Comments on: User Interface & The Triple Play Challenge

By: Rob Freeborn

Rob Freeborn — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:19:29 +0000

After travelling around and seeing what my friends live with on a day to day basis, I have to say that the UI I have for my TW HD box here in Manhattan is the best that I've seen from a major manufacturer/cable provider.

Does it have some of the nice features of a Tivo like automatically recording for every Keanu Reeves movie when it sees me watch the Matrix once? No, but it sure is easy and fast to use!

By: Deirdré Straughan

Deirdré Straughan — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:16:37 +0000

OT: Baited breath? Ick! (link)

;)

By: Ryan Lane

Ryan Lane — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:54:49 +0000

10 foot UIs are a place that sadly needs some standardization. I have to agree that Tivo, Apple TV, Xbox 360 are all good at doing what they do in that environment. Why can’t the people who have the strongest presence on TVs like the cable companies see the value in this? I mean except for the fact that they haven’t had any competition really until now.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:48:05 +0000

Todd, have you used it? I found it disorienting and requiring too much movement/activity. When I want motion control, I'll fire up the Wii. ;)

(Granted, I had just a few minutes with the remote/interface - more time is needed before passing final judgment. And of course they need partners in order to deploy.)

By: Todd Klein

Todd Klein — Thu, 24 May 2007 21:20:18 +0000

Om:

The best thing I’ve seen isn’t out just yet, but it’s Hillcrest Labs ring remote and software platform. The key is navigation, bringing the computer-mouse experience to the tv.

By: PJA

PJA — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:22:31 +0000

(link) - cable’s interface will change and the msos will own the interface and applications.

By: Jonathan Hirshon

Jonathan Hirshon — Thu, 24 May 2007 19:43:40 +0000

Actually, the UI on my DirecTV HD box is pretty darned good - it's not Tivo, but FAR better than the visual purgatory that is the Moto UI on Comcast's box...

I could be wrong, but I believe the DirecTV UI is from Pace, in the UK?

cheers, JH

By: David Millsaps

David Millsaps — Thu, 24 May 2007 19:30:18 +0000

Right on, Om. UI is the reason Apple is the powerhouse it is right now. Microsoft got a clue on the 360 and let’s hope it matriculates back into Windows. Customers are starting to realize that UI is the reason they like certain products and hate others.
While the iPhone will expose this trend in the mobile space, we have seen it in the past with Nokia’s devices vs everyone else as well as Verizon’s own tasteless interface offerings.