. As for what we’ll be seeing, a new iPod Touch with a FaceTime-capable camera, an A4 CPU and a Retina Display is probably a given, with a new iOS-driven AppleTV called the iTV also looking possible, and maybe even a new multitouch iPod Shuffle.
We wrap up another week with three hardware deals. First up is an 8GB iPod touch for $149. Next is a 24-inch LED Cinema Display for $709. Our last highlighted deal for the day is a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro with two years of AppleCare for $1,598 from Expercomm.
Along the way, we’ll also check out new software for your iPhone and Mac. As always, details on these and many other items are available after the jump.
Ever since Apple bought the web-streaming music service Lala, our teeth have been aching in anticipation of our iTunes libraries vaporized from our hard disks and existing in the Wonkavision like ionosphere of the cloud.
According to CNET, though, we may very well have a while to wait before Apple truly capitalizes upon its Lala purchase… and when it does come, it might be a far more modest proposal at first than even Cupertino would like.
In talks with the four major labels, Apple is apparently downplaying expectations, saying that if they launch their cloud-streaming iTunes functionality in the next few months, it will be “modest in scope” when it comes to streaming music.
Since the dawn of time, more or less, the iPhone’s inability to play back Flash has been a consistent point of complaint from the anti-Apple crowd, particularly proponents of Android. Never mind the fact that, until TODAY, no one outside of Android developers had used Flash on any Android phone.
More comically, of course, Hulu, that prize of Flash video, doesn’t run on Flash-enabled mobile phones. But now it does run on the iPhone, along with the PlayStation 3 and a few Internet-enabled TVs — for a price. I was admitted to the $10-a-month beta for HuluPlus, and I’ve put it through its paces. While it is undeniably quite an achievement for mobile streaming video, it’s also undeniably a beta, and I’m miffed to be paying.
We close out another week of great deals with a bargain on previous generation iMacs, as well as a couple deals on iPad items. First up, following the recent introduction of a refreshed line of iMacs, the Apple Store is offering price cuts on older iMacs, including a 21.5-inch model for $1,099. Also, we have an accessory kit for your iPad, along with a number of freebies from the iPad App Store.
As usual, details on these and many other items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.
With the iOS 4.0 update, Apple finally figured out how to bring free major updates to the iOS operating system to non-contract devices like the iPod Touch…. which makes this rumor coming out of Stuff.tv pretty questionable.
According to their app developer sources, a paid update to iOS 4 for the iPad is a “definite.” That’s a pretty big contradiction of Apple’s own iPad EULA, which reads:
Apple will provide you any iPad OS software updates that it may release from time to time, up to and including the next major iPad OS software release following the version of iPad OS software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free. For example, if your iPad originally shipped with iPad 3.x software, Apple would provide you with any iPad OS software updates it might release up to and including the iPad 4.x software release. Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models.
Of course, Apple’s free to change course on this, but if they figured out how to bring iOS 4 to the iPod Touch without a fee, there’s little doubt in my mind they can manage it for the iPad… even if Cupertino was tempted to go back on its word.
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We start off with Apple’s Back-to-School offer. Buy an iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air and get a free 8GB iPod touch. We also have a deal on unibody MacBook Pros, starting at $929 for a 2.26GHz version. Lastly, while the iPhone 4 has gotten much of the attention recently, there are deals to be had on the iPhone 3GS. AT&T is offering a refurbished 16GB iPhone 3GS for $99.
Along the way, we’ll also check out the latest batch of App Store freebies, including the new “Tap Defense,” a tower defense game. As usual, details on these and many other items are available at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.
