Samsung Smart TV Gets Blinkbox Streaming Service

Samsung recently announced that Blinkbox, a video-on-demand service, with be joining the company’s other offerings for its web-based Smart TVs. These includes Lovefilm, Acetrax, BBC iPlayer and Box Office 365. Blinkbox will be available via download from Samsung Apps; so Samsung Smart TV, Blu-ray player and home theater system owners will be able to access the service.

Blinkbox offers more than 9,000 streamed movies and TV shows on either free or paid basis. The latter will enable subscribers for an uninterrupted viewing. The video-on-demand service caters to wide market, providing foreign language movies, documentaries and new releases often available on the same day of its DVD launch. Initially, Blinkbox will be exclusively available to Samsung Smart TV — with an exemption to Sony PS3 owners.

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Apple’s iPhone 5, Cheaper iPhone Model and Smart TV, Coming Soon?

Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley issued a note to clients last Sunday, announcing that Apple’s upcoming iPhone will start production in mid to late August. Moreover, low-priced iPhones and Smart TVs may be in the works. Based on the analyst, the big fruit is forecasting a large iPhone unit increase by next year. This move is believed by analysts to help Apple make gains in the up and coming prepaid mobile market. Katy Huberty continued:

“We also believe Apple is in the early design stages for a TV, which could add $19 billion and $4.50 of annual revenue and EPS longer-term.”

In relation to this, rumors emerged earlier this week, claiming that Apple plans for an iOS-powered connected TVs. The Morgan Stanley also deems an up push on iPad shipments, as the post-Japan earthquake constraints cease. Katy Huberty also added that improved component supply has brought the Cupertino-based company to negotiate price cuts with some of its suppliers.

Will iPhone 5 hit the stores as expected? And will an Apple Smart TV and cheaper iPhone unit come to fruition? Check back at GADG more often for further updates.

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DailyTech Revives the Apple TV Set Top Box Rumors

The rumors about the launching of Apple TV set top box have been buzzing around the industry for over several years. And although Apple’s Steve Jobs and Tim Cook both declared before that there’s no possibility for the company to release 42″ and 50″ Plasmas in Apple Stores, DailyTech still brought back this hearsay.

DailyTech reported that it’s a former Apple executive who revealed the company’s partnership with an unknown electronics manufacturer, to create the TV set top box with Apple TV and iTunes features. The new TV sets would be marketed as Apple products, even though they’d be manufactured by a different company. Apple is now rumored to release their TV set top box by next year.

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Opera to Ship Sony LCD TVs and Blu-ray Players

Opera announced that they’ll be coming up with Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. The new Opera solution will be sporting HTML 5, OIPF and HbbTV support. However, Flash isn’t announced yet, but we’re wishing it will be included upon release.

“The Web as we know it is evolving, and we are committed to making it more accessible across diverse devices,” said Christen Krogh, Chief Development Officer, Opera Software. “Our ability to address key hybrid broadcast-broadband initiatives in numerous markets makes us a natural fit with Sony. By delivering both a global viewpoint and the necessary technology, we are able to stay on the cutting edge of the industry.”

Meanwhile, they didn’t include any other information about the devices which’ll be supporting Opera, but somehow we have a good guess that these devices are those presented during CES 2011.

C out the video from Opera after the skip.

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What We Wish to See in TV in 2011

If you do not have any idea what’s trending in gadgets and technology today, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that old TVs are still in the business — both in terms of consumer demand and technological advancements. Though technological advancements are inevitable, TV manufacturers are still missing some point. So how can they better serve you, the people who actually buy TVs? There are two ways: Cheaper TVs and televisions that can play nicely with other gadgets.

For TV manufacturers, falling prices on panels and making of HD TVs can be a dilemma. TV makers have been aggressive in their pricing, forcing some competitors to follow. This meant thin market, making the companies’ TV businesses unviable. And their plan to combat this setback is to manufacture more advance TVs that they charge a premium for. However, consumers aren’t in the mood to roll in the dough now. In fact, they are demanding for cheaper television sets.

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