The £10 Sky box that connects ANY TV to the web and lets you watch online catch-up shows Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2378747/The-10-Sky-box-connects-ANY-TV-web-lets-watch-online-catch-shows.html#ixzz2a9K06aXF Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

The £10 Sky box that connects ANY TV to the web and lets you watch online catch-up shows

There's been a rise in popularity of the so-called Smart TV - a television set with an internet connection that gives access to on-demand services as well as apps such as YouTube, Facebook and Spotify. Yet these sets don't come cheap and can cost up to £5,000. Now, Sky has launched a cut-price device that turns any television set into a Smart TV for just £9.99. The Now TV box plugs into a set using a HDMI cable and then connects wirelessly to a home network, letting you watch online catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer and Demand 5, as well as listen to music and browse the web. Sky has launched a £10 device that connects any TV to the internet. Sky has launched a £10 device that connects any TV to the internet. The Now TV box, pictured, plugs into a set using a HDMI cable and then connects wirelessly to your home network so you can watch online catch-up shows THE NOW TV BOX SERVICES NOW TV Box The Now TV box lets people stream Sky News, BBC iPlayer, BBC News app, Demand 5, Spotify, Facebook and Flickr. Sky Sports: Six channels for £9.99 a day. Sky Movies: The Sky Movies Pass comes with a 30-day free trial and then costs £8.99 for three months. It is set to rival the likes of the £249 YouView set-top box, Roku and Apple's respective boxes, that cost £49.99 and £99 respectively, and the new Chromecast dongle from Google, priced in the U.S at $35 (£22). Plus, the £9.99 Now TV price includes shipping. The Nox TV box is around the same size as a beer mat - 84mm x 84mm x 24mm - and connects to any TV that has a HDMI port. The box then connects wirelessly to a home Wi-Fi network and turns the TV set into a web-enabled device. Once the Now TV box is connected, users can access the box's interface by changing the output on their TV and navigate through menus and services using a special remote control. On-demand services including BBC iPlayer and Demand 5, the catch-up service from Channel 5, is available free of charge, without a contract. The Now TV box also gives access to Sky Sports as well as Sky Movies for a daily fee of £9.99 or monthly subscription starting at £8.99 for three months. Users can additionally listen to music through Spotify or browse Facebook through dedicated apps. The Now TV box lets people stream Sky News, BBC iPlayer, BBC News app, Demand 5, Spotify, Facebook and Flickr. The Now TV box lets people use Sky News, BBC iPlayer, BBC News app, Demand 5, Spotify, Facebook and Flickr. Sky Sports costs £9.99 a day and a Sky Movies Pass comes with a 30-day free trial and then costs £8.99 for three months GOOGLE CANCELS FREE NETFLIX OFFER WITH THE CHROMECAST Chromecast, the new $35 HDMI dongle from Google, was announced earlier this week. The device was being offered with a free three month subscription to Netflix promotion that was offered on a limited basis. Google has since announced that the Netflix promotion has ended and the Chromecast has also sold out. The news follows the announcement of Google's Chromecast earlier this week that works in a similar way to the Now TV box by plugging into a TV's HDMI port and letting users stream content from a tablet, phone or laptop to their TV screen. According to Now TV, over two thirds of Brits have now taken advantage of on-demand services on their main TV sets – whether via Smart TVs or other connected devices. Two in five people stream must-see shows or movies on a weekly basis. Over half the UK (56 per cent) use more traditional internet-connected devices such as tablets, smartphones or laptops to access TV on demand whilst in the home. Figures from Blinkx, the internet media platform, found that 86 per cent people aged 18 to 34 share videos online after watching, and 59 per cent are sharing on a regular basis. Launch party: Mario Queiroz, Google's vice-president of product management, holds the new Chromecast dongle as it is announced during a Google event at Dogpatch Studio in San Francisco, California Chromecast, pictured, plugs into a TV set's HDMI port and can be used to stream web content from mobiles, tablets and laptops. Mario Queiroz, Google's vice-president of product management, holds the new dongle as it is announced during a Google event in San Francisco Roku box Apple TV Sky's £9.99 Now TV box is competitively priced against the Roku streaming box, pictured left, which starts at around £50 and the Apple TV device, right, which sells for around £99 Recent rumours suggest that Apple is looking at ways to remove adverts from its upcoming TV set in a bid to boost sales if and when the device launches later this year. The company has reportedly spoken with broadcasters about the deal and is even thought to have offered to compensate them for any revenue they lose as a result. Other rumours claim the TV set could be controlled using a ring worn on a viewer's finger. Sky's Now TV launched in July 2012. It has helped boost the number of Sky TV customers to 14.8 million with average revenues per user at £577 a year. Sky has also said it is expanding its Sky Go mobile TV service with another 10 channels, is adding 20 new channels to its catch-up TV service, and plans to upgrade its TV boxes to hold more content. Sky said 35 per cent of its customers are now taking TV, broadband and phone services, up from 32 per cent last year. YouView on-demand figures But its churn rate - how many customers are leaving - increased to 10.9 per cent from 9.9 per cent. Its Now TV device will also challenge the £299 YouView box, a joint venture between BT, TalkTalk, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Arqiva which also offers on-demand TV for free. YouView was criticised for its high price compared to other services on the market yet announced in July it gained 400,000 customers in the eight months since its launch and streams 2.2 million video-on-demand views every week. In other TV news, BT yesterday revealed it has already signed up half a million customers to its sport channels ahead of their launch - although most of these were existing subscribers. It hopes to win over new customers and defectors from rivals once the Premier League season launches on August 17.



