TDG Opinions

March 2009 - Posts

• Challenges in the Global On-line Video Industry

  Another week and another panel to moderate! This one was at the Future of Television Forum West in LA put on by Ned Sherman and Digital Mediawire. The subject for this panel was “Online Video: Global Opportunities and Challenges” although I have to say we leaned pretty heavily on the challenges. This was a big panel for its allotted 50 minutes and we covered a lot of ground. ... Posted Mar 26 2009, 03:58 AM by Colin Dixon with no comments Filed under: Colin Dixon, video delivery, content, web video, Future of Television Forum West, metadata, online video

• What Are Computers Doing to the Task of Education?

  “PCs have and will continue to improve the education of individuals, as well as advance our educational system in general.” My knee-jerk reaction to the truth of this proposition was “of course they do,” but then l paused for deeper reflection.... Posted Mar 22 2009, 07:39 PM by Predrag Filipovic with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Predrag Filipovic, education, PCs, IT, computers, information technology

• On Syndication, CODECs and Content Consumption

  On Tuesday, I moderated a panel at SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin entitled “Beyond Apple TV: Building Next-Generation Systems for Acquiring Content.” We discussed new technologies and business models and how the new Internet Video economy might impact the old TV economy. ... Posted Mar 19 2009, 07:03 AM by Colin Dixon with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Colin Dixon, syndication, content providers, CODEC, SXSW

• Linksys Media Hub: Peace of Mind in a Box

  As the designated IT person in my household I’m delighted to tell you about a new product from Linksys by Cisco: the Media Hub. This has made my life a lot easier, less stressful and given me some cool additional functionality as well. You could think of the Media Hub as simply NAS. But it’s a lot more than that. Let me explain.... Posted Mar 19 2009, 01:56 AM by Colin Dixon with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Connected Home, Home networks, Cisco, Media Hub, Linksys

• Unmet Needs of Internet Video

  Last week I moderated a panel at the TV of Tomorrow Show, an event I highly recommend to all involved in today’s digital media revolution. The panel was entitled “The Broadband Video Economy: Mapping the Opportunities and the Challenges.”... Posted Mar 16 2009, 02:26 PM by Colin Dixon with no comments Filed under: Internet video, platforms, Colin Dixon, social networking, syndication, TV of Tomorrow, content providers

• Promoting Online Video While “Managing” Bandwidth Usage – Conflicting Tactics or Smart Strategy?

  Since last week’s TDG Opinion on cable operators and online video, I’ve had numerous conversations with “interested parties” as to what these efforts really mean to both traditional and new video providers. During these conversations, it appeared to me that there is inconsistency, a logical tension, between (a) how cable operators are positioning this new online “entitlement” service, and (b) their current efforts to restrict or “manage” bandwidth usage among their subscribers. ... Posted Mar 04 2009, 07:52 AM by Michael Greeson with no comments Filed under: Metering Bandwidth Usage, AT&T, Bandwidth Metering, Time Warner Cable, Colin Dixon, Michael Greeson, Comcast, Disney, Cox Communications, cable operators, Charter Communications

• How Not to Watch Web Video on the TV

  My nomination for bone-head product of the week goes to Western Digital for the WD TV HD Media Player. This little set-top box, which sells for $129.99, sits under your TV consuming one of your precious HDMI TV ports. You plug in any USB drive, although it’s targeted at Western Digitals own MyBook line, and you can immediately access any media on the drive through the TV.... Posted Mar 02 2009, 11:46 AM by Colin Dixon with no comments Filed under: interactive media, home networking, Colin Dixon, video delivery, web video, Western Digital, web media