Google TV Set-Top Box
Posted on | August 28, 2012 | No Comments
It looks like Google is working with Hisense to develop their own set-top box for TVs – similar to boxes from Apple and Vudu, but designed with Android. Overall, this is good news since the more competition there is, the better it will be for consumers in the long run. But I hope that it’s not just a rehashing of the current Google TV offering – that Google will have something new and innovative to add.
Source: Engadget
What is a Smart TV (Definition)
Posted on | August 24, 2012 | No Comments
I’ve noticed that some people are confused by the term “Smart TV.” They kind of understand that it is similar to what a smartphone is in the phone world but don’t really understand exactly what features make a TV smart. Well, there really is no definitive list of features, but some common ones include the ability to more easily search for content, to more easily develop playlists, store preferences, etc. I’ve seen a lot of different explanations, but this following video seems to do one of the better jobs of explaining it:
Smart TV Dongle
Posted on | August 24, 2012 | No Comments
There appears to be a new device-type that is starting to pop-up over the last year or so. It’s a little, USB-key-like devive that plugs into the HDMI port on your HDTV that turns it into a Smart TV. One of these and probably the more well-known is the Kogan Agora Smart TV Dongle. It basically presents you with an Android-based UI that has been customized and provides for the usual amenities most would expect from a Smart TV including app loading, internet browsing, etc. It is relatively new – as a result, it also has a few bugs, some of which can cause crashes. Suffice it to say that it is not as polished as a product like Apple TV which costs about the same (or a little more expensive). Although the overall goals or features may be different, its’ essentiallly similar to a set-top box with the form factor of a USB Key.
Apple’s Cloud-Based On-Demand Strategy
Posted on | August 17, 2012 | No Comments
Information is coming out form the Wall Street Journal that Apple’s strategy may be to try to move everything to the cloud where every TV show would be stored in the cloud for on-demand viewing. There is nothing new about this thought, but it is still very ambitious and since Apple could control TV content the way it currently doew with songs off of itunes.Although there would still be show schedules, each show would be stored in the cloud as it is being aired for the first time.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Cable Companies to Offer the Apple TV?
Posted on | August 16, 2012 | No Comments
If what we’re hearing is true, it appears that in the midst of flat sales, the cable companies (or at least some of them) may be looking to Apple to help improve them – basically have Apple create the kind of excitement over TVs (smart TVs) as they did with smartphones. What this might mean is that the cable companies would continue to provide content, but Apple would be the ones presenting it through their Apple TV-type box with its simple and well-engineered user interface. The cable companies would supply the Apple TV (or some different version thereof) just as they have been doing with the current boxes they provide. That could also mean a plethora of apps from developers as well. It’s unclear what Apple actually has up its sleeves though because of all the rumors of an actual Apple television set with the box built in. We’ll have to see how this plays out.
Source: Yahoo
Standardized Smart TV System for Apps
Posted on | August 15, 2012 | No Comments
There have been continuing discussions of standardizing a smart tv system (essentially an operating system) for apps. Google with its Google TV represents one such system while LG and Philips have announced another system. How compatible (if at all) the two systems remain to be seen. But the sooner that one wins (gains more popularity), the better since it obviously will provide greater distribution opportunities for app developers. Unlike smart phones (and of course computers), I believe that consumers will not really tolerate two different types of systems for TVs. The “dumber” the device, the more likely consumers will want to see just one standard. This has been true with standards for video (remember VHS versus betamax as well as the recent feud between blu-ray and HD-DVD). Consumers don’t want to have to “think” about which TV operating system they want – it’s a simple device for viewing video; there should only be one choice. As such, this is good news for developers since it would be costly to develop for more than on platform. The only problem is when this convergence (or victory by one system) will happen. I hope it happens soon – not like the unbearable slow-motion fight that took place between the blu-ray and the HD-DVD.
Direct TV is starting to lose customers
Posted on | August 2, 2012 | No Comments
It’s inevitable that Direct TV (and probably cable soon) was going to start losing customers. With so much choices of free content on the internet, it was inevitable. Here’s an article that covers this issue:
NEW YORK (AP) — DirecTV, the country’s largest provider of satellite TV services, is losing subscribers for the first time, as the company tightened credit policies and consumer appetite for pay-TV services appears to have plateaued.
DirecTV Inc. said Thursday that it lost 52,000 U.S. subscribers in the April-to-June period. Last year, it added 26,000 in the same period, which is seasonally the weakest of the year.
Other pay-TV companies have reported worsening…
Source: Yahoo
Voice and Gesture Controls
Posted on | June 11, 2012 | No Comments
Samsung has recently come out with new TVs that allow users to provide inputs using voice and gestures. While these sound good and helps to push forward capabilities that are being added to TVs at the consumer level, they are far from what they could be – that is, they are still very clumsy and not as user friendly as they could be. This review by CNET shows that while promising, there are still much limitations and deficiencies.
Projection TVs
Posted on | May 25, 2012 | No Comments
I hate projection TVs. I hope they disappear. They are a poor substitute for creating the illusion of a large screen (e.g., when they protect a video on a wall). Unlike a theater with a good screen, you can readily see the textures on a home wall. It’s very distracting to say the least. I also hate the sound of the projector, as small as it may be. When I watch a movie, I want there to be dead silence – the only noise should come from the video/show/movie. So, let’s let these die a quick death so that we can focus on real TV screens with great resolution and quality.
3D TV
Posted on | May 25, 2012 | No Comments
While the thought of 3D (actually 4D due to the time element) sounds intriguing, it’s not one that I am crazy about. Watching a 2D picture is just fine with me. The 3D is just gimmicky and doesn’t really add anything, whether it’s on a TV or in a theater. In fact, having to wear glasses just make the whole experience less entertaining and more cumbersome. I would much rather watch an IMAX movie than a 3D one. Bigger pictures provide a better experience as they provide a more immersive experience. So, I would rather than buying a 3D TV, I would just look for a bigger one – the bigger the better.