05/23, 1:05am
Boston's 'The Cable Show' host for Comcast's announcements
In a trio of recent announcements from cable giant Comcast, the company announced Voice 2Go, adding a new assortment of features for the Xfinity Voice suite pulled from the smartphone feature set. Also at Boston's The Cable Show Comcast's new next-generation customizable user interface codenamed "Project Dayview" was demonstrated. Rounding out the trio of announcements, the X1 cloud-based IPTV service was also shown. All three services will be rolled out to select markets by the end of this year.
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05/22, 12:40pm
Video player gets 're-engineered'
Video service Hulu has released a major update of Hulu Plus for iOS, v2.5. Most of the focus of the update is on iPad support, since it adds compatibility with the third-generation iPad's Retina display, and also enhances the native interface. Hulu has moreover improved AirPlay mirroring and HDMI output, which should also work when an iPad is in operating in split view mode. Users must have at least an iPad 2 or an iPhone 4S.
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05/22, 11:46am
Promises interruption-free transfers
TiVo has announced early details of a new service, TiVo Stream. The platform will allow owners of Premiere or Premiere Q DVRs to access content on an iPhone or iPad. More importantly however, people will be able to stream or download shows to multiple devices simultaneously without interrupting playback on a TV. Users should in fact be able to "quickly transfer shows to their mobile device for viewing outside the home," though few other details have been made public.
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05/17, 9:25am
Viacom content returning to Time Warner iOS app
Viacom and Time Warner Cable have agreed to drop lawsuits against one another over the latter's TWC TV app for iOS, according to a joint statement. "All of Viacom’s programming will now be available to Time Warner Cable subscribers for in-home viewing via internet protocol-enabled devices such as iPads and Time Warner Cable will continue to carry Viacom’s Country Music Television (CMT) programming," the release reads. "In reaching the settlement agreement, Time Warner Cable and Viacom were also able to resolve other unrelated business matters to their mutual satisfaction. Neither side is conceding its original legal position or will have further comment."
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05/14, 3:21pm
Manufacturer pushes back against 'iTV' leak accusations
Foxconn is disavowing suggestions that chairman Terry Gou leaked news of an Apple TV set, writes The Next Web. Last week, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou was believed to have confirmed the existence of an Apple-branded TV. The executive was misquoted, Foxconn now says, and the company can neither confirm nor speculate about any such hardware.
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05/13, 6:28pm
Company could have helped in creation of Apple TV
A German TV maker, Loewe AG, is denying rumors that it has been in talks with Apple about a possible buyout, according to Heise Online. A tip to AppleInsider recently suggested a deal worth $113 million, and that Loewe's board of directors were going to make a decision before May 18th. A Loewe spokesman now insists, however, that there is "absolutely nothing" to the claims.
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05/11, 11:03am
Supplier 'making preparations,' no development begun
Asian supplier Foxconn is making preparations for an Apple TV set, but development and manufacturing hasn't begun, according to company chairman Terry Gou. China Daily reports that the executive made the comments in a recent speech. Gou also indicated that a recent deal with Sharp was made with an Apple TV set in mind; in March Foxconn bought a 10 percent stake in Sharp for $808 million, helping out the latter company's finances. Apple has reportedly been interested in using Sharp IGZO panels for iPads, and could conceivably use them in a TV as well.
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05/07, 2:00pm
Hardware said to resemble oversized Thunderbolt Display
A "well-placed" source has seen a prototype of Apple's upcoming TV set, claims Cult of Mac. Visually the hardware is said to resemble Apple's current Thunderbolt Display, but with a size "much larger" than 27 inches. The centerpiece is actually an iSight camera, which will allegedly support Siri voice commands and FaceTime video calls.
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05/03, 11:56am
Another Apple TV box may arrive before full TV
Despite rumors of an Apple television set launching this year, JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz has cast doubt on the imminent timing. The investment bank has reportedly failed to find any evidence of a "TV-related product launch" in the near future, though Moskowitz does admit that Apple may "radically alter the TV landscape" if the reports surrounding an HDTV prove accurate.
