In the world of DVRs, the TiVo is easily the most important and capable device around. With a slew of options that allow you to find shows with ease and a user interface that is second to none, the product is a world-class entrant into the market. Yet while most people enjoy the TiVo — it has had a steady 70-plus satisfaction rate for years — it’s still a fringe device that has little chance of survival unless the company does something to combat cable companies and increase subscriber count. Unfortunately, that “something” may be a dramatically different price point — free.

According to James McQuivey of Forrester Research, who joined me on my CNET Digital Home podcast last week, “TiVo has been fighting for years and has only sold about 1.7 million units of its boxes compared to your cable and satellite companies, who looked at TiVo and said, ’1.7 million units? We can do that.’”

And it’s that issue: The cable companies can (and have) capitalized on TiVo’s business model by creating sub-par DVRs that mimic the device’s functionality at no additional charge, effectively ensuring that TiVo still incurs millions of dollars worth of losses each year. This despite the fact that the cable company DVRs simply don’t hold a candle to the TiVo; they are incapable of offering the kind of solutions we have come to expect from more advanced devices.

That said, they’re basically free. And as McQuivey explains, that’s what has made cable company DVRs so much more popular. “Compare that 1.7 million units sold-mark to the 25 million units shipped by cable and satellite companies and that must be very frustrating because honestly, the TiVo is one of the best consumer experiences you can have, but it says something about how to get a consumer electronics device into people’s homes when the best designed products can’t take off. And it says something when the comparative knock-off can take off like gangbusters.”

What does that means for the future of TiVo? At this point, things don’t look good. If cable companies can offer an experience that, although less enjoyable, cost about $5 per month, how can TiVo compete? TiVo has little to no chance of ever becoming a profitable company unless it finds a new way to market and differentiate its product. And the only way to do that is to offer it for free.

Given that its current stable of offerings range in price from $100 to $600 — and it still can’t turn a profit — “free” may not be an option. And judging by adoption rates and the fact that the general public is more than willing to take a sub-standard device over a great one because of its pricepoint, TiVo may not be long for this world. If you ask me, that’s a shame.

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• A 2011 NewNet Forecast
• Report: The Connected TV Marketplace
• Google TV: Overview and Strategic Analysis

When I wrote about my hopes for the future of the Apple TV, my arguments largely revolved around a desire for the ability to download iTunes and get access to the Internet. Well, with “Take 2″ of the device, we didn’t get the latter, but I suppose one out of two isn’t half bad.

And we did get a download that offered a slew of improvements, including bringing the Apple TV to the level of functionality for which I had initially hoped. That said, does it stand up to my Mac Mini, which is connected to another HDTV in the house, or does it fall short?

By and large, the new Apple TV Take 2 is a great upgrade that makes doing what you want to do on the device much easier. And although it wasn’t until Apple launched iTunes movie rentals that they finally started offering the features we want, I’m delighted the company finally came around.

The first thing you’ll notice when you boot up your new Apple TV Take 2 is its menu. Instead of the old Front Row look, the company has installed a system with an interface similar to that of the iPod that is quite easy to navigate.

Once you’re comfortable making your way around, you’ll notice that you can download movies directly to the Apple TV from the menu; downloading songs, podcasts and music videos, meanwhile, can be done in a matter of seconds. I was extremely pleased with the length of time (or lack thereof) it took to download files and couldn’t have been happier with the overall feel of the upgraded software.

In fact, I would say that the Apple TV Take 2 is an extremely important upgrade and should be a definite consideration the next time you head to the store looking for a set-top box that allows you to play music, movies and more.

But what about the Mac Mini?

But alas, we’re not just here to wax poetic on the Apple TV. I’ve always been a strong proponent of the Mac Mini, but after a little over a week using the Apple TV, I just don’t see why anyone would use it anymore.

Prior to the Take 2′s release, the Mac Mini was clinging to its ability to offer online video and iTunes content directly on an HDTV without the need to download files elsewhere and wait for two devices to sync. Sure, it’s also a full-fledged Mac, with the ability to download outside applications and play non-Apple content. But with its slightly underpowered specs and the general lack of attention given to it, the Mac Mini’s only redeeming quality was its ability to do exactly what Apple TV Take 2 can do now.

With the new update to the Apple TV, you can do everything you’re able to do on the Mac Mini other than browse the web, check your email or perform tasks with the software found on Mac OS X — but without the hassle (and expense).

