I Want MyTube, Not YouTube
June 8, 2008
Maybe I should have called this “A One-Channel TV, Redux”.
There are two recent bits from NewTeeVee about the last 10-foot problem, and especially getting YouTube to the TV. Whether via a special-purpose set-top box, or integrated into your TV, both still fall short.
How difficult can it be to get all the video services (current and future) into my TV? The answer may not be as simple as a browser, which is probably not the right user interface for the living room. But perhaps something close to that. Couple that capability together with a simple way to stream all the content you already have on your PC, and it’ll sell like hotcakes.
But yet another box with only a couple of services? No thanks.
Disclosure: I hold no position in any of the stocks mentioned here.
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1.
thierry fautier | June 15, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Scott
I would like to dig further on the “right” user experience of internet video on TV. I agree that custom web interface (like Verismo is trying to do) for every site will require a lot of work, will not provide the same interface to end user when he goes from PC to TV and it might also disrupt the ad model that is now getting stronger on PC.
On the other hand full browser experience on TV might only work for some sites built purposely for TV viewing, but it looks like the best short term compromise is what Apple is doing on iphone with scrolling and scaling (need good HW support for that).
I’d like to get your view on that, if this is solved properly it could open the gate of internet TV content to our TVs.
Regards
Thierry
2.
Scott Berry | June 16, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Thierry,
Thanks for commenting. Frankly, I’m not sure what the “best” interface would look like.
I suspect something that’s functionally a browser, but with the look and feel of a channel guide, would be a good start. There would need to be a search capability available somehow (both to find sites/channels and content within each one). Though that still leaves the issue of customization.
An open platform might solve some of that; DivX Connected allows the community to write add-on modules that could concievably handle that customization for popular sites.
I suppose a standards-based solution at the web site level would be too much to ask for–say, a macro view that looks like the original site (or even a simple list of video files with metadata) and then a “full screen” view that focuses in on just the video.
I agree, Apple’s stuff would be a good start.