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04/27, 1:35pm
145-inch flicker free 8K TV developed in Japan
Panasonic and Japanese broadcaster NHK have worked together on a 145-inch plasma TV with a native resolution of 7680x4320. The 8K display, referred to as "Super Hi-Vision" in Japan, is a marked increase in size compared to another NHK collaboration of 85 inches.
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04/16, 9:55pm
Aims to improve sound in personal media libraries
The forthcoming Ceton Echo will incorporate DTS audio enhancements to help users experience immersive sound through all kinds of digital media, from TV to web streaming to their own media libraries. The product essentially works like a bare-bones Apple TV, allowing Windows 7 computers and Ceton Q gateways to stream media from local machines. For PCs equipped with an InfiniTV digital cable tuner, it adds remote DVR and TV capabilities.
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04/05, 10:25pm
Simultaneous use prevalent in US market
The majority of smartphone and tablet owners in the US use their mobile device several times a week while watching television, according to survey data published by Nielsen. The trend was shown to be strongest in the US, where 88 percent of tablet owners and 86 percent of smartphone owners reported simultaneous usage at least once in a 30-day period.
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03/28, 10:55pm
iSuppli data signals change in flat-panel market
Sales numbers for flat-panel televisions distributed in the US may fall this year, for the first time on an annual basis, according to a forecast published by research firm iSuppli. Shipments are expected to decline to 37.1 million units, a five percent slide from the 39.1 million units that were shipped in 2011.
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03/21, 3:10pm
Still limited to on-demand video
DirecTV has released a new version of its iPad app, v1.5.0. Users can now watch movies and TV shows over a 3G or 4G connection instead of just Wi-Fi. While live TV is still restricted to Wi-Fi, apps from other TV networks often block cellular support completely.
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03/13, 11:15am
Analyst holds to fourth-quarter launch date
Apple could start commercial production of a TV set in May or June, likely building somewhere between 2 to 5 million units, says Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek. The claim is based on a recent trip to Asia. "We believe specialty components have begun to ship to Apple’s Asia panel suppliers with polarized films, filters, and [Sharp] IGZO components starting to move in small quantities," he writes. As before, a fourth-quarter launch is anticipated.
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03/12, 12:20pm
Fox, Universal, WB tapped for initial deals
HBO is relaxing terms on streaming content to services like iCloud, according to a company spokesman. To attract viewers, the cable network regularly buys exclusive rights to movies; these windows usually start six months after a title's disc release, and persist for roughly a year. HBO's terms frequently prevent movies from being sold online or through video-on-demand services during a window.
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03/06, 10:00pm
Popular shows on ad-supported app for free
Following in the footsteps of its ABC Player program, which gave mobile users full episodes of hit ABC series in an ad-supported app, the company has announced the launch of an ABC Family app that showcases full episodes with ad support of the channel's original series, such as Jane By Design, Switched at Birth and The Secret Life of an American Teenager. Episodes become available the day after they air on TV.
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03/06, 3:10pm
Cites patents, rumors as reasons for action
A US company, iTV Entertainment, is preemptively pursuing Apple over the iTV name, according to a press release. "iTV Entertainment, LLC announced today that its counsel, Bart S. Fisher, had sent a letter to Apple, Inc. board director, Al Gore, suggesting that a meeting be held 'to see if an amicable and fair transaction arrangement' could be made between the parties with regard to Apple’s use of the 'iTV' mark displayed throughout their U.S. Patent No. 2011/0154394 A1 for a product that is rumored to be in development by and being planned for a possible launch in 2012," the company writes. "Apple describes its device as being 'an audio and video entertainment center'."
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03/01, 8:35pm
All major NYC broadcasters involved in suits
A number of broadcasting companies have quickly moved to sue Aereo, a startup that aims to stream broadcast HDTV content. The broadcasters are attempting to prevent the service from launching, accusing the startup of copyright infringement and asking judges to order an injunction to block the service before it becomes available to the public.