And while I’m not advising Mac Mini owners to run out and pick up an Apple TV, I do advise Apple TV owners — or those that don’t own either product — to stay far away from the Mac Mini. Although the added functionality may seem fine on paper, the additional $370, plus the cost of a keyboard and mouse is a tough pill to swallow no matter how great your desire to enjoy media on your HDTV. And let’s not forget that the Mac Mini is also lacking component or HDMI inputs, so you’re limited to what you can do right off the bat.

Before the release of the new and improved Apple TV firmware, my vote for best Apple multimedia product would have gone to the Mac Mini. But now that Take 2 has added a slew of functionality that makes the Apple TV worthwhile, I simply can’t justify buying the Mac Mini.

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• Apple’s Path to the Living Room
• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce

But in the final deathblow to HD DVD, Netflix said Monday it will only carry standard DVDs and most importantly, Blu-ray discs going forward. The company said its decision was impacted by the majority of the movie studios’ decision to back Blu-ray and indicated that it was simply costing it too much money to keep three formats in stock. Netflix has said that it won’t phase out its entire HD DVD stock immediately, but will have none left by the end of the year.

And while a few last adherents may scoff at the news and say it’s not the final nail in the coffin that we’ve all been waiting for, I disagree. Now that Movie Gallery is practically out of the movie rental picture, Blockbuster, the world’s largest brick-and-mortar retailer, continues to support Blu-ray exclusively and Netflix has finally turned its back on HD DVD, how can the format survive going forward? [Update: Best Buy also said today it would recommend Blu-ray to its customers.] As it stands, Toshiba’s format is only available in major retailers, and considering the kind of deals they’re trying to offer, HD DVD sales are looking more like a firesale than bargain shopping.

Why is Netflix so important? With some 7.5 million customers and command over arguably one of the most important facets of the entire movie industry, that red envelope means everything to movie studios. Long after the film has dried up at the movie theaters (typically after two weeks), the studios immediately try to find ways to recoup the millions of dollars they doled out to make and promote it. And while DVD sales certainly do help, they are watered down — to some extent, at least — by piracy. But when all else fails, these studios can still rely on movie rental services like Netflix to acquire media and distribute it to a huge number of consumers — far more than any movie studio could through selling it on the open market.

But how is anyone supposed to learn about a format when it’s not even available to rent? Consumers may see HD DVD players in the store and buy one, but as soon as they get home and realize that the vast majority of movies are only available on Blu-ray and all of their rental services only supply Blu-ray movies, that player is likely to get sent back. And if no major rental service backs HD DVD, what’s stopping Paramount and Universal from jumping ship? Nothing.

The high-def format war is over. In a matter of weeks, both Paramount and Universal will realize what’s going on and decide to back Blu-ray. And once that happens, we can all jump on the Blu-ray bandwagon too.

It’s about time.

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• Google TV: A Big Test For Sony
• Blu-ray Still Too Much, Too Late to Save Hollywood

With that in mind, AHT has announced the release of its first open source set-top box. Dubbed Tribbox, the device will run you about 310 euros ($453) and can be plugged into any existing home network via Ethernet. But unlike its competitors, the Tribbox is designed with both consumers and OEMs in mind. According to the company, companies can develop a full-fledged set-top box with the pre-installed Linux OS, and because it’s an open-source device, consumers can create a GUI and an “embedded system, media center, car entertainment system or whatever!”

Of course, the company is also quick to mention that the Tribbox is not necessarily a set-top box, noting that it doesn’t include a hard drive out of the box. Instead, you’ll be forced to find your own SATA hard drive and connect it with the help of the included cables.

Regardless, can an open source set-top box survive and succeed in an environment where companies are practically forced to sell devices at a loss just to compete?

Sure, the Tribbox may cost almost $400 less than the TiVo, but it’s still over $400, and the chances of someone buying this device are slim when a well-known and well-received device like the TiVo is sitting right next to it. And if you’re lucky, you might be able to find that same TiVo much cheaper on Amazon.

Sadly, we’ve entered a stage in this industry where the set-top box may only be revolutionized by large companies that have the money to invest in research and can afford to charge much less than TiVo. Is the Tribbox idea a good one? To some extent. But are people truly willing to pay that much for a device that won’t even work the way they want it to out of the box and requires Linux and developing knowledge as a pre-requisite for use?

