The startup company ZillionTV has begun offering a media device and online service that it hopes will compete with much larger rivals Apple and Netflix in the online video market.
The networking device, dubbed the Z-bar, will have no HDD but will instead stream movies and TV shows on the Web. The device is very similar to that of Roku but ZillionTV will offer its own service instead of tying in Netflix or Amazon’s online video services.
Interestingly, users can rent or purchase films full price or ad-supported content and even get to “choose their preferences for ads to provide more relevant content.”
The service will also be an option for Internet providers and therefore there is only one upfront cost, a $50 USD activation charge.
Beginning officially in the fall, the service already has deals in place with Fox, NBC, Universal, Warner and other major content producers.
Result for: startup company
The new startup company FilmOn has claimed that they will offer HD video streaming with little to no buffering time using a new compression technique they call HDi.
Using HDi, the company says the footprint of HD videos can be reduced to 2Mbps. The service did not explain how that type of compression is accomplished.
Many of the movies available on the site are free as well and costs are offset by private financing and the use of Amazon Web Services for hosting.
Alki David, the company’s founder, notes the service will work in the US and the UK and that “premium” movies are available, mainly new releases, for $6 to stream and $8 to buy.
