Tag Archives: SecondScreen

NextGuide iPad app update adds second-screen content for USA Network

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DNP NextGuide iPad app update adds secondscreen content for USA Network

If you're constantly on the lookout for more second screen apps to enhance your television viewing experience and you happen to be a big fan of Psych, NextGuide's newly minted integration with the USA Network might be right up your alley. In its latest update, the TV Guide replacement app now has a handy "USA Sync" button whenever you're watching the network's shows, which include Psych, Burn Notice and Suits. During their live broadcasts, hitting that button will bring up related content like trivia, polls and bonus clips. This is yet another arrow in NextGuide's quiver of second screen features, which includes the ability to seek out programming from traditional broadcast channels along with streaming services like Amazon, Netflix and Hulu Plus. The USA Sync function is already available via the network's own site and app, but it's nice to see it play nice with third-party apps as well. You can go ahead and download the latest NextGuide from the Apple App Store or just head to the source below.

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Via: The Next Web

Source: NextGuide (App Store)

NBC plans ‘The Million Second Quiz,’ a twelve-day, 24 / 7 game show

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NBC plans twelve day, 24 7 'The Million Second Quiz' game show for the fall

Second screen experiences connected to TV shows haven't exactly set the world on fire, but NBC will give it another try with a new game show this fall. The Million Second Quiz is being promoted as a non-stop, twelve day trivia game with an "unprecedented level of interactivity" for viewers. In a move that harkens back to our memories of 1 vs 100 on Xbox Live a few years ago, viewers at home can play along and possibly win a spot on the show. While the competition will go on around the clock, the show airs during prime time. It will broadcast live from an "hourglass-shaped structure" located in Manhattan where the four reigning champs will reside as long as they can stay on top throughout the two week competition. Once the million seconds are up, the four champions will face off for a cash prize of up to $10 million. We'll need more details before we can decide if this is more Ultimate Ninja Warrior or Oh Sit! / Splash / Bet On Your Baby (these are all real game shows, we promise), but it's one to keep an eye out for when the all new shows debut.

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Source: The Million Second Quiz (Facebook), Million Seconds (Twitter)

Discovery, TLC apps for iPad add ‘Plus’ second screen experience

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Discovery, TLC apps for iPad add 'Plus' second screen experience

While Discovery and TLC have offered some show-specific second screen content before, the latest updates to their apps put a new spin on it. Referred to as Discovery Plus and TLC Plus, the new features are currently iPad-only (coming soon to iPhone), bringing behind the scenes info, photos, quizzes and more for shows on the networks, ready to audio sync with live broadcasts or DVR viewing. Other changes in version 2.5 of the apps include new schedule info that lets you know when new episodes are airing for a show, and what's next up to premiere. We're still not sure if this approach to the second screen is enough to consistently make viewers remember to grab their mobile device while watching, but you can try it out during an episode of Dual Survival and let us know how it goes.

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Source: Discovery Channel HD (iTunes), TLC (iTunes)

Xbox SmartGlass now available on Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets

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Xbox SmartGlass now available on Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets

Amazon's just updated its Appstore today with a much welcome offering for avid gamers: Xbox SmartGlass. Microsoft's app-based second screen solution has been available on iOS and Android since late last fall, but despite sharing a kernel with Google's OS, hadn't been made dispensable to Kindle Fire / Fire HD owners until now. The app's been configured to scale natively on Amazon's refreshed tablet line, letting users navigate their Xbox 360 remotely, push and pull streaming content, as well as access achievements, messaging and Xbox Music. So if it's the living room of the future you're after, you might want to hit up the source and make that free download your own.

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Source: Amazon

Fox mobile apps add TV Everywhere streaming, 24-hour sports network due this fall

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Fox updates mobile apps for TV Everywhere streaming, plans 24hour sports network

Fox has been quietly busy over the last few days, unveiling plans for a 24-hour sports network that may be the biggest challenger to ESPN's throne, and adding new features to its mobile apps. Fox Sports 1 is scheduled to launch Saturday August 17th, loaded with content including NASCAR, soccer (Champions League, Europe League and World Cup in 2018 and 2022), weekly UFC fights, college football, college basketball and in 2014, pro baseball. The bad news? According to the LA Times, for Fox Sports 1 to live Speed TV will die this fall, while Fuel TV is expected to be replaced by Fox Sports 2 while Fox Soccer is turned into an entertainment channel. One tweak it will bring is the "double box" commercial format that keeps the game on while ads play, which is expected to be used frequently on the new channel. It will have a suite of studio shows to compete with the sports leader as well, and even a Fox Sports Go "mobile experience" on iOS, Android and the web with live video streaming and news/stats for authenticated subscribers.

Speaking of "authenticated" cable and satellite subscribers, the broadcaster also updated the free Fox Now second screen apps on iOS and Android, adding access to stream full episodes of its TV shows wherever you are -- as long as you have a membership with a participating provider. That list currently consists of Mediacom and Verizon FiOS, but it may grow in the future. The Fox Now apps still have other features, with synced content, Twitter streams and behind the scenes info, so New Girl and Bones fans may still have a reason to check them out.

