IntenseDebate - Mike Halleen

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 0 replies · +1 points

Apple has not won, they're barely in this fight. There's a lot of buzz here, but the connected TV segment is already established and the leaders are Yahoo, Adobe, Roku, Vudu and (one could argue) Microsoft through both Xbox and the media server.

Also the real fight is in the content side, not the tech side. It doesn't really matter if a device technically can run the Hulu website. What matters is that the networks get the deal they want to allow their content into the distribution channel, and that's a steep hill to climb. Make that deal, and the tech is an afterthought.

More... http://thehollywoodgeek.com/2010/05/28/will-googl...

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 0 replies · +1 points

Yes, very good reasons:
http://abovethecrowd.com/2010/04/28/affiliate-fee...

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 0 replies · +1 points

The media deals are very complex. Apple does not have everything lined up already and there is competion. There's no free lunch, you may cancel your cable bill but you'll still end up paying about as much every month in PPV fees. $20 a month may get you something but not all you can eat of everything. Apple and the networks would expect just as much profit from Internet based delivery as cable. This is a tough game and what we've seen to date on the web is relatively small. The TV is the real thing.

More... http://thehollywoodgeek.com/2010/05/28/will-googl...
http://abovethecrowd.com/2010/04/28/affiliate-fee...

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 0 replies · +1 points

Don't forget who Hulu is. Hulu is not some radical underground magic loophole pirate startup... it's ABC, NBC, and FOX. Hulu will only allow its content where its owners want it.

It's not about "I hope [insert device name here] supports Flash so I can get Hulu". Hulu content could easily be made available as an app without Flash, or a device could support Flash and Hulu can still block it. The decision belongs to the networks, not Google, Apple, Roku, Yahoo, Vudu, or any of the other multiple players already working on this.

TV based apps should not just throw the website on screen like WebTV did years ago, and I doubt they'll work by just throwing a mobile Android or iPhone OS app up on the screen either. The TV is its own experience with its own UI profile.

It's the CONTENT you want, not the SITES or APPS.

More... http://thehollywoodgeek.com/2010/05/28/will-googl...

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 0 replies · +1 points

What I expect is to see it open to app developers, which would let in Netflix, ABC, and others making great iPad/iPhone apps now.

Integrating into the TV is not an easy win. TV replacement is much slower and more expensive. Are you going to buy a new $1500 TV to get this? A standalone box, though maybe a bit cluttering and yes you have to switch inputs, is much easier to adopt.

The Google TV box from Logitech is supposed to have HDMI pass through so you don't have to change inputs between internet and cable/dish. (but you'll still have game consoles, blu-ray players, etc... input switching will be with us for a long time)
www.TheHollywoodGeek.com

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 1 reply · +1 points

Don't forget that the content owners have a lot to lose when the cable/dish companies lose as well.

See http://abovethecrowd.com/2010/04/28/affiliate-fee...

There's no hurry to damage those lucrative relationships for a relatively small number of users on boxes like this. It's a growing and interesting segment to be sure, but it's a rounding error compared to the mainstream of television.

And in the end, maybe you won't pay for channels you don't use, but what you pay for the few you do use will still add up to roughly the same amount you pay now. There's no free lunch in this deal.

13 years ago @ TechCrunch - Report: Apple Prepping... · 0 replies · +1 points

Don't forget Apple and Google are entering a battle that's already in progress. I was amused how much of the Google TV talk was about what it means for Apple TV, but outside of tech circles no one has been talking about Apple TV for a long time. There's a lot of buzz here, but the connected TV segment is already established and the leaders are Yahoo, Adobe, Roku and (one could argue) Microsoft through both Xbox and the media server.

Apple certainly has the potential to enter the fight, but don't assume they will win or that Google is the only other player.
www.TheHollywoodGeek.com

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