Try as it might, the open source set-top box is dead in the water until it can create a compelling reason for us to consider it. Until then, enjoy your TiVo.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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• A 2011 NewNet Forecast
• Report: The Connected TV Marketplace
• Report: An Open Source Smart Grid Primer

After finally admitting that the company did a poor job with the Apple TV, Steve Jobs in his Macworld keynote today unveiled a totally new interface with loads of functionality that should be enough for any Apple zealot to jump for joy. Of course, what Jobs didn’t mention during his “Delusions of Grandeur” speech was whether or not the Apple TV has some viability going forward. After all, how much faith do people really have in Apple to make its new offering a success when the product was relegated to the shadows and generally ignored over the past year?

If you ask me, they should have more faith than ever.

Let’s recap: The Apple TV was originally slated to sell 1 million units by the end of 2007, according to predictions made by analyst firm J&W Seligman and many others. But in reality, the device barely hit the 400,000 units sold-mark, staying on the shelves while more appealing Apple products continued to beat estimates. Why? Simple: Apple gave us no real reason to buy the Apple TV. If we couldn’t access iTunes from the device and YouTube integration was the only additional feature beyond what we could already do on a computer, why waste $299 just to have another set-top box laying around the house?

Obviously understanding this, Apple’s announcement today set the tone for the future of the Apple TV.

The newly updated Apple TV will allow you to download iTunes movie rentals, music, podcasts and video without the need for a computer. And with Flickr integration, you can even flip through your friends’ photo albums. As if that wasn’t enough, Apple upgraded the device’s UI to make it more user-friendly and dropped the price to $229. If you’re already an Apple TV owner, you’ll be happy to know that a free update will be released in two weeks that will give you the same functionality outlined above.

Why has Apple employed such a drastically different strategy? Well, the company has already invested millions in the device, so there’s little incentive to create an entirely different set-top box to accommodate iTunes movie rentals. Beyond that, the Apple TV is a convenient device that will allow Apple to create the end-to-end solution with rentals that it enjoy with music and iPods. After all, what other service has the number of users iTunes does and a full set-top box integration to boot? Netflix certainly doesn’t, and Movielink relies on Windows-based machines.

In the end, Apple may have talked a good game by claiming it wanted to create a more compelling Apple TV, but the truth behind its reinvention has everything to do with movie rentals. Apple smelled blood in the movie rental industry and realized that by offering movies in the same fashion it offers music and allowing people to enjoy the entertainment on an Apple product, it has successfully created an end-to-end solution that has yet to be mastered in this space.

Rest assured, the Apple TV was always an important piece in Apple’s puzzle and going forward, it could be the key to its future.

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• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

1. Panasonic meet YouTube, YouTube meet Panasonic: In a move that could have a profound impact on the future of Internet video, Google and Panasonic unveiled a partnership that will see YouTube access built directly into Panasonic HDTVs.

• Was it expected? You better believe it was expected. After all, when Sony announced at last year’s CES that it would allow access to AOL video in its Bravia line of HDTVs, don’t you think Google and Panasonic took notice?
• Is it innovative? Mildly. Sure, there aren’t a slew of HDTVs currently on the market that offer this kind of functionality, but if you have an Apple TV you can already do this. And how good will the videos actually look on your screen anyway?
• Is it likely to take off? I wouldn’t hold my breath. How many people actually care that they can access YouTube on an HDTV? I think this plan is a junker waiting to happen.
• Is there something better out there? It’s called a computer and browser. Look, these videos weren’t meant for HDTVs and the chances of enjoying them are minimal at best. Trust me, you’ll enjoy them more on a computer.
• Overall importance grade: D

2. Comcast’s Fancast finally goes live: Sure, it may have been a long time coming, but Comcast has finally launched Fancast, meaning you can have a directory of professional TV and
movies with links to where to watch or buy content.

• Was it expected? Uh, yeah, it was expected way back when it was announced that Comcast was a Hulu launch partner. Beyond that, don’t we always expect a new video service at least every other day?
• Is it innovative? No. I’m looking for something fresh in this space and I just can’t seem to find it. An IMDB-like video service is fine, but is it needed?
• Is it likely to take off? You’re kidding, right? This service has about as much chance of taking off as I do of becoming the first baseman for the New York Yankees.
• Is there something better out there? This service is so clunky and awkward, I’d say that even Hulu is somewhat better than Fancast. Now there’s a ringing endorsement.
• Overall importance grade: D

3. MTV Networks heads to the web: How many times have you seen My Super Sweet 16? If it’s less than five times, you’re probably lying. If you’re not, you’ll be happy to know that you can now watch MTV Networks’ full lineup of programming on a host of services including, Veoh, Hulu and that pesky service above, Fancast. Excited yet?

