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News for the cable and broadband industry | January 9, 2008   Eye On Video  Google, Panasonic to unveil HD, Web TV Google has teamed up with Panasonic for the release of Internet-enabled TVs that allow users to view YouTube videos and Picasa Web Albums. Yahoo!/Reuters (1/7) Blu-ray scores major victory with Warner Bros. decision Warner Bros. on Friday became the latest movie studio to select the Blu-ray format over rival HD DVD. "We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers and, most importantly, consumers," a company statement said. TVNewsCheck/Associated Press (free registration) (1/7) More than half of American homes outfitted with DTVs More than 50% of U.S. households now own DTV sets, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. DTV sales in the U.S. are expected to reach 32 million units this year. Financial Times (free content) (1/6)   Telephony  In U.K., Microsoft, BT give more heft to Xbox The U.K. telecom giant BT Group PLC has formed a joint venture with Microsoft that will allow viewers to watch TV through their Xbox 360 consoles, BT said today. Set for a mid-2008 debut, the service would give consumers who subscribe to BT Vision, the company's digital and IPTV service, the opportunity to play games and order films through the device. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/Dow Jones Newswires (1/7) Sony, Skype confirm rumored deal for PSP Skype users will be able to make free phone calls over Sony's PlayStation Portable platform, under an agreement the companies disclosed today. The deal also allows PSP owners to call fixed-line and cell phones by purchasing credits from Skype. Financial Times (tiered subscription model) (1/6)   The Basics  Panasonic unveils 11-foot-long plasma TV Panasonic unveiled a 150-inch plasma TV at this week's International CES, a set the company claims is the world's largest. According to the company, the new set features four times the resolution of current HD displays, while trimming power consumption in half. The Boston Globe/Associated Press (free registration) (1/7), San Francisco Chronicle (1/7) Sony to bring ultraslim OLED TV to U.S. this month Sony is bringing its first organic light-emitting diode technology-based television to the U.S. The super-thin 11-inch TV is expected to retail for $2,500. TVNewsCheck/Associated Press (free registration) (1/7) Other News Pioneer's new plasma: Super-thin is in TWICE (1/7)   Home Networking  Media servers continue to impress Media servers will likely gain a strong foothold in the consumer market, according to some analysts. The devices allow media to be stored and easily shared throughout households, although some companies have raised questions regarding the legality of sharing encrypted media. Electronic House magazine (1/2008) Linksys aims to ease home network installation Linksys has upgraded its EasyLink Advisor in an effort to make home network set-up easier. The update will initially be available on the new WRT310N and WRT160N wireless routers. PC Magazine (1/6) Splashpower readies SplashPad Splashpower is gearing up to showcase its wireless-charging technology. The company's universal SplashPad connects to a power source and then delivers direct current to charge any device sitting on it. TMC Internet Telephony (1/2008)   Emerging Products  The Web in your hands, but bigger than a phone Several of the world's largest technology companies are trying to build a device to meet the public's perceived demand for an Internet-access gadget that is bigger than a cell phone but not as bulky as a laptop. At 2008 International CES this week, Sony, Intel and Qualcomm are demonstrating a pocket-size Web-enabled device that has a larger screen than a cell phone's and a more powerful processor. But hurdles remain for introducing the gadget commercially, according to this article. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (1/7) Sony updates Mylo, now YouTube-friendly Sony officials are releasing details about the company's Mylo COM-2 messaging device. The device looks to build on the original Mylo gadget, by adding flash support to its Web browser and AOL Instant Messenger functionality. International Herald Tribune/Associated Press (1/7)   Smart Stat  In the U.S., roughly a third of households without a high-definition television are interested in purchasing a new HDTV set in the next six months. --The Diffusion Group       Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Sales Manager:  Mark Lasser (202) 737-5500, ext. 317 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: Industry Home Readers' Choice Search Archive Grab our News Widget Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release       Recent CTAM SmartBrief Issues: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 Monday, January 07, 2008 Friday, January 04, 2008 Thursday, January 03, 2008 Wednesday, January 02, 2008     Lead Editor:  Susan Rush CTAM Editorial Adviser:  Anne Cowan CTAM Editorial Advisor: Jason King     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information