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02/29, 7:15pm
Offers live and video-on-demand content
Having offered a similar but different app for the Android Market, Sprint today debuted its free Sprint TV App for iOS that offers all three major networks along with other channels free of charge for Sprint iPhone customers on the company's unlimited data plan. The channels can also be watched on Wi-Fi or 3G for those with less-than-unlimited plans, and include NBC, ABC, CBS, The Weather Channel, ESPN Mobile, the Disney Channel and more.
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02/27, 5:00pm
Can also work with other devices, including TVs
Home, car and recreational audio equipment maker Pyle has unveiled its new PSBM60I iOS Sound Bar Docking System that both charges the devices and uses them to deliver up to 300 watts of sound utilizing a 5.25-inch woofer, two three-inch full-range speakers and two one-inch tweeters. The dock can be used with non-iOS devices via a 3.5mm mini-cable and can even be be used for DVD or TV sound via RCA cables.
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02/23, 4:00pm
Hints at Facebook integration in future tech
Apple would like to integrate Facebook more deeply into its products, CEO Tim Cook suggested at Apple's annual shareholders meeting today. "Facebook: friend. We do a lot with them, our users use Facebook an enormous amount...I've always thought that the two companies could do more together," Cook commented during the meeting's Q&A session. "We've integrated Twitter...It's been great for Twitter, but it's been great for our users." He also noted that iMessage traffic has been "incredible" so far.
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02/20, 9:45am
Special may have conflict of interest
ABC is now teasing its upcoming special on Foxconn, which airs on Nightline Tuesday at 11:35PM Eastern/Pacific time. Called iFactory: Inside Apple, the special claims to show how Apple products are made at Foxconn's major campus in Shenzhen, China. It comes in response to renewed criticism of working conditions at Apple suppliers, which in the case of Foxconn have included complaints like low pay, extreme hours, and debatable safety; a number of Foxconn workers have thrown themselves from buildings in the past couple of years.
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02/16, 8:35pm
Prices set to rise from 2011 models
Pricing details for Samsung's 2012 HDTV lineup may have surfaced ahead of schedule. A leaked price list, which was posted by HD Guru, suggests that the company may be raising the minimum advertised price (MAP) for many of its latest LCD and plasma televisions. The high-end 8000 series LED-backlit LCDs are said to start at $2699 for the 46-inch variant, while the 75-inch model is expected to command $7299.
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02/14, 5:00pm
Apple 'might find something larger' than set-top
Apple CEO Tim Cook may have hinted at the prospect of an Apple TV set during today's now-concluded talk in front of the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. The executive was asked about the current Apple TV set-top and possibilities such as a full-sized TV. "We don't want to send a message to you or shareholders that the market for it [the Apple TV set-top] is the size of our other businesses...we don't want to send a message that the length of that leg on the stool is the same as the others," he commented.
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02/13, 11:20am
Broadcaster first took stance in 2010
UK broadcaster ITV has written a new letter to Apple warning it not to use the name "iTV" for its upcoming TV set, claims The Telegraph. The newspaper notes that ITV CEO Adam Crozier first raised the issue with Apple when he took office in 2010. At the time, Apple is said to have reassured ITV that it wouldn't use the name, at least not in the UK.
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02/06, 11:05am
Mentions iOS, apps, iCloud, webcam
A new Best Buy customer survey is asking for feedback on a potential "Apple HDTV," says The Verge. Mockup promotional text touts that "Apple finally reinvents what a TV can do," and describes the display as a 42-inch, 1080p LED model, running the same version of iOS used in the current Apple TV set-top. Like the set-top, the TV could be controlled via an iPad or iPhone, fetch content from iCloud, and access services like Netflix, YouTube, and Flickr.
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02/03, 1:35pm
Info stems from meeting with Apple execs
Apple is likely uninterested in building a MacBook Air with an ARM-based processor, says Citigroup's Richard Gardner. The analyst met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer at the company's Cupertino campus on Thursday, when among other things Cook repeated a view that iOS expansion will eventually result in tablets outselling conventional PCs. "We have wondered whether Apple might offer an ARM-based version of the MacBook Air at some point; we walked away from this meeting with the impression that Apple feels iPad satisfies -- or will soon satisfy -- the needs of those who might have been interested in such a product," writes Gardner in a new memo.
