I don't understand what's new about these theories. Both the holographic principle and Hawking radiation have been known for years, decades even. If there's something about those theories the article doesn't explain what it is exactly.
One consequence of that redefinition is that humans could theoretically survive crossing it, contrary to the firewall hypothesis (well, if they were in a sustainable capsule with a large gene pool, and the hole was rotating just right), by waiting long enough on top of it until the hole evaporates (from the capsule's point of view).
Time would indefinitely slow down for them, so they would see the rest of the universe speed up until the hole dies.
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1401.5761.pdf
I'm guessing people are taking it seriously, but as it's not a complete theory of the dynamics it's hard to say "solved" in reference to this development.
AFAIK that wasn't originally his argument, but he conceded and agreed that it was likely a better hypothesis than Hawking Radiation.
This talk seems to be a brilliant attempt at reconciling, what were previously, two competing hypothesis.