Video

DirecTV appears to have its sights set on Slingbox with a new platform, called Nomad.

The satellite provider launched a page on its site recently, showcasing a device that connects to customers' DVRs and allows them to stream programming to other devices, including computers, smartphones and tablets.

"Take your movies and shows from your home DVR where you go," the Nomad site reads.

If DirecTV follows through with a Nomad competitor, it wouldn't be much of a surprise. EchoStar, which is closely affiliated with DirecTV's chief competitor, Dish Network, owns Sling Media. Sling made a name for itself in the home-entertainment space by offering a box that connects to any DVR and lets users control the DVR and watch TV programming from computers and mobile devices.… Read more

Skype has launched its own app store, offering third-party apps that can integrate with the company's online calling and messaging service.

Third-party apps have been available through Skype in the past, but its App Directory is the company's first effort to host a more official place where people can search for, browse, and download the software they want. The store officially opened Wednesday.

Skype users can browse a list of all apps; the store offers … Read more

Vizio's 8-inch tablet will now support Hulu Plus, the company announced today.

According to Chief Technology Officer Matt McRae, Vizio's tablet has become "one of the first Android-powered tablets to support Hulu Plus."

Vizio launched its 8-inch tablet earlier this month. The device comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability for users to control their home entertainment devices with the built-in universal remote. The tablet also comes with an HDMI port, allowing users to push content to their HDTVs in high-definition.

Online video provider Brightcove has filed its first document for an IPO, with the goal of bringing in $50 million.

According to the registration statement filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the initial public offering will be managed by Morgan Stanley and Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., and comes on top of the $12 million that the company raised in April and June of 2010, according to BostInnovation.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., Brightcove sells cloud-based products that let companies publish and distribute online video across PCs, smartphones, tablets, and Internet-connected TVs. It currently has around 3,000 customers, including … Read more

Wal-Mart's Vudu movie service surpassed Amazon's digital movie offering in the first half of 2011, according to a new research report.

As part of its Screen Digest Media Research program, research firm IHS today said that Vudu jumped from just 1 percent market share during the first half of last year, to 5.3 percent by the end of the same period this year in the United States. That number puts Vudu on top of Amazon, which went from owning 4 percent of the market with its movie service last year, up to 4.2 percent this year. … Read more

Video streaming service Hulu is accepting initial acquisition bids starting on Wednesday, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Citing "people familiar with the matter," the Journal reported today that Google, Yahoo, Amazon.com, and DirecTV are among the companies interested in acquiring the video service. Although none of the companies has made an offer yet, the Journal's sources said the bids are expected to range from $500 million to $2 billion.

Talks of Hulu being acquired began in June when reports claimed Yahoo had approached the company to inquire about a possible buy. Soon after, Hulu's … Read more

If you just have to share a video of a sneezing baby panda bear, Google has just made it a bit easier.

In a move that adds Google+ functionality to another Google product, the Web giant has integrated its social network even more closely with YouTube. Today, Google added a button to video pages on YouTube, letting Google+ users start a Hangout video conference with their friends while watching a video.

So now, at the bottom of that adorable sneezing baby panda video, and every other video on YouTube, users can click the "Share" button. From there, a … Read more

Amazon's Instant Video service has reached an important milestone.

The e-commerce giant says it now has 100,000 movies and television shows available to customers to buy or rent. The video content, which can be viewed on more than 300 devices, including PCs, Blu-ray players, and televisions, has a starting price of $3.99 per video, depending on what customers choose to watch.

"The 100,000 titles on Amazon Instant Video range from new hit blockbusters to old favorites, with more than 15,000 of those titles available in HD, and popular TV shows available the day after … Read more

Slightly borrowing a line from a breakfast cereal not meant for silly rabbits, Netflix is launching a new division dubbed "Just For Kids."

At first glance, the Just For Kids feature, introduced to some members last week, doesn't really seem all that new at all. Netflix users can find these titles for instant video streaming under the tab by the same name next to the Watch Instantly section. It's sort of similar to the already-existing categories that are already divided up on a user's Watch Instantly page.

However, this makes it much easier for parents, … Read more