Microsoft XBOX Live are preparing the XBOX Live dashboard in anticipation of the launch of the new Kinect motion control system as well as their new Windows Mobile 7 OS. The later is destined to bring XBOX Live gamer tags to your mobile phone, which they hope, will help them take away market share from Apple, Android, and Blackberry. While the improvements to the search engine for Netflix should increase its adoption, it is doubtful that users of rival OS creators will switch to gain access to their gamer profiles. It is unclear how this is going to enhance the users experience and although they plan on developing apps that gamers will enjoy, so do their rivals and very well at that. The first game they thought to bring to the Windows Mobile 7 platform is Zynga's popular online game Farmville. It may be popular online but not with the XBOX gaming community.
As a gamer, iPhone user and Netflix enthusiast, I feel Microsoft have missed the mark and would have more success if they continued to develop the Zune and turned it into a phone with Windows Mobile 7; Microsofts' very own iPhone. This would allow XBOX users to browse and purchase music directly from their XBOX dashboard, download it to their Zune and enjoy it on the go. If and when this is a possibility, the idea of having my gamer tag linked to my phone would be a nice to have but not a deal breaker.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Streaming HD media kills Blu-Ray
Netflix has partnered with Microsoft and Xbox Live to provide streamed content via Xbox Live and while discussing this with a gaming site, UK Xbox chief; Stepehen McGill, took a bash at the Blu-Ray format and said that "it will be passed by as a format", citing the increasing popularity of streaming content. For now, streamed content does not enjoy the benefit of full HD that Blu-Ray does however the possibility of doing so is in the very near future and this could spell the end for physical media once and for all. Netflix should be able to provide high quality HD content within the next couple of years making it possible to access your account and stream your favorite shows and movies from anywhere in the world, all in HD, assuming you have an HD television of course.
Many would argue that it will be a long time before consumers switch to this method of delivery, however I for one, have not rented a DVD since 2008 and had reduced my consumption drastically in the few years preceeding 2008 in favor of streaming. Although the quality suffers dramatically, it seems others are doing the same as Blockbuster has just announced that they haved filed for bankruptcy protection. It may take some time for the Blu-Ray format to meet it's inevitable demise but the king of the court will not wait very long to take its rightful place on the throne, or in this situation, your television.
I am very excited by this change in the industry. Gone will be the days of web-surfing, searching for a website offering decent quality videos until it gets shutdown, only to have my bandwidth truncated by my ISP when trying to watch them. I would gladly pay to stream full HD movies and television shows directly to my living room. Now if you will exscuse me I am going to get a full HD 1080p HD television so I will be ready to hibernate this winter.
Many would argue that it will be a long time before consumers switch to this method of delivery, however I for one, have not rented a DVD since 2008 and had reduced my consumption drastically in the few years preceeding 2008 in favor of streaming. Although the quality suffers dramatically, it seems others are doing the same as Blockbuster has just announced that they haved filed for bankruptcy protection. It may take some time for the Blu-Ray format to meet it's inevitable demise but the king of the court will not wait very long to take its rightful place on the throne, or in this situation, your television.
I am very excited by this change in the industry. Gone will be the days of web-surfing, searching for a website offering decent quality videos until it gets shutdown, only to have my bandwidth truncated by my ISP when trying to watch them. I would gladly pay to stream full HD movies and television shows directly to my living room. Now if you will exscuse me I am going to get a full HD 1080p HD television so I will be ready to hibernate this winter.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
iSwifter introduces Flash based streaming to Apple
iSwifter has launched an iPad app today; Sept. 16th 2010, that will allow users to stream Flash games. First impressions cite it to be laggy and most thinks it's days are numbered, however this is great news as it opens up new possibilities for the Flash shy super devices in Apple's portfolio; the most obvious being Flash videos. A free downloadable app that enables Flash based video and game streaming is an attractive option for newfound partners Netflix. This would allow them to stream directly to consumer's devices giving them the ability to watch their favorite shows immediately rather than wait for it to download.
iSwifter are not the first to introduce the notion however if they are able to make it profitable for the stakeholders they will be successful where others have not.
Television broadcast companies and movie studios may opt to create their own apps in order to provide a direct portal to their content that reaches millions of viewers without an intermediary player. A fee could be charged for access to premium content such as highly rated television shows or Pay-Per-View events.
iSwifter must move quickly in order to solidify their place in this market and capitalize on the small window of opportunity that the first mover advantage will grant them. As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but in e-business, flattery has a double edged blade.
iSwifter are not the first to introduce the notion however if they are able to make it profitable for the stakeholders they will be successful where others have not.
Television broadcast companies and movie studios may opt to create their own apps in order to provide a direct portal to their content that reaches millions of viewers without an intermediary player. A fee could be charged for access to premium content such as highly rated television shows or Pay-Per-View events.
iSwifter must move quickly in order to solidify their place in this market and capitalize on the small window of opportunity that the first mover advantage will grant them. As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but in e-business, flattery has a double edged blade.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Apple to include Netflix in next Apple TV
Apple has announced that they will be including access to Netflix in their upcoming release of the new generation of Apple TV. Although this may help them sell units to Netflix clients, some may argue that it will cannabalize their existing service available via iTunes. Apple offers popular tv series and movies via their media portal but their rental model was given the cold shoulder by many large Studios, citing it would destroy the industry like they did to the music industry. This move is an attempt to broaden their customer base by gaining access to media they did not previously have and it may just work.
Although I do believe that this type of service is changing the face of all the media types we enjoy, it is not destroying it, rather making it more accesible. Studios will be forced to produce fewer, better quality movies and television programs which, will benefit the viewers and maybe increase interest.
Apple is adjusting to the times and securing their digital footprint by aligning themselves with the most popular and profitable online streaming company. Oddly, for once they are not the innovator but merely a facilitator...but then again they always have been trying to make things easier.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6810OE20100902?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r3:c0.071429:b37036440:z0
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6815M120100902
Although I do believe that this type of service is changing the face of all the media types we enjoy, it is not destroying it, rather making it more accesible. Studios will be forced to produce fewer, better quality movies and television programs which, will benefit the viewers and maybe increase interest.
Apple is adjusting to the times and securing their digital footprint by aligning themselves with the most popular and profitable online streaming company. Oddly, for once they are not the innovator but merely a facilitator...but then again they always have been trying to make things easier.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6810OE20100902?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r3:c0.071429:b37036440:z0
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6815M120100902
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