• Was it expected? Yes and no. Did we know that MTV was going to definitely release its programming to other online services? No. But did we come to expect it after FOX, NBC, CBS and others did it? Very much so.
• Is it innovative? Not really. Let’s face it, how many more companies need to put their programming online before we finally realize that it’s not even news anymore?
• Is it likely to take off? Out of all the programming currently available online, I’d say Viacom has the best chance at seeing its shows take off. With properties like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, just to name a few, look for the same kind of success online.
• Is there something better out there? Yeah, it’s called ESPN. Ever heard of it?
• Overall importance grade: C

4. TiVo to feature web video: Huh? Didn’t the company already announce that a while ago? Can’t you already watch some of your favorite IPTV shows on the device? Yes you can. But according to TiVo, now you can get a “season pass” for all of your programming with the help of RSS feeds.

• Was it expected? This was expected months ago and was partway rolled out for a while. But in its infinite wisdom, TiVo decided to hold off its major release until we wanted to throw the box out the window to finally allow for RSS capabilities. Thanks, TiVo!
• Is it innovative? Adding RSS to a device so you can download videos on the fly? No.
• Is it likely to take off? Chances are, this could prove to be a watershed moment for some IPTV shows. After all, with millions of TiVo customers currently enjoying their boxes on a daily basis, this could be the exposure they need.
• Is there something better out there? Personally, I don’t think there is anything better to get IPTV onto your HDTV. Can you do it with a computer? Sure. Can you use your Apple TV? Uh huh. But will it look so much slicker on a TiVo? Definitely.
• Overall importance grade: B

5. Microsoft beefs up its Xbox Live offering: In a move that could easily bring about even more change, Microsoft announced that it has signed MGM and Disney-ABC on to its Xbox Live Marketplace, while also noting that its IPTV service — Mediaroom — has eclipsed the 1 million user-mark.

• Was it expected? Well, with Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace growing by the day, we should have expected even more video on the service going forward, right?
• Is it innovative? It’s innovative in the sense that no other video game console has done what Microsoft has been able to do with video, so the answer is probably “yes.”
• Is it likely to take off? I think it already has. Wouldn’t you agree?
• Is there something better out there? Sure. A computer is a good place to start and let’s not forget about the TiVo. But when it comes to game consoles, we’ve hit the top with the Xbox.
• Overall importance grade: C

So there you have it — the news roundup from CES. Anything else you want to know? Didn’t think so.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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• A 2011 Connected Consumer Forecast

With the Consumer Electronics Show fast approaching, most sites are telling you about the coverage you can expect or what sort of products have already been confirmed. I thought I would tell you what I’m looking to get out of CES this year as it pertains to the topics we cover here at NewTeeVee.

So without further adieu, let’s take a look at some of the products that I’m hoping to see when I get to Vegas on Monday.

An all-in-one set-top box: Yes there are some devices that promise to give you everything you want out of a set-top box. But do they really? I certainly don’t think so.

I’m looking for one box (one!) that does it all. Instead of being forced to connect a Mac Mini to my HDTV, I want to be able to eliminate the computer and have one device that’s capable of bringing me movies, video, music, TV shows and podcasts to my television in one fell swoop. And just in case you’re ready to say there’s something out there already, think again: the Apple TV and D-Link MediaLounge won’t let you download movies directly and neither can handle TV viewing; Vudu will let you download movies, but nothing more; and a TiVo won’t come close to offering such a wide array of media.

In-car video technology: Given all the laws being passed about driving distractions, I may not get a lot of support for this, but I want to see some significant gains made on the in-car technology front.

Sure, we can watch movies now (with the help of a DVD, of course), but what about full entertainment functionality in the car? Here’s my idea: products that can be built directly into cars and offer on-demand video service that syncs with your notebook, so you can transfer all media files onto the on-board hard drive and have the option to view online videos in the vein of the Apple TV.

Best-in-class multi-touch displays: As soon as I saw the iPhone, Microsoft’s table-top computer and the influx of multi-touch displays, I knew it was something that would make a splash in 2008. And now that we’re here, where are all the big announcements surrounding this technology? If you ask me, they’ll be coming at CES.

I’m looking for the very best multi-touch displays companies can offer. Is the iPhone good? Sure. But don’t you think we can do so much more with video players? First off, we’ll need a smudge-resistant screen (Apple did a nice job) that goes beyond the 3-inchers we’re seeing today. Beyond that, I’d like to be able to fast-forward movies or TV shows by flicking my finger to the right and rewind by flicking to the left. I want to shuffle video clips around and choose scenes with a snazzy drop-down menu that’s controlled by my finger. Simply put, I want an experience watching video that we’ve never been afforded before. Is that too much to ask?