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02/01, 1:35pm
Terms for program guide technology might change
An Apple TV set could require Apple to pay a higher amount of royalties to Rovi, says Piper Jaffray analyst Michael Olson. Rovi owns patents to related to interactive program guide technology, for which Apple is paying an annual license fee. The two companies signed a contract in September 2010.
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02/01, 9:50am
Production sets may still be some distance away
Apple is in the middle of shopping around for parts for its TV, says Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster. The analyst says he recently spoke to sources within a "major TV component supplier," who told him that Apple had contacted the company "regarding various capabilities of their television display components." Munster considers the information "continued evidence that Apple is exploring production of a television."
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01/26, 9:55am
Would remove 'clutter' from regular remotes
A newly-published patent application, originally submitted in September, hints at some of what Apple might have planned for its rumored TV set. The filing is titled Apparatus and Method to Facilitate Universal Remote Control, and complains that most remotes need a sea of buttons to control all functions. "The controls that are not normally used clutter the remote control and can cause confusion to the user when trying to locate a seldom-used feature," Apple writes.
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01/24, 7:20pm
Over 2.8M in 2011 sales falls short of predictions
The latest generation of Apple TV also received a bump during Apple's record holiday season, selling as many units in the last three months of 2011 as it had in the nine months prior, for a total of "just over" 2.8 million units total in 2011, less than the million units per quarter predicted by some analysts but still making it the most popular device of its type, its main competition being the standalone Google TV units as sold by Samsung and Logitech.
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01/13, 6:50pm
Company premiers 55" OLED model
LG showed off a range of new products this week at CES, including a number of new TVs. Electronista took an early look at the company's 2012 lineup, which includes many 3D models and a 55-inch OLED flagship that stunned the crowds with its extreme contrast ratio and color saturation.
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01/10, 4:10pm
Initially limited to U-verse, FiOS subscribers
Cable channel Showtime has launched a new iPad app, Showtime Anytime. The app provides on-demand access to a selection of movies and TV shows. Showtime in fact promises access to all of its original series, such as Dexter, Homeland, Californication, and Showtime Championship Boxing. Movies include the likes of Inglourious Basterds and The King's Speech.
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01/10, 2:45pm
Initial access limited to Denver, Nashville
Comcast has begun an initial rollout of its AnyPlay TV service for the iPad. The technology allows Comcast subscribers to watch live TV over their home Wi-Fi network, regardless of what someone may be watching on a TV in another room. On top of the Wi-Fi restriction, though, the option is currently available only to Xfinity HD Triple Play subscribers, and just those in Denver and Nashville.
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01/10, 4:15am
Panasonic hatches 2012 TV range at CES 2012
Panasonic has announced a huge lineup of new TVs for 2012 at CES. Previously reserving the large screen sizes for its line of plasma displays, Panasonic has now introduced two new lines of IPS LED LCD displays, the DT50 and the WT50. The new sets come in 47- and 55-inch sizes, which are surrounded in by an ultrathin metal silver metal frame.
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01/05, 11:35pm
New tech to be displayed at CES
Toshiba has announced that it will show off several upcoming products next week at CES, including a waterproof tablet and a large glasses-free 3D TV. Aside from the waterproof tablet, which also offers wireless charging, the company will show off a different model that integrates an OLED display.
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01/05, 11:00am
Company sticking to usual model
Apple isn't planning to bid on the rights to stream English Premier League football games, claims UK newspaper The Guardian. Earlier in the week, the Daily Mail hinted that Apple might compete with traditional media outlets for the property. The Guardian says "it is understood that Apple has not discussed bidding for the rights," though, and moreover adds that the company is "unlikely to do so, despite rumoured plans to launch an Apple TV device."
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01/04, 5:05pm
Models range in size from 19" to 70"
Westinghouse has announced that it will formally unveil its 2012 television lineup next week at CES in Las Vegas. The forthcoming offerings will include an expanded size range from 19 to 70 inches, including LED-backlit and traditional CCFL-based models, along with 3D-capable TVs and a thin bezel design.
