Months after Blockbuster relaunched its on-demand digital rental service, it has released apps for the iPhone and iPad in the hopes of attracting more viewers.
When “Blockbuster On Demand” saw new life back in January, apps were launched for PC, Mac, Android, Roku and Samsung’s Smart TVs. With 1080p streaming and 5.1 surround sound, parent company Dish Network hoped that it could reap some rewards from the streaming video gravy train.
Unfortunately for them, the going has been tough thus far with the service still lagging behind market leaders like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. The release of iOS apps is aimed at broadening the range of access, but also to attract some of the millions of viewers who own the iPhone or iPad. It works on all iPhones, iPads and iPod touches running IOS 4.3 or later.
The app offers rental options for single titles that users can watch instantly or save for viewing later on, which can be viewed on any of the other supported devices or platforms. Evidently, the app will also fully support HD streams and full surround sound, but it’s not clear if there will be limitations on what titles are offered with those features. Nor does it seem like anything uniquely new was added specifically for the new apps.
It’s a sign of changing times for the once-mighty Blockbuster, which had 9,000 stores in the U.S. at its peak, but may now number just under 500. Dish had posited that it might go after Netflix by launching a streaming service of comparable size and depth, but backed out because of the cost involved.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.