So there you have it, my three hopes for CES 2008. Think any will come true? Have some of your own? Let us know.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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• Report: The Connected TV Marketplace
• Green IT Overview, Q2 2010

Arhcos’ portable media players consistently rank quite high in objective reviews, and as far as I’m concerned, they are easily the nicest ones out there. Further, taking into account uninvoiced orders for its recently launched fifth-generation product line, Archos just posted a 12 percent gain in quarterly sales over the same period last year. Yet the company ranks a distant fourth in the PMP market.

It’s what Archos doesn’t do that makes all of its extras like DVR-recording and set-top box integration little more than bonus features on a player that will never hit the mainstream.

Consider this: At a price of $500, Archos’ hallmark device — the 705 Wi-Fi — basically doubles as a portable DVD player and portable media player. But unlike the iPod, which allows users to access iTunes and use a relatively simple interface to do just about anything with the device, Archos relies on nothing of the sort. Instead you spend the majority of your time taking media that you’ve gotten elsewhere and transferring it on the Archos as if it was an external hard drive.

And although the company does offer the ability to download movies with the help of its Archos Content Portal, it doesn’t come close to rivaling Apple’s service. In fact more often than not, navigating your way around it is more trouble than it’s worth.

Archos’ products feature the most advanced components available, but do people really want that in a PMP? The iPod’s success is not due to the fact that it offers the very best components, but can be attributed to its intuitive interface, thin design and the downright ease of its iTunes integration. Unfortunately, the Archos players offer none of these important attributes.

Suffice it to say, Archos may offer the best PMP on the market, but without a change in strategy, the company will also be known as an also-ran.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• In Q3, the Tablet and 4G Were the Big Stories
• Report: The Future of Netbooks!

After four years in existence, MovieBeam has entered the pantheon of services that should never have been offered, but were nonetheless, and failed almost immediately. The service was shut down for good this week; all that’s left is information on the Chapter 11 filing of its parent company, Movie Gallery.

Chapter 11 aside, many of us knew this day was coming. Long before it became the property of Movie Gallery, MovieBeam became the laughingstock of the VOD industry. So what, then, can be learned from MovieBeam’s failure?

At its height, MovieBeam’s service was “beamed” to local PBS channels in 30 markets through the use of a set-top box that allowed users to access the signals embedded in the channel using dNTSC technology. Once installed, users could rent movies for 24 hours at a time: $1.99 for an older release or $4.99 for an HD movie.

Although this may sound good on paper, the reality was altogether different. Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal offered up a laundry list of issues that needed to be fixed, while HDBeat claimed that MovieBeam’s HD video was “the worst [they] had ever seen.”

But in the end, it wasn’t necessarily the wonky functionality of the service or the poor quality of video that made people ignore MovieBeam. Instead, it seems MovieBeam was a victim of its own technology — a technology that so far, people simply don’t seem to want. After all, do people really want to add another set-top box to their living rooms when they can download movies off their cable box or get films sent to them in the mail through Netflix? If we believe the figures — $10 million value after a $50 million investment — the answer is “no.”

As more set-top boxes hit store shelves, companies are being forced to find ways to bring a valuable experience to the people that buy them. Vudu thinks it’s doing the right thing with a service that mirrors that of MovieBeam’s, but drops the PBS integration in favor of viewing through the box. But perhaps the most vexing issue is whether or not people actually want this kind of service at all.

According to one industry analyst, people simply aren’t ready for a set-top box that can stream rentals to their homes.

“There’s not a success story out there yet,” said Michael Greeson, an analyst at research firm Diffusion Group. “A lot of people overestimated consumer appetite for these video services. The original models were really far ahead of the consumer market.”

In the end, companies like Vudu need to find ways to innovate in an industry in which companies haven’t entirely figured out what customers want. It’s a familiar story, one that has broken countless companies and industries alike. If nothing else, MovieBeam figured out what customers don’t want — and their failure may just help the rest of the VOD industry succeed.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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• Report: The Connected TV Marketplace
• Google TV: Overview and Strategic Analysis
• TV Apps: Evolution from Novelty to Mainstream

If you are currently getting your cable TV from Time Warner Cable or Comcast using a Scientific Atlanta 8300 cable box, then you have an HD cable box that can do a lot more than its default settings. Out of the box, the cable box is set to pull video at a handful of resolutions (480p and 720p), but with a few minor hacks you can really trick out its capability. Here’s how:

Step 1: Turn off the power to the box and hold down the “Guide” and “Info” buttons at the same time.

