Time Inc. and Apple to offer free iPad downloads to print magazine subscribers

Posted in Apple by Reuben Drake on May 2nd, 2011

Good news for magazine readers. Time Inc. has made a deal with Apple to allow print magazine subscribers to access the company’s iPad editions for free. Starting this week, those who subscribe to print versions of Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and Time will be able to download the iPad versions at no cost, directly within the magazines’ apps, as it should be.

iPad users still won’t be able to purchase exclusively digital subscriptions to Time Inc.’s publications. Time wants to incorporate digital subscriptions to its iPad model, but negotiations have hit some snags, mostly due to how Apple shares subscriber data. Publishers claim to need that data to apply the TV Everywhere model to magazines, but Apple says that the subscriber information should only be shared on an opt-in basis. It doesn’t seem like they will agree anytime soon.

Dish Network launching DishOnline.com to stream cable networks to subscribers

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on August 23rd, 2010

Dish Network and it’s subscribers are joining the 21st century at last. DishOnline.com opens up online and offers on-demand streaming of content to its subscribers. At least 15 channels will stream live, including all the major networks and extras like Syfy and Comedy Central.

Right now however, selection looks a bit limited. The site will also provide remote DVR scheduling and let Sling users stream recorded content right from their device. The service will go live in the next few days and will only be available to Dish subscribers. Might be a good time to subscribe.

Pandora Internet Radio hits 60 million subscribers

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on July 22nd, 2010

Pandora Internet Radio has just announced that their site now has 60 million users registered to listen to their personalized online radio service. Pandora started back in 2000 and offers thousands of songs to users with a collection of 90,000 artists, of which 80% are played each month. That’s a ton of music.

Just type the name of one of your favorite songs or singers into Pandora and the Genome Project will provide the music. But judging by the numbers most of you are already using Pandora, so I don’t have to tell you that.

Netflix raising rates for Blu-ray subscribers by about 20 percent

Posted in Netflix by Conner Flynn on March 30th, 2009

NetFlix raises Blu-Ray rental fees by a dollarNo doubt, this will upset a great many of you, but Netflix is raising the price of Blu-ray rentals again. You might remember, Netflix already implemented a $1 per month fee for Blu-ray customers in October. Now it wants to raise it even higher, by around 20 percent across its pricing structure.

It should hit April 27th and is only applicable to BD customers. According to the company, this is all due to having to buy more titles on BD to “accommodate the increasing number of Netflix members who prefer renting movies on Blu-ray.”

Netflix: Over 10 million served

Posted in Netflix by Conner Flynn on February 12th, 2009

Netflix: Over 10 million servedThe economic crisis has taken it’s toll on many industries, but not Netflix. Consumers are happy to sit on their butts and escape through a goods movie. The streaming and mailing movie rental company is doing just fine. They closed 2008 with 9.4 million customers and today they announced that they’ve broken the 10 million mark.

The company has added 600,000 net subscribers since January 1st alone. It’s likely only going to go up as customers choose their service over theater tickets or going out on the town to eat.

Comcast testing free Wi-Fi for subscribers

Posted in Comcast by Conner Flynn on February 1st, 2009

Comcast testing free Wi-Fi for subscribersComcast giving something away for free? They’re thinking about it, performing Wi-Fi hot spot trials near NJ Transit rail stations to grant subscribers access to the Internet on their mobile devices. This, according to a DSLReports post. The service in the Wi-Fi Hot Zones requires that subscribers sign in using their Comcast.net usernames and passwords.

Comcast confirmed the trials, and says it is gauging user interest. They may offer it as an added-value service to high-speed Internet customers. No word on when or if Comcast will launch the hot-spot service, but the trial is reportedly running until December. Judging by the length of the trial, some think Comcast is gearing up for a much larger hot-spot service.

Comcast offering Wiis to new subscribers

Posted in Comcast by Conner Flynn on July 22nd, 2008

Comcast offering Wiis to new subscribersFor those of you who haven’t jumped on the Wii bandwagon yet and don’t have Comcast, The Consumerist found out about a new deal in the works by Comcast where they will be giving away Wiis to new subscribers. The deal is apparently good from July 28 to August 17 in the Miami, SF, Houston, Denver, Chicago, Philly, Boston Detroit and other areas.

It’s a limited supply kind of thing so if you want a Wii and want to change over to Comcast, call them on July 28 and ask about it. We’ll probably begin seeing the ads soon. I can’t help but wonder though, if they will promise more Wiis then then have and start a fuss about some kind of Comcast/Wii shortage.