Week In Review: Week Ended November 10th

Writers Strike, Netflix Hacks, Amazing Race Map and more.  Here's a review of this weeks pasts posts.  Remember, if you have anything you would like to see covered here or have a great trick, hack or freeware application for me to look at let me know by e-mailing me.

I have a host of good material for this coming week so be sure to check back - better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed or by e-mail with the icons at the top-right of this page.

Watch Out Amazon! Unbox & Netflix: iTunes Set For Movie Rentals

Thus far, Amazon Unbox and Netflix Watch Instantly have been the leaders on online movie rentals.    Well Evan DiBiase has found a little suprise hidden in the code of the latest version of iTunes.  It seems the latest 7.5 version of iTunes has strings related to Rentals and Video-On-Demand! …

Put An Add-To-Netflix or Blockbuster Button on Movie Websites

If you're a Netflix or Blockbuster Subscriber and your browsing a movie information site such as Internet Movie Database (IMDB) wouldn't it be nice if there were a "add to netflix" button on the IMDB page?  Well with "The Movie Dude" Firefox Greasemonkey script you can…

Sage 6.3.1 Beta Released - Including HD Extender Support!

SageTV , the maker of leading computer-based Home Theater PC software has continued on their ferocious pace for development and this Fall is no different.  Today, SageTV 6.3.1 Beta for Windows, Windows Home Server, Macintosh and Linux was released today with a host of bug fixes and one very…

TiVo Expanding Demographic Data of Users Provided To Marketers

The DVR Powerhouse TiVo Inc. announced today that they will be offering a new service that gives advertisers detailed information about TiVo users.  This comes as part of a partnership between TiVo Inc. and Starcom USA that will be called "Power Watch(TM) Consumer Panel."  This is…

Caution: Netflix is Watching Those Using Watch Now Download Hack

  Remember back in August when I highlighted a Hack that allowed you to download movies to your hard drive from Netflix's "Watch Instantly" streaming service ?  The Download/Rip hack still works, but Netflix is now watching for those who use the hack and is then putting those users…

DVD CCA Closing Loophole that Allows Legal Ripping of DVDs

Have you ever ripped a DVD onto your hard drive?  If so, you might be interested in what the DVD Copy Control Association is voting on this week.  According to Eric Bangeman at Arstechnica , the DVD CCA is planning vote on a "Managed Copy Amendment" that closes a loophole in the CSS…

Get Your Windows Live EMail Address Now

If you haven't already, Go to Windows Live at this address: http://get.live.com/mail/overview And sign up.   Microsoft has  released the final version of Windows Live Hotmail recently, but hadn't released the Live.com domain until today - even though a few people did find a way to grab…

Review of Beyond TV 4.7 at MissingRemote

Daniel Schoerner posted a nice, comprehensive review of the latest BeyondTV 4.7 Update .  He really liked the iTunes Integration and the lesser-publicized Firefly Mobile feature that allows you to use your iPhone or SmartPhone as a remote control .  He reviews all of the other features with a…

Amazing Race 12: Mapping the Amazing Race

As I mentioned before , the Amazing Race 12 began Sunday, November 4th to replace Viva Laughlin show. As a bit of an experiment, this year I've created a Google Map with each of the stops the contestants will visit based on speculation in this RealityFan forum ( warning some spoilers in the…

Fallout From The TV Writers Strike - How Will It Affect You?

The WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike looks very likely now.  Last-ditch efforts to avert the strike will take place Sunday according to TV with MeeVee .  If those talks don't go well, the strike will begin Monday .  UPDATE:  TALKS ON SUNDAY BROKE DOWN AND THE STRIKE HAS NOW BEGUN.…

Watch Out Amazon! Unbox & Netflix: iTunes Set For Movie Rentals

Thus far, Amazon Unbox and Netflix Watch Instantly have been the leaders on online movie rentals. 

