“While not a new concept with third party applications such as PlayOn or Boxee Adobe Flash to TV will offer extra components such as Real Time web content, video conferencing etc. This is exciting news for modest investors and techno geeks alike.”

Courtesy of Techradar - Authored by Marc Chacksfield, MacWorld

Adobe is looking to revolutionise the way we stream media content in the home with its latest version of Flash.

Called the Adobe Flash Platform for the Digital Home, the new technology allows entertainment providers for the first time the ability to stream content directly to TVs, via an internet-connected television or to a set-top box.

Previous versions of Flash meant that you would have to hook up a PC to a TV to act as a media server for Flash content.

Blu-ray players and set-top boxes

The new technology essentially cuts out the middle-man, meaning that accessing Flash content on your television will be easier than ever with Adobe, the makers of Flash, trying to bring web-based streaming into average consumers’ homes.

So far, Adobe has signed up the following companies to support the new Flash format: Atlantic Records, Broadcom, Comcast, Disney Interactive Media Group, Intel, Netflix, STMicroelectronics, The New York Times Company, NXP Semiconductors and Sigma Designs.

While no official date has been put in place for the software to reach homes, it is expected that optimised set-top boxes and Blu-ray players will arrive in 2010.

Voice activated Twitter from your GM vehicle?

Recent OnStar surveys confirmed that Twitter Voice activated text messaging updates are soon to become a reality. Those seeking a greater social advantage over others may enjoy the feature or see it as an inconvenience.

Below is the reported OnStar survey heard by motorists while seeking favorite restaurant information or waiting for an OnStar operator:

“While in your vehicle, you can use OnStar to submit and retrieve tweets (messages) via your Twitter account. Using OnStar’s Voice-Activated Hands-Free Calling system, and having your voice converted into text, you can provide updates which would appear in the “What are you doing?” section of your Twitter homepage. It is also possible to listen to a tweet that was sent to you by someone else after it has been converted into voice. You can send and receive tweets without having to type or read anything.”

I see a multitude of uses. For example, simply saying “New Blog Idea” with an “@ link” reference could update thousands of twitter followers immediately. Major benefits related to company and news organizations vying for the top spot to report an immediate tweet of breaking news. Simple tasks could include “headed to the fork river for a picnic” or notifying a fellow follower of a important event. In return OnStar can return the twitter text @reply into voice to listen to the response.

Although reasoning allows us to see the advantage of OnStar Twittering, what reality will push us to see the benefit? If costs in addition to OnStar feed the equation I see people grabbing an iPhone, in car phone or other cellular device to provide an update.

No previous statement from OnStar regarding release is known at this point.

“According to this article new high and low end iPhone models are coming dependent  upon a consumer’s geographic area.  I do not completely agree with strategies regarding multiple models.  It would seem the overall success of the current iPhone model justifies a single hardware release with additional feature activation via application add-on.  Better video support, Wi-Fi and camera are basic features that should be standard to all iPhones in a mediary pricing rage.  Especially phone upgrades.  I agree with certain geographic locations receiving the “low” end model based on an areas network infrastructure but standard features are standard features.  I would want all hardware features with application add-on.  This newly announced strategy should be interesting to follow.”

Courtesy of PCW Business Center – Authored by John Cox, Network World

An equity research firm is predicting that Apple will shortly introduce two new iPhone models, tailored for different geographic markets.

That’s a somewhat different perspective from others who have predicted that the recent preview of the iPhone 3.0 operating system indicates that a new high-end model will be unveiled about mid-year. Instead, Daniel Amir, semiconductors analyst with Lazard Capital Markets, says in his report that a high-end phone will be sold in North America and a low-end model in several fast-growing overseas markets, such as Brazil, China, India and Russia.

The LCM analysis was picked up by AppleInsider’s Katie Marsal.

The North American model will have video support, a better digital camera and 32GB of memory. The low-end version will lack video support, and possibly lack a Wi-Fi radio, and have less storage.

There’s been speculation recently that several hardware IDs found in the 3.0 software beta hint at multiple new OS X-based mobile devices, including new models of iPhone, iPod Touch, and possibly entirely new products.

In the report cited by AppleInsider, LCM’s Amir says iPhone shipments are much stronger than expected so far in 2009 and will continue so. He writes that first calendar quarter shipments could reach 4 million units, in part because of an exceptionally strong March, possibly reaching 1.5 million units. While analysts had been expected quarterly shipments to reach 3 million to 3.5 million, Amir is predicting 3.8 million to 4 million.

And he thinks that number could nearly double in the second quarter, though AppleInsider’s Marsal noted the pace might not be sustained if buyers expect a mid-year release of a new model, and postpone buying the current iPhone 3G.

The 3.0 OS release, due out this summer according to Apple, will offer more than 100 changes, and over 1,000 new APIs available to iPhone software developers. Among the base OS changes are support for copy/paste, and for being able to tether a laptop to the iPhone and use the phone to access the Internet. (Watch videos of iPhone apps of the week.)

“Below is a recent news occurrence of concerns over SKYPE’s affect on Telco firms Globally including usage blocks of SKYPE over 3G networks.  What is interesting to note is the threat of VoIP as a whole on the Telecom industry.  I predict that these proposed 3G road blocks are the first of a series to surface. “

Courtesy of Fiercevoip.com – Authored by Doug Mohney

The release of Skype for iPhone may have opened a Pandora’s box of legal headaches for carriers. In Europe, Deutsche Telekom (DT) has said it will prohibit the use of VoIP apps on its 3G network, restrict use of said apps on the company’s hotspot network, and cancel the contract of customers who try to work around the restrictions. Meanwhile, public advocacy group Free Press is asking the Federal Communications Commission to investigate AT&T’s implementation of Skype on the iPhone, wondering if restricting use of Skype to WiFi and locking out 3G is a violation of federal law.

Skype is turning up its political lobbying efforts to turn up the heat on DT, calling on supporters to contact European politicians in a blog posting. The Voice on the Net (VON) coalition Europe (http://www.voneurope.eu/, not to be confused with the American version or the dead trade show, is also gearing up against DT’s banning of Skype for iPhone with a press statement saying that blocking of voice apps on mobile devices is “highly detrimental” for European consumers; Skype is a member of the group, along with Google, Microsoft, and Intel.

On Friday, Free Press called for the FCC to confirm that wireless networks must adhere to the FCC Internet Policy Statement, saying that consumers should have the right to access any online content and services on any device of their choosing. Skype for iPhone is one of three examples cited where wireless vendors are limiting the functionality of applications and/or content.

Whether or not the FCC as currently constituted is in any shape to make a policy statement is another issue. Currently, Michael Copps is serving as acting FCC chairman while Julius Genachowski awaits confirmation on Capitol Hill, while there are only two other FCC Commissioners seated at this time.