Walmart VUDU Web App Announced, By Passes Apple Content Tax

Walmart VUDU Web App http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Walmart on Wednesday announced it's new VUDU web app, designed to by pass Apple 30% tax and provide users with subscription-less on demand video service.

Walmart Press release;

SANTA CLARA, Calif. and BENTONVILLE, Ark. – (Aug. 10, 2011) – Walmart announced today the launch of VUDU for the iPad. VUDU, a leading subscription-free, video-on-demand movie service and wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart stores, has optimized the navigation experience of VUDU.com to enable millions of iPad owners to rent or buy entertainment content and then stream it easily through any iPad browser.

Beginning today, iPad users can go to VUDU.com and browse through VUDU’s entertainment content library, which includes more than 20,000 blockbusters, Hollywood classics, independent films and TV episodes, then rent or purchase and watch them instantly. For one touch access to VUDU, customers can add a VUDU icon to their iPad desktops by clicking the “Add to Home Screen” button when on VUDU.com.

“At Walmart, one of our key priorities is to provide one continuous experience for our customers to interact with our brand — whether that is in stores, online or from their mobile devices,” said Edward Lichty, general manager, VUDU. “VUDU’s launch on the iPad plays into that vision as we’re committed to offering the VUDU experience on as many devices as possible so customers can shop for and access their favorite movies and TV shows however they want, whenever they want.”

Movies purchased and/or rented on the iPad can also be viewed on Walmart.com/VUDU, VUDU.com or on any VUDU-enabled consumer electronics device. VUDU is currently available on more than 300 consumer electronics devices including Internet-capable HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players and the PlayStation 3 — more than any other pay-per-view service.

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About VUDU

A leader in HD streaming, VUDU offers the world’s largest online selection of HD movies, including thousands of blockbusters, Hollywood classics and indies available in stunning HDX 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound. Movies are available the same day they are released on DVD or Blu-ray, and can be rented or purchased without a subscription. VUDU is available on Internet-capable HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players from FUNAI Electronics (Magnavox, Sylvania), LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba and VIZIO, and on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system from Sony. VUDU is a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Stores, Inc., and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. For more information, visit http://www.vudu.com/.

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,200 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

Walmart

Financial Times Bypasses 30% Apple Tax, Publishes Own HTML5 Web App For Tablets And Smartphones!

Financial Times Bypasses 30% Apple Toll Gate http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Looks like not everyone wants to pay Apple 30% to publish content on iTunes. We all knew it is possible to bypass iTunes and publish content but I guess either big boys are scared or ignorant.
Financial Times, FT has bypassed the norm and has launched the HTML5 Web App that works across all platforms that support HTML5, which means most of the major mobile platforms today. But Financial Times admit that the app has been optimized for iPhone and iPad, for now. But Android and Blackberry readiness is not far away. FT also mentions that it is far easier this way than making a few different Native Apps.
Despite the difficulties in developing HTML5 apps due to the technology being new and the lack of documentation and tool, industry pundits say that the app was well developed and is as good as the native app. But the difference is FT is able to drive customers to the web app by advertising and other means and be able to track the conversations. Which is impossible with the apps on Apple store.
Not having to pay Apple Tax was not mentioned but you can read it in the following statement;
“The FT Web App offers our customers flexibility and freedom of choice with access to our global journalism anytime, anywhere, with a single login or subscription. In a world of increasingly digital complexity we want to keep our service simple, easy to use and efficient to offer our customers the best possible experience of FT journalism.”
The app seems to have been well thought out and features like offline access, auto update of the app is able to access information generated, just for the tablets.
Future upgrade, "Clippings" service will allow users to read articles later, either on the mobile device or desktop PC.
Accessing content is free up to ten articles per month if one registers.
Apple's Publisher tax will kick in soon alongside the requirement that subscribers sign in through Apple store!
FT via Techcrunch