 

Well Evan DiBiase has found a little suprise hidden in the code of the latest version of iTunes.  It seems the latest 7.5 version of iTunes has strings related to Rentals and Video-On-Demand!  Here's what Evan had to say on his blog:

"It sure looks like video rentals (and video on demand, which I suspect VOD stands for) are coming to iTunes soon. If they did, I would sure get more use out of my Apple TV…"

This would be another great addition by Apple and would certainly make sense for their iPod and AppleTV products.

via TechCrunch

 

 

Other Articles of Interest:

Caution: Netflix is Watching Those Using Watch Now Download Hack

Put An Add-To-Netflix or Blockbuster Button on Movie Websites

TiVo Expanding Demographic Data of Users Provided To Marketers

Put An Add-To-Netflix or Blockbuster Button on Movie Websites

If you're a Netflix or Blockbuster Subscriber and your browsing a movie information site such as Internet Movie Database (IMDB) wouldn't it be nice if there were a "add to netflix" button on the IMDB page?  Well with "The Movie Dude" Firefox Greasemonkey script you can cross-link from tons of different movie-related websites and add to Netflix, search for the movie at Amazon or Walmart or even find trailers or clips on YouTube.  This script is one powerful movie tool indeed.

Below is a screen-shot of Yahoo Movies with the "added links" for Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon and the others.  This is really useful if you're browsing the IMDB page and based on their reviews and/or information you want to rent or purchase the DVD.

Once you've installed the Movie Dude GreaseMonkey Script, visit any of the pages below to cross-link to various movie related sites that normally wouldn't link to each other. You could use this to add movies to your Netflix or Blockbuster Rental Queue, Find the DVD to purchase at Walmart or Amazon, Find a review on the movie, purchase tickets for the movie at Fandango or even find answers to movie trivia.  Here's a list of the sites that are cross-linked with the GM Script:

• The Internet Movie Database
• NetFlix
• BlockBuster.com (and UK)
• Yahoo! Movies
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Roger Ebert
• Amazon
• All Movie Guide
• GreenCine
• Metacritic
• FilmAffinity
• Intelliflix
• Flixster
• Slant
• Wikipedia (English)
• FilmSpot
• Fandango
• WalMart

 

Here's a screen-shot of Yahoo Movies with the "added links" for Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon and the others.  How appropriate that Yahoo Movies has an advert for Netflix at the top of their page.

To read more about the Movie Dude Greasemonkey Script and Install it, Head over to Adam Vandenberg's site HERE

RELATED STORIES:

Watch Out Amazon! Unbox & Netflix: iTunes Set For Movie Rentals

Caution: Netflix is Watching Those Using Watch Now Download Hack

Beat Netflix Throttle - 7 Steps

 

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Sage 6.3.1 Beta Released - Including HD Extender Support!

 

SageTV, the maker of leading computer-based Home Theater PC software has continued on their ferocious pace for development and this Fall is no different.  Today, SageTV 6.3.1 Beta for Windows, Windows Home Server, Macintosh and Linux was released today with a host of bug fixes and one very anticipated feature - support for the coming HD Extender - STX HD100 Media Extender.

 

The main new features include the following:

• Hauppauge HVR-950 and ElGato EyeTV Hybrid support on the Macintosh (analog + ATSC)
• HDHomeRun support for Macintosh (ATSC + QAM) (Linux support for HDHR will be in next build)
• DXVA support added to SageTV MPEG Video Decoder
• Support for the SageTV STX-HD100 Media Extender
• Core animation system is enabled by default
• Various bug fixes & performance optimizations

This is a beta version where the kinks get worked out so there will likely be some bumps.  But this might be one of the most coveted releases yet for SageTV as many in the SageTV forums have been very excited about the prospect of a hardware HD extender device which is expected to be available to the public in early December.  The extender will be much like the Microsoft Media Center extenders (you know like the ones you still can't find for the latest Vista version) that allow you to view all of the content from your main HTPC including HDTV, Movies, Music and more.

Read More about the SageTV 6.3.1 Beta at the SageTV Forums

UPDATE:  If you are interested in more details on the coming-soon SageTV HD Extender, READ THIS

 

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TiVo Expanding Demographic Data of Users Provided To Marketers

The DVR Powerhouse TiVo Inc. announced today that they will be offering a new service that gives advertisers detailed information about TiVo users.  This comes as part of a partnership between TiVo Inc. and Starcom USA that will be called "Power Watch(TM) Consumer Panel."  This is another move by TiVo to monetize their statistics data already gathered by their TiVo DVR service.

