Live TV, music, video and pictures on your mobile device with Orb

Bob Russell · 11-06-2006, 07:00 PM

In a remarkable software-based media anywhere solution, Orb Networks has provided over the last year or two the technology base to let you watch your home media content wherever you happen to be. And thanks to a shift in their business strategy, you can do this all for free. Music, video and pictures from your home can be available to you whether you are waiting at the airport, sitting in your car, or stuck late at the office.

This can be directly compared to the Slingbox, which is a popular hardware device that allows you to stream video across the Internet to watch remotely. But what many people do not know is that you can do the same thing without the Slingbox hardware. All you need is a home PC connected to the Internet, and a connected mobile device (or laptop) with streaming video capability, and of course the Orb software.

The technical complexities are hidden from the user because Orb automatically determines how best to stream the video to your device, and it even transcodes the media on the fly. The benefits of using Orb can be found in more detail on the company’s website.

I’ve been a very happy Orb user for some time now, and not only do I now have live TV on a mobile Treo 700p device, but am also increasingly excited about the potential for this technology to become popular with the average non-geek person on the street. As of Orb 1.0, there are still some things that can be non-intuitive for new Orb users, but Orb 2.0 is completing it’s beta cycle, and the new version should be available for general release very soon.

In my case, using Orb 1.0, I have had some difficulties with the MeeVee TV guide not working for my location (yes, that’s a pretty neat feature also... your personalized TV guide is integrated right into the Orb web interface). Also, the bandwidth settings can be tricky to set manually if your bandwidth capacity fluctuates with your Internet provider. But if you want it to work, you can generally get it going and the process is not too bad. I’ve found the Orb forum participants and the support team to be very helpful, and Orb continues to evolve based on feedback from users.

While Orb has established the technology and infrastructure to enable successful media streaming, this is just the beginning. For example, as the company grows their customer base, they have plans for targeted advertising that would enhance your experience rather than dominate it, and additional partnerships, all funding this free service in the future without becoming intrusive.

Some of Orb’s recent advances include the following:

* Orb 2.0 is in beta and nearly ready for general release (before the end of the year). The new version will bring a smaller, optimized 10MB client and brings improvements in functionality, features and an interface upgrade.

* Orb is now bundled with Hauppauge’s WinTV products in the U.S. as well as in the UK.

* Nokia N80 Internet edition phones will be shipped with an Orb bookmark.

The potential seems virtually unlimited, and if Orb continues to catch on, there will be much more to come. So far, over 1.5 million hours of media have been streamed by Orb customers. If you want to jump into the future of enjoying your content anywhere, be sure to give Orb a try.

volwrath · 11-06-2006, 08:55 PM

I am an Orb 2.0 customer and I love it. Between Orb, my 700WX, and EVDO, i have tv everywhere I go. its very convenient.

11-06-2006, 07:00 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Live TV, music, video and pictures on your mobile device with Orb In a remarkable software-based media anywhere solution, Orb Networks has provided over the last year or two the technology base to let you watch your home media content wherever you happen to be. And thanks to a shift in their business strategy, you can do this all for free. Music, video and pictures from your home can be available to you whether you are waiting at the airport, sitting in your car, or stuck late at the office. This can be directly compared to the Slingbox, which is a popular hardware device that allows you to stream video across the Internet to watch remotely. But what many people do not know is that you can do the same thing without the Slingbox hardware. All you need is a home PC connected to the Internet, and a connected mobile device (or laptop) with streaming video capability, and of course the Orb software. The technical complexities are hidden from the user because Orb automatically determines how best to stream the video to your device, and it even transcodes the media on the fly. The benefits of using Orb can be found in more detail on the company’s website. I’ve been a very happy Orb user for some time now, and not only do I now have live TV on a mobile Treo 700p device, but am also increasingly excited about the potential for this technology to become popular with the average non-geek person on the street. As of Orb 1.0, there are still some things that can be non-intuitive for new Orb users, but Orb 2.0 is completing it’s beta cycle, and the new version should be available for general release very soon. In my case, using Orb 1.0, I have had some difficulties with the MeeVee TV guide not working for my location (yes, that’s a pretty neat feature also... your personalized TV guide is integrated right into the Orb web interface). Also, the bandwidth settings can be tricky to set manually if your bandwidth capacity fluctuates with your Internet provider. But if you want it to work, you can generally get it going and the process is not too bad. I’ve found the Orb forum participants and the support team to be very helpful, and Orb continues to evolve based on feedback from users. While Orb has established the technology and infrastructure to enable successful media streaming, this is just the beginning. For example, as the company grows their customer base, they have plans for targeted advertising that would enhance your experience rather than dominate it, and additional partnerships, all funding this free service in the future without becoming intrusive. Some of Orb’s recent advances include the following: * Orb 2.0 is in beta and nearly ready for general release (before the end of the year). The new version will bring a smaller, optimized 10MB client and brings improvements in functionality, features and an interface upgrade. * Orb is now bundled with Hauppauge’s WinTV products in the U.S. as well as in the UK. * Nokia N80 Internet edition phones will be shipped with an Orb bookmark. The potential seems virtually unlimited, and if Orb continues to catch on, there will be much more to come. So far, over 1.5 million hours of media have been streamed by Orb customers. If you want to jump into the future of enjoying your content anywhere, be sure to give Orb a try.

11-06-2006, 08:55 PM	#2
volwrath Guru Posts: 713 Karma: 1001739 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Device: SGS3/PW2/Nexus72	I am an Orb 2.0 customer and I love it. Between Orb, my 700WX, and EVDO, i have tv everywhere I go. its very convenient.

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