To videophiles old enough to remember the 1980s, Macrovision is infamous for its videotape-based anti-copying technology. But now the company has renamed itself Rovi and is repositioning itself with a media guide designed to organize scattered content sources.
A Japanese newspaper has reported that Toshiba will in fact market a Blu-ray player, though further details are scanty. It's not known whether it will emerge in the North American, European, Japanese, or world markets.
Cable networks can't get enough of a soon-to-begin Comcast trial of the On Demand Online video service. It would let cable viewers access shows online for no extra cost beyond the regular subscription fee and some ads.
With Netflix signing streaming deals with everyone in sight, it was only a matter of time till Blockbuster cut a streaming deal with a major manufacturer--and Samsung is pretty major. Blockbuster streaming will come to Samsung HDTVs and Blu-ray players with the first models coming this fall.
The war among copyright holders, consumers, and other parties continues on so many fronts that it's hard for us to cover them all. Here's a smattering from the last month or so.