Yesterday saw the release of a new Sky+ app android update, which is said to bring a host of new features that iOS users have been enjoying for months. However, it is still evident that some features are still missing, such as on-demand listings, which to Sky customers with an iPhone or iPad has been a godsend because it allows them access to far more content as well as the ability to record them as well direct to their Sky+ HD boxes

Android users can finally use their devices as a remote to control their Sky+ HD boxes, so they can just swipe their fingers or tap to forward, reward and pause. Users can also change channels, view their planner and even select something new to record or delete programs from the planner, which is a great addition to the app.

This update has been a long time coming and made worse by the fact that iOS users have been enjoying these features for months now, although the iPad had it for a couple of months before the iPhone did.

In order to take advantage of the Sky+ app for Android you will need to have a device with Android 2.2 Froyo or later, although we cannot see this being an issue because there are not likely to be many Android devices running such an old version of the mobile OS.

The one issue that we feel needs to be added is a volume button in the app, but this maybe an issue because it needs to also link to your TV. However, I have an app for my Samsung TV as well, so have total control, although it can get annoying having to keep syncing to the TV every time I open the app.

UK residents were recently offered the Netflix streaming service for the first time, and now Sky has announced new TV service via the internet to be launched during the first half of the year. According to a report on Electric Pig the new service will be available to anyone with a broadband connection.

The company has revealed that it will be accessed on a number of different platforms that include PCs, smartphones, Macs, connected TVs, and games consoles. This could mean that PlayStation 3 owners may get the service as owners of the Xbox 360 already has access to some Sky services.

Currently PS3 owners can rent some Sky shows via the PS Store, but is a lot less content to what Sky is talking about now. The service will exist alongside Sky Go but is different as you won’t need to subscribe to any service. Users will be able to simply rent a single movie or if they subscribe to a monthly package have unlimited access to Sky Movies.

Sky promises that streaming will be instant with an interface that will be “intuitive” to use. It will be ideal for consumers who want Sky TV but are unable to install a satellite dish for whatever reason.

The broadcaster is adding some new channels to its mobile TV service that will include the new Sky Sports F1 channel. For the first time it will also be available for Android users to enjoy and according to a report on TechRadar will launch next month.

Back in November we brought you the news that the Android Sky Go app would be launching in the coming months. Sky Go first launched last July and offers subscribers to the company the chance to watch content via a Wi-Fi or 3G connection.

While owners of the iOS devices and PC users have had access to the service Android owners have been left waiting. This year’s F1 season begins on March 16th with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, and users of the Samsung Galaxy and HTC devices will get the service first. This would be an ideal opportunity to go out and buy the Galaxy Note with is huge 5.3-inch screen.

Sky is also adding its Entertainment channels to the Sky Go app, which includes Sky Atlantic from today. Coming next month Sky 1, Sky Arts 1, and Sky Living will also be added. The iOS app already offers user’s access to Sky Movies with more than 600 movies available.

The company is also adding free Wi-Fi to customers of its Broadband Unlimited service, which will be provided by The Cloud. This will provide more than 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in places such as Caffe Nero and Pizza Express.

Are you pleased to be finally getting the Sky Go app on Android?

It has been officially announced that the BBC iPlayer will finally be available to Sky customers after the two broadcasting operations agreed a deal. This will see the UKs largest video on demand service arrive on the satellite TV service. The iPlayer is already available on a number of platforms such as the likes of Virgin Media according to a report on TechRadar.

A launch date of later this year will be welcome news for around five million Sky subscribers. The service will come via the Anytime+ feature that allows users to download content to their Sky box via the internet. This is where there is more good news for customers, as previously only those subscribing to Sky Broadband could get Anytime+.

Now as part of the deal with the BBC Anytime+ will now be available to anyone who connects their Sky box to their internet connection regardless of what ISP they use. The press release about the news said that this move was “an important development in helping to bring BBC iPlayer to around 5 million new homes in 2012 – at no extra charge“.

The BBC iPlayer has become a global success but was a major service gap on the Sky TV service. Sky’s Jeremy Darroch said the Anytime+ service “will go from strength to strength in 2012”, and added that subscribers can now enjoy BBC content “whenever they want”. It was also confirmed that iTV content was also coming to Sky as well.

Are you pleased to hear that the BBC iPlayer is coming to Sky?

The company is set to launch a new redesigned internet TV service in the coming weeks, and according to FT.com consumers will be offered a more personalized service along with social media elements. BT is planning to bring with the redesign more interactivity along with the large library of on-demand content.

Its service provides customers a pay TV service that includes movies and live sports via the internet, and is being used by the telecoms company as another way to generate revenue besides the traditional phone and broadband services.

Users will get a system that provides personalized recommendations that are tailored to the viewer’s tastes. There will also be some social media involvement brought by BT Vision that is being enhanced in preparation for the YouView internet TV launch. This is being supported by the company along with the main TV channels. This will be available on YouView that is the next version of the Freeview platform thought to be launched in May.

BT Vision has not lived up to expectations since it was first launched as it faces stiff competition from the likes of Sky TV, Virgin Media, and Amazon’s Lovefilm. BT has revealed that during its second quarter up to September, 41,000 new customers signed up to its service, which was the highest number for over two years.

This brings the total of subscribers to the service to around 639,000, and is far less than the two to three million BT had wanted by 2011. Do you have BT Vision?

According to an article over at TechRadar the BBC Trust has relaxed rules where its content can only be shown on demand via its iPlayer. This could well mean that all or some of the BBC’s back catalogue finally getting onto the Sky TV subscription service. Before now Sky have refused to replicate the BBC’s iPlayer onto its catch up service Sky Go.

We may even see BBC content finding its way to other services such as Netflix and LoveFilm as well. in the UK Virgin Media have been offering the iPlayer on its TiVo box, but Sky refused the service as they would have to take all the iPlayer content and display it in an iPlayer style setting. This was instead of it being able to decide what content from the BBC it actually wanted to show.

There are supposed to been talks between the BBC and Sky for a while now, and could have resulted in the BBC relaxing its rules. The new rule basically says that it’s in the interests of license fee payers being able to access BBC content from a variety of platforms and devices.

It continues by saying that iPlayer content should be clearly marked as BBC content, but there are times that special arrangements can be made to change this. If this does happen it will please many consumers who use Sky or Netflix.

Would you like to see the BBC iPlayer on Sky or Netflix?

The comedian/actor thought that he would produce a short film where he shares his passion for the next stage in television viewing. We all know how Fry loves to embrace technology – Twitter being the most obvious of his love.

In the short film that you can view on the Sky website, he talks about how 3D technology works. MSN UK picks up on the fact that Stephen fry has an encyclopedic knowledge, so had to be the obvious choice for this short film.

Sky 3D will be launched on October 1, 2010 and will consist of documentaries, films and sports. All this will be available for free for those who already have a Sky HD package.