E-commerce giant Amazon launched a new delivery system this week called Amazon Flex. The Uber-like model offers individuals with their own vehicles and an Android smartphone the opportunity to deliver packages for $18-25 per hour. Drivers have the option of two-, four- or eight-hour shifts. In addition to a car and an Android phone for managing deliveries with the Flex app, drivers must be over 21 and pass a background check. The new system, initially rumored back in June, works with Amazon’s Prime Now service, which offers members one- and two-hour delivery on items. Continue reading Amazon Enters the Gig Economy with “Flex” Delivery Service

The Entertainment Merchant’s Association is offering ETC members a 50 percent discount on registration to its Digital Media Pipeline conference, taking place October 14 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. This year’s event — which runs $198 with the discount — will focus on the delivery of digital entertainment, including electronic sell-through, transactional VOD, subscription VOD and ad-supported VOD. Studio execs, digital retailers and service and tech providers will discuss the latest trends in online entertainment. To take advantage of EMA’s offer, visit the Non-Member Registration page and enter Discount Code 904. Continue reading ETC Members Offered Major Discount on Digital Media Pipeline

The NBA and Turner Sports are scheduled to simulcast the league’s first-ever live event on Facebook today. “The NBA’s ‘Real Training Camp,’ featuring LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers” will be simulcast from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Eastern “on the NBA TV cable channel, NBA TV’s Facebook page and NBA.com,” reports Variety. While Facebook has no immediate plans to license sports content, the social giant’s goal is to serve as a video platform that will appeal to a range of media partners. In a similar first, the NFL has partnered with Yahoo to live stream a regular-season football game being played overseas on October 25.

Google unveiled two new Chromecast streaming devices yesterday, in addition to a new tablet and a pair of Nexus phones. Google has already sold more than 20 million Chromecasts, which now offers access to thousands of apps, including HBO Now and Netflix. The $35 Chromecast extends the mobile apps already on our phones to our TV, whereas a competitor such as the $149 Apple TV is more a device for storing apps to run on television. One of Google’s new silver dollar-sized Chromecasts is available to work with your TV, while Chromecast Audio plugs into speakers to play music sent from your phone. Continue reading Google Announces New Chromecast Devices for TV and Music

Comcast launched the beta version of its new standalone streaming video service yesterday, called Watchable. The service — available on TV, mobile and desktop screens — features ad-supported content from more than 30 digital producers including AwesomenessTV, BuzzFeed, Scripps Networks and Vice Media. “Initially, the service is being supported on iOS devices, at Watchable.com and [for] users of Comcast’s online streaming platform, X1,” notes The Hollywood Reporter. “Watchable is the latest in a string of standalone streaming services from media giants looking to capitalize on the large audiences that have amassed for digital brands on YouTube and online platforms.”

Netflix and Virgin America are partnering to provide free in-flight Wi-Fi on select Virgin aircraft for Netflix subscribers who want to stream video. “Starting Tuesday, Netflix customers on board one of Virgin America’s new ViaSat Wi-Fi-equipped planes will be able to access the subscription VOD service… to their smartphones, tablets and laptops at no cost through March 2, 2016 (after which Internet fees will apply),” reports Variety. Amazon made a similar deal with JetBlue earlier this year, providing Prime members with free Wi-Fi access for streaming video on the airline’s Fly-Fi-equipped aircraft.

Apple broke its first-weekend sales record, after selling 13 million iPhone 6s and 6s Plus phones since Friday. That figure bests the 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices sold last year during the first weekend. The increase is likely the result of market selections; this year the new phones were made available in China, one of Apple’s biggest markets, but last year China was not included in the first weekend. The sales figures were in line with some analysts’ expectations. Daniel Ives at FBR Capital projected 13 million in sales, while Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray predicted 12 to 13 million. Continue reading Apple’s New iPhones Set a New First-Weekend Sales Record

Verizon is targeting young viewers with its new go90 video app, which is expected to be available for iOS and Android within the week. Ryan Knutson, a millennial journalist for The Wall Street Journal, offers a largely positive review after testing the beta version, but notes that good content — the challenge for most online services — will be the key factor for younger audiences. Knutson is encouraged by the design, intuitive functionality, ease-of-use and navigation, load time, and social components. “Whether it succeeds, however, depends entirely on whether it has good content,” he writes.