TiVo already sells second-by-second viewing information of television programs and commercials based on the TiVo subscribers viewing habits.  The announcement today means TiVo will be adding demographic data about those viewers participating in the panel themselves including age, income, marital status and ethnicity.  Before you get too panicked about the privacy thing, you should note that TiVo has recruited 20,000 households to opt-in to the viewership panel so it strictly voluntary.  I should also note that TiVo has said that all data will remain anonymous. 

"TiVo recruited 20,000 households to opt-in to the viewership panel. Because these subscribers have opted in, TiVo can associate household data with the viewership data, and hence will be able to produce program and commercial viewership reports which can be looked at by aggregate demographic and behavioral audience groups. All data remain completely anonymous."

Advertisers and Marketers who subscribe to this extra data will be able to purchase custom data and to poll those in the "Power Watch(TM) Consumer Panel" to gather custom information that the marketers want to research.

"With the roll-out of the Power||Watch Consumer Panel, TiVo's Stop||Watch(TM) ratings service subscribers will have the ability to purchase custom segmentations to look at TV viewing based on how consumers have responded to their proprietary sponsored questions. TiVo will be conducting a quarterly omnibus survey of Power||Watch panelists. While Starcom has the exclusive access to the first study, all Stop||Watch clients can participate in these surveys with their own sets of questions."

Still, this is sure to raise further privacy concerns for TiVo users.  My take on it is that as long as TiVo keeps this as a voluntary, opt-in program it is a good thing for TiVo, the marketers as well as the people who volunteered (since they received a "raffle" to win a new TiVo) as well.

Read the Full Press Release at Tivo.com

Thanks to Dave Zatz for the tip!

 

You might also be interested in this article on television statistics providers:

Beyond Nielsen TV Ratings - TV Viewing Statistics From Non-Nielsen Places

 

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Caution: Netflix is Watching Those Using Watch Now Download Hack

 

Remember back in August when I highlighted a Hack that allowed you to download movies to your hard drive from Netflix's "Watch Instantly" streaming service?  The Download/Rip hack still works, but Netflix is now watching for those who use the hack and is then putting those users on indefinite hold who use it. 

 

 

 

 

 

The original story -which I discovered on the Rorta forums was a popular one that hit the web by storm being picked up first by Brad Linder of TVSquad, then hit digg.com

and then flourished to Lifehacker, Hacking Netflix, Gizmodo, Engadget, Crunchgear, Wired, Hackzine, and countless other sites across the web.

 

ABOUT THE HACK

The hack was reported by a user in the Rorta forums.  There is a detailed step-by-step guide to save Netflix "Watch-Instantly" movies to your hard drive so you can watch it without the DRM and browser restrictions.  It required IE6 or above, Windows Media Player 11 and FairUse4WM.  Doing this isn't easy and the instructions have been modified to keep up with the various restrictions Netflix continued to add to prevent the Hack.  The hack does still work but you should know that Netflix is watching and there will be consequences if you use the hack too much.

NETFLIX IS WATCHING YOU AND WILL SUSPEND YOUR ACCOUNT

It seems that Netflix has now developed a way to put the kibosh on the movie ripping.  In basic terms, Netflix watches for streaming that happens without receiving back the proper "authentication" from the person viewing (or downloading in this case) the movie.  If they see multiple instances of this type of activity on an account, Netflix will put that account on hold indefinitely.  This means that user will not be able to stream movies from Netflix and also will not be able to rent any further movies from Netflix by mail either.  Some users on the forum are saying they still download the occasional movie, but not very often.  For instance, one user on the forums says the following:

"And while we now know how to take their stream and decode it, we can't really use that info for anything other than what it should have been intended for -- to make an occasional non-DRM copy of a movie to watch on non-windows OS. I've been doing one a week, and nobody's come knocking on my door."

I personally don't see how the hack is really worth the trouble anyway as the selection of watch-instantly isn't the greatest and I would rather just use the service as intended anyway.  I love Netflix and would rather see them able to stream a much larger selection of movies and shows through the service, but I would imagine the movie makers are waiting to see how Netflix does with locking down the content.

Read More about the Netflix "Watch-Now" / "Watch-Instantly" Download Hack HERE

 

RELATED STORIES:

Put An Add-To-Netflix or Blockbuster Button on Movie Websites

DVD CCA Closing Loophole that Allows Legal Ripping of DVDs

Beat Netflix Throttle - 7 Steps

Rent Movies from a Vending Machine - a Review of Redbox

Fallout From The TV Writers Strike - How Will It Affect You?

