Gizmodo Australia » icetv

Viewsonic Launches IceTV Powered Media Centres

Nick Broughall — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:10:54 +0000

I’ve never really had a lot of interest in Media Centre PCs, but these two new models from Viewsonic are so small that it’s hard to ignore them. Both the VOT132 and VOT550 Media Centre PCs come complete with a 12-month subscription to IceTV’s EPG, which now also works with Windows 7.

The VOT132 runs on an Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz, dual-core, 533MHz FSB) with 2GB RAM and an nVIDIA MCP7A – ION chipset. It comes with a 320GB HDD standard and built in wireless-n.

The VOT550, meanwhile, comes with a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 with 800MHz FSB running the show, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD and a slot-loading Blu-ray player.

With the included 12-month EPG subscription from IceTV, this could be a pretty decent all-in-one entertainment hub. At $899 for the VOT132 and $1499 for the VOT550, they’re pretty decently priced, too.

[Viewsonic]

Ice TV Victorious Over Channel 9 in Court Case

Nick Broughall — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:15:43 +0000

Three years after their legal battle against Channel 9 began and six months since their appeal, the High Court has ruled in favour of IceTV and their EPG.IceTV was sued back in 2006 for copyright infringement over using Channel 9’s broadcast information to create their EPG. They won that court case in 2007, which was appealled by Nine – an appeal the TV network won in 2008. IceTV took their counter appeal to the High Court, and after six months they have been successful.

It’s been a long and bloody battle, but we’re happy to see that in the end, the winner should be the TV-watching consumer. Because unlike Freeview’s EPG, IceTV will let you skip ads and program anything you want using their (now completely legal) EPG. Of course, I reckon the Freeview camp (and Channel 9) will be less than impressed with this verdict, so we’ll see what the fallout from this decision is in the coming weeks.

[IceTV]

Tip: If You Use IceTV / TiVo / Foxtel iQ’s Series Link To Record Programs On Ten HD, Adjust Them Now

Nick Broughall — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:30:34 +0000

IceTV has a very, very good point on their blog today about planning your scheduled recordings around this week’s introduction of the One HD sports channel. As in, ‘If you don’t change your scheduled recording before March 26, you’ll probably miss the next episode of House in HD’.IceTV details how to change it using their software on their site if you’re struggling with the concept. TiVo and Foxtel users are left to sort it out on their own.

One HD, Network 10’s 24 hour sports channel, officially kicks off on March 26. While it’s not particularly our cup of tea, at least it’s offering (mostly) original content.

[IceTV]

Dealzmodo: Renew Your IceTV Subscription For 12 Months For $49

Nick Broughall — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:47:55 +0000

Those guys at IceTV seem to love Christmas time – on top of selling a whole heap of PVRs cheap the other week, they’re now letting current customers (either paid, free trial or returning) to renew their IceTv subscription for just $49, which is about half price (and works out at less than $1 a week). You’ll need to be one of the first 500 customers to enter the code: “santascoming” when you select the “top up my existing account” option. So if you’re an IceTV user, either for your PVR or your computer, make sure you get in fast to save some dollars this Xmas…

[IceTV]

Dealzmodo: IceTV Brings The PVR Savings

Nick Broughall — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:40:53 +0000

With only 24 more sleeps until Christmas, I guess it makes a lot of sense for companies to start offering discounts. IceTV today joined the discount party, offering some pretty decent savings through their online store, including up to $200 off the top of the line Beyonwiz PVR with a bonus 12 month subscription to the IceTV EPG. You can also pick up a Media Center PC from $399, or save $50 on a HDTV tuner for your PC or Mac. Check out the IceTV store for all the available discounts and remember that if you order by December 15, you’ll get everything delivered in time for Christmas.

[IceTV]

IceTV Facebook App Lets You Rate And Discuss TV

Nick Broughall — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:27:10 +0000

For the multitude of people out there who use IceTV as their EPG of choice, you’ll be happy to know that you can now network your watching opinions through Facebook. By downloading the IceTV Facebook App, you can rate TV shows, comment, see what TV shows are popular among your friends, what shows are in your schedule to record and more.

The software’s in Beta at the moment, and they’ve got a forum page dedicated to getting feedback on the Facebook App. But if this sounds like something you could use, let us know how it goes in comments.

[IceTV Facebook App]

Why The System Is F%^ked – Channel 9 Wins Appeal Against IceTV

Nick Broughall — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:59:24 +0000

Why on earth is this still going on? I thought it was finished last year.

Here’s an idea Channel 9: Pull your fucking head out of your ass and stop wasting precious resources trying to screw over IceTV in the courts, and instead focus that money on some more quality programming.

According to the IceTV blog:

Chief Justice Black, Justice Lindgren, Justice Sackville have together ruled against IceTV and the Federal Court’s previous judgment in the case originally brought against IceTV in May 2006, by the Nine Network regarding an alleged breach of Nine’s copyright.

Forgive my cynicism, but it’s almost like these judges must want this to just keep going on so they can collect their million dollar salaries and buy themselves a third 72-foot yacht each.

IceTV Tries To Give TiVo The Finger With New Features

Nick Broughall — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:11:50 +0000

A war is brewing. The war for your television viewing habits.

It started with TiVo. Channel 7 wants to take over your lounge room with a decent PVR, full of cool functions like SeasonPass and IP Video. Then Foxtel decided to crank it up a notch with the iQ2 – adding HD to their already impressive digital box. The other day, Sony decided to join the fray by announcing the PlayTV add-on for the PS3, turning your console into a PVR.

So many warriors. Such a large battle looming. And on the side, slightly out of sight but no less a threat to the other champions, is IceTV.

Before the battle begins, they’ve launched their first wave of attacks – adding functionality to their EPG service to give and device running their software even more features. The biggest of which is IceTV Recommendations.

More news on Australian EPGs

Seamus Byrne — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:10:11 +0000

Some more EPG/TV news: SMH reports the Channel Nine and Ten EPGs began broadcasting this week, while the Channel Seven EPG is the one that won’t go live until January 1st.

IceTV also reports that with the multi-channel programming about to launch on the HD channels of the commercial networks, IceTV remains on the outer, so it will take them 2-3 weeks “after the start of full strength programming” to get this new section of the EPG operational.

IceTV launches IWatchThis.com.au community recommendation service

Seamus Byrne — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:06:11 +0000

Fresh off their victory over Channel Nine, IceTV has added a new recommendation service to the IceTV system called I Watch This. Currently dubbed a public beta, there is a lot of promise in this idea – like any recommendation system, the more people who get in on it the better it’s going to get.

It’s got a simple “I Watch This” vote system as well as a reviews area, and entries can be clicked through to add them into your online IceTV schedule. The guys at IceTV have promised this is just the start of their new wave of features as they kick into top gear now the court case is over. -Seamus Byrne [I Watch This]