What’s in it for you:

• Work with a team of passionate people and industry leaders
• Competitive base salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Rapid career growth opportunity
• Work in a fast paced start-up environment with the stability of a profitable company

What you’ll be doing:
Creating applications for various set top boxes and mobile devices; to include but not limited to Roku, Yahoo connected, Boxee, Samsung, LG and Google.

What you need for this position:
Solid experience with JavaScript, CSS, HTML (XHTML) and XML
- Experience working with Flash, Adobe and Microsoft products and in a start-up environment are highly

desired
- Extensive knowledge of Javascript, and Javascript libraries, eg. (jQuery)

-Solid understanding of HTML5
-Desire to work in a fast paced environment

So, if you are a Web Developer with solid JavaScript, CSS and HTML experience, please apply today!

Required Skills:

Extensive knowledge of Javascript, and Javascript libraries, eg. (jQuery), XHTML, Prototype, CSS3,

HTML 5

Helpful skills:

Flash, Flash Lite (Stagecraft), Actionscript, Adobe Creative Suite, and OpenGL

Key Responsibilities and Qualifications:
• Responsible for the management of all technical aspects of our projects
• Working with the senior tier from different disciplines to ensure projects are well scoped, executed and delivered according to requirements
• Working with the Director of Technology for identification and implementation of new, cutting-edge technologies
• Regularly identify risks and make recommendations on how to resolve any potential or pending technical and/or client issues
• Help plan and manage department resource allocation across all technical disciplines and projects
• Being part of the FLI tech talent hiring process
• Manage client expectations and team capabilities to push the boundaries in every project
• Responsible for providing direction through requirements gathering, technical feasibility and analysis to ensure that all planning work is completed correctly and accurately
• Responsible for ensuring regular code reviews during the project lifecycle and conduct project review sessions with team members
• Responsible for conducting performance evaluations for all direct reports
• Key participant in new business opportunities and the review and development of business proposals and project scopes as required
• Oversee third-party vendors and freelance resources, including identifying and documenting integration points with third party solutions in order to manage risk accordingly
• Demonstrate sound judgment and pleasant professionalism in every situation
• Highly proactive, quick on your feet, and with an action-driven approach

Professional Experience:
• Passion for excellence/quality
• 3+ years of experience leading the technical direction of a multitude of projects in an interactive agency setting
• Profound knowledge of web technology and related technologies
• 2+ years of experience managing staff and being part of recruitment
• Proven track record of launching cutting-edge interactive projects and software

Other Considerations and Requirements:
• Must be available when business responsibilities call for it
• Flexibility with your schedule, projects and in your leadership style, to adapt to our dynamic industry
• A stickler for details, with the capability of juggling many things simultaneously
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)

If interested please email resume to hr@floatleftinteractive.com

What’s in it for you:

• Work with a team of passionate people and industry leaders
• Competitive base salary
•  Comprehensive benefits package
• Rapid career growth opportunity
• Work in a fast paced start-up environment with the stability of a profitable company

What you’ll be doing: Creating applications for various set top boxes and mobile devices; to include but not limited to Roku, Yahoo connected, Boxee, Samsung, LG and Google.

What you need for this position:

• Solid experience with JavaScript, CSS, HTML (XHTML) and XML
• Experience working with Flash, Adobe and Microsoft products and in a start-up environment are highly desired
• Extensive knowledge of Javascript, and Javascript libraries, eg. (jQuery)
• Solid understanding of HTML5
• Desire to work in a fast paced environment

So, if you are a Web Developer with solid JavaScript, CSS and HTML experience, please apply today!

Required Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of Javascript, and Javascript libraries, eg. (jQuery), XHTML, Prototype, CSS3, HTML 5

Helpful skills:

• Flash, Flash Lite (Stagecraft), Actionscript, Adobe Creative Suite, and OpenGL

ABOUT US

Float Left Interactive represents a team of highly passionate designers, developers, and engineers focused on delivering one of the most impressive Connected TV application portfolios to date.

Our engineers specialize in the creation of highly custom and unique applications across a variety of different connected devices. Having developed one-of-a-kind applications for the likes of NBA, MOG, and PTN Healthcasts, our work has proven that the sky’s the limit when it comes to IPTV application development at Float Left Interactive.