Blockbuster Sinks a Little Further Into Irrelevance

Watch Ripped DVD's Using Front Row

Get Your Free Full Length Movies at Google Video?

DVD Backup Plugin

 

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DVD CCA Closing Loophole that Allows Legal Ripping of DVDs

Have you ever ripped a DVD onto your hard drive?  If so, you might be interested in what the DVD Copy Control Association is voting on this week.  According to Eric Bangeman at Arstechnica, the DVD CCA is planning vote on a "Managed Copy Amendment" that closes a loophole in the CSS license that allows home media server products - you know like your Home Theater PC and those high-dollar Kaleidescape Movie Servers - to legally rip DVDs to a computer hard drive.

 

AMENDMENT IS TARGETING KALEIDESCAPE

This amendment is specifically targeting the Kaleidescape company who they lost a lawsuit to this past March.  Obviously this likely won't keep you from ripping your purchased DVDs to your hard drive, but it could spell more trouble for Kaeidescape and any other company that wants to create a movie server. 

WHO IS KALEIDESCAPE?

You may have heard of a company selling the Kaleidescape system. This system was basically a high-end HTPC preloaded with a bunch of movies. You purchase the movies as part of the package, but they are on the hard-drive of the system. Sounds like an okay thing right?  Well paying for the movie isn't enough for the CCA, they would rather not allow this sort of forward-thinking device.  Instead, they'll continue to sue the company that wants to pay for the movies!  Content protection is one thing, but this is a little over the top in my opinion.

WHY SHOULD IT BE OKAY TO RIP DVDs TO YOUR HARD DRIVE?

I personally think it should be okay for you to rip (or backup) your DVD from the disc itself to your PC. This gives you more flexibility in how you watch the movie - especially if you use an HTPC front-end.

Read more at Arstechnica

Get Your Windows Live EMail Address Now

If you haven't already, Go to Windows Live at this address: http://get.live.com/mail/overview

And sign up.

 

Microsoft has  released the final version of Windows Live Hotmail recently, but hadn't released the Live.com domain until today - even though a few people did find a way to grab their e-mail address before it was publicly available.

You'll want to hurry so you can get your easier to remember e-mail address like johndoe@live.com for instance.  Won't be long before all the good ones are gone, just like they are with gmail.  Just for kicks I seriously just snagged junk in a box @ live . com   Bet you know what I'll use that one for (yes junkmail!)

Review of Beyond TV 4.7 at MissingRemote

Daniel Schoerner posted a nice, comprehensive review of the latest BeyondTV 4.7 Update.  He really liked the iTunes Integration and the lesser-publicized Firefly Mobile feature that allows you to use your iPhone or SmartPhone as a remote control .  He reviews all of the other features with a focus on the new ones.  Overall a great review and high praise for Snapstream's Beyond TV.

I also think the new features in this latest version of Beyond TV are great - more integrated and easy-to-use functionality that has been the cornerstone of Beyond TV from the beginning.

One thing Daniel didn't address was the lack of any DVD, Music and Photo functionality that all of Snapstream's competitors have.  Yes there is the separately-available Beyond Media software that Snapstream still sells, but Beyond Media has for all purposes been abandoned by Snapstream and by the plugin developers that make Home Theater Software competitive.  Bottom line, if you want an easy-to-use and fairly easy-to-setup Home Theater PVR program that does the Tivo-like features, Beyond TV is one of the best.  If you want a complete HTPC program though you'll need more than just Beyond TV.  I'm not saying those words lightly as I speak from experience as an owner of Beyond TV and Beyond Media.

Read the Review of Beyond TV 4.7 at MissingRemote.com

Amazing Race 12: Mapping the Amazing Race

UPDATE:  I'VE CONTINUED TO UPDATE THE MAP WITH LOTS OF EXTRA INFORMATION - IT'S COMPLETE THROUGH EPISODE TWO AND INCLUDES A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE REMAINING LEGS OF THE RACE.  THANKS TO ALL OF THE SMART PEOPLE AT THE REALITYFAN FORUM.

