Latest news with #digitalvideo
Gizmodo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Microsoft Quietly Pulls the Plug on Its Movies and TV Store
Microsoft abruptly shut down its online movie and TV store. On Friday, the tech giant quietly updated both its general and Xbox support pages to reflect the changes. Users will no longer be able to buy new content from and the Microsoft Store on Windows and Xbox. Thankfully, Microsoft says if you already own movies or shows through the store you can still watch them via the Movies & TV app on Xbox and Windows devices. Microsoft says technical support will also continue for issues with any previously purchased content, at least for now. Unfortunately, Microsoft says it is not providing any refunds or ways for users to transfer their libraries to other digital video services. However, U.S. users can link select titles to Movies Anywhere, a platform that consolidates digital purchases from participating retailers into a single library. Microsoft did not explain why it suddenly shuttered the service. A spokesperson told Gizmodo in an email that the company 'has nothing further to share at this time.' The move appears like a quiet retreat from digital video, as video streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video reign supreme. Microsoft's support page even directs users to use competing services. 'The Xbox and Windows stores have other entertainment services that offer the latest home entertainment releases. The following transactional services are available today: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, among others,' the company said. Xbox users posted on Reddit that they started receiving notifications about the change this morning. 'Microsoft Movies & TV will no longer offer movies or TV shows for purchase. You can continue watching your previously purchased and personal videos on Xbox. Thank you for being part of the Xbox community,' the notification said, according to a screenshot on Reddit. Some Reddit users also said that they saw this coming when they noticed the number of sale promotions on the store started to dwindle in recent months. Others are worried that the Movies & TV app will also eventually be shut down and that they may permanently lose their purchased videos. This isn't the first time Microsoft has backed out of digital media. It shut down its Zune music service in 2015, then closed its successor, Groove Music, in 2017, when it told users to move their playlists to Spotify.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
castLabs delivers new React Native player SDK to expand 3SS' 3Ready solution for Proximus
BERLIN, June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- castLabs, a global pioneer in premium digital video technology, and 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), leading provider of software solutions for set-top boxes (STB), smart TV, multiscreen and in-vehicle entertainment, have partnered to co-create and deliver a cutting-edge, React Native-powered player solution for the Proximus Pickx super-aggregated entertainment platform. Starting with castLabs building a dedicated new SDK, this collaborative solution will provide viewers with an elevated streaming experience and advanced player functionality and flexibility across all platforms and devices. Proximus, Belgium's leading telecommunications and digital services provider, is committed to delivering high-quality entertainment through its on-demand and streaming service, Pickx. Leveraging castLabs' robust player technology alongside 3SS' 3Ready platform, Pickx will offer seamless playback and enhanced interactivity across Android and Apple smartphones and tablets, Apple TVs, as well as on web, all harmoniously powered by the cross-platform framework React Native. React Native was chosen for its ability to streamline development by enabling a single shared codebase for deploying native apps across multiple platforms. This approach not only simplifies the development process but also reduces costs by removing the need for platform-specific programming expertise. It also allows for faster time-to-market by focusing development efforts on a unified framework. Additionally, the collaborative solution delivers significant development efficiencies, including reduced QA and definition overhead. The capability to roll out features simultaneously across platforms ensures the multiscreen service remains consistent and aligned across all screens. This collaboration underscores the unique strengths of castLabs and 3SS: castLabs' PRESTOplay enables secure, high-quality video playback across platforms, providing Pickx with a stable and reliable viewing experience. Combined with 3SS' user experience design and product engineering capabilities, Pickx benefits from a streaming environment with unprecedented power and adaptability. "Thanks to the deployment enabled by castLabs and 3SS, we're able to elevate the streaming experience on Pickx, ensuring both quality and efficient scalability across devices," said Pradeep Thekkedath, Pickx Platform & Chapter Area Lead at Proximus. "The combined strengths of castLabs' playback technology and 3SS' 3Ready platform enable us to deliver an immersive and responsive service that our viewers can enjoy seamlessly." "We are proud to work closely with castLabs to empower telcos and operators to deliver seamless video experiences to end users across STBs and any OTT device," said Pierre Donath, CPO & CMO at 3SS. "Together with castLabs, we're helping Proximus and other joint customers benefit from a high-performing, feature-rich, and future-flexible video player solution that sets a new benchmark for user experience and scalability." "We are thrilled to partner with 3SS to enhance the Proximus Pickx experience," added Michael Stattmann, co-founder of castLabs. "Our collaboration brings powerful new tools to service providers, and we look forward to continuing to help Proximus to increase user engagement and satisfaction among Pickx subscribers." This partnership marks an important step forward for Pickx as it continues to innovate and expand its streaming service, delivering a more immersive and reliable experience for viewers across Belgium. For more information on how this collaboration is transforming the video streaming landscape, visit and or experience it firsthand at About Proximus Proximus Group, is a provider of future-proof connectivity, IT and digital services, headquartered in Brussels. The Group is actively engaged in building a connected world that people trust, so society blooms. The Domestic segment is focused on providing state-of-the art telecommunications and IT services in the Benelux. Proximus Global overarches the international activities of the Group. With 13,131 employees, imbued with Proximus' Think Possible mindset and all engaged to offer a superior customer experience, the Group realized an underlying Group revenue of EUR 6,430 million end-2024. About 3 Screen Solutions (3SS) 3SS is a global leader in digital entertainment technology, delivering solutions that create experiences people love. Since 2009, 3SS has been trusted by telcos, pay-TV operators and streamers worldwide for its expertise in system integration, software engineering, UI/UX design innovation and solution architecture. The award-winning 3Ready product platform accelerates seamless entertainment service launches across all devices, while empowering customer-centric innovation. Today 3Ready powers 30+ service providers, delivering rich, loyalty-enhancing entertainment hubs with total reach of 70+ million users. Customers include One Hungary (OneTV), A1 Telekom Austria Group, Allente, Altibox, Claro, Elisa Estonia, ENTEL, Norlys, ORS, Proximus, TCC Uruguay, Tele2, TELUS, Vodafone Group and Yes. Expanding beyond the living room, 3SS also delivers next-generation in-vehicle entertainment solutions. The 3Ready Automotive in-car entertainment platform is currently being deployed by leading global OEMs, redefining the connected car experience. Please visit for more information and follow us on LinkedIn. About castLabs castLabs is a leading pioneer of software and cloud services for digital video markets worldwide to easily enable premium content streaming. Their range of applications and services are designed to help businesses deliver high-quality video experiences through protected content playback over a large selection of devices and platforms. castLabs solutions include DRMtoday multi-DRM and CAS licensing, feature-rich PRESTOplay cross-platform players, Video Toolkit cloud encoding, STARDUSTmark single-frame forensic watermarking, Widevine device and app certification, secure WebRTC end-to-end delivery, as well as expert technical consulting. Learn more at Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE castLabs
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Pixelworks: Q1 Earnings Snapshot
PORTLAND, Ore. — PORTLAND, Ore. — Pixelworks Inc. (PXLW) on Tuesday reported a loss of $7.8 million in its first quarter. On a per-share basis, the Portland, Oregon-based company said it had a loss of 13 cents. Losses, adjusted for stock option expense and restructuring costs, were 11 cents per share. The maker of chips used in high-end digital video devices posted revenue of $7.1 million in the period. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights ( using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PXLW at
