Technology Battle on to Channel Films to Homes and Hands
Technology titans Microsoft, Apple and Google are among those scrambling to feed people's ravenous desire to download films and videos from the Internet and watch them wherever they like.
Microsoft scored an industry first this week with the announcement that Xbox 360
video game owners would be able to download films and television shows to consoles
for viewing in high-definition format.
The much-anticipated Sony PlayStation Three video game console due out in the United States on November 17 was built to connect with a Sony online entertainment content store via the Internet.
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has promised a January 2007 unveiling of iTV devices that route pictures, films or video from computers to televisions in the home.
Apple's iTunes store recently began selling digitized Disney movies online for viewing on iPods, and Microsoft is to come to market on November 14 with a rival Zune MP3 player clearly crafted with video playing in mind.
Google has reportedly been exploring the potential for Verizon mobile telephone service customers to access freshly-acquired video-sharing website YouTube via handheld devices.
Online retailer Amazon made deals with major studios to sell digitized films on the Internet.
"If you look at all these things together, the net result is you end up with a very different universe," Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg said in an interview with AFP.
"We are going beyond the one-screen world. The people who control the content flow want to reach you whether it is: Verizon to YouTube, iPod to iTunes, Xbox to Zune..."
Gartenberg referred to the scenario as "a convergence play," saying the strong trend was toward making devices work together in more integrated ways.
"Without a doubt, we will see stuff go to the Xbox to the Zune to the television or the iPod going to the iTV to the television," Gartenberg said.
"The TV is a euphemism, for all intents and purposes, for the largest screen in the home used to passively view content."
Online film offerings have left aspiring viewers with nettlesome limitations, analysts said. Apple has only been able to get films from Disney studios and, once downloaded, they can only be viewed on iPods.
Films downloaded to Xbox or PlayStation games can only been seen using those consoles. Microsoft puts expiration dates on downloaded films.
"There is a missing link, that everybody wants: a device that enables to get films, shows, pictures and digital music from a computer to a TV, and also to transport them everywhere," said analyst Phil Leigh of Inside Digital Media.
"Apple can take the advantage with its iTV."
The Xbox and Zune announcements signaled a profound shift in Microsoft strategy, according to lead analyst Matt Rosoff of Directions on Microsoft.
For years Microsoft pushed the concept that the personal computer would evolve into the hub for home entertainment, Rosoff said.
"Originally the PC was the center of the Microsoft universe, now it is clear they are hedging their bet," Rosoff said. "I think we will see more of this kind of device from Microsoft."
And, Rosoff noted, video game consoles are plugged into televisions by design while computers tend to be relegated to desks.
A drawback with using an Xbox as a film repository is that its hard drive only has 20 gigabytes of memory capacity and high-definition video data takes up tremendous space, according to Rosoff.
Analysts expect Microsoft to begin selling higher-capacity replacement hard drives and Xbox consoles built with lots more memory space.
"At the end of the day, these consoles are still going to be about games first and foremost," Gartenberg said. "But as their capabilities grow over time we will start seeing these secondary functions emerge."
Microsoft and Sony were selling game consoles at losses and hoping to make their profits on selling online content, Rosoff said.
"Microsoft wants to offer a large entertainment experience, with content, and enhance the value of the devices, to gain another place in the living room," said Jupiter Research analyst Joe Wilcox.
"The war for the living room stays open."
The much-anticipated Sony PlayStation Three video game console due out in the United States on November 17 was built to connect with a Sony online entertainment content store via the Internet.
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has promised a January 2007 unveiling of iTV devices that route pictures, films or video from computers to televisions in the home.
Apple's iTunes store recently began selling digitized Disney movies online for viewing on iPods, and Microsoft is to come to market on November 14 with a rival Zune MP3 player clearly crafted with video playing in mind.
Google has reportedly been exploring the potential for Verizon mobile telephone service customers to access freshly-acquired video-sharing website YouTube via handheld devices.
Online retailer Amazon made deals with major studios to sell digitized films on the Internet.
"If you look at all these things together, the net result is you end up with a very different universe," Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg said in an interview with AFP.
"We are going beyond the one-screen world. The people who control the content flow want to reach you whether it is: Verizon to YouTube, iPod to iTunes, Xbox to Zune..."
Gartenberg referred to the scenario as "a convergence play," saying the strong trend was toward making devices work together in more integrated ways.
"Without a doubt, we will see stuff go to the Xbox to the Zune to the television or the iPod going to the iTV to the television," Gartenberg said.
"The TV is a euphemism, for all intents and purposes, for the largest screen in the home used to passively view content."
Online film offerings have left aspiring viewers with nettlesome limitations, analysts said. Apple has only been able to get films from Disney studios and, once downloaded, they can only be viewed on iPods.
Films downloaded to Xbox or PlayStation games can only been seen using those consoles. Microsoft puts expiration dates on downloaded films.
"There is a missing link, that everybody wants: a device that enables to get films, shows, pictures and digital music from a computer to a TV, and also to transport them everywhere," said analyst Phil Leigh of Inside Digital Media.
"Apple can take the advantage with its iTV."
The Xbox and Zune announcements signaled a profound shift in Microsoft strategy, according to lead analyst Matt Rosoff of Directions on Microsoft.
For years Microsoft pushed the concept that the personal computer would evolve into the hub for home entertainment, Rosoff said.
"Originally the PC was the center of the Microsoft universe, now it is clear they are hedging their bet," Rosoff said. "I think we will see more of this kind of device from Microsoft."
And, Rosoff noted, video game consoles are plugged into televisions by design while computers tend to be relegated to desks.
A drawback with using an Xbox as a film repository is that its hard drive only has 20 gigabytes of memory capacity and high-definition video data takes up tremendous space, according to Rosoff.
Analysts expect Microsoft to begin selling higher-capacity replacement hard drives and Xbox consoles built with lots more memory space.
"At the end of the day, these consoles are still going to be about games first and foremost," Gartenberg said. "But as their capabilities grow over time we will start seeing these secondary functions emerge."
Microsoft and Sony were selling game consoles at losses and hoping to make their profits on selling online content, Rosoff said.
"Microsoft wants to offer a large entertainment experience, with content, and enhance the value of the devices, to gain another place in the living room," said Jupiter Research analyst Joe Wilcox.
"The war for the living room stays open."