 

As I mentioned before, the Amazing Race 12 began Sunday, November 4th to replace Viva Laughlin show. As a bit of an experiment, this year I've created a Google Map with each of the stops the contestants will visit based on speculation in this RealityFan forum (warning some spoilers in the forum and the map)

MAP UPDATED WITH SCREENSHOTS FROM EACH EPISODE

I'll update the Amazing Race 12 map during and after each episode with any corrections needed as well as some photos and other info. As the race goes on, I'll continue to update this post with further detail as well as more detail on the Amazing Race 12 map

Below is the a live, embedded Amazing Race 12 - Google map. The starting point is thePlayboy Mansion at Beverly Hills. Follow along by clicking and "moving" the map to Ireland and each of the other stops along the way!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL SCREEEN MAP

WHY MAP THE AMAZING RACE?

In addition to my love of all things gadgets, I'm also a geography junkie. I love maps and that makes me a fan of the Amazing Race reality show. The Amazing Race 12 map will show the legs of the "Amazing Race: Season 12" with some extra photos, informative hyperlinks and other race information for each stop.

MAP KEY:

Blue lines = Travel by land

Green lines = Travel by air

Cyan = Travel by water

Here's an example of the map in Ireland. Each waypoint will include details about the stop and a screen-shot from that episode of the Amazing Race.

For More Posts Related to Maps CLICK HERE

You might also be interested in these posts:

Fallout from the Writers Strike: How will it affect your Shows?

Blockbuster Falls a Little Further into Irrelevance

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Fallout From The TV Writers Strike - How Will It Affect You?

UPDATE 11/12/2007: Writers Strike Update: Ultimate Guide To How the Strike Will Affect TV Shows

The WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike looks very likely now.  Last-ditch efforts to avert the strike will take place Sunday according to TV with MeeVee.  If those talks don't go well, the strike will begin Monday. 

UPDATE:  TALKS ON SUNDAY BROKE DOWN AND THE STRIKE HAS NOW BEGUN.

CONSEQUENCES FOR TV WATCHERS AS SOON AS THIS WEEK

If the strike isn't averted and lingers for very long there will be very real consequences to the television shows you and I watch and those effects could be felt as soon as this week.  Here's a quick rundown of how the strike might affect the shows on TV:

HOW WILL THE STRIKE AFFECT TELEVISION?

Plan on very few, new Late Night Talk Shows and Comedy Central Talk Shows.  No Soaps (I guess my wife will be unhappy about that), many shows will air the episodes they have written and produced and then run repeats - lots of repeats.  You'll also see TONS of reality programming and not-new movies.

TV Shows That would go into immediate repeats:

• The Colbert Report
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• The Late Show with David Letterman
• The Conan O'Brien Show
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Daytime Soaps: (unless the producers write the scripts like they did during the 1988 strike - lets face it it doesn't take a rocket scientist to write that stuff :)

 

TV Shows Not expected to be affected by the strike this season:

• The View
• Cane
• Jericho: (only had seven episodes planned for season two all of which are complete and ready to go)
• Reality Shows (Survivor, AmericanIdol, Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, Beauty and the Geek)

• Journeyman
• Everybody Hates Chris
• Psych
• Monk
• Stargate Atlantis
• Battlestar Galactica
• Thirty Days
• The Wire
• The Shield

 

TV Shows That Will Be Affected - Partial Season Might Be Ready, But Not All:

• Lost
• 24: (only one forth of the shows are written - bad news for 24 fans)
• Heroes: Producers for the hit show Heroes are preparing an alternate ending to the December 3rd episode that would act as a season finale!  This is in case the writers strike isn't averted & prevents the remaining season to be finished in time for the remaining episodes (12 - 23) to be written for the Spring.  Source: TVGuide Editors Blog
• Moonlight
• Gossip Girl
• Friday Night Lights
• Eureka
• Men In Trees
• Entourage
• Big Love
• Dirty, Sexy, Money
• Brothers and Sisters
• Scrubs
• Law and Order: Criminal Intent

Specific Show Info via LATimes

Lucky for me, I have a bunch of shows saved on my Home Theater PC DVR as well as a large number of movies I have yet to watch.  That along with some online media sources such as Netflix, YouTube, Joost and others should save me from reality show overload if the strike happens and lingers for very long.  I should note that the strike will eventually affect Movies as well if it lasts very long, but the effects on the big screen wouldn't be felt as quickly as with television.

 

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