Comments on: Tech firms focus on TV

Guess what? The tube is the centerpiece of home entertainment, after all.

[Adam Lenio]

Networking within the home

until they take this into account, they will fail on QoS side of
delivery of content. it would be interesting to see one of these
companies partner with a structured wiring company to provide
a true end-to-end solution within the home.

[alansegal]

public or private networks

The internet allows for a true global audience, so it has to be seen how these players work around the network issues

[just_some_guy]

Mac Mini and TV?

What's the connection between the Mac Mini and TV? I've seen it mentioned before, but it does not seem like an entertainment center device at all. I bought one, just for the novelty, and since I hadn't used a Mac in years.

It does not have integrated component video output, dolby digital output, video input of any kind, or a TV tuner. How could anyone think this is Apple's entry into the media center or DVR market?

Apple definitely knows how to make simple, integrated products. As a TV-to-PC device, the Mac Mini does not qualify.

[ddesy]

Simple...

The connection is not one built by Apple, but rather the DIY crowd. A lot of people have turned their Mac minis into DVRs. They have also been turned into car computers and other things. It's all because the Mac mini is small enough and quiet enough to put almost anywhere!

[ppdeagle]

Time-to-Market is key.

?A company that can provide the home networking gear, the cable box and the DVR technology could prove a powerful combination.?

It is not necessary that one company be able to develop a single product that could provide such functionality. Time-to-market is key. All that is required is that a consumer device be created that can access the gear that currently is available (and installed).

Cisco, Microsoft and Apple are the large, Johnny-come-lately, players in the Convergence marketplace. They are struggling to catch-up with the leaner-and-meaner companies that have already introduced consumer electronics products that can do the things mentioned in this article: shuttling video around an in-home network, connecting to portable media players, watching TV and movies that are streamed over the Internet to your TV. (See http://mybrightbox.com/ppdeagle for example)

Joe Laszlo, the Jupiter Research analyst cited in this article, has it absolutely correct: edu-tainment content on the Internet is bypassing the PC and heading straight to the TV in the living room. See http://my-video-blog.com for further details.

[just_some_guy]

Interesting

That Brightbox appears to be an interesting solution, but it is odd that they try to push some pyramid-scheme marketing. They also have a horrible website, if you just want the product specs/features.

I think that another poster got it right when he said a company needs to provide an easy to use end-to-end solution. Home networking is a big part of that. Wireless networks are still less than optimal, with questionable reception and bandwidth that may be inadequate for HD video. People do want to be able to move videos and photos from their computers to their TVs.

Media Center PCs are an interesting solution, since you put the convergence device right in the living room (less need for the local network). The biggest problem is with tuners. The PC needs tuners with direct support for digital cable and satellite - Microsoft has reached a deal with cable companies already. Also, HDTV support is shoddy, but improving.

[IKENY]

sounds good, bout time

The convergence is starting
I got tv on the desk top now, those getting together and havin kids make sense

Feel me?

[IKENY]

Message has been deleted.

[m.meister]

Scientific-Atlanta

I can only hope that Cisco's purchase of Scientific-Atlanta will mean
that there is hope for their DVR.

Currently, using it is one of the worst experiences I have ever had.
They clearly have never hired a Usability expert to help them design
their user experience for their set-top boxes and DVRs.

It was so painful to use that I was forced to return it.

[jordan357]

Focusing on satellite tv

Focusing on the satellite TV (Directv, Dishnetwork, expressvu and starchoice http://www.highspeedsat.com/starchoice-tv.htm as the cornerstone to a home entertainment strategy seems like a no-brainer for technology companies, considering nearly 99 percent of all households in America have a TV set, and most often more than one. On average, American households spend between three and seven hours per day watching television.