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Bieber booed at Billboards

Bieber booed at Billboards

SO, TATTLE was watching the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night when an important cultural shift took place. Justin Bieber got booed. And he didn't take it well. The Biebs, you see, fashions himself an artist. "I'm 19 years old," an obviously stunned Bieber said accepting the first-ever Milestone Award. "This is not a gimmick. I'm an artist and I should be taken seriously and all this other bull should not be spoken of. I want to thank my manager, Scooter Braun. I want to thank my family at home. I want to thank my mother, my father. I want to thank Jesus Christ." 1) It's not up to you to declare yourself an artist. 2) If you have to tell people you "should" be taken seriously, you probably shouldn't be taken seriously. 3) Wearing MC Hammer pants and singing with your voice auto-tuned beyond human recognition is most definitely a gimmick. There was so much synth-aided singing and lip-synching during the Billboard show that it even embarrassed Kid Rock, who broke the cardinal rule of these made-for-TV events and said something critical. Presenting the award for Top Rap Song, Rock exhorted the crowd, "Let's give it up for people lip-synching under prerecorded music." Yikes! But let's be real, music industry, the overwhelming fakeness was embarrassing and most of the music was almost instantly forgettable. And when will.i.am got the Biebs to join him for another egomaniacal paean to himself, "That Power," Tattle began to think back to the songs of our grandparents' generation and imagine a composer like Cole Porter getting on stage and robotically singing: "My name is Porter/Drink Scotch not water/So hide your daughter/Or she'll be out/And about/Doing all that I taught her. I'm the top." Now you see him Jesse Eisenberg stopped in Philadelphia last Friday to promote his upcoming magic movie, "Now You See Me," and hopped out of a limo in front of the Ritz-Carlton. On the sidewalk were a group of Reds fans holding baseballs and looking for autographs. They saw Eisenberg, star of "Zombieland," and asked him to sign. The actor was a bit baffled to see the baseballs, but happy to oblige. "It's kind of a childhood fantasy to sign a baseball for somebody. I never thought it would happen; now it has." A Marky event Hey, ho! Let's go! Marky Ramone - yes, that Marky Ramone - has just been added to an already star-studded lineup at this year's Wizard Philly, May 30-June 2, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It is the first time the legendary rocker will be appearing at Wizard Philly. Wizard has also just announced that Gina Torres ("Firefly") will be gracing the con. But perhaps the biggest announcement for fanboys is that Marvel Comics is coming back to Philly after too long an absence! "We are excited to bring an industry leader like Marvel to Wizard World shows," John Macaluso told Comics Guy Jerome Maida. "Many of our fans have a close connection with the movies, comics and characters Marvel produces, and these two panels and review sessions are excellent addition to our lineup." The panels are entitled: "MARVEL: Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way," set for Friday at 5 p.m. and "MARVEL: From NOW! to Infinity," to take place Saturday from 4 to 5 p.m. Additionally, Marvel will be accepting portfolios on Friday and Saturday, and talent scout C.B. Cebulski and others will conduct reviews on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Room 110. TATTBITS * Seth MacFarlane is too busy to host the Oscars in 2014. The multitalented comedian says on Twitter that he "tried to make it work schedule-wise, but I need sleep." The creator of "Family Guy" suggested Oscar producers tap the eccentric actor Joaquin Phoenix to host the show. * Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have reportedly broken up again. Please save this item to re-read when necessary. * According to London's Daily Star, the lads of One Direction have nicknamed Harry Styles "Mrs. Mop." Coincidentally, Tattle has been nicknamed "Mr. Mope." Harry is reportedly a neat freak and has become Felix Unger to the group's Oscar Madison, to make sure their tour bus stays tidy. "He went to a supermarket and bought a ton of cleaning products, as he didn't think the bus was clean enough," said an unnamed source. "He watches to make sure no one drops food anywhere and asked people to leave their shoes at the door and wear slippers." Maybe that's the reason for his split with Taylor Swift. - Daily News wire services and BANGShowbiz.com contributed to this report.


