Google TV: A New Spin on the Vast Wasteland
October 23, 2010
My hero was Newton Minow, one “n” thus differentiating him from the Leuciscinae, surely one of my favorite fish. My hero coined the phrase “vast wasteland” in a speech given in 1961. My dirt poor family got a television in 1958, so I had only three years of American Bandstand before the wasteland bon mot. I have never been hooked on TV. Lots of folks are, including one of my two friends and at least one member of my immediate family. For me, snap on the boob tube, and my eyes drift shut. The flickers and audio knock me out cold.
I have a fancy TV in my office. If I did not, the tech folks suck up bandwidth watching soccer on their workstations. Clever I solved this bandwidth problem with the big flat screen and a cable connection. I have been reading about the battle for the couch potato. Unlike Hannibal at Cannae, the Google TV phalanx seems to have marched into a thicket of troubles. Keep in mind that I know zero about the Google TV and my information comes from secondary sources. As a result, my writing this blog post is a reflection of what’s flitting around the World Wide Web news sites.
I noted two write ups that struck me as potentially problematic for the Google and for the lucky consumers who have snagged one of the gizmos that deliver the Google experience to the couch spuds.
Yahoo, probably an authority on rich media after the Semel years, posted “24 hours with Logitech’s Google TV-Enabled Revue.” Mouse maker Logitech has created a box that allows the lucky consumer to access the Google TV service.
For me, the key passage was:
As many have reported, several of the biggest TV networks — think ABC, CBS, and NBC —have blocked Google TV users from watching their online videos; needless to say, Hulu access has been blocked as well. (Online videos at Fox.com still seem to be working, at least for now.) Reuters reports that Google is in negotiations with the networks to restore access, but my guess is that the networks will hold out for the inevitable arrival of Hulu Plus — for which you’ll have to pay $10 a month (at least for now) — on Google TV.
Okay, the Google TV is available but the networks are not playing ball. Google’s Math Club team can dominate the TV executives while sending tweets and eating pizza. But when it comes to double dating with the Google, the TV executives are shy indeed. Fear? Money? Who knows.
The second write up that caught my attention was the Electronista write up “Sony’s Google TV Booted into Recovery, Opens Door to Hacks.” I can understand some rough edges with the interface and the need to update the gizmos before the lucky consumer can tap into Google’s search festivity. But a system that can allow the user to install updates and take control of the device seems to be a curious oversight. Maybe the Math Club team that worked on Buzz and Wave contributed to the Google TV? If you want to see how to hack the just released device, Electronista provides a couple of helpful YouTube videos. Left hand, right hand knowing what’s up? Go figure.
Keep in mind I don’t worship TV. I have not played with the Google TV. I can’t attest that the two cited write ups are accurate. Against this bleak factual background, my observations are:
- I wonder if the Google TV is the equivalent of the Microsoft Kin?
- Google is now moving into consumer territory. Does the Math Club understand the couch russet?
- Looking at the screenshots, some interface work seems to be in order. Someone told me that the Google TV browser lacks a browser bar. Well, the fix methinks is to know the key combination Control L. Intuitive for the Math Club, not so much for a soap opera fan.
The Apple TV is $99 and seems pretty easy to use. Yep, Apple and Google are chasing consumers. I don’t want to place a wager. I do like fireside apples, a book, and a TV on mute. Will apples take root in the vast wasteland?
Stephen E Arnold, October 23, 2010
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The New IntelStream Podcast Series
October 20, 2010
ArnoldIT.com and Land SDS have teamed up for a new podcast series. IntelStream will discuss important news in business intelligence where professionals and technology intersect. The podcast, which is now available for download, features Dr. Tyra Oldham, an expert in operations and information management.
Dr. Tyra Oldham, featured expert on the Intel Stream podcast. Her Web site is at this link.
Stephen E Arnold, publisher of Beyond Search. His Web site is at this link.