Upon holding the buttons down, you’ll be brought to a page that welcomes you to the set-up and asks you if you’d like to proceed.

Step 2: Press the yellow “A” key on your remote to proceed with configuration.

This will take you to a new screen that allows you to configure the box via “Easy Mode” or “Advanced Mode.” I’ve used both and the only real option here is “Advanced.”

Step 3: Press the blue “B” key on your remote to enter the “Advanced Mode” menu.

If you’re following this guide and you’re using an HD box to do it, you’re likely viewing shows on a 16:9 screen.

Step 4: Choose the “Wide-Screen Mode” option by pressing the blue “B” button on your remote.

Next, the set-up will show a screen that explains the procedure. It basically says that it will run through screen resolutions. If you can see an image on the screen, your HDTV is capable of viewing video at that resolution and you should select it.

If the screen is black, you won’t be able to view it and you shouldn’t select it. For example, if you have a 720p/1080i HDTV, you won’t be able to view any content in 1080p, although you won’t have to worry about that on cable shows just yet.

Step 5: Start running through your the resolutions.

At this point, the operation becomes quite self-explanatory. Start with the lowest resolution (480i) and start testing each with the blue “B” key. If you can see the screen, select it and move on. If not, your HDTV doesn’t support that resolution.

Step 6: Complete the set up by pressing the “Exit” button.

Now that you have found all of the resolutions your box can pump through your HDTV, you’re ready to go.

Believe it or not, this actually works quite well. After configuring each of my HDTVs, the picture quality noticeably better, all due to my box’s ability to show video without conversion. I have very few complaints.

One thing to watch out for, though: Once you set this up, the cable box will need to switch resolutions to match the source signal. Because of this, your HDTV screen will blink through black with each channel change. This is not an issue and will not harm your screen.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

Regardless of my own stance, there are still a host of issues surrounding the Apple TV. First off, it is estimated to have sold just 400,000 units, according to Forrester Research, which is an astounding 600,000 units shy of what the research firm originally believed Apple would have sold by now.

To make matters worse, Apple has yet to provide a decent array of videos on its iTunes store. And ever since Steve Jobs called the Apple TV a “hobby,” some have wondered how dedicated the company really is to seeing this product succeed.

Yet while Apple’s questionable dedication may stand in the way of the Apple TV’s success, there are still a few ways the company can turn the tide.

Step 1: Allow users to do more

Who else has used the Apple TV and become extremely upset with its functionality? Am I the only person who believes we should be able to browse iTunes on the Apple TV menu, buy songs and video on the fly, and be allowed to browse the web? Sure, you can already do this with the Mac Mini, but wouldn’t you rather spend less to have the same sort of functionality without dealing with a full-fledged computer? I certainly would — and I own both products.

Step 2: Start working with movie studios for a change

While I may side with Apple on the topic of movie studios and its desire to basically change the way these companies have done business for the past 50 years, I also believe that sometimes it’s necessary for Steve Jobs’ ego to take a backseat to what is best for consumers. As Apple continues to break its ties with movie and television studios, the amount of content is dwindling to the point of irrelevance and without a healthy offering, there’s no hope for the Apple TV.

At best, we’re currently able to download Disney and Pixar films, while a handful of other titles from MGM and Lions Gate have been made available to whet our appetite. Did you know that according to Apple, a little over 500 movies are currently available on the iTunes Store? Granted, there are television shows and other entertainment at your disposal too, but will that anemic offering of video that doesn’t even spit out HD justify your purchase of a $399 device? I doubt it.

Step 3: Apple must pretend like it cares

When Steve Jobs uttered those fateful words — that the Apple TV was just “a hobby” — the world was left to wonder if the device was nothing more than an 18-month experiment. Unfortunately, it looks like it is. If it was as important to the company as the iPod, why wouldn’t some of these obvious problems have been addressed already?

Simply put, Apple seems like it doesn’t even care what happens with the Apple TV. And while it will talk about the iPod and iPhone until its PR people are blue in the face, it has failed to even speak to the issues that are plaguing this device.

That said, I truly believe Apple can turn this product around if it starts to focus on it. And if you ask me, now would be the best time to do just that. After all, what would be a distraction at this point? Leopard is out, the iPhone is an unbridled success and the iPod continues to dominate its industry. The only wild card in the entire equation is the Apple TV. But with some focus and market research to find out exactly what customers want, this company can find a way to turn it around.

The Apple TV has hope — Apple just needs to realize it.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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It depends.