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Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio Near 'X Factor' Judging Deals

Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio Near 'X Factor' Judging Deals

Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio are nearing the close of their deals to judge on Fox's "The X Factor," an individual with knowledge of the negotiations told TheWrap. The official announcement is expected on Monday. Fox declined to comment. The Destiny's Child member and Mexican actress and singer would replace Britney Spears and L.A. Reid on the judging panel. The show has changed its strategy since Season 2, the insider told us. Instead of casting judges on merely name alone, it also looked at chemistry with returning judges Demi Lovato and judge and executive producer Simon Cowell. Also read: 'X Factor' Brings Back Host Mario Lopez, Dropping Khloe Kardashian Rowland would bring with her the experience she gained from judging on the eighth season of "The X Factor UK." She has also hosted Bravo's "The Fashion Show." In addition to the many hits as part of Destiny's Child, the 32-year-old has sold more than 24 million albums worldwide as a solo artist. She has also been featured on top hits with rapper Nelly and DJ David Guetta. Her new solo album, "Talk a Good Game," releases on June 18. Also read: Demi Lovato Returning as 'X Factor' Judge Rubio has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. The 41-year-old brings with her the experience of coaching "The Voice Mexico" and Telemundo's upcoming Spanish-language "The Voice Kids." As we previously reported, Mario Lopez will return to host on Season 3 without co-host Khloe Kardashian. Season 3 is set to begin shooting auditions on Tuesday in Charleston, S.C. EW was the first to report the negotiations.



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Yahoo! Partners with WWE, Announces Original Programming

Add caYahoo! Partners with WWE, Announces Original Programminption

Yahoo! will debut six original shows later this year and has partnered with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to be the main online distribution service for the entertainment group, the company announced. The WWE announcement comes just days after Yahoo! announced it would be the exclusive online home to “Saturday Night Live’s” archives. “In the last year, we have more than doubled the original video programming on Yahoo! to become one of the Web’s largest content publishers,” said Erin McPherson, Yahoo! VP and head of video. “The new shows and partnerships we’re announcing … demonstrate how we are building scale, reaching more targeted audiences, and innovating with content.” Starting this summer, Yahoo! will launch a dedicated online hub for WWE content, offering exclusive programming, access to WWE archives, live events and clips from current TV programming. Yahoo! also announced it’s expanding its partnership with ABC News to include extended, online programming for “Nightline,” “World News With Diane Sawyer” and “Good Morning America.” For original programming, Yahoo! will debut three new comedy shows this fall: “Tiny Commando” starring Ed Helms (The Hangover); “We Need Help” starring Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Rachael Harris (Diary of a Wimpy Kid); and “Losing Your Virginity with John Stamos.” In 2013 Yahoo! will also debut three new lifestyle shows, including “Fashion Recipe,” “Cinema & Spice” and “Grill Girls.”

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