Report: Microsoft to Take on Google TV, Apple TV
CES hasn’t even started but there are already a few noticeable trends among the exhibitors we have seen so far. This year, the show is all about 3DTV, tablets, and internet-enabled TVs and set-top boxes.
We’ve already seen Google and Apple make the move into the living room and it seems Microsoft is determined not to miss out on the action. With the Ballmernote scheduled for later tomorrow afternoon, the gossip about what Steve will be talking about has reached an all time high. The Seattle Times’ Brier Dudley reports that Microsoft will debut a stripped down version of Windows specially tailored for set-top boxes and internet connected TVs.
"Microsoft's going to make a splash in this market with a stripped-down version of Windows tailored for set-top boxes and connected TVs," Dudley writes, before elaborating, "The software is a version of its embedded device software, overlaid with the Windows Media Center interface, with media streaming and remote-control capabilities."
Dudley claims the device will cost $200, which is $100 more expensive than Apple TV but $100 cheaper than Logitech’s Google TV set-top box, the Revue.
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But will it blend?
I never imagined Microsoft getting into set top boxes and internet-enabled tv's.
I guess that makes my media centre obsolete? all i use it for is movies anyway..
hmmm, the more options i see for tv, the more i wonder about the fate of cable. maybe not so much satellite, because they have a market for people who are still stuck with dial-up....interesting
As so often in recent years, MS doesn't innovate, but instead sees another company doing something new and then says 'hey, we could do that too'.
The question I'm asking myself here is: why would you want to use Windows, no matter how stripped down, in a set-top box? If they can release a secure, light weight and easy to use Windows TV, I'll take my hat off. Till then, I'd bet on Linux based designs that have existed for years and are still being improved as we speak.
@ Silmarunya
I dont think its fair to say Microsoft are copying anyone here. Microsoft have had Windows Media Centre in the marketplace driving media centre PC's since at least 2005 and been quite successful at it. Although WMC isnt strictly on-demand tv it is damm near the same as its used with peoples vast collections of tv / video media stored on the machine or over a network. WMC also has the ability to download TV guide and other application data over the internet. If you pair WMC with a opensource addon such as Media Browser then its vastly superior to anything Google or Apple are offering people and its available to anyone with Vista / Win 7. If anything Google and Apple are treading in Microsofts territory.
everyone seems to have forgotten about the late 90's WebTV
I think my BellAliant FibreOp set-top box already has some form of Windows on it
I get a flying-window/spinning-globe logo anytime I'm loading a menu.
CAN MS take on mighty GOOGLE?
@ SilmarunyaI dont think its fair to say Microsoft are copying anyone here. Microsoft have had Windows Media Centre in the marketplace driving media centre PC's since at least 2005 and been quite successful at it. Although WMC isnt strictly on-demand tv it is damm near the same as its used with peoples vast collections of tv / video media stored on the machine or over a network. WMC also has the ability to download TV guide and other application data over the internet. If you pair WMC with a opensource addon such as Media Browser then its vastly superior to anything Google or Apple are offering people and its available to anyone with Vista / Win 7. If anything Google and Apple are treading in Microsofts territory.
First of all, similar media software existed on other platforms before WMC came around.
Second, as you noted yourself, WMC is not the sort of web based TV that Google and Apple are offering.
I think out of all the other providers, Microsoft is the one that can have the biggest impact in IPTV. Think about it, they have Windows, Xbox, and this new set-top box. All of which use Media Center, and all can be given this capability to use the service.
How many people out there have a PC w/Windows as an OS? how many Xbox360's are out there? and you've already got a bigger install base than any other IPTV service out there! If Microsoft is smart and is intending on making money off the sales of the actual content more so than the sale of the set-top device, then this route will work the best and beat the rest.
As so often in recent years, MS doesn't innovate, but instead sees another company doing something new and then says 'hey, we could do that too'.The question I'm asking myself here is: why would you want to use Windows, no matter how stripped down, in a set-top box? If they can release a secure, light weight and easy to use Windows TV, I'll take my hat off. Till then, I'd bet on Linux based designs that have existed for years and are still being improved as we speak.
And then have to type code into the command line just to change a channel? no thanks, Linux sounds cool but I have tried it and it isn't any better.
I really like Media Center. The Win 7 version is great and there are plenty of on demand shows in it already. If MS can put Media Center in a box for the layman that does not know how to hook a PC up to a TV and really push for even more on demand content.. some people may like it.
But, I still to this day don't understand why someone wouldn't just hook a PC to the TV and not even worry about all this silly garbage that can't do as much at a true PC for about the same price?
I think they are too late to have a impact.
I think they are too late to have a impact.
Sure, just like they were too late to the game console markets to have an impact there, right? btw, a word starting with a vowel is preceded by "an", not "a".
