Comments on: The Set-top Box cometh http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/ News and Updates on the Community. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:50:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ian Wild http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1326 Ian Wild Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:39:30 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1326 I don't think we disagree too much - 5 years is an incredibly long timescale in this industry. You are right about DVB-T becomming defacto in new TVs, but the value of the solution - The hybrid element of a PVR and all the stuff that results in people moving away from PCs for their entertainment will, I think, come through the set-top box first. Certainly my view is that 2009 is set to be the year of the Set-top box, where 2008 looks to see streaming taking off, but mainly still accessed through the PC. Ian I don't think we disagree too much - 5 years is an incredibly long timescale in this industry. You are right about DVB-T becomming defacto in new TVs, but the value of the solution - The hybrid element of a PVR and all the stuff that results in people moving away from PCs for their entertainment will, I think, come through the set-top box first.

Certainly my view is that 2009 is set to be the year of the Set-top box, where 2008 looks to see streaming taking off, but mainly still accessed through the PC.

Ian

]]> By: dan http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1322 dan Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:23:03 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1322 Although it's not going to happen over night, I'm sure the TV mfrs will persist with convergence. Without hard facts available I'm willing to bet that most LCD and Plasmas sold in the UK now will have built-in freeview. There were also many intergrated digital TVs (IDTVs) in the less successful days of ondigital (which is effectively the same technology and standards as freeview now - DVB-T with MHEG-5 providing interactivity). Remember, digital TV in many other countries isn't achieved through DVB-T, so the fact that mfrs have integrated freeview shows that they do have an appetite for integrating specific technologies and building TVs for local markets. It is likely to be several more years (although maybe even as few as 5), but I'm convinced TVs with integrated internet capabilties will be the "in" thing. Surfing and using the internet will become more of a living room (lean-back) habbit and if there's demand for it, the consumer elecntronics mfrs will make it easier for everyone. I remember the days when people didn't want to have washer-dryers or fridge-freezers, or when people didn't want to add cameras, mp3, video or pda functionality to phones. But there became a market for this type of convergence, so I'm sure consumers will only continue to demand integration. You'll probably even see Microsoft selling Windows-powered TVs in the not-too-distance future. They've had a couple of attempts at it before - e.g. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/nov03/11-25nettvisionpr.mspx. I believe they're also behind some of the technology driving BT Vision (ok, so that is a STB, but the point is they are already in the industry). Given the right price and functionality, I'd certainly buy a TV with intergrated internet capabilities. Beats having a media centre clogging up space (even if i do like the look of mine). Although it's not going to happen over night, I'm sure the TV mfrs will persist with convergence.

Without hard facts available I'm willing to bet that most LCD and Plasmas sold in the UK now will have built-in freeview. There were also many intergrated digital TVs (IDTVs) in the less successful days of ondigital (which is effectively the same technology and standards as freeview now - DVB-T with MHEG-5 providing interactivity).

Remember, digital TV in many other countries isn't achieved through DVB-T, so the fact that mfrs have integrated freeview shows that they do have an appetite for integrating specific technologies and building TVs for local markets.

It is likely to be several more years (although maybe even as few as 5), but I'm convinced TVs with integrated internet capabilties will be the "in" thing.

Surfing and using the internet will become more of a living room (lean-back) habbit and if there's demand for it, the consumer elecntronics mfrs will make it easier for everyone.

I remember the days when people didn't want to have washer-dryers or fridge-freezers, or when people didn't want to add cameras, mp3, video or pda functionality to phones. But there became a market for this type of convergence, so I'm sure consumers will only continue to demand integration.

You'll probably even see Microsoft selling Windows-powered TVs in the not-too-distance future. They've had a couple of attempts at it before - e.g. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/nov03/11-25nettvisionpr.mspx. I believe they're also behind some of the technology driving BT Vision (ok, so that is a STB, but the point is they are already in the industry).

Given the right price and functionality, I'd certainly buy a TV with intergrated internet capabilities. Beats having a media centre clogging up space (even if i do like the look of mine).

]]> By: Ian Wild http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1293 Ian Wild Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:10:11 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1293 I'm not convinced about integration with TVs. All my TVs are over 5 years old (I really do need to get myself one of these 'hud tuvs' sometime!). The TVs are fine, but I've swapped set top boxes at least 3 times in that period. I think the TV manufacturers would prefer to keep things simple for cost, support and international inter-operability reasons. I don't even see many TVs even coming with built in freeview tuners yet. Ian I'm not convinced about integration with TVs. All my TVs are over 5 years old (I really do need to get myself one of these 'hud tuvs' sometime!). The TVs are fine, but I've swapped set top boxes at least 3 times in that period.

I think the TV manufacturers would prefer to keep things simple for cost, support and international inter-operability reasons. I don't even see many TVs even coming with built in freeview tuners yet.

Ian

]]> By: dan http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1266 dan Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:52:27 +0000 http://community.plus.net/blog/2008/02/07/the-stb-cometh/#comment-1266 Convergence has been the key word for many years now, and I think 2008 will see this further explode into mass market. For starters the E-TV (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/30/asus_announces_eee_tv/) will be hitting shops soon. That will then spark greater interest and further convergence. I've had a media centre in my living room for the last couple of years and, to be honest, I'd much prefer all the functionality to be achieved by one thing, and my TV would be a good candidate. These set-top boxes will help create more momentum within the TV manufacturing industry to integrate the features directly within the TVs, without the need for even a STB. For now, though, I welcome this and may even be tempted to get one for myself :-) Convergence has been the key word for many years now, and I think 2008 will see this further explode into mass market. For starters the E-TV (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/30/asus_announces_eee_tv/) will be hitting shops soon. That will then spark greater interest and further convergence.

I've had a media centre in my living room for the last couple of years and, to be honest, I'd much prefer all the functionality to be achieved by one thing, and my TV would be a good candidate.

These set-top boxes will help create more momentum within the TV manufacturing industry to integrate the features directly within the TVs, without the need for even a STB. For now, though, I welcome this and may even be tempted to get one for myself :-)

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