If interested please email resume to hr@floatleftinteractive.com

There’s no question that smart TV is here. It was clear that the primary focus of nearly EVERY manufacturer’s display were the Internet connected features and application functionality of their platform. Between meetings we did have some time to hit the show floor and here are some of our favorite features of this year’s line of Smart TVs…

If CES was any indication of what’s to come, we may find that voice will replace the remote in the near future. We demoed Samsung’s new voice and gesture recognition technology. When released, the technology will be featured on two of their models, the 7500 and 8000. We can’t wait to develop applications against this technology!

A sneak peak at the LG Netcast 3.0 UI

Along with Samsung, LG introduced a 55″ Organic LED TV (OLED) that was simply stunning. Featuring vivid colors, deep blacks, and superior clarity and contrast…the LG OLED was a show stopper. We loved the voice technology in the remote. We pulled up Google, said “Float Left” and next thing you know, our website’s on the display. This also works within the app store, so if you know what you’re looking for….this is a quick way to find it. The Netcast app store received a new look and feel with the 3.0 update. Thumbs up, guys!

We didn’t see a whole lot from Google TV themselves, but we learned that some new manufacturers are going to be pushing Google TV embedded devices such as Samsung, LG, and Vizio.

Of course Sony is still supporting Google TV in their TVs as well as their blu-ray players. But what we thought was the coolest was a new set-top box that supports both Google TV AND the Sony Entertainment Network which has a beautiful interface and features a decent amount of apps. The combination of these two platforms makes this device a legit contender and a cost-effective way to make your TV “Smart.”

The new sony remote featuring a track pad on the front, and a full QWERTY keyboard on the back

In regard to Sony, we think they’ve put out one of the coolest remotes for a Smart TV. The remote on the backside features a full QWERTY keyboard and on the front side, they  have a track pad that’s about half the size of the remote which makes browsing the web on your TV so effortless. Oh yeah, and if that wasn’t enough, the remote can process voice and sense motion.

We said “We want one” when we saw Sharp’s new 8K (7680-by-4320 pixel) and LG’s 4K (3840-by-2160) TVs. A beauty AND a beast, we can’t wait until these come out. Notably, there’s no so-called 4K or 8K content available just yet.

We didn’t see everything (is that possible?), but we were very impressed with what we saw. At the end of the day, we’re app developers, over-the-top advocates, and gadget-heads, so it was wonderful to see Smart TV be such a focal point this year.

We definitely have to give some honorable mentions to Panasonic’s Smart Viera 3D TV’s with crosstalk reduction technology. We thought this was one of the best 3D TVs at the show. Another one of our favorites of the show was the LG Styler which is a closet that will shake, steam, dry, and freshen your clothes up for you with a variety of selectable aromas. Say goodbye to dry cleaning bills.

Just when we thought oversized phones graduated along with Zack Morris and co, Samsung comes out with the Samsung Galaxy Note phone (or is it a tablet?) I’m not sure, but the massive screen makes me want one.

Samsung had a surround sound system powered by vacuum tubes that was probably the best sound system I’ve heard in a while. Be on the lookout for those!

Float Left Interactive client, Simple TV wins "Best of CES" (Photo courtesy of Rovi)

CES was a success this year and although we are leaving Las Vegas, it isn’t without some memorable moments. Our client, Simple TV won “Best of CES”. One of our guys made it about 98% though the Diablo’s “Death Wing” Hot Wing Challenge before running out of time. The narration of the taxi drivers to and from meetings had us on the floor laughing. We also probably walked 25 miles, but what we lost in calories, we made up for in guacamole. We also discovered that we shouldn’t become professional bull riders any time soon.

We love what we do and we can’t wait to go back next year.

(Las Vegas, NV) January 13, 2012 – Float Left Interactive customer, Simple.TV today announced it won a “Best of CES” award for its next generation DVR and place-shifting solution for TV lovers and cord cutters everywhere. Produced and judged by editors from CNET (http://www.cnet.com), the winners of the “Best of CES” awards were announced Thursday, January 12, at 2012 CES in Las Vegas. Simple.TV revealed the device just four days prior.

Selected by CNET’s expert editors, the winners were the most exciting, innovative, and promising products at the 2012 CES. CNET editors scoured the CES show floor for products to consider for the prestigious award. http://www.cnet.com/ces.

