We first wrote about VideoBee back in July, the platform that lets users manage, save, watch and share their favourite online videos across multiple screens and devices from one centralized location. Users can arrange the videos into playlists, which can be accessed and viewed on any device, anywhere.
We wrote at the time that VideoBee would shortly be announcing a partnership with a major set-top box (STB) manufacturer, and details of this have now emerged.
Amino Communications, specialists in digital entertainment services for IPTV, Internet TV and in-home multimedia distribution will be 
embedding VideoBee into its Freedom hybrid/OTT media centre, adding social sharing, multi-screen, Web viewing functionality to the device.
This will let users watch Web videos found on any device – such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop – on their TV screen, as a full screen experience using nothing more than a remote control.
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VideoBee has what it calls ‘PlaySpot’ functionality, which lets users mark a point in a video, so it can be viewed again from that point on another device, in a different location on a completely different screen. And with VideoBee’s ‘BigScreen feature’ that displays videos in a view that’s optimized for TV, the STB partnership means you can start watching an online video on your mobile device, ‘PlaySpot’ it, and then relax at home on the sofa and continue watching it on the big screen later.
VideoBee was developed by Vidiactive, a company founded in Sheffield, England, in January 2009 by Ben Hookway (CEO), Ken Tindell (CTO) and Jerry Ennis (NXD). Hookway said:
“Amino is a natural partner for the innovation that VideoBee brings. We have found that the Freedom platform is the most capable on the market and enables us to bring fantastic services and experience to consumers.”
Amino Communications is headquartered near Cambridge, in the UK, and it has offices in the US, China and Sweden. The company has sold over three million devices, to 850 companies in 85 countries, and the Amino Freedom Media Centre is available as a hybrid/OTT device or as a ‘companion’ media centre, complementing existing cable and satellite STBs. Andrew Burke, CEO of Amino said:
“VideoBee is truly ‘Social’ media – allowing users to bring together their favourite content from a variety of sources, create playlists and share with friends and family. This innovative functionality aligns perfectly with our vision for the Freedom platform of enabling our customers to deliver the very best entertainment experience. By effectively transforming any Web video page into a TV viewing experience also plays very well to the on-screen experience that the industry is moving towards.”
More STBs and Smart TVs will be added to VideoBee’s repertoire over time, and I’m told that some mobile apps are in the pipeline too. VideoBee will be demonstrating the product at the Amino stand during the IBC show, Amsterdam, from 9th to 13th Sept.
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