Sources say that Twitter’s Periscope is quietly developing an app for the new Apple TV, which would allow users to watch live Periscope broadcasts on their TVs. Apple is expected to unveil its new set-top box today with an emphasis on casual games and a variety of featured apps from third-party developers, including the Periscope app. “Though we can’t confirm the exact functionality of the app, it’s likely to be focused on watching streams,” suggests TechCrunch. “Periscope made videos viewable on the Web in June without the ability to broadcast, and the Apple TV app could work similarly.”

At the recent IFA trade show in Berlin, LG demonstrated a wallpaper TV, a waved 4K TV and a double-sided OLED TV. The latter was reportedly a big hit with attendees. “The new double-sided TV measures a massive 111 inches although a closer look would reveal that it is actually made of three 65-inch Ultra HD OLED displays,” explains Tech Times. “The display, which is also called Vertically Tiling Display, resembles a room divider that has two folds.” The company also developed a 55-inch version. LG already features OLED technology in many of its curved TVs, its lines of smartwatches and the LG G Flex 2 handset.

NPD Group reports that “connected TV devices” were in 46 million U.S. homes at the end of Q2 2015. That figure represents about half of all U.S. homes with an Internet connection. NPD defines “connected TV device” as one that connects to the Internet and allows the user to access apps (including connected devices such as smart TVs, game consoles, streaming media players and Blu-ray Disc players). According to NPD executive director John Buffone, the 4 million year-over-year jump is attributable to increased sales of smart TVs and a surge of streaming services. Continue reading Half of U.S. Homes with Internet Have Connected TV Devices

Scripps Networks Interactive has partnered with TV Everywhere platform provider Anvato to offer viewers new live streams of the Cooking Channel, DIY Network, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel online and via mobile devices. In addition to streaming Scripps programming, Anvato is powering dynamic ad insertion (DAI) on network websites and the Android and iOS apps for Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel. According to Matt Smith, chief evangelist at Anvato, DAI is becoming more popular as producers look to monetize their digital services. Continue reading TV Everywhere: Scripps Offers Live Streams of Cable Channels

When Apple unveils its next generation Apple TV product this Wednesday at its scheduled event in San Francisco, insiders say videogames will be one of the key selling points. The move marks a departure for Apple TV, which has thus far been marketed as a device for streaming video and music content. The device will reportedly feature the components necessary for generating interest from casual gamers, including more power and a faster processor for improved graphics, a motion-sensitive remote that could also serve as a game controller and an app store for downloading games. Continue reading New Apple TV Could Compete with Traditional Game Consoles

Amazon announced that it has agreed to purchase Elemental Technologies in an all-cash deal valued at about $500 million, marking Amazon’s biggest deal since last year’s $1 billion acquisition of videogame streaming site Twitch. Elemental helps media companies encode and transcode video content for viewing on the Web and via mobile devices. Amazon plans to add Elemental to its Amazon Web Services cloud computing division, one of the company’s faster-growing units. Amazon reportedly beat out both Ericsson AB and Cisco Systems to acquire Elemental. Continue reading Amazon Plans to Acquire Portland-Based Video Formatting Firm

Chip giant Intel recently threw its hat into the quantum computer ring when it announced plans to invest $50 million in Netherlands-based QuTech, an institute launched in 2013 by Delft University of Technology and the Dutch Organization for Applied Research. The investment is part of a planned 10-year collaboration with QuTech. Researchers from leading tech companies such as Google, IBM and Microsoft have been looking to apply quantum physics to computing for a long time. Continue reading Intel Makes a Major Investment in Quantum Computer Research

BlackBerry announced that it plans to acquire Good Technology for $425 million. “Good was an early competitor to BlackBerry in the market for software used by corporations and governments to manage and increase security on employee smartphones,” according to The New York Times. “John S. Chen, BlackBerry’s chief executive, has made dominating that business a key component of rebuilding the company.” While some analysts see potential problems in the costs of merging the two companies’ software, others note that “Good’s technology would allow BlackBerry to improve how its software works with Android phones and Apple iPhones.”