Also appearing on the program is Stephen E Arnold, publisher of the Beyond Search Web log. The program is available from the ArnoldIT.com podcast page at http://arnoldit.com/podcasts/. Dr. Oldham and Mr. Arnold agree on the importance of information, but the two colleagues disagree on specific issues related to policy and implementation. The purpose of the program is to address topics that are important to business professionals in commercial, not for profit, and governmental entities. The specific subjects discussed are those which are often overlooked by traditional media.
One of the basic premises of the IntelStream podcast is to explore different sides of an issue. One thing is certain when Dr. Oldham and Mr. Arnold engage in a discussion, no holds are barred. Each of these professionals articulates a viewpoint so you can get a sense of how complex issues can affect business and policy decisions when business intelligence systems and methods are in use.
Intel Stream is business intelligence without marketing lipstick.
Stuart Schram IV, October 20, 2010
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Orkut: The Need for Speed
October 12, 2010
We think there may be a number of different points of friction for Orkut, Google’s social networking service. Orkut became available since 2004. Orkut “lived” in the US, but we have heard that it now resides on servers in Brazil, not that the location of a Google server makes much difference to a user. Other folks may have a different opinion about where a particular service should reside.
The TechCrunch article “Marissa Mayer: Orkut’s U.S. Failure Was Due To Slow Performance After Fast Growth”, shows a different side of Google. Many people have never heard of Google’s social network Orkut which was introduced before Facebook. The network attracted a lot of attention in just the first few days. However, Google was not prepared and Mayer admitted “This caused the network to slow down to a crawl.” US Internet users stopped using the program and it became obsolete. Google eventually worked out the network problems but they missed a golden opportunity and their US audience was gone. With the introduction of FaceBook, Google may have lost its chance at a social network audience. Orkut continues to be popular in Brazil but when it comes to the US it seems that ship has already sailed.
The question is, “Can Google catch up with Facebook?” If the answer is, “Yes,” then the question becomes, “Can Google leap frog Facebook?” Our view is that speed is more than the rendering time of a Web page and its images. Speed also shades into closing the gap with a competitor and quickly blasting away that competitor’s market position.
Google is good at certain types of quickness, but in terms of the Facebook problem, Google is less than fleet footed in the Facebook-type market. With Facebook now the subject of wildly popular movie, the film makes clear that any notoriety is good in Hollywood. The ClickZ article about video usage delivers another interesting fact. Please, keep in mind that these 20-something oriented surveys may have some wild and crazy aspects to them.
Here’s what ClickZ said:
Facebook is now the second largest online video property in the U.S. when ranked by unique viewers, according to data from comScore. The measurement firm’s Video Metrix service reports Facebook grew its audience substantially in August, with over 58.5 million users watching video content on the site over the course of the month, compared with around 46.6 million doing so in July. Meanwhile, viewers of video content on Yahoo sites dwindled, allowing Facebook to overtake it and claim the second spot behind Google.
If true, the need for speed in the social networking sector is increasing in our opinion.
Stephen E Arnold, October 12, 2010
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Quote to Note: Time Warner on Content vs Interface
October 10, 2010
I spotted a quote to note in the Hollywood Report’s story “time Warner CEO Calls Google an Ally.” That is a high potential phrase “Google an ally”. What caught my attention is that statement in the write up:
Said Bewkes [Time Warner big dog]: “When all of the content on the big screen works like the content on the little screen, what will happen? The programming will trump the interface.”
Yesterday we dusted off our old Apple TV and fired up two iPads, an iPhone, and two desktop Macs. We wanted to see what happened when we tried to use the iPads and the iPhone to control the Apple TV. Now I have some reasonably alert goslings helping me with this type of one in a million test, but we were indeed puzzled. The big iMac lit up and showed what looked like an iTunes interface and then closed the app. The little iMac took over. The Apple TV and the iMac auto discovered the iPhone, but the two iPads required some fiddