Twitter, Facebook, YouTube Coming to FiOS TV
Word came this week that Verizon’s FiOS TV set-top box is expected to get a raft of new features, including a widget platform that adds Twitter and Facebook integration on your big screen, as well as the ability to stream online videos from YouTube. ReadWriteWeb has the full skinny along with screenshots.
We love the concept of social TV, and FiOS’ new functionality looks like it will turn what is now a two-screen experience (laptop + TV) into a one-screen experience. From RWW’s writeup, the Twitter integration is particularly interesting because you can narrow the Twitter feed to Tweets about the current show you are watching. It could also be a way for Twitter to make some money, as there is room for ads built-in.
Facebooking while watching TV would also have a whole new dimension, especially when it comes to sharing photos on a big screen. Twitter and Facebook are both part of a widget platform that Verizon is opening up to developers.
The online video capabilities of FiOS’ upcoming service are a bit more complex. FiOS gives users big screen access to YouTube, blip, Veoh and more, but the video actually comes from a computer on the network running Verizon Media Manager software, and the set-top box pulls the content from that PC.
The Internet video feature is expected to be released this summer, and the widget platform will be released this fall.
Verizon FiOS isn’t in that many markets yet, but a move like this should spur rival cable and telcos into offering similar services. Additionally, Yahoo is building its own widget platform that will undoubtedly offer similar social features, at some point built directly into television sets.
Comments (5)
Linkbacks (11)
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[...] and Verizon aren’t the only providers piping interactive Internet-based services to your set-top box. [...]
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[...] weather, stocks and news information on the ole TV, and Verizon recently showed a glimpse of what Twitter and Facebook will look like on its FiOS TV [...]
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[...] weather, stocks and news information on the ole TV, and Verizon recently showed a glimpse of what Twitter and Facebook will look like on its FiOS TV [...]
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— 11:02 PM on March 17, 2009
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[...] It looks like FiOS (in its continued crusade to slay the cable giant) is also unleashing a widget to…, with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The more the merrier! Competition means lower prices. Filed under: Uncategorized Article tags: Blockbuster, Blu-ray, CES, Comcast, Facebook, FiOS, Flickr, Netflix, Time-Warner Cable, Twitter, Verizon, Yahoo, YouTube [...]
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— 4:18 PM on April 2, 2009
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[...] real-time stats for sports fans watching games. And though services like Facebook and Twitter are migrating to the television, it’s hard to imagine big-screen social TV eradicating the two-screen experience. What kid [...]
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— 7:33 AM on April 20, 2009
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[...] real-time stats for sports fans watching games. And though services like Facebook and Twitter are migrating to the television, it’s hard to imagine big-screen social TV eradicating the two-screen experience. What kid [...]
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[...] weather, stocks and news information on the ole TV, and Verizon recently showed a glimpse of what Twitter and Facebook will look like on its FiOS TV [...]
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[...] for accessing video (TV, broadband, mobile phones); TVs are becoming social with the inclusion of Facebook and Twitter; and heck, we may not even need remote controls any [...]
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[...] is how televisions are evolving beyond just displaying moving images. As widgets, web video and social features come to TVs, TVs become more like PCs. Does this mean that you’ll have to upgrade your [...]
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[...] integrated its platform into big events like President Obama’s inauguration, and Verizon is bringing social services like Facebook and Twitter to the TV screen. For an excellent round-up, check out Liz’s State [...]
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[...] one’s already being done. Not just by Vizio, but Verizon will also offer Twitter and Facebook through its FiOS TV, and Microsoft is incorporating social aspects into its Xbox 360 video experience. Like we saw [...]
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I wish we had the ability to get FIOS up here in Canada. I’d definitely be investing in this service.
Looks like we get 100mbps cable internet next year though!
I thought Canada was getting gigabit Internet to the home. What happened to that?
I live in PA, and I wish I could get Fios. The biggest problem is that it costs VZ lots of money to build the system. They aren’t just going to build fios everwhere… it’s too much of a cost prohibitive risk. Little do they know that everyone I talk to said they would get Fios hands down if it were available to them.
They’ll never be able to keep up with the demand. That will be Verizons biggest downfall.
Verizon FiOS is trying to push the envelope and stay ahead of the curve. Very forward thinking – Social Media to your tv…
Hope you guys could really have it in your place…it’s really a different TV experience, I never even imagine I could enjoy sharing photos right on my own TV screen.