At its I/O conference in May, Google announced that Android Pay would be included in Android Marshmallow when it launched. As the company readies new Nexus devices and its new mobile operating system, Android Pay should be just around the corner (according to a leaked Verizon memo, the mobile payments system will roll out September 16). “The most recent Google Wallet upgrade shows an advert for the new payments app, and there’s now a FAQ online as well that explains the differences between the two,” reports Digital Trends. “The next version of Google Wallet will let you send and receive money on any platform, whereas Android Pay is a mobile payments system tied to Android itself.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is in talks with the Chinese government and handset manufacturers about rolling out a new app store in China, possibly by the end of this year. Google has reportedly been working for more than a year on developing a version of the Play app store that offers Chinese government-approved apps and services. “Google abruptly ceased most operations in mainland China in 2010 following cyberattacks against Gmail users and disagreements with the government over censorship of search results,” notes WSJ. “Since then, China has become the world’s largest smartphone market, and Google rival Apple Inc. is a leading player there.”

Oculus VR has scheduled its second annual Connect event for September 23-25 in Hollywood. The conference will include keynotes from CEO Brendan Iribe, chief scientist Michael Abrash and CTO John Carmack. The company plans to highlight new content and make a number of announcements. “While Oculus has already pledged an early 2016 release window for its keystone hardware product, the Oculus Rift, the company may offer a more specific date at the Connect event,” notes CNET. “But two recent tweets from Carmack have intimated the possibility of updates to the Gear VR hardware, the Oculus-compatible accessories that convert some Samsung phones into virtual-reality goggles.”

The first annual Future of Virtual Reality conference will take place September 8-9 at the Qualcomm Institute on the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla. “In addition to the conference, the Future of Virtual Reality will also showcase the latest technologies — from large-scale 3D displays to personalized VR systems such as the Oculus Rift — in a demonstration room next to the conference venue,” notes the press release. Funding for the event “is provided, in part, by a grant from the Calit2 Strategic Research Opportunities (CSRO) program of the Qualcomm Institute.” According to the conference website, recent contributions will enable registrants to attend free of charge.

As 4K UHD TVs slowly come to market, and streaming services continue to introduce support for 4K and high dynamic range programming, Ultra HD Blu-ray is the next logical step. During its press conference at the IFA trade show in Berlin yesterday, Samsung became the first company to officially announce a 4K UHD Blu-ray player. Samsung’s UBD-K8500 supports HDR, offers 64 times the colors of standard Blu-ray, and plays UHD content at up to 60 frames per second. 20th Century Fox is providing content for the player, and plans to issue all its new releases in 4K Ultra HD with HDR. Continue reading IFA 2015: Samsung is First to Announce 4K UHD Blu-ray Player

For an additional $4 ($11.99 per month), Hulu is offering an ad-free option to streaming movies and TV shows. Those who prefer to pay $7.99 will still have to sit through ads. The move could help Hulu better compete with popular streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon that do not include advertising. It could also present the company with an opportunity to increase its revenue in order to invest in more content. This could prove vital since premium cable networks such as HBO and Showtime are making their programming available outside traditional cable bundles. Continue reading Hulu Introduces Ad-Free Option to Streaming for Additional $4

During the IFA trade show in Berlin yesterday, Panasonic unveiled its 65CZ950, a curved 4K OLED TV featuring the company’s Studio Master Drive processor. Panasonic claims the 65-inch OLED, slated for an October release in Europe, is the most color-accurate display it has ever produced. It is also the first to achieve THX certification. Panasonic says the CZ950 series brings home entertainment closer to a cinema experience since it is fully HDR compatible and covers more than 90 percent of the DCI color space. Continue reading Panasonic Joins LG in OLED Market with Curved 4K Offering