Video game consoles sell best when the hardware company’s main focus is video games. A quick snapshot of the industry bears this out: Sony (SNE) has been lagging due to its belief that impressive hardware specs and Blu-ray can carry the day; a focus on innovative gameplay, meanwhile, has put Nintendo out in front.

But as a source of additional revenue, getting into the video downloading business may not be a bad idea. As one report pointed out, Microsoft expects to make $726 million from its Xbox Live Video Marketplace by 2011.

That alone may have been enough to bring Sony — a company losing money on each sale of the PS3 — into the market video download market. But why isn’t Sony focusing on bringing gamers to its console? In an industry where hardware manufacturers usually sell consoles at a loss and rely on fees from software developers to turn a profit, focusing on the strength of its video game offerings should come first. After all, no one buys a video game console because it will let them download movies — they have Apple TVs for that.

Instead, the average consumer will buy a PS3 because it offers a library of games that will justify the purchase. Only at that point — when consumers own the PS3 and are using it on a regular basis — will Sony incur the benefits of offering VOD service. But until then, the company must focus on attracting developers and gamers because if nothing else, Sony should have found out by now that success in the video game industry has nothing to do with video and everything to do with gaming.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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CableCARDs, which plug into your computer and allow you to view programming offered by your cable company on your monitor, have always been on the minds of the people at Dell, according to the company, but they feel that now is the best time to get in on the CableCARD game and start offering computers with CableCARDs included, starting next year.

And while Dell may believe these tuners will help sell computers, I’m not so quick to agree. In an environment in which people are becoming increasingly portable, CableCARDs are not. According to Dell, CableCARDs are locked down and only work in a specific city. Once you venture outside of a cable company’s sphere of influence, they become practically useless.

To make matters worse, Dell’s plan would only allow users to access digital cable on a Dell machine; portability is all but lost. In other word, replace your clunky set-top box with a clunkier Dell machine. Who comes up with these harebrained ideas?

Which brings us to another point: Wouldn’t it make far more sense if a CableCARD was nothing more than a USB dongle that could be carried around in your pocket and attached to any device in any area? It would solve the two main issues that CableCARDs have yet to overcome — the aforementioned portability, and overall usability.

Dell PCs that are equipped with CableCARD tuners may work for college kids who want access to cable and would rather watch shows on their computers, but what about everyone else? As Robert Scoble pointed out in a recent blog post, the Mac Mini is a great way to get a set-top box in the house without spending too much time and money trying to get everything to work. But what if you could make every device in your home a set-top box just by attaching a USB-version of a CableCARD?

A portable CableCARD USB dongle would effectively eliminate a host of issues that we’re currently experiencing with technology, while making practically any device into a multi-faceted set-top box. Consider this: If you want to capture over-the-air HD signals and watch HD shows on your computer, you will not only need an antenna, you’ll need a separate card to capture the signal from the antenna and a software solution just to watch it on your screen. But with the help of a USB CableCARD, you can drive to your friend’s house, take the dongle out of your pocket, insert it into a computer (like a Mac Mini connected to a TV) and watch those same shows.

It would be as simple as that.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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Cowon A3 Portable Media Player: If you’re in the mood for something a bit different than your current PMP, the Cowon A3 is not a good place to start. Sure, it’s quite powerful (it sports a 800×480 screen and supports DivX, Ogg, MP3 and AAC), but at $350 for 30GB and $400 for 60GB, your money is better spent elsewhere.

HDTVs: Did this one surprise you? It shouldn’t. Run down to your local Best Buy or even Costco and chances are you’ll find a slew of HDTVs that are priced exceptionally high. And while Costco may offer some lower-priced alternatives — like a Vizio or Westinghouse HDTV — do you really want to fork out more than $1,000 on a device that cannot perform as well as a comparably equipped $3,000 HDTV, when the $3,000 device will hit that magical sub-$2,000 mark within the next six months? If you must have that HDTV before Christmas, then I guess there’s no stopping you. But if you’re willing to wait until the Super Bowl is over, you’ll be able to get a much nicer one for a fraction of the price.

Computers: Computers have sat near the top of Christmas lists for the past 15 years, but I can’t help but wonder why that it is. After all, that same computer will be available after Christmas and as long as it’s not a Mac, look for the price to drop significantly once CES is over. Save yourself some cash and wait for that high-end Dell to come down in price.