Sorry MS had TV way before Apple or Google. They also have set top boxes already in the ATT Uverse service (before Google and probably around the same time as the original Apple TV). It would not be a stretch to take the existing tech in the Uverse box, scale it down and make it more generic
btw, a word starting with a vowel is preceded by "an", not "a".
In that instance yes, but it's grammar and thus variable based on what sounds right. In general that means it depends on the sound rather than the letter, unless you think it's a universal rule rather than one with an unfortunate number of gaps (it's easiest to do with "u"s but probably possible with other vowels and silent "h"s etc).
I don't think WebTVs are a good idea in their current implementation. Who wants to pay 99 cents a half hour to watch a show? I know microsoft will probably offer their subscription which is a good idea. Also you have to remember that unless you have Cable or FiOS internet, you can't enjoy these TVs. These companies already offer more superior TV for about the same price without the settop.
I think the future of TV will utilize IP protocols, however, I think this will be done at the local level with many different companies. For instance the cable company will simply turn your settop into a cable modem, then stream the shows directly to you from their headend.
As so often in recent years, MS doesn't innovate, but instead sees another company doing something new and then says 'hey, we could do that too'.The question I'm asking myself here is: why would you want to use Windows, no matter how stripped down, in a set-top box? If they can release a secure, light weight and easy to use Windows TV, I'll take my hat off. Till then, I'd bet on Linux based designs that have existed for years and are still being improved as we speak.
What are you like 12 years old? Living under a rock? a troll? What's your excuse?
Web TV (first practical settop box ever made), IPTV (which AT&T uses for U-Verse), Media Center...7 years old and Google TV doesnt' even scratch. Oh and what's that other thing they have in the living room. It has netflix and soon to get hulu? what is it now..oh yeah the XBOX.
In that instance yes, but it's grammar and thus variable based on what sounds right. In general that means it depends on the sound rather than the letter, unless you think it's a universal rule rather than one with an unfortunate number of gaps (it's easiest to do with "u"s but probably possible with other vowels and silent "h"s etc).
I don't know what the h311 you're talking about. It is a universal rule, period. And technically, ALL words starting with "h" are supposed to be preceded with "an", not "a" even though americans are lazy that way and generally break the rule. It is not based on what sounds right.
As so often in recent years, MS doesn't innovate, but instead sees another company doing something new and then says 'hey, we could do that too'.The question I'm asking myself here is: why would you want to use Windows, no matter how stripped down, in a set-top box? If they can release a secure, light weight and easy to use Windows TV, I'll take my hat off. Till then, I'd bet on Linux based designs that have existed for years and are still being improved as we speak.
Your obviously fucking retarded. Microsoft INVENTED the First Consumer OS. They invented Media Center and they have a little console called the Xbox. Microsoft is a dick sometimes but it is overall a great company.
What happened to last year's biggest flops. Wp KIN and WP7. They have sold so poorly that no manufacturer dares to jump on. For example, Samsung Galaxy Tab alone has sold as many units as WP7 and KIN at the same time. Please MS show figures for sale. To avoid it becoming so much misunderstanding and strange rumors. I think indeed that you have little to work on.
Your obviously fucking retarded. Microsoft INVENTED the First Consumer OS. They invented Media Center and they have a little console called the Xbox. Microsoft is a dick sometimes but it is overall a great company.
"U mad bro?" Pay attention before unleashing nerd-rage.
As so often in recent years, MS doesn't innovate, but instead sees another company doing something new and then says 'hey, we could do that too'
Clarified that for you eh? First OS or not, this is another non-innovated product line.. MS just wants their piece of the pie now.
I don't know what the h311 you're talking about. It is a universal rule, period. And technically, ALL words starting with "h" are supposed to be preceded with "an", not "a" even though americans are lazy that way and generally break the rule. It is not based on what sounds right.
And for you... Seriously, I don't know what your talking about. It, in all actuality, is not a universal rule. The rule of "an" before a vowel is based on phonetics. It don't sound right to use the word "a" before a word beginning with a vowel... However, that is, of course, all based on how someone actually "says" the word. Which, I must say, I was suprised you don't know that.. As you mentioned the "an" preceeding an "H" began word.. But since you don't.. here's the why for ya.. Quite alot of people have the tendency to "drop" the "h" when speaking (for example, like the word "historical" would instead sound like "istorical" however, when said with "an" preceeding it, it actually flows rather well.
So you see.. It's because people are lazy and don't say their "h" words properly that they are supposed to be said with an "an". Not the other way around I'm afraid. Sorry slick.
