| [Rant] ...another interesting article | ANN.lu |
| Posted on 30-Nov-2003 18:32 GMT by bbrv | 56 comments
View flat
View list | |
Here is a New York Times Magazine article about Apple, the iPod, marketing, product development and management.
We contend that this Community can produce a Super TiVo-like device that integrates the network into the use of the content itself. The Pegasos is building block #1 to any competent computing environment and the necessary tool required by the developer support enlisted to customize the platform for consumer use. A Pegasos computer is a desktop machine. A Pegasos computer enclosed in a fan-less VCR-like size case becomes a consumer product: a black box. The Pegasos black box operates equally well with a television screen or a computer monitor. The Pegasos black box could come with its own file sharing and downloading programs -- music, movies, video games – a preference is selected, a source found, the entertainment begins. The technology would be invisible to the entertainment experience. The consumer manages the experience through an easily understood user interface with a remote control or through a web browser and a keyboard for more sophisticated users. As the hub of the Home Entertainment Center high fidelity sound/audio can now be introduced through the 24/7 broadband Internet connection to bring existing home stereo equipment back into use. Here the Pegasos black box can be positioned to be a consumer product that would do to a TV set what MP3 did to music – any show any time.
|
|
List of all comments to this article| Sorted by date, most recent at bottom |
| Comment 1 | David S Lund | | 30-Nov-2003 17:42 GMT |
| Comment 2 | Christian Kemp | Registered user | 30-Nov-2003 17:53 GMT |
| Comment 3 | shut the f&^%& up | | 30-Nov-2003 18:08 GMT |
| Comment 4 | Martin Blom | | 30-Nov-2003 18:08 GMT |
|
| ...another interesting article : Comment 5 of 56 | ANN.lu |
| Posted by Kermit Woodall on 30-Nov-2003 18:11 GMT | In reply to Comment 2 (Christian Kemp):
Friends of mine were involved in Anthony Wood's (former Amiga developer aka:Sunrize) ReplayTV (the original TiVo) and involved with Applied Magic's Screenplay nonlinear editing appliance.
Why mention these? Because TiVo and Screenplay and many other computer-like appliances are based on PowerPC chips. Prized for their low power consumption, low heat, and high performance.
The key in all of these devices has been to build a consumer-oriented device that has an interface that is EASY to use without compromising on power. In fact, the better the interface is at bringing power to the user without making it hard to use - the more popular the device can become.
Replay/TiVo are prime examples. They're easy to use as their interfaces resemble the channel guide on a digital cable/satellite box. They use the remote control conventions of a VCR to add recording/playback functionality.
A SuperTiVo already exists in many 'geek' hands. Linux projects like FreeVIO and others have merged TiVo functionality with the WebTV/Internet concepts, DVD, MP3 player, online video streaming (still not that great if you want realtime) and even some basic video editing and DVD burning.
It's not a bad concept - even if these geek devices cost thousands to put together by hand and use PCs with high heat/power requirements.
I know my use of ReplayTV has already made my DVD player feel crippled because I can't easily jump back 10 seconds or skip over unwanted sections with the same ease of the interface of the ReplayTV. I know why these Linux guys spent all the time developing FreeVIO (and other) packages and spend so much to make these ideal systems.
ReplayTV talked about how their system put YOU in control of TV at last. TiVo is echoing that same sentiment now. Being in control of all my home media is very attractive. It would be even better if I didn't have to have three boxes on top of my TV to do it all. And three remotes. (it can still be hard to find an all-in-one remote that cleanly works with ReplayTV _and_ a DVD player)
Robert Heinlein, SF author, saw this back in the 50's. He described a home communications center that controlled telephone, tv, and more and could easily bring all the data you wanted together (voice, video, print) and give you what you wanted WITHOUT commercials and the ability to skip what you didn't want as it came up. (hell - that might invalidate a few hundred patents on the basis of 'prior art' right there) His characters could scan for news/information on subjects and get listings of everything they wanted to select to read or view or listen to under their control.
The future is here, we're living in it, the gadgets are just an interface design away!
Kermit |
|
| List of all comments to this article (continued) |
|
- User Menu
-
- About ANN archives
- The ANN archives is powered by #AmigaZeux. It was updated daily (news last: 22-Oct-2004; comments last: 18-May-2005).
ANN.lu was created, previously owned and maintained by Christian Kemp, www.ckemp.com.
- Contribute
- Not possible at this time!
- Search ANN archives
- Advanced search
- Hosting
- ANN.lu was hosted by Dreamhost. Sign up through this link, mention "ckemp" as referrer and he will get a 10% commission on any account you purchase.
Please show your appreciation for any past, present and future work on ANN.lu by making a contribution via PayPal.
|
