Tesco experiments with free movie and TV streaming for Clubcard members

Brits who shop enough at Tesco to be on a first name basis with the clerks may soon have a reward that doesn't require leaving home. The UK retail chain is currently testing Clubcard TV, a web-based movie and TV streaming hub that would be a free perk of Clubcard membership. As it exists in beta form, the Blinkbox-derived service won't have Lovefilm or Netflix quaking in their boots: there's a limited slate of mostly family-oriented fare, and Tesco's notion of TV streaming involves the video output on a laptop. While neither is an issue as long as the trial is limited to staff, we hope there's a richer platform by the time Clubcard TV is open to anyone with a lot of grocery shopping in mind.

Via: The Telegraph

Source: Clubcard TV

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By: Unknown On 2:29 PM

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Netflix Encodes Every Movie 120 Different Ways

This story will display in ...Dec 19, 2012 4:32 AM  

The problem with streaming video to different devices—computers, tablets, phones, and whatever else—is that they all demand subtly different streams if they're to look their best. If you're Netflix, which streams to 900 different types of device, that leaves you with some work to do.

According to Netflix, it has to encode each and every movie it offers in 120 different ways. Add to that the crowd sourcing of subtitles, global variation in titles and formats, and an armful of other problems, and the work Netflix has to go to makes $8 a month seem even better value. The video above was used at a Netflix recruitment fair—but gives a decent insight into how its video wends its way from Hollywood to your tablet. [GigaOm]

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By: Dilusha On 10:57 PM

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Clue: This Is How You Make a Board Game Movie

This story will display in ...Nov 17, 2012 9:00 PM  

Up until a few weeks ago, I'd never seen the Clue movie, and I'll admit I was skeptical. After all, Battleship came out not that long ago. Obviously, I was pleasantly surprised because Clue rocks.

Hopefully I'm preaching to the choir here, but I'll take just a minute to extol some of its virtues. First and foremost, it's hilarious. As with all good slapstick, the jokes come fast, so it doesn't even matter if they're all good. But they are. A distant second—but worth mentioning—is the great way the movie actually manages to stay true to the board game, up to and including the secret passage ways. And all without adding aliens or anything. And, on top of all that, the alternate endings are great, and make it worthwhile to dig back in and follow the clues, if you're into that. The clues! Get it? It's called Clue and it has clues! It's great! Netflix Instant. Go. Watch. [Netflix]

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By: Dilusha On 10:29 PM

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