TiVo Series 3 HD DVR: Am I the only person in the world who thinks the TiVo Series 3 is overpriced? Sure, TiVo is a great service, and it easily eclipses the functionality I’m currently getting out of the Scientific-Atlanta box from my cable company, but I’m only paying $7 per month for that. The TiVo will set you back at least $400 (after a mail-in rebate), plus a monthly charge. Simply put, I can’t justify spending that kind of money. Look for the price to drop after Christmas — it’s due.

But if you can’t help but spend some cash this holiday season, I’d suggest the iPod Touch. Not only does it offer the best iPod experience I’ve ever witnessed, it comes in at a nicely affordable price: $299.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and Future Publishing in the UK.

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Switched video (also called switched digital video) is a term coined by the cable industry to describe the distribution of video through a cable with limited capacity. A non-switched video system will eat up huge sums of bandwidth because any and all available channels must be made available through a coaxial cable. A switched video system, on the other hand, will only make available those channels that have been requested, freeing up much more bandwidth and ostensibly allowing for a considerable amount of cost savings for cable providers.

According to the NCTA, the idea of switched video has always sat atop its list of beneficial developments in the industry, but getting it to work was another matter altogether. It wasn’t until the organization and TiVo decided to collaborate that they were able to come up with an effective, and external, solution.

“Today’s announcement is a major breakthrough resulting from marketplace discussions that provides benefits for consumers and cable operators,” NCTA CEO Kyle McSlarrow said in a statement. “We very much appreciate TiVo’s willingness to work on a marketplace solution that will enable TiVo users to enjoy innovative switched digital services without the need for a set-top box.”

OK, so we now have the ability to use an external adapter to allow cable companies to use switched video, which will allow them to save money, but will those savings get passed on to consumers?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this cost savings will reduce your cable bill. As most cable companies have pointed out, switched video will help the organizations create less costly devices that do not require an OCAP programming environment. And while this may be enough to satisfy a reduction in cost, those same cable companies have been quick to add that a total conversion to the SDV system could take years to complete. During that time, the cost savings will obviously be reduced and the opportunity for a lower cable bill may not become a reality.

Calls have been placed with NCTA asking for a comment on the possibility of a lower cable bill but thus far, the organization has not responded.

Don Reisinger is a freelance technology journalist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and PC World.

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If you’re unwilling to pony up the kind of cash it takes to buy an HDTV and maintain a monthly satellite or cable subscription, but you still want to view HD content, you’re in luck — especially if you already spend much of your time in front of a computer. With the help of some of the following tips, HD content without an HDTV can be at your fingertips.

Over the air

Believe it or not, getting HD content onto your computer through the use of over-the-air signals (OTA) is quite easy. The first step is finding out where the towers are located in your area. One option is AntennaWeb. Simply input your address info, whether you live in a single or multiple-story residence and if there are surrounding buildings and or/trees over a certain height, and it will show you the nearby sources of DTV signals and suggest the most appropriate antenna for you.

Another option is HDTV Magazine, which not only uses Google Maps to tell you exactly where the broadcasts are coming from but what channels are available in your area.

Next you’ll need an OTA antenna. UHF/VHF antennas are used to capture HD signals and transmit them through your home; from there your choice is indoor vs. outdoor (outdoor antennas are color-coded based on reception zones). Luckily, you won’t need to spend too much money on an antenna and more often than not, the cheaper ones will do the trick. One of my favorites is the Philips PHDTV3, which you can buy for just $22.60 right now at Amazon.

Next, you’ll need to buy an HDTV tuner card that can communicate with the UHF antenna and start streaming HDTV to your computer. The ATSC tuner card can be quite cheap as well, but it can also run into the hundreds of dollars. For the average person, though, the ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo PCI Express is a nice solution. At $130, this tuner would be ideal for any HD setup.

Now that you have the hardware in place, you’ll need to download a media center front-end to enjoy HD content on your computer. One of my favorites is SnapStream Media’s Beyond TV. Beyond TV is a lightweight solution that will allow you to rewind, fast-forward and even record HDTV directly to your hard drive. And for about $100, it’s a much easier pill to swallow than a monthly cable bill.

There is also an open-source solution, called Media Portal. This is the open-source community’s response to Windows Media Center, and believe it or not, it works just as well. And with a wealth of information on the site that should help you troubleshoot any issue, Media Portal is perfect if you don’t want to spend any more cash.

Once the hardware and software is in place, you’re ready to watch HD content on your computer. As more channels flip on the OTA switch and allow us to easily connect to free HD content, having your own HD setup is only going to get more attractive.

Don Reisinger is a freelance technology journalist who covers everything from Google to HDTVs. He currently writes for over 15 popular technology publications, including CNET’s Digital Home, InformationWeek and PC World.

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