Do People Really Want Apps on Their TVs?
blogs.wsj.com
blogs.wsj.com
Who wants to get a drunken email from an ex while sitting next to your SO? There are things you want to keep on a 4-inch screen and not blasted out on 50-inches of glory.
I have NetFlix and Amazon's TV service on my TV, and they are nice. Not because the interface is good, or anything like that... But because it's a lot easier than using my computer or game console to do the same. And believe me, the interfaces on those apps need a lot of work.
"Social" TV services will emerge, allowing you to share with your friends what you're currently watching, and for interested friends to tune in to the same channel. People will publish lists of recommended shows, and you'll be able to automatically follow their recommendations and have your PVR record those shows, or your set top box will go find the on-demand versions of those shows...
I was working for interactive TV companies in the late 90's/early 00's - we were about 15 years too early it would seem. A lot of concepts have been really well fleshed out and are ready to go. I'm excited that it seems as though it is finally the right time for this stuff to go mainstream.
(And go look at the UK and their 'red button' services. They're a lot further ahead than the US with this stuff.)
Of course, Netflix apps in TVs are already available.
As for channel guides and stuff like the article says, how would that even work? You normally need a cable box at the very least anyway.
(Edited comment to expand it a bit, before any replies)
1. My wife watches mostly shows from the major networks (ABC and CBS mostly) and we can get them in HD OTA. There are a few on cable networks, but we could always wait until they're released to DVD and have Netflix deliver them to us (either streaming or in the mail).
2. I enjoy sports, just about any sports. This time of year I watch NFL (available mostly OTA), NCAA basketball (ESPN3 shows a lot of these games), and NHL hockey (available via NHL internet package). In the summer we both watch a lot of baseball (MBL.TV would work for this). It would suck not having regular ESPN, but I could live with it.
3. Movies. We don't get to watch as many as we used to (the things a toddler removes from your life), but we still enjoy sitting down at least one night on the weekend for something.
I don't want apps on my TV. Instead I want a way to integrate all the streaming platforms that are already out there. If they're so called "apps", then that's fine, but just put them into a single, uniform package. Right now the Roku is very, very close. It can do Netflix, MLB.TV, and NHL, but it can't do ESPN3.
Today, there are more software and computery type companies playing in the field, there are more computers in your entertainment center, those are huge steps in the right direction. Then I don't know if you call it Apple's iPhone apps or part of web 2.0 but there is a renaissance in lean, light weight, simple applications with specific tasks. The media companies won't do it but software guys will, apps like netflix are sweet, people love that stuff. Even some apps like the CNN news app, I could very easily see that being on a TV. People don't seem to want full browsers and email on the TV. The flickr and youtube apps? Yep, people like that. Basically simple and small amounts of information to the TV seem like a positive thing and then getting media to the media center. Internet radio apps? Probably things people want.
It's hooked up to an amp with decent speakers - so streaming music (from Spotify, or from a bunch of MP3s) is damn near vital.
At the moment I'm using XBMC on an Apple TV to stream them from a NAS drive, but I'd love to get Spotify onto there.