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‘Technology’ Category

  1. Apple iTV Release Date

    May 11, 2012 by AK

    Apple iTV is almost here (late 2012 or early 2013).

    The television set will have:

    - An aluminum construction
    - Siri voice controls
    - FaceTime video calling

    An Apple HDTV will likely use a very similar branding and design plan as the iMac with near-edgeless glass and aluminum frame. It would also hopefully have a similar I/O port design, allowing consumers the luxury of having all the ports located in one location. China Daily also indicates that Foxconn is teaming up with Sharp to produce this set, which makes sense given Sharp’s dominance in LCD manufacturing.


  2. Why you should cut the Cord Now

    April 27, 2012 by AK

    With over 60% say they will ditch the cable and start streaming online, it’s time to cut the cord, and enter into online streaming. Many factors are included in why streaming online is a better choice than cable. The internet since inception has been the right hand for anyone. It has been available on mobile devices that allow full browser capabilities. With over half of the world’s population using the internet for day to day operation, it’s was just the matter of when online streaming would take over.

    Cable networks like Direct TV, and Rogers offer premium content, but they are only limited to the price. In other words, you pay for what you get. For example, a cost of a basic cable subscription adds up to $50 to $60 a month. With basic cable, you are only getting a few channels, and those few channels do not include stations like TBS, CW, or ESPN. For an upgrade, you would be paying close to $80 a month for all that content. Most people do not even watch all those shows, but it’s included, so they have no choice at all. Switching to online and subscribing to Netflix allows you to access all their content for a low fee of 7.99 a month. Not only Netflix, Hulu Plus has a similar service as well. Many companies are emerging into this field. For example, Redbox has been operation in supplying DVDs through a vending machine, but they have recently teamed up with Verizon to allows their DVD content be available in online streaming. Blockbuster is also expected to join this trend close to the end of this year.

    Over the time, online streaming is going to become the most popular choice. When the cord is cut, TV sets are going to become entirely useless, but companies like Samsung, SONY, and LG are including an internet connection to all TV sets to allow users to stream and watch premium content. Many sites like TVRecaps.com have helped sites like Comcast, Vudu and many more by indexing their TV and movie content. This will allow users to search for and be able to watch their favorite TV show and movies in their sites. When users have the option to search for their content, they have more control and flexibility in terms of how and when they want to watch their shows

    Cutting the cord is projected to be big hit while evolving with the way people live their lives, but there are going to be type of crowd that is against it. The idea for them is cable television is simple and online streaming is complicated. Cable television is simple indeed, but online streaming has been improving to become even simpler. This is best exemplified where a viewer would go to the TV guide channel and find their favorite TV show, but the problem arises when they would have to wait about an hour to actually watch it. Picture the same concept with online streaming. A viewer would go a video search engine site like TVRecaps.com and rather than wait an hour or so to watch their favorite TV show, they can watch it right now, or whenever they want to.  In addition, many TV sets are equipped with an internet connection which makes the watching TV experience more enjoyable.

     


  3. Vinod Khosla saying Disruption in TV coming

    February 23, 2012 by AK

    Point 5 from his list of industries going through disruption:

    TV 2.0 (Miso, Flingo, Maker Studios, both first and second screen apps as well as content production & sourcing): “TV as an interactive and social experience both on the primary and the second screen.” Most U.S. Internet users, I am told now, have a second screen in front of them when watching TV. Whether it is true or not, it soon will be, and the interaction that is possible will allow for all kinds of creativity and user engagement shows/applications/techniques. More importantly, program production, be it video for TV, audio for radio, or text for next-generation news formats (tomorrow’s “newspapers”?) could be crowdsourced or gamified. This allows for new personal brands to emerge (much like the Drudge Report or Politico or some YouTube channels that are emerging now). Better experiences for users, better targeting for advertisers, more access for programmers and the creative types are all likely. Your proxy or agent prioritizing your viewing or reading queue will be an adjunct area. The big guys and the small guys meanwhile will battle for newer first screen experiences and applications.


  4. NetFlix Business

    February 21, 2012 by AK

    Wrriten by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings:


  5. Our Mentor Mark Suster on The Future of TV (Partner, GRP)

    February 15, 2012 by AK

    1. The promise has been made for too long, People are cynical

    2. The right factors are finally in place

    3. YouTube is the new Comcast

    4. The distributed ad platform enabled this industry to evolve

    5. Internet TV is following the CLASSIC case of the “Innovator’s Dilemma”

    6. Cable & Satellite packages will become music albums

    7. Mass adoption of Internet video has already taken place

    8. TV is the medium people prefer (whether we like it or not)

    9. Video is different than text. It requires unique, creative skills

    10. This revolution is starting in Los Angeles.

     



  6. Integrated Technologies on TVRecaps

    January 5, 2012 by AK

    1. Recommendations – (netflix + amazon) past + social (fb) [media discovery]
    2. Publishing – Web TV Import (csv, xml, youtube) + create your own channel & post (Blip.tv)
    3. Social TV – share (gomiso) + curated feed (shelby) [media discovery]
    4. Licensed Content – Aggregated (clicker, casttv)
    5. B2B Data – setjam [metarecap]
    6. Personalized Lists – Online playlist, watched, favorites (tvguide digital)
    7. Curated Entertainment News – (buzzfeed)
    8. HTPC Compliant – home threatre, ps3+xbox, smart phone

     

    More Later…