WATCH VIDEOS. Twonky Beam and iMediaShare are part of a new generation of software that ‘slings’ web video to connected TV sets.
Using industry standards such as DNLA and UPnP, this software allows users to send video from website and mobile apps to their regular TV set without the need for additional hardware, connectors or cables.
Viewers need to download the software, such as Townky Beam or iMediaShare, to their smartphone or table (both iOS and Android are supported), which then acts as the remote control.
The software uses the Wi-Fi connection of a connected TV set, which can be a smart TV or a television connected via a game console, wireless media player or dedicated smart TV device.
On both the iMediaShare and Twonky Beam app, a number of content partners are already installed. The imediaShare app has a slightly larger selection of buttons (see video below).They include the usual suspects such as YouTube, NASA, TED, CNET, Revision 3, Dailymotion, Engadget, Euronews and Deutsche Welle, but also selected content from Discovery, CBS News and Animal Planet.
Twonky, which is the consumer brand of Packet Video, said it also arranged a number of deals with content owners to integrate a Twonky beam button on their site. They are Beam BedRocket, ToonGoggles, Anywhere Artist and U-NEXT.
The Twonky Beam button is now available for integration into all websites and mobile apps that want to incorporate beaming functionality. iMediaShare also offers the same opportunity to include a special ‘watch on TV’ button on mobile websites and video web site.
“Our goal in creating the Twonky Beam button is to make it easy for media sites to get their content onto the big screen by using tablets, phones and PCs. We made sure media sites maintain full control over their user experience, while easily creating the ability to integrate our beaming technology,” said Osama Al-Shaykh, CTO of PacketVideo, in a statement.
“Twonky Beam button is a Web button that allows media sites to expand their reach to home devices and provide a more interesting interactive experience to their users. With Beam Button you are able to play media on the big screen and interact with your site visitor via the tablet or smartphone. Let the multi-screen user experience innovations begin!”
Broadband TV Views. Beaming or slinging software such as iMediaShare and Twonky Beam already represent OTT 2.0. While Over the Top video is now just in its first phase of development, technology is fast catching up and making even more disruptive uses possible.
With this type of app, users can now access any web video on the smart TV set, not just the pre-installed apps that are on Philips, Samsung and Sony sets.
Once a smartphone or tablet talks to your TV set, video web sites and mobile video apps can integrate a button to send the video to any connected TV set. I experienced it myself – using the iMediaShare app on an iPhone and with a Philips smart TV set – and the results are amazing. Unfortunately, the Twonky beam app did not work with the iPhone/Philips combination – at least not in my set-up.
The number of connected and smart TV sets is growing fast – and another disruptive technology – the Android powered connected TV sticks – the possibilities are endless.
For the moment this is all just for the technically inclined users, not for the general public. The challenge will be to develop a smooth interface, which anyone can – and will – use.
WATCH VIDEOS. UPDATED The first video is a demo for iMediaShare (new!), the second video shows Twonky Beam in action.