So please, stop the English Professor attitude. Because your wrong. Of course, 5 minutes of searching on google alone could have probably told you that.. ;P
"U mad bro?" Pay attention before unleashing nerd-rage.Clarified that for you eh? First OS or not, this is another non-innovated product line.. MS just wants their piece of the pie now.And for you... Seriously, I don't know what your talking about. It, in all actuality, is not a universal rule. The rule of "an" before a vowel is based on phonetics. It don't sound right to use the word "a" before a word beginning with a vowel... However, that is, of course, all based on how someone actually "says" the word. Which, I must say, I was suprised you don't know that.. As you mentioned the "an" preceeding an "H" began word.. But since you don't.. here's the why for ya.. Quite alot of people have the tendency to "drop" the "h" when speaking (for example, like the word "historical" would instead sound like "istorical" however, when said with "an" preceeding it, it actually flows rather well. So you see.. It's because people are lazy and don't say their "h" words properly that they are supposed to be said with an "an". Not the other way around I'm afraid. Sorry slick.So please, stop the English Professor attitude. Because your wrong. Of course, 5 minutes of searching on google alone could have probably told you that.. ;P
Google? Get a clue bud. They've been dumbing down English in America for the dumbed down Americans(hooked on ebonics) for 40 years now AT A MINIMUM. Pretty soon the accepted spelling for "night', will be "nite", just as they dumbed down catsup to ketchup and blonde to blond and grey to gray. The problem with you is you've been bombarded with dumbed down English your whole life and you really don't have any idea what is proper and what isn't.
Now that's something that gets me excited. I am a huge fan of the interface design they have been using in Media Center
Google? Get a clue bud. They've been dumbing down English in America for the dumbed down Americans(hooked on ebonics) for 40 years now AT A MINIMUM. Pretty soon the accepted spelling for "night', will be "nite", just as they dumbed down catsup to ketchup and blonde to blond and grey to gray. The problem with you is you've been bombarded with dumbed down English your whole life and you really don't have any idea what is proper and what isn't.
Umm... It's not so much a "dumbing down".. Or at least, not as much as you seem to think it is. However you are right in the saying that it's been going on for 40 years at least. More accurately, for more that 200 years. You're talking about the differences between "british" english and "American" english. For example. Armour, colour, flavour, etc. Those were the original correct ways to spell those words, however, back in the infancy of the USA, when Noah Webster published his "form" of American English. Read up on it a little. I'm sure you would find some stuff of value that might just calm you down a bit. It's quite interesting, to me at least.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameri [...] ifferences
But I do concur with you on the "night vs nite" spelling of things. That's just plain retarded, and just simply laziness on the part of the user. But then again, personally speaking, the words "u", "r", and "ur" vice "you", "are", and "you're/your" irritates the crap out of me. Heck, I've even seen it used in college essays and once in a resume. Talk about unacceptable.
But seriously, do not assume that the english used by those around me, in any way shape or form, constitutes a valid reason for me to somehow "not" know proper english when it is presented before me. While I do not attempt to "claim" that I know all the rules, words, terms, and proper sentence structure of the entire english language.. I do know english far better than 95% of the people around me.(totally made up number, but it does "feel" about right. I am hardly ever corrected, while I correct those around me ALL the time. I'm mostly only corrected on spelling more unusual/rare words that don't come up very often.) Then again.. perhaps that's one reason why I took the ACT(the SAT's smaller, less used sibiling) in the 7th grade.. And scored high enough(24 composite) to get in to a major college. So please... Pretty please.. Don't talk down to me. I do appear, it seems, to know far more than you give me credit. Just like you seem to know more than average yourself.. Although I think some of your foundation is a little.. off.
You two look like a couple red faced retards beating the spittle out of each other with vegetables while stuttering out "poopy" cursewords.
You two look like a couple red faced retards beating the spittle out of each other with vegetables while stuttering out "poopy" cursewords.
And you look like the greasy, shirtless redneck cheering for his favorite driver at a nascar rally...
What's your point? Useless statements of irritation?
You nailed it. Spot on, brother man, spot on.
you aN idiot.. I would say and spell it that way.
The picture, its priceless.
I'm curious how saturated the market will get before Google TV wins out. I say that because I, as an owner of the Logitech Revue w/ Google TV, have yet to see any competing product that I would even dream of using. When I first was exposed to the Revue & Google TV back in September as an employee of DISH Network, I immediately knew that this was something I wanted in on. The way Google TV combines the entire web and all of my DISH DVR & programming into one seamless interface has completely changed and enhanced the way I watch TV. This type of convergence definitely is the future and, I assure you, Google TV will win.
Doubt it. Google isn't doing anything that others either aren't doing now. I'm glad you are enjoying the new experience but others have had it for a long time now. (2 years for here for the converged experience, 4-5 for a fractured experience of the same content)
Google is making enemies of the content owners and until they reverse that trend there is 0 chance they'll win the war. Microsoft = "Hey making a new product here, can we play your stuff?" Google = "I made a product and stole your stuff. Why was that wrong?"