OnLive gets into streaming apps

OnLive at the D: Dive Into Mobile show today expanded its scope beyond just gaming with plans to stream regular apps and websites to other devices. The company targeted it at mobile users and showed apps and features running through the OnLive Viewer iPad client (free, App Store) that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. Users could run an instance of Internet Explorer with Flash on Apple's tablet, or even a high-end professional rendering app like Autodesk's Maya, chief executive Steve Perlman proved on stage.

The support would also extend to Android through a beta for the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and on all platforms would support spectating on someone else's session. The Maya demo had both another iPad and a Galaxy Tab viewing the same event. Collaborative editing isn't possible with the current version, but hasn't been ruled out.

Lag is still expected to be a factor but isn't as important as in gaming. Movies are coming, Perlman said, and could support all the interaction and extra features you would expect on a regular Blu-ray player. Details still aren't known but would more likely involve a Netflix-style subscription.

Pricing for the extra features hasn't been given out but may follow the purchase, rental and subscription models already in use today.

By Electronista Staff