The open Internet-connected TV platform Project Canvas could be ready to engage with content and service providers as soon as September. If it comes to fruition, Project Canvas should be available to all ISPs that want it, offering a range of on-demand services through broadband Internet and a television set. All content will be in one place without any subscription required, so in effect anybody with a broadband connection will be able to use it.
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Panasonic has finally activated the Skype video application on all of its 2010 VIERA Cast-enabled TVs (including the VT25, VT20, G25, and G20 Series), enabling easy video calls for consumers.  Comments are closed The sale of hybrid TVs equipped with HbbTV has turned out to be a major retail success in Germany, according to the latest figures from research firm GfK. Speaking at the ANGA Cable conference, Gerhard Schaas, chairman of the German TV-Platform, said that 546,000 connected TV sets have been sold during 2009. The figure represents a market share of around 14% of all TV sets sold in the country during 2009. The actual percentage of new TV sets might be higher, as HbbTV sets only began shipping in October 2009. For 2010, GfK predicts that at least 2 million hybrid TV sets will be sold, a figure set to rise to 4 million in 2011. Comments are closed Lately, I’ve been posting about various CE devices (such as HDTVs and Blu-ray players) incorporating various on-line streaming features. So what is really the trend here? The end game for CE devices (3DTVs, HDTVs, Blu-ray players, media players, etc.) and cable/IPTV set-top boxes is to support personalization. Consumers want to be able to quickly and easily personalize their devices to meet their needs. Some people may want Netflix, others Amazon VOD. Some may want weather information, others stock market information. The personalization will even depend on the device. The personalization capability is why there is such a large interest in using solutions like Google’s Android, Yahoo! TV Widgets, etc. for many CE devices and set-top boxes. Comments are closed Two efforts are underway to enable consumers to pay one price for permanent access to a movie or TV show across a wide variety of digital formats, such mobile phones, cable services, PCs, Blu-ray players, networked HDTVs, and other devices capable of playing back digital films. Both schemes could also extend the life of DVD and Blu-ray. The DECE is working to develop a standard that would be adopted across its 45-member companies, which range from every major studio (except Disney) to Comcast, Intel, Microsoft and Best Buy. Digital movies bought under the DECE standard would be tied to digital content accessible through any other connected device using the DECE standard. A consumer could buy the latest Blu-ray movie at a store, then access that same movie through a set-top box on their TV, at a hotel, through a mobile phone, or any other device that’s part of the content ecosystem. DECE backers are hopeful that the group will approve a standard in 2010. Walt Disney Studios is expected to unveil more details about its Keychest technology in the coming months. Keychest would allow consumers to buy a movie once and access it digitally through a broad range of connected devices from Disney partners. Rather than download content, it would be stored in the digital cloud. Comments are closed |
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