Streaming has gotten better, I currently have my Netflix account and I could stream good quality video. Its a shame that they only show old movies right now but hopefully that they've partnered with nbc and disney this might pave the way for more movies streamed online. Until then, I will settle to watch movies on my laptop rather than buying the box for my TV.
Jason Miller and I were having a conversation a week or two ago about how set-top boxes might become the norm in the future, with online video becoming so popular. Because of that popularity, it only makes sense that people would like to transfer their online video viewing experience to their living rooms.
Of course some are already hooking their computers up to their televisions, but this is not an idea that has really crossed into the mainstream (at least not yet). Set-top boxes might in fact prevent that anyway, because when they allow users to stream online video to their TVs, the reasons for hooking up computers to them decline.
Roku, the makers of the set-top box that Netflix partnered with a while back, has been saying for a while that they are looking to partner with other content providers. Roku CEO Anthony Wood reaffrimed this at Streaming Media West. Of course Netflix also announced a awhile back that they would be streaming content through Xboxes too. With such rumblings in the online video industry, it is hard not to envision a future in which set-top boxes like Roku's join (or dare I say even replace?) cable boxes and DVD players in entertainment centers around the world.
The more deals that happen between boxes and content providers, the closer such a future is likely to be. Roku has not announced any specific deals, but says, "We're opening up the platform to anyone who wants to put their video service on this box... We're going to release the software developer kit, so anyone can publish any channel, and users can access web content on their TVs." How about that? They just won't provide a timeframe.
Imagine being able to watch all of your favorite YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Joost, MySpace Video, Amazon, etc. content on a device on your TV while sitting on your couch, without having to hook up your computer. Something tells me that would appeal to consumers. Now we just need to get some better quality videos on YouTube. Oh, and a better selection of streamable content on Netflix.
Publish A Comment
| Popular WPN Business Resources |
-

Goodbye Vista, Hello Windows 7
Microsoft released its latest edition of Windows on October 22nd to... -

Social Media Trends That Indicate the Future
Where are we going with social media? That question is asked very... -

Time to Get Serious about Social Media
According to Chris Brogan, the President of New Marketing Labs, we...
iEntry 10th Anniversary
RSS
Newsletter
Advertising





















Online Video Goes Back to the TV
. While some You-tube videos gather 50 million views, thats for 5 minutes. How many minutes would you watch somebody's dancing cat? TV on TV is still king at grabing someone's attention for 1/2 hour or more.