September 6, 2010

Pushbutton builds LOVEFiLM app for SONY BRAVIA Internet TVs

Filed under: 2010 archive, Blog, News, Press — Tags: , , , , , — Eugene @ 3:36 pm

Pushbutton has worked closely with LOVEFiLM and Sony to deliver a connected TV application that enables subscribers to the popular mail order media service to rent movies online and have them streamed directly over the internet, to the TV.

The service is available on the latest series of SONY BRAVIA Internet Video TVs, Bravia televisions, Blu-ray players, and Blu-ray Home Theatre kits.

LOVEFiLM subscribers will be able to select the service as an icon on the SONY menu bar of SONY Internet Video devices, search for titles through categories such as genre or ‘most watched’ and eventually manage their DVD and Blu-ray rental lists through the TV.

Pushbutton is one of the leading connected TV design and build agencies in Europe, with prize winning designs for Microsoft Mediaroom in its portfolio, and years of interactive TV experience on satellite and IPTV behind it. This is the company’s first app for the SONY Internet Video devices platform, and the first third party app from a European company.

Pushbutton Managing Director, Paula Byrne, said “We are extremely proud of the LOVEFiLM app. This kind of project plays to all of our strengths as a design agency with a deep technical understanding of the new wave of Internet connected media devices. The new SONY Bravia’s are gorgeous, and I believe our collaboration with LOVEFiLM has produced an app that truly does them justice, adding an exciting new tier of content choice for viewers.”

Lesley MacKenzie, Group Digital Officer said “LOVEFiLM is setting the pace in Europe with this online DVD rental service. The SONY TV app enables instant digital content and puts DVD & Blu-ray rental in the palm of your hand via the TV remote, greatly enhancing the choice and convenience proposition for our members.” … “Pushbutton provided invaluable design and build expertise in the delivery of this exciting new, connected TV app for LOVEFiLM on SONY televisions. We were extremely pleased with the service they provided.”

June 7, 2010

Boost for IP and 3D TV research

Filed under: 2010 archive, Press — Tags: , , , , , , — Eugene @ 2:52 pm

Pushbutton has boosted its research and development efforts with the hire of a dedicated software engineer to focus on 3D and Internet-powered television.

The past six months has seen major leaps forward in television technology – with a wide range of 3D televisions now on sale, and new IP-based TV services being announced daily.

Pushbutton Managing Director, Paula Byrne, said “The past week alone has seen the announcement of Google TV, rumours about a new version of Apple TV, and a new, social- networking-ready version of BBC iPlayer. Add to this, the boom in TV connected devices, and you start to see a picture emerging of a revolution in new technologies to enhance the TV viewing experience.”

Pushbutton has always been the first independent agency to harness the power of the new enabling technologies. Increasing the firm’s investment in R&D expertise for these areas will keep the company ahead of the competition, said Byrne.

“Pushbutton is now the ‘go to’ digital agency in London if you need help with connected devices, 3D television, or IP-based TV based on Microsoft Mediaroom or over the top, straight from the Internet, video-based concepts,” added Byrne.

“I am delighted to announce this new appointment. It shows Pushbutton has emerged strongly from the recession, and is now at the threshold of a new growth phase, as we position ourselves to exploit the new wave of TV technologies,” said Byrne.

June 2, 2010

Social TV concept wows Deutcshe Telekom judges

Filed under: 2010 archive, Press — Tags: , , , , , , , — Eugene @ 4:51 pm

Pushbutton has taken second prize in a global competition organised by Deutsche Telekom with its PLAN-IT TV app, designed to run on the Microsoft Mediaroom-based IPTV service.

The Pushbutton concept is a social TV planning tool, designed to help families plan their viewing, with the aid of an engaging app.

PLAN-IT TV makes best use of IPTV and broadcast media so that viewers can relax, sit back, and enjoy their viewing without all the hard work. Using profiling and recommendation engine techniques, PLAN-IT TV will take the arguments out of family TV schedule planning.

It embraces the family TV and the family group to create a superior social viewing experience. PLAN-IT TV knows what individual family members like to watch, and it recalibrates its viewing recommendations based on which family members are present.

Put simply, PLAN-IT TV takes the entire family and creates a whole packaged evening of entertainment based on their collective profile. Family members can be added into the mix and seeding can be adjusted to produce a different line up. Think of it as autopilot for your remote control.

This takes all the hassle out of searching for the latest TV content that everyone can enjoy and allows content providers to deliver premium content packaged alongside other quality programming.

Pushbutton Managing Director, Paula Byrne, said, “Our PLAN-IT TV app shows the way families will enjoy TV viewing in the future. It is an intelligent TV friend that will help families arrive at the best television to suit everyone. It is there to suggest, to learn, and to help – using clever profiling and recommendation engine techniques. I am immensely proud that Deutsche Telekom spotted the potential of our app, and awarded a prize to it in their competition.”

© Pushbutton 2010