DISQUS

Brett · 1 year ago

I agree. The common UI's in my kids life are the Mac, iTunes, web sites, Vudu (my son loves it), HDTV Direct TV service (we recently had to switch from Direct TV Tivo to the Direct TV DVR) and Apple TV (which is pretty cool for sharing pictures, but the kids like the Vudu for movies). By far the UI that is is the weakest is the Direct TV one. My daughter hates it.

Christoph Jaggi · 1 year ago

There is one huge issue that seems to go hardly noticed. The set-top box basically replaces the tuner part of the TV and all that great functionality built into it, such as volume normalization. The software is one part of the equation, but the hardware needs to be at least equivalent to the current TV tuner technology. In terms of software, I haven't seen any set-top box with an acceptable user interface and functionality. We do have a hardware, a software and a services model problem and that will be challenging to solve as any viable solution needs to have different players with different interests work together.

bijan · 1 year ago

That's a good point but now with hd tivo with cable card you have all the
tuners you want.

I really don't think its about hw anymore. That will take care of itself.

We need open software and social apps now.

Christoph Jaggi · 1 year ago

I had initially also thought, that it is a pure software and services model, but when you get into the details it becomes obvious that in a set-top box environment all intelligence moves to the set-top box and the HDMI connection to the TV relegates the TV to a pure monitor functionality. Of course there is still the possibility to offload audio processing to an amp, but when you connect the set-top box directly to the TV most of the advanced funtionality of the TV gets lost as it is tied to the tuner module.
I haven’t played with a TiVo box yet as in Europe they seem to be a complete no-show.
That the current set-top software is underwhelming is hard to dispute. On the other hand it will be difficult to get cable operators to support set-top boxes that can be loaded with third-party software by the user. For satellite set-top boxes that is different, though.

JoeBorn · 1 year ago

Your vision is dead on IMHO, but I think it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation wrt the hardware. I wholeheartedly agree it has to be open, but who will open the hardware? Apple? TiVo? It's possible, as your subsequent blog suggests, but will it be open enough? It certainly can't be a hack or obviously that won't go anywhere with a mainstream audience. Likewise, if it's mostly open, it will could end up locking out 75% of the content that users want and that will have a tough time flying too. The other "existing hardware" is the PC, but I don't see TV apps effortlessly jumping from the desktop to the TV since the experience is so different. The TV is about long form content and simple, easy community&interactivity. Now it could be the "existing hardware" is really a media center PC, since the studios are finally putting a lot of content on the web. But with any of the above the penetration is low, and the bottom line is that it's still new hardware to be acquired by the consumer, so it's still a bit of a jump ball for a hardware manufacturer to get in the living room.

bijan · 1 year ago

I'm not sure that TV is only about long form. That is only because that's all we got today for most TVs.

Existing hw has to open up I believe. It won't be a choice in the future.

It will be interesting to see who open up first. Apple or Tivo ? Or some startup. I have a hunch I know the answer here.

JoeBorn · 1 year ago

What's your hunch? I'm very curious to hear.

bijan · 1 year ago

I can't say just yet. :)

JoeBorn · 1 year ago

I don't think it will be either Apple or TiVo that goes first. They will likely follow if forced, but I don't see them leading. Both are subsidized by subscription revenue which could be threatened by third party content that they don't control. Apple can leverage the iPod franchise to get the content they want on their terms, over time. They have the means to easily open the device, so they know they can do so at anytime, but why do so prematurely and risk losing control (and their cut) of the subscription revenue?

bijan · 1 year ago

Losing control isn't a bad thing.

JoeBorn · 1 year ago

Absolutely, I run an open source hardware company, I totally agree :) That being said, it's a lot easier for a start up that never had control to give it up. Today, iTunes music store is the largest music retailer in the country, would that be the case if you could buy from 5 different outlets directly from iTunes? Since his return, Jobs has been a master at balancing openess with control, and introducing community contributions (or at least community ideas) on his own terms.

Don't get me wrong, like I said above, I think your vision is dead on, I think the winner in this space will be open, I'm just not sure Apple or TiVo will lead the way.

bijan · 1 year ago

I'm not sure apple or Tivo will lead the way either. Usually its a start up that shows the way.

Steven Kane · 1 year ago

do u think ipod/itunes is just a passing phenomenon?

the only big real success in media distribution lately is/was the ipod/itunes model, where proprietary hardwrae/softwrae ruled the day. personally i hate it (have never used ipod or spent a dollar using itunes) but i would think lots of hardware/setttop box folks have been inspired to roll up their sleeves and do for TV what ipod/itunes did for music, no?

or am i missing something in your post?

bijan · 1 year ago

I think the problem is that in the tv world the consumer already has a box.

In the portable music world they don't have one or they can easily/readily
change theirs

I do think there needs to be innovation in/around the tv but it's not yet
another proprietary set top box.