Maybe you travel for work. Maybe you travel for fun. Maybe you have a long and boring commute on the train every morning. Whatever the case, you might not be in your living room to watch your favorite TV shows. And that’s where the Vulkano Flow can come into the picture.

Yeah, it sounds similar in scope to something like a Slingbox. The “placeshifter” comes preloaded with software for PC and Mac clients, but you can also download a number of clients for your portable devices. Right now, they’ve got support for iOS, Android and BlackBerry, but they’re working on clients for Windows Phone 7 and Symbian too.

All of the clients have electronic programming guides and you can record your TV on your PC/Mac for later viewing anywhere. It’ll work with any service provider and streams at up to 2.5mbps. And yes, you can do the usual fast forwarding and rewinding of live TV too.

Something that comes off as a little silly is that the PC and Mac clients come included with the $99 Vulkano Flow device, but you have to fork out $12.99 for each of the mobile apps. Shouldn’t they just include that?

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That’s because Bell Mobility has just expanded its enhanced Mobile TV service, bringing more content from its various Bell Media partners. This is for both live television, as well as on-demand video from the likes of CTV, TSN, Comedy Network, and so on.

There are at least four packages for you to consider on your Bell smartphone (Atrix!) or tablet. Bell Mobile TV sports costs $5 a month, which gives you 10 hours of video (including data charges). That tosses in expanded TSN, TSN2, and RDS live events, as well as a range of NHl content, Canadiens content, NFL games (though that lockout could mean you’re waiting more than a year for any new games), and even the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Other packages, all of which include 10 hours of watching, range from the $5 Bell Mobile TV Variety with CTV News and live MTV to the $5 Bell Mobile HBO with on-demand HBO. For a taste of everything, the $10 Bell Tablet TV is probably a decent fit.

This all sounds well and good until you consider than ten hours of streaming is barely more than three full hockey games. With the Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner (Go Canucks Go!), you’d be advised to be careful of overages!

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Using Facebook, Twitter and other apps to chat with friends and give real-time accounts of what they’re watching, the trend was previously noted in the U.S. at 86 per cent of those under 25 doing the same.

In the U.S., this has sparked a new trend of “second screening,” where old movies and shows are run on TV with live commentary via social media. For example, HBO’s screening of 14-year-old movie Private Parts with commentary by Howard Stern, which garnered far higher ratings than the average rerun.

And while the trend is catching on in Britain, there’s still a question of how to profit off of the trend.

“Up until 12 months ago, TV was struggling to reach the younger market as more and more channels were becoming available,” Digital Clarity founder Reggie James said in an interview with Reuters. “Social TV has changed this completely by turning programs into online events where you have to watch them as they happen.

“The audience have already taken their seats and are ready to join the conversation,” James said. “It’s now up to the TV companies to tap into this huge and lucrative market.”

Reuters reports television networks are using this as a new marketplace to pitch to advertisers.

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Though with other mobile alternatives to media entertainment, most notable, the products coming from the good people at Apple, a unique selling feature of these products is the fact that they are able to stream live feeds. With that said, Mobile DTV is a relatively an untapped market in the US, and RCA has recognized the opportunity and is the first to launch a line of portable television products that can receive Mobile DTV signals and standard digital TV. The new line-up includes three models of RCA’s hybrid portable systems, a 3.5” and 7” screen and one small Mobile DTV Car Tuner Receiver that is designed to add live, streaming TV signals to your existing auto infotainment systems, allowing for the potential of live, up to the minute, traffic and weather reports on your dashboard. Below is a detailed list of the RCA products.

3.5” Hybrid Portable Television — Model DMT335R (suggested retail price $109), with a bright LED backlit LCD screen, hybrid ATSC or Mobile DTV reception, AC power or up to 4 hours of playback time on rechargeable AA batteries, real-time signal strength indicator, closed captioning capability, easel-back stand, English/Spanish display and monopole antenna.

3.5” Hybrid Portable Television — Model DMT336R (suggested retail price $149), with a widescreen, ultra-bright LED backlit LCD screen, hybrid ATSC or Mobile DTV reception, FM radio reception, AC power or up to 4 hours of playback time on internal Lithium Polymer battery, real-time signal strength indicator, closed captioning capability, easel-back stand, English/Spanish display and monopole antenna.

7” Hybrid Portable Television — Model DMT270R (suggested retail price $169), with an 800×480 high resolution widescreen LCD screen featuring 500:1 contrast ratio, hybrid ATSC or Mobile DTV reception, AC power or up to 3 hours of playback time on built-in Lithium Polymer battery that can recharge while plugged in to a wall outlet or auto power source, real-time signal strength indicator, closed captioning capability, easel-back stand, English/Spanish display and 360 degree adjustable antenna.

Pocket Mobile DTV Car Tuner Receiver – Model DMT3BR (suggested retail price $119), featuring a discrete design that is smaller than a deck of cards, hybrid ATSC or Mobile DTV reception, powered by car charger, easy connection to the car infotainment system’s audio and video input jacks, remote control, and a monopole antenna.

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Telegent Movile TV on Samsung Star TV S5233T handset

I guess you could say that I’m lucky to work from home. The television is never too far away, so I can always hop over to catch a program or two during my self-imposed breaks. That said, it would still be nice to watch TV while on the go and it seems that Telegent has us covered on that front.

Today, Telegent Systems announced that its analog mobile TV receiver will be shipping with the Samsung Star TV S5233T handset. The touchscreen cell phone offers a large display, making it a perfect candidate for mobile television enjoyment.