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01/04, 12:25pm
May dispel rumors of smaller sets
Apple is working on a TV set measuring 42 inches "or larger," according to a USA Today source. The person is said to have worked at Apple, and claims that the unit is an LCD with built-in Wi-Fi. Jonathan Ive -- the company's senior VP of industrial design -- is moreover said to have a 50-inch TV sitting in his design studio.
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01/03, 6:45pm
Will gauge consumer interest after CES
The chairman of Chinese LCD monitor maker Amtran has told industry trade publication Digitimes that his company, one of several OEM suppliers to Apple, will consider getting into the OLED monitor and potentially television business after gauging market conditions following the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The recent introduction by LG of a 55-inch OLED HDTV has fuelled speculation that Apple may use OLED for its rumored HDTV product.
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01/03, 12:00am
Company still in legal battle with networks
FilmOn, which has been engaged in a legal battle with major networks over the licensing of content, has announced an end-run around the issues with the announcement of FilmOn AIR, an ATSC digital antenna that plugs into either computers or mobile devices and displays legal "over-the-air" digital signals from the major networks and any other local broadcasters. The device is free with every annual US-based subscription to FilmOn's service.
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12/29, 3:40pm
Apple-made TV also not expected to show
Contrary to a recent DigiTimes report, Apple is not planning to show off new iPads at Macworld|iWorld, says The Loop's Jim Dalrymple. The writer cites "a number" of his sources, who say that an iPad 3 won't show at Macworld, or even at the Consumer Electronics Show; both events are scheduled for January. The sources also add that Apple's upcoming TV set won't make an appearance.
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12/28, 10:40pm
3D UDTV expected to arrive next year
LG has disclosed additional details surrounding an 84-inch 3D TV that is expected to arrive on the market sometime next year. The panel is capable of displaying 4K content with 3840x2160 resolution, though it also displays in standard 1080p resolution.
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12/28, 10:45am
Set may be finalized by end of Q2 2012
Three more companies could be potential suppliers for the Apple TV set, say DigiTimes sources. These include Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Siliconware Precision Industries, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Sharp and Samsung were recently reported as producing LCDs and chips, respectively.
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12/14, 3:45pm
Takes less sentimental approach to Jobs
BBC HD and Two are tonight airing a new documentary on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, titled Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy. The special goes on at 9PM local time, and is said to include insiders like Steve Wozniak and John Sculley, as well as other personalities like actor Stephen Fry, and an inventor of the web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee. It is however described as presenting a more "ruthless image of Jobs," for instance revealing that Wozniak cried after he learned through a book that Jobs had scammed money from him during a game project for Atari.
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12/12, 3:10pm
Apple poised to dominate smart TVs, says analyst
The Apple TV is on track take 32 percent of the Internet-ready TV set-top market in 2011, claims research firm Strategy Analytics. Both Apple and Roku set-tops are said to be doing well as a result of their makers lowering prices. Globally, the market for such devices is forecast to reach just under 12 million units by the end of the year.
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12/06, 12:05pm
Goes beyond web, iPad, set-tops
Global iPlayer will make it to the iPhone and iPod touch on December 8th, the BBC has announced. The paid video-on-demand service has been available on the iPad for about five months. A list of countries getting the iPhone app on the 8th includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
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12/01, 1:10pm
Should reach US shortly after 'pilot' effort
The BBC has expanded its Global iPlayer service for the iPad to Canada, says The Hollywood Reporter. Users can access BBC TV shows on demand, something normally reserved for UK license fee payers, who can tap various forms of iPlayer for free. In Canada iPlayer access costs $9 a month, or $85 a year. Content is based on local demand and rights, but some initial shows include Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Whitechapel, Hustle and MI-5.
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11/29, 9:35pm
TV expected in the first quarter of next year
Lenovo is reportedly preparing to launch a 'smart' television, which will be designed to work in conjunction with smartphones, tablets and computers. The company has yet to disclose full details, though the new TVs are said to take advantage of Internet connections and capable of sharing content between the company's range of devices.
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