The Simple.TV DVR includes a high-definition TV tuner that converts broadcast television into streaming MPEG-4 for the most popular connected streaming devices. With the addition of a USB 2.0 hard drive or network-attached storage, Simple.TV users can store thousands of hours of their favorite shows to watch at home or on the road.

“Winning a Best of CES award within a week of our unveiling is just tremendous,” said Mark Ely, CEO of Really Simple Software, Inc., makers of Simple.TV. “We couldn’t be more pleased at the response and feel great about Simple.TV’s place in our connected TV world.”

Unlike most DVRs, Simple.TV has no traditional analog or HDMI video outputs. Once connected to a home network, Simple.TV streams content directly to a web browser or to dedicated apps that users launch on their favorite connected platforms. Float Left Interactive had the privilege of developing the Simple.TV app for Roku. Simple TV plans to include apps for iPad, Google TV, and Boxee when they launch in the spring of 2012.

Simple TV will be priced at $149 plus a $4.99/month subscription. Reservations can be made at https://www.simple.tv/

(Tempe, AZ) November 1, 2011 — Unicorn Media, Inc., a leader in video workflow optimization technology, today announced a strategic partnership with Float Left Interactive, Inc. a leader in application development services for Internet-connected devices. Unicorn Media and Float Left Interactive will provide a comprehensive solution for video service providers looking to extend their reach by distributing their content over-the-top to all three-screens: television, mobile, and web.

Float Left Interactive is a software development company specializing in “over-the-top” solutions which enable video service providers to monetize and captivate their audiences on all three screens: television, mobile, and web. Float Left Interactive will partner with Unicorn Media to develop custom applications, subscriber management, and paywall and billing services that will be powered by Unicorn ONCE™. Unicorn Media’s patented Unicorn ONCE™ technology allows users to ingest their content once and deliver to any Internet-connected device while allowing for dynamic ad integration and analytics across all platforms. This combination of technology solutions will allow video content owners to broadcast and monetize their over-the-top content worldwide to millions of viewers on Internet-connected devices such as Smart TV’s, iDevices, Blackberry, Android, Roku, Tivo and more.

Unicorn ONCE™ is not a client SDK or server-stitched solution, it is patented technology that allows Unicorn customers to ingest their content one time and receive a single URL in return, while optimizing monetization across every platform by allowing for targeted, dynamic ad integration on-the-fly and real-time analytics on any device through Unicorn VISION™. Unicorn ONCE™ is layered on top of the Unicorn ELEMENTS™ technology platform; Unicorn’s modular suite of workflow optimization tools that make the distribution of content to any IP-enabled device less time consuming and less expensive, enabling content owners to cut cost and maximize profitability.

“For maximum reach, our customers are looking for ubiquitous syndication on every device”, said CEO, Float Left Interactive, Tom Schaeffer. “While our company is focused on developing the front-end applications, Unicorn Media has done a great job on providing a backend infrastructure that’s equipped to deliver to today’s leading connected devices. It’s giving our customers the best of both worlds”.

“Float Left Interactive’s application development tools will be a valuable asset to video publishers – especially those currently using our Unicorn ONCE™ technology, allowing them to monetize even more of their video libraries. Unicorn Media partners with companies that empower media companies of all sizes to distribute and monetize their content to every device imaginable,” said Bill Rinehart, Founder and CEO, Unicorn Media.

Float Left Interactive has been working with the Roku DVP software prior to its public release in 2009.  This makes it easier for us to create and troubleshoot highly complex applications more effectively and efficiently.

We have created custom Roku channels for The National Basketball Association (NBA) and MOG. We feature a team of highly-skilled developers with the tools and experience needed to take your project from conception to completion, regardless of the breadth or complexity.

While our main concentration is building customized Roku channels, we offer various solutions to accommodate content providers of all sizes. We currently offer three alternatives for Roku Development.

• Custom Development – Every project is unique. At Float Left, we understand this and therefore specialize in developing custom solutions tailored to fit each client. When The NBA needed to generate dynamic images on screen before such functionality was available through the Roku SDK, Float Left Interactive had the solution. Interested in what Float Left Interactive can do for you? Contact us today.
• Out-of-the-box SaaS Solution – Our turnkey Saas solution allows us to rapidly deploy highly robust and interactive Roku applications enabling you to easily broadcast both your live and video on demand (VOD) content to televisions worldwide.
• FLI.TV Aggregated Network – Interested in having a fully-customizable Roku channel deployed in under an hour? FLI.TV is our aggregated Roku Channel which serves as an excellent option for smaller-sized customers to stream their content to the Roku with minimal initial investment and a low monthly fee. As FLI.TV is nearing the final stages of development, we are looking for content-providers to join our network. If you are interested in getting in the FLI.TV network, please send an e-mail to tv@floatleftinteractive.com.