Using this handset and the Telegent solution, consumers have the opportunity to enjoy free-to-air TV. That’s free, live, and over the air. You get a “rich graphical” touchscreen control scheme, which includes the ability to “flick” the screen to change channels. You can also do screen captures and record for later viewing.

That’s the good news. The bad news, at least for us, is that the Samsung Star TV S5233T is currently only available in Southeast Asia, for now.

“Analog mobile TV has rapidly gained the attention of consumers worldwide.  Analyst firm Forward Concepts estimates that free-to-air mobile TV accounts for more than half of the world market for broadcast TV handsets shipped in 2009.  Devices that support these standards enable a global market for mobile TV, with more than 88% of the world’s population continuing to receive analog broadcast TV signals during 2013.”

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FLO TV will be unveiling a series of commercials during this weekends Saints vs. Colts game for Super Bowl XLIV. 100 million people are estimated to be watching the program, earning television networks roughly $2.5 million for a 30 second ad spot, one of three FLO TV will be airing at a cost to the company of over $7.5 million.

“Certainly over the last four months, consumer awareness has been elevated significantly, but it is still low for the whole category and our brand. We will be doing some heavy lifting to meet both of those challenges.” said Jayne Hancock, FLO’s VP of Marketing to mocoNews.

CBS Sports Commentator James Brown will kick-off the first FLO TV ad about an hour before the game, Brown introduces a family on a road trip to the service. The ad called “Driven Crazy,” shows the stresses in travel and how in-car TV systems can distract the restless bunch. These will be among the first mobile TV related commercials to air during the Super Bowl.

Qualcomm, makers of FLO TV and the HTC smartphone, sell the mobile TV devices for $250 and charge about $9 a month for service, considerably less than what other carriers demand.

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Vizio will offer three Razor LED models with a depth of less than 1″ bringing them full swing in to the mobile LCD market.

VMB070 LCD Mobile Razor LED TV houses a 7″ LED backlit screen – 800×480 resolution, and brightness at 250 nits. It includes auxiliary audio and video inputs, and a headphone jack private listening. It has a very sleek design with dimensions of 8.2″ x 5.75″ x .75″.

VMB100 and VMB090 Mobile Razor LED LCD TVs are among the very first sets to  receive broadcast signals using the new mobile ATSC-MH format, as well as ATSC and NTSC signals.  Both units have a USB 2.0 port to view JPEG photos or listening to MP3 audio, and a headphone jack.  VBM090 has a 9″ LED LCD panel and the VBM100 a 10.2″ LED LCD panel with resolution of 800×480 pixels and very high brightness at 350 nits.  For external source components, an HDMI 1.4 jack is included, along with composite video and stereo audio inputs. Their profiles are slim,  with dimensions of   11″ x 7.5″ x just under 1″ for the VMB100 and 10″ x 7″ x just under 1″ for the VMB090.

All three units are using innovative touch-sensitive controls that light up when it senses the user’s approach. The flush antenna also flips up for improved reception.  Each internal battery operates for up to 3 hours, and the units have earned an Energy Star rating.  All are scheduled for delivery later this year for about $149.99, $199.99, and $229.99 respectively.

Source: Vizio

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FLO TV was tantalizing us with a concept of their mobile TV service for iPhone last year, which at the time required a bulky attachment.  Thank’s to innovation and excellence, a bit of teamwork and of course, the determination on behalf of the guys and gals at FLO, they have teamed up with Mophie to integrate FLO TV hardware right in to the ever-so-popular Juice Pack.  I’m just as stoked as you guys when I heard about this one, a device to boost iPhone battery life as well as deliver mobile TV? Cancel my appointments for the day, i’m not leaving this lawn chair.

No price yet, due out in the first half of this year. Official press release below.

FLO TV and mophie™ to Bring Live Mobile TV to the Apple® iPhone™ and iPod touch™

Unique Products to Deliver True Live Mobile TV to iPhone and iPod touch Users; Products Combine Live FLO TV™ Service with mophie’s Intelligent Case Design

LAS VEGAS – January 6, 2010 – FLO TV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), and mophie today announced they are teaming to create a series of products that will bring live mobile TV to the iPhone and iPod touch platforms.

The products, which are expected to begin shipping in the first half of this year, will bring the award-winning FLO TV mobile TV service to the cutting-edge mophie juice pack, letting consumers view their favorite live entertainment, sports and news from the world’s top entertainment brands on their iPhone and iPod touch.

“We are uniting our vision of advancing mobile TV across a range of devices and platforms with mophie’s unrivaled expertise in designing intelligent cases for Apple users,” said Bill Stone, president of FLO TV. “Together, our solution will be a true live mobile TV product available to iPhone and iPod touch users.”

“mophie’s juice pack line has delivered superior rechargeable external battery life to Apple users,” said Shawn Dougherty, vice president of mophie, designer of the world’s thinnest Apple-certified external battery/protective case and other Apple-certified accessories. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to elevate our intelligent case design through this creative product collaboration and deliver the ultimate mobile television experience for iPhone users.”

The agreement between mophie and FLO TV reflects the growing demand for mobile television and FLO TV’s commitment to bring its award-winning service to any small screen. The new products integrate mophie’s intelligent case design with a built-in FLO TV receiver that allows iPhone and iPod touch users the ability to watch live television at the flip of a switch. Consumers can also utilize the device as back-up battery power in between charges.

Service not available everywhere. Programming subject to change / blackout restrictions. Service subscription required. “Live mobile television” means the FLO TV service transmits channels in real time; no downloading, sideloading or buffering.

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