I read articles like this and this and it makes me crazy that I am not doing more with what I know about telecom and the internet. I have worked on the very opposite side of where you are right now, way past this web page and the ISP you subscribe to, through all the routers and networks, the data centers – all the way back to the engineers who develop and drive the web as you see it happening. Nearly every Tuesday for the past eight years, I’ve sat on calls with a former Lucent engineer-turned-start-up-CEO-turned-acquired-CEO and learned about what was next for the IP and telecom networks, and more importantly, how it’s all going to work.
Tag Archive: Akimbo
RCA Akimbo Touts Movielink, Free Upgrade
Internet-delivered television is still a niche market, but IPTV set-top box maker Akimbo isn’t giving up, launching its co-branded RCA Akimbo Player which combines the ability to download television shows and video via the Internet for viewing on a television with the online movie download service Movielink to offer downloadable versions of recent Hollywood movie releases. And, the RCA Akimbo player will be available for a limited time to current Akimbo owners as a free upgrade from Akimbo’s first set-top boxes.
Akimbo Taking Pre-Orders for New RCA Box
The new RCA Akimbo Player is capable of storing more than 100 hours of programming and is now available for a pre-order price of $179.99 from Akimbo’s website. When the new player makes its official debut in mid-October, the price will jump to $199.99 with a $9.99 per month service fee.
The Akimbo Service provides access to more than 13,000 titles including major channels such as Digital Trends, BBC, The Food Network, HGTV, Major League Baseball and more.
Akimbo Offers Up HD, Free MLB Content
Akimbo Systems today made two announcements related to content offerings for their subscribers. One involves high definition programming and the other is focused on a partnership with Major League Baseball.
With regards to high definition programming, said Akimbo, users of the Akimbo Service for Windows XP Media Center Edition will be able to download select titles from the library of HDNet, a 24-hour all high definition network co-founded by Mark Cuban, for viewing on on subscribers’ monitors or high definition televisions.
CES 2006 Profile: Akimbo
Video-on-demand company Akimbo made some news at CES 2006 with their announcements regarding a new co-branded Akimbo Player set top box with Thomson, as well as word that they’d signed broadband movie service Movielink to provide content to their subscribers.
The new RCA (a Thomson brand) Akimbo Player, which will be available in early spring for $199 with rebate, allows users to choose from and download over 8,000 titles via a broadband connection. This content is in addition to the Movielink movies which will be offered (non RCA branded Akimbo Player owners will also be able to access the Movielink content). Features of this set top box include Ethernet and dual USB ports and a hard disk that allows up to 150 hours of Akimbo programming to be stored.
Anime Now Arms Akimbo
Akimbo has announced a partnership with Anime Network to bring a broad selection of Japanese animated series and films to Akimbo’s Internet-based video-on-demand service. The partnership is sure to appeal to the same demographic tempted by Akimbo’s set-top boxes and service, as Japanese anime is increasingly popular with the 18 to 34 tech-savvy male audience.
Anime is notoriously difficult to find on North American broadcast and cable services, leaving fans to chase down VHS and DVD imports or content themselves with limited selections perhaps shown via Cartoon Network. Anime Network is a 24/7 cable network that’s been available in limited U.S. markets since late 2002, but tends to be found only on digital video-on-demand services rather than basic cable channel lineups, where it’s available at all.
Akimbo Gets First Exclusive Series
Internet-to-TV-video on demand company Akimbo today announced its first exclusive video series which focuses on an around the world expedition. Called
Akimbo Adds Hallmark, Outdoor Channels
Akimbo’s Internet-based video-on-demand service will be adding content from both Crown Media’s Hallmark Channel library as well as the Outdoor Channel.
Under the deal, family-friendly movies from Crown Media’s basic-cable Hallmark Channel will be available to Akimbo subscribers, including titles like Alice in Wonderland and The 10th Kingdom. Akimbo CEO Joshua Goldman said “Long-time fans and first-time viewers alike will be thrilled with the high-quality, family friendly movies available from Hallmark Channel’s library.”
Akimbo to Pitch Baseball-over-IP
Just in time for playoffs, Internet media company Akimbo announced yesterday that it will be offering Internet-based video-on-demand baseball, with premium content including condensed games, highlights, and classic historic games. The content will be provided by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), Major League Baseball’s media and Internet company. According to Akimbo, games will be available for the service in the early morning the day after the games are played.
Akimbo Adds RSS and Atom Programming Feeds
Video on demand provider Akimbo today said they were adding a new way for subscribers to receive alerts about the latest movies and television programs available on the service. This new method involves the use of RSS and Atom feeds.
Akimbo explained that the new feeds “automatically signal the arrival of new additions to the Akimbo Service via e-mail or an alert on a computer desktopâ€. When a desired program is found, an integration process allows the programs selected from the feeds to be downloaded directly to the subscriber’s Akimbo Player to view on television.