If you are unsure which platform is right for you, we would be happy to talk you through your options. To set up a free consultation, please call 561-935-4901, send an email to info@floatleftinteractive.com, or  fill out the contact form on this site.

In order to use this, you’ll need to have enabled the development mode on your Roku DVP.  In order to do this, from the home screen, enter the following sequence on your Roku remote: Home 3x, Up 2x, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right. Do that correctly, and you’ll be taken to a screen that asks you if you want to enable the Roku development installer.  Choose enable, and allow the box to reboot.

Once the box starts back up go into Roku Player Settings>player info and take note of the box’s IP address.

Download the Side Loader here: http://www.floatleftinteractive.com/downloads

Open the folder and find the rokusideloader.bat file.  You’ll need to make a few edits here.

1. Replace every occurrence of “youpackage.zip” with the your pkg’s name.

2. Replace http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/ with the IP of your Roku box.

Once these changes are made, you can drop all the items in this folder into the root folder of where you pkg’s source files are located.  Run the batch file and this will zip up the images, manifest, and source elements in this folder and then push to your Roku box.  You’ll see a cmd window open briefly and then, if it’s pushed without and problems, you should see your channel appear on the far right of your screen.

Feel free to add comments if there are any issues – ENJOY!

Originally introduced in mid-2008 as the “Netflix Player,” Roku’s little set-top box had one mission: allow Netflix subscribers to view the company’s on-demand instant videos to their TV’s. The box worked well enough and as 2008 progressed, software updates, expanded programming offerings, and more HD content, the Roku soon became much more than a mere “Netflix Player.”

Eighteen months later, the Roku Player’s programming choices extend far beyond just Netflix. All of the programming on the Roku Player is available via the Roku Channel Store, which features a roster of content including Amazon, Pandora, Major League Baseball games, and Mediafly podcasts.

Is the year 2010 the year the majority of our television starts coming to us via the Internet? All signs are pointing to “yes,” And with Roku leading the field, it’s definitely time to consider the possibilities of using the new technology to grow your business.

How can having my own custom Roku Channel benefit me?

If you’re a video content provider, then it’s time to start paying attention. You’re going to want to know how having a custom Roku channel built for you can help grow your business.

• Ride on the coattails of the Netflix, Amazon, MLB TV client bases. Adding your channel to the Roku Channel Store allows you to expose your videos and business to a whole new audience you might not have had exposure to otherwise. This audience includes subscribers of the aforementioned services. If you ask me, that is great company to keep!
• Return of Investment: How is this fancy new technology supposed to make me any money? There are many interesting ways to generate ROI with a Roku Channel. For example you may offer both a “free” and “paid” channel very similar to how Smartphone applications are being developed. The “free” version allows you to collect some revenue from outside affiliates to advertise on your channel either through commercials or banner ads. The “paid” version will require your viewers to pay a fee to view the channel commercial free. Either way, you are generating revenue. Or you can simply incorporate banner ads and/or commercials into your channel.  It’s up to you!
• Generate Interest: When your viewers are watching your channel and giving you their attention, this is a powerful time for you, the content provider. This is the perfect time to mention new product launches, or any other news-worthy mentions to refer users to visit a specific web address, whether that be a product page or your homepage. Your web traffic will rise and inevitably so will your conversions. If you do not have any web analytics set up, now is the time. You want to be able to monitor and track the content coming in and out of your website. If you need help with your analytics, don’t hesitate to ask us.
• And last, but certainly not least, this technology is the wave of the future. If you are a forward-thinking company, or one that wants to set themselves apart from the competition, now is the time to think about the opportunities of having your own Custom Roku Channel.

Getting my Roku Channel developed

At Float Left, we specialize in Roku Development. Whatever your business needs are, we would love to discuss the truly “endless possibilities” of streaming your video content directly to millions of televisions worldwide. Are you interested in more information? Check out our website and send us an email. If you would rather just cut to the chase, you can send us an email directly to info@floatleftinteractive.com . We would love to help you get started.