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Source: Fox Sports 1

PS4 to get companion social app for tablets, PS Vita

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PS4 to get companion social app for tablets, PS Vita

Sony's just begun to show us what's been up its sleeve for the PlayStation 4, and it turns out that it's got social networking and the second screen on its mind. Gamers will be able to share ten second video clips of their gameplay, stream play sessions online to friends and "keep in touch with the evolving world of your game, regardless of your location." The network will also learn a player's likes and dislikes, and automatically download content it figures users will dig. Hirai and Co. are also planning PS Vita and tablet apps for folks to partake in the social experiences when they're not near their PS4.

Check out our liveblog of Sony's event to get the latest news as it happens!

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Source: PlayStationEU (Twitter)

NTT’s Visual SyncAR brings augmented reality to video, spices up the second screen (video)

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NTT's Visual SyncAR brings augmented reality to video, spices up the second screen (video)

The second screen has largely asked that you take your eyes away from the action, even if that is to play along in real-time. Visual SyncAR, however, brings that tablet or mobile right back into the thick of things. Developed by Japan's NTT, the platform uses digital watermarksg that presents a timecode to the app running on the second device, allowing it to display content in sync with whatever is on the primary display. In the video after the break you can see the concept being illustrated with playful examples that interact with the program, but more useful applications include the ability for users to pull up subtitles for public information videos, or overlay sign language. Naturally, there's also a massive potential for advertisers, who we're sure would be more than keen to embrace the technology, and ably guide you from their commercial to an online outlet or additional promo material. Especially if they're selling a cure for all that inevitable arm ache...

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Via: DigInfo

Source: NTT

Editorial: Nintendo’s digital content problem and how the Wii U is making things worse

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The Wii U's launch was a bit rocky, to say the least. Missing features, promised TV services and slow-loading, day-one firmware updates left Nintendo fans frustrated and disappointed. The company is still cleaning up the mess too, announcing that it will push two additional software updates to fix the console's slogging load times. A quicker console will certainly be welcome, but the Wii U spring updates are missing an opportunity to close a rift that divides Nintendo from its loving customer base: how it handles digital content ownership.

Ever buy an Xbox Live game? You probably know that purchase is tied to your Xbox Live account, and will be available on any subsequent Xbox you purchase. Not in Nintendo's world; Kyoto's digital sales are tied to the gaming hardware, not the user's account. It's been a sore spot for Nintendo gamers for some time now, and the Wii U was the company's chance to make amends -- except it didn't. Like its predecessors, the new console locks content to the device it was originally purchased on, imprisoning digital purchases in a physical cage. The Wii U takes content confinement a step further with its support for legacy software, providing a near-perfect example of the folly of Nintendo's content ownership philosophy: the isolated sandbox of its backwards-compatible Wii Menu.

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GetGlue update brings personalized guides, feeds and new ads to iPhone

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GetGlue update brings personalized guides, feeds to iPhone and new ads

Conspicuously timed just after a Super Bowl dubbed by some (mostly marketing types) as the "most social ever", GetGlue has pushed a new version of its app for iPhones. Version 4.0 for Apple's smaller iOS devices brings many of the social features recently added to the iPad app, as the guides gain personalized recommendations of shows you might enjoy. The main feed brings in even more information about shows being watched by your friends plus a way to easily chat with them within the app. Also improved is the amount of background info available for each show, and reminders for major events, premieres and finales -- similar upgrades are listed as coming soon for Android and its mobile website.

Like Foursquare and other location services have shifted focus towards discovery, GetGlue (among others) is doing the same for TV while also improving its profile for businesses. In a move it unveiled with Pepsi during the big game last Sunday, it offers advertisers the opportunity for promoted tied to a particular brand or show, that may pop into your feed if your friends like them. With Twitter itself making a major move into TV experiences it will be interesting how the recently downsized pool of social TV competitors reacts, and who comes out on top. According to GetGlue, 15 percent of all tweets about Pepsi during the Super Bowl came from its app. You can find out if these additions are good ones -- your friends wouldn't share any particularly annoying ads, would they? -- by snagging the new update from iTunes.

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Source: iTunes, GetGlue

Twitter snaps up Bluefin Labs to develop new TV experiences, ad opportunities

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Twitter snaps up Bluefin Labs to develop new TV experiences, ad opportunities

It's no secret that Twitter's interested in TV, but now it's made its commitment even firmer. Costolo and Co. have just revealed their acquisition of Bluefin Labs, a firm that serves up stats to the likes of TV Networks and advertisers regarding talk about TV on social networks. Twitter says the acquisition will build onto its deal with Nielsen to develop social TV ratings, and that it will also help them create "innovative new ad products." Sure, Twitter hopes the purchase will make it some additional scratch through more ad opportunities, but it also plans to whip up experiences for users that combine its social network with watching TV. If you don't already chat about television shows on Twitter, expect the folks in San Francisco to encourage you to do so shortly.

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Source: Twitter Blog