This could be nifty.
Per AppleInsider, Comcast on Tuesday began to roll out its new “AnyPlay” functionality for iPad, allowing subscribers to stream live TV to Apple’s tablet.
Comcast’s Xfinity HD Triple Play customers in Denver and Nashville can now access live streaming TV on their iPad over Wi-Fi at no additional charge. The cable provider said it plans to add the service to more markets in the coming months.
AnyPlay is only available for users who access the Internet on their home Wi-Fi connection. Outside of the home or over 3G, the Xfinity TV application allows users to access On Demand content, including 8,000 hours of movies and TV shows.
The new AnyPlay functionality is currently only available on the iPad, though support for the Motorola Xoom tablet is coming “very soon.” Using the service, users will be able to watch a show separate from what someone else might currently be watching on the TV.
“Here’s how it works… the AnyPlay device works the same as any other set top box in the home, but instead of delivering the incoming channel lineup to a television, AnyPlay delivers the lineup to the Wi-Fi router on the home network,” a post at the company’s official blog reads. “The router then distributes the secure video signal to the iPad or Xoom over your home’s wireless network. So as long as your tablet is within range of the home wireless router, you can turn it into another television screen.”
Word of Comcast’s AnyPlay service first surfaced last September in the form of a leaked memo. That document said that the AnyPlay service would be limited to 10 registered tablets per home, and only one device could be used at a time to stream live TV programs.
If you’ve tested the functionality and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.
One reply on “Comcast releases AnyPlay functionality for iPad, allows live TV streaming to devices”
This all sounds great in theory, but why would anyone want
the limited space to stream content offered on their iPad from Comcast, when the
option to access your recorded shows and stream live content can be taken
outside the home network with DISH Network’s TV everywhere solution right now?
As a customer and employee of DISH I wanted to inform you of the Sling
technology that can be used with DISH Network service. You can stream live or
recorded content from your satellite receiver anywhere you go, and it’s an
amazing feature to have when you’re on the go!