Blog articles from 12/2008

CED Magazine covers ActiveVideo Networks' moves to "Web infuse" not only TV services, but also consumer electronics products. I am hearing a lot more activity occuring in the space of encoding, hardware, software, and silicon solutions that are aimed at bridging premium Web services to the TV. I had written about a couple of initiatives while back - Oregan Networks and Intel's Widget Channel approach. ActiveVideo Networks is also addressing this space, and will demonstrate...

The Sigma Designs purchase of Zensys , the company that originated the Z-Wave wireless networking protocol, is an interesting move. There are definitely some entertainment and remote controller applications that are enabled using Z-Wave, and Sigma also has a strong reputation in customer premise equipment like set-top boxes. So, might we see some home control features integrated with traditional entertainment experiences?

AT&T announced yesterday that it has hit one million subscriptions for U-verse. U-verse definitely seems to be picking up steam. However, the growth in subscriptions has slowed slightly for AT&T 46% in Q2 vs. 44% in Q3 and softening consumer spending could potentially impact the Q4 numbers a little more than anticipated. Tack on digital download tax to the tobacco tax in New York. Governor Paterson is exploring the possibility of taxing digital downloads in an effort to...

Following up their Widget Channel announcement at the Intel Developer Forum in August, Intel says that it will show prototype devices at CES. Intel also expects to announce new partnerships with content and service providers for The Widget Channel. The company also will introduce services "moving beyond just leisure and entertainment and television," said Genevieve Bell, an Intel fellow who specializes in studying user interaction with technology. I'd expect to see lots...

The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) announced today that it will be incorporated into the Digital Living Network Alliance's (DLNA) next version of its Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines, scheduled to be released in early 2009. MoCA joins Wi-Fi and Ethernet as the only LAN technology standards approved for inclusion in the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines. With all of the hubub about G.hn and the ITU's approval of the PHY and architecture portions of the ITU-T G.hn...

Despite putting together a nice product with a great interface, VUDU has struggled to define itself. Is it the consumate video-on-demand box? The adult content box ? The high-end installer box? A Blu-ray challenger? With today's release, it looks like VUDU wants to take on the cable company. It launched VUDU RIA (Rich Internet Application) platform, a standards-based platform that brings Web-hosted rich applications and services to consumer appliances. VUDU has created an...

Obviously, a byproduct of the growing number of consumer electronics devices in the digital home will be increased power consumption. We've heard about some initiatives in Europe regarding standby power requirements for devices such as appliances and televisions, but this is the first I've heard of efforts aimed at CE equipment such as routers, modems, adn residential gateways. According to a press release from the Home Gateway Initiative, they played an important role in developing...

One-third (33%) of U.S. broadband households are looking for ways to access their stored media content from outside the home, according to international research firm Parks Associates. The firm reports 35% of these households consider remote viewing a highly appealing ability. This demand for remote access will guide future networking plans among service providers, Parks Associates reports. The firm forecasts that over 50 million households worldwide will be using place-shifting...