Yesterday we reported that YouTube was readying its ad-free, subscription-based video and music service. In response, SMPTE Fellow Mark Schubin forwarded a link to his related blog post, titled “Copywrong” that addresses the challenges he faces when posting non-commercial lecture videos on YouTube. While Schubin offers his videos ad-free, after carefully seeking permission or relying on fair use when incorporating “others’ words, pictures, sounds, or videos,” people still claim to own related copyrights (even when the content is more than 100 years old). This allows YouTube “to put ads on my lectures to monetize ‘their’ material,” writes Schubin. “The ads go on before I’m even informed, and then I have to dispute the claims.”

Google-owned YouTube is reportedly readying the launch of its much anticipated online subscription service. Sources indicate a launch is likely by the end of October. Two offerings are expected: an updated version of its Music Key service (previously launched in beta) and a new service that offers access to all YouTube content without ads. Earlier reports suggest the bundled offering would be available for $10 per month. While YouTube has hinted in the past about an upcoming subscription service, it has yet to unveil firm plans or a timeline. Continue reading YouTube Readies New Ad-Free Service for Monthly Subscription

During the recent Oculus Connect developer’s conference in Hollywood, 20th Century Fox announced it is teaming with Facebook-owned Oculus VR to make 100 movies from the Fox library — including “Alien,” “Birdman,” “Taken,” “The Maze Runner,” “Die Hard” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” — available for new virtual reality headsets. “Fox and Lionsgate were the first major Hollywood studios to partner with Oculus, which plans to release its Rift headset in the first quarter of 2016,” reports The Wrap. “The films will also be viewable on Samsung’s Gear VR headset, which is due in stores in November at a list price of $99.”

New data from market research firm Counterpoint indicates that 21 percent of smartphones shipped worldwide came from Samsung during the second quarter of this year. Following Samsung was Apple at 14 percent, Huawei at 9 percent and Xiamoi with 5 percent, reports Digital Trends. However, Apple took the lead in North America, claiming 34 percent of shipments. Samsung followed with 26 percent, while LG claimed 14 percent. Three out of four mobile handsets shipped worldwide were smartphones, and half were LTE capable. “Excluding Samsung, Apple now generates more smartphone revenues than all the other players combined,” notes Counterpoint.

During Oculus Connect in Hollywood yesterday, Facebook’s virtual reality developer conference, Samsung SVP Peter Koo announced that the new Gear VR headset co-developed by Oculus and Samsung will ship in November, in time for Black Friday, for $99. Consumers can expect a lighter, more comfortable Samsung Gear VR that is compatible with smartphones including the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. The previous $200 version for developers was only compatible with the Note 4 and Galaxy S6. Continue reading Consumer Edition of Samsung Gear VR to Arrive Black Friday

A number of video services have announced plans to launch new virtual reality apps. “Hulu said it will produce original content and curate films for VR platforms,” reports Variety. Its VR app “will feature immersive 3D environments that will allow subscribers to stream the service’s 2D library as well as original VR content.” Netflix created an app for Samsung Gear VR that features the Netflix Living Room, “which provides a user interface designed for the virtual-reality headset.” The Verge adds that during Oculus Connect this week, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe announced TiVo, Twitch and Vimeo would soon be compatible with the Samsung Gear VR.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, VR startup Voxelus “is making its presence known at the Oculus Connect 2 developers conference in Hollywood, where it’s on hand with a new platform aimed at allowing anyone to create and sell VR content.” Voxelus chairman Halsey Minor told THR that the company envisions consumer generated content kickstarting VR before the tech becomes widely adopted by professionals. The platform “includes Voxelus Creator, a free 3D design app for PCs and Macs; Voxelus Viewer, which works on desktop PCs, Oculus Rift and Samsung VR Gear headsets; and the Voxelus Marketplace, which allows creators to sell and users to buy VR content.”