5 ms·

Simply, content is king again. I really don't like the dichotomous 'X is king'/'X will lose the war' mindset - it's lazy and it leads to sloppy thinking and ba

Simply, content is king again. I really don't like the dichotomous 'X is king'/'X will lose the war' mindset - it's lazy and it leads to sloppy thinking and bad decisions. Yes, content is important, but so is infrastructure, and execution, and ease of use, and so on. In fact if I were to come up with a single reason for Apple's success, it's that they understand this - they do the hardware, AND the software, AND the online ecosystem. Apple doesn't do hardware or software per se - they do SYSTEMS. Nobody has got the Internet/TV meld right yet. Seen a Google TV recently? Certainly it will be tough for Apple to get it right, but dismissing them like this is just nonsense.

rkwz 14y ago
>Nobody has got the Internet/TV meld right yet. Umm, xbox?
- pmjordan 14y ago
  Maybe it's different in the US, but in Europe, the Xbox is basically just a gamer thing. Many people who play games on their iDevices and maybe even a Wii wouldn't even consider buying an Xbox - the branding/marketing/positioning tells them it's just not for them. Also I think the content situation for streaming in Europe is a mess, so most people still watch DVDs or satellite pay-TV or cable (with set-top-box lock-in). That said, if Microsoft released a rebranded Xbox (not using the Xbox brand) as a pure media device (and sorted out the content issue), they might be on to something.
  - malsme 14y ago
    I think something like YouView has the most potential. It needs a few more years of development, but it could be bundled into TVs and resold to broadcasters in other countries as a state broadcasting standard.
    - josephlord 14y ago
      Not going to happen (bundling into TVs and being resold to other countries). Firstly it is not a standard in any meaningful sense but a platform that happens to be owned by the main free channels and the telcos. It's actually a bit like Android except Youview can push updates without even the manufacturers approval! The rest of Europe has adopted HBBTV as a standard already and much of the world is adopting similar HTML based solutions if not HBBTV itself. As it currently stands a hard disk is required and that is unlikely to be bundled into many TVs in the near future. Spinning rust is too bulky, it adds cost. Flash is too expensive still for the Youview minimum of 250MB (or is it even more than that). For the major TV manufacturers the loss of control of the TV UI is a major issue and they are unlikely to do that unless they really have to. For the UK alone it is very unlikely. I'm surprised that some have gone the GoogleTV route to be honest but I think they were imagining it would take off like Android has. Also going the Youview route removes their potential revenues from operating their on online platforms. So for the above reasons Youview as it currently stands will not make any impact outside the UK (and it won't actually make much inside either) and won't make a major part of any TV manufacturers line up.
- Karunamon 14y ago
  Only in a few places, and that's arguable.
- lazugod 14y ago
  Xboxes lose the war because they aren't part of an integrated system with desktop and mobile Windows. And systems are king.
  - jiggy2011 14y ago
    Increasingly they are, my Xbox live account is linked with a bunch of my Windows games. I'm sure there will be more integration there with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.
jasomill 14y ago
Agreed. And existing content is less important to television than new and live fare, as evidenced by its most popular programming: network prime-time and live sports. Speaking of "systems", both ESPN and ABC are controlled by Disney, whose CEO, Robert Iger, is an Apple director, so likely to see Apple as a potentially lucrative business partner rather than some dangerous, untrustworthy Other.

rkwz 14y ago

>Nobody has got the Internet/TV meld right yet. Umm, xbox?

pmjordan 14y ago
Maybe it's different in the US, but in Europe, the Xbox is basically just a gamer thing. Many people who play games on their iDevices and maybe even a Wii wouldn't even consider buying an Xbox - the branding/marketing/positioning tells them it's just not for them. Also I think the content situation for streaming in Europe is a mess, so most people still watch DVDs or satellite pay-TV or cable (with set-top-box lock-in). That said, if Microsoft released a rebranded Xbox (not using the Xbox brand) as a pure media device (and sorted out the content issue), they might be on to something.
- malsme 14y ago
  I think something like YouView has the most potential. It needs a few more years of development, but it could be bundled into TVs and resold to broadcasters in other countries as a state broadcasting standard.
  - josephlord 14y ago
    Not going to happen (bundling into TVs and being resold to other countries). Firstly it is not a standard in any meaningful sense but a platform that happens to be owned by the main free channels and the telcos. It's actually a bit like Android except Youview can push updates without even the manufacturers approval! The rest of Europe has adopted HBBTV as a standard already and much of the world is adopting similar HTML based solutions if not HBBTV itself. As it currently stands a hard disk is required and that is unlikely to be bundled into many TVs in the near future. Spinning rust is too bulky, it adds cost. Flash is too expensive still for the Youview minimum of 250MB (or is it even more than that). For the major TV manufacturers the loss of control of the TV UI is a major issue and they are unlikely to do that unless they really have to. For the UK alone it is very unlikely. I'm surprised that some have gone the GoogleTV route to be honest but I think they were imagining it would take off like Android has. Also going the Youview route removes their potential revenues from operating their on online platforms. So for the above reasons Youview as it currently stands will not make any impact outside the UK (and it won't actually make much inside either) and won't make a major part of any TV manufacturers line up.
Karunamon 14y ago
Only in a few places, and that's arguable.
lazugod 14y ago
Xboxes lose the war because they aren't part of an integrated system with desktop and mobile Windows. And systems are king.
- jiggy2011 14y ago
  Increasingly they are, my Xbox live account is linked with a bunch of my Windows games. I'm sure there will be more integration there with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

jasomill 14y ago

Agreed. And existing content is less important to television than new and live fare, as evidenced by its most popular programming: network prime-time and live sports. Speaking of "systems", both ESPN and ABC are controlled by Disney, whose CEO, Robert Iger, is an Apple director, so likely to see Apple as a potentially lucrative business partner rather than some dangerous, untrustworthy Other.