Comments on: Will Microsoft’s Living-Room Quest Finally Pay Off?

By: Is Smart TV Platform Fragmentation a Good Thing?: Online Video News «

Is Smart TV Platform Fragmentation a Good Thing?: Online Video News « — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:00:35 +0000

[...] But all downsides considered, the alternative is still worse. As we saw with the connected living room space earlier this decade, lack of competition leads to lack of innovation. That end result is decaying platforms, as we’ve seen with Tru2Way and Microsoft’s Windows Media Center Extender. [...]

By: blog-thing : Microsoft est-il encore en mesure de développer une stratégie grand public ?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:30:52 +0000

[...] le marché grand public, le tableau suivant issu d’un poste du blog GigaOm, liste quelques-unes des offres destinées à ce marché que Microsoft a lancées depuis la fin des [...]

By: Watch Out, Netflix: Vizio, OnLive Might Stream As Well: Video «

Watch Out, Netflix: Vizio, OnLive Might Stream As Well: Video « — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:04:49 +0000

[...] them, Microsoft and Amazon had previously been rumored to be “in negotiations” with content owners to [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 18:35:25 +0000

apparently, Microsoft’s looking for developers to work on Silverlight for the Xbox 360, so this could mean apps in Xbox’s future, another way to extend it

By: Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 22:16:36 +0000

The interesting thing to me is Microsoft is an afterthought to most when it comes to this market, but they’re actually leading if you consider their box installed base. If they were to do something radical – say start selling 360s for $99 tomorrow – they could entrench themselves as a potential de factor leader from an OTT box perspective.

By: James Gardiner

James Gardiner — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 22:01:11 +0000

This is no surprise to me.

I have aggreed with Microsoft strategy, but like them, missed a pivital point..

Its not the technology that is the issue, it is the end user and to a large degree, the positioning of the content which leads the end user to change.

You can lead the hourse to water but cannot make it drink.

Microsoft has a great water source, but everyone already has a great water source and no real need to change.

If you look at it this way.
If Cable and TV went away tomorrow.
Where would people turn.
Apple, Boxee, Roku, or Microsoft..
Firstly, the technorati wouldn;t mention Microsoft as its UNCOOL.
But in reality, it would be the notable winner in my opinion.
It has Netflix, best gaming, good price. All you really want. AND it supports OPEN protocols like IDLA.
Apple, yes a nice sexy box, and great if you buy all Apple. Totally closed otherwise. So, by definition, a 2nd place if not 3rd in a mature market.

Yes Micorsoft could still screw this up, but really, they cannot but be one of the dominent living room players.
Apple, could be a dominent living room player OR a second place one. I personally think the greedy busness models forced on media companies will, in the end, make them burn Apple when decent alternatives become available. No one likes being screwed.
As long as Apple is so dominent, its safe.

James

By: Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:28:25 +0000

Innovative interfaces is a key battleground in the living room for the next few years. Microsoft actually has a lead here – let’s see if they squander it or make hay :)

By: Shane Rice

Shane Rice — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:06:20 +0000

I think Kinect-type technology is the key to the wired living room going mainstream. I wrote a short post about this, speculating that a Google TV/Kinect hack could have been part of Microsoft’s initial push to block Kinect hacking.

http://theshanerice.com/microsofts-tv-nightmare-googletv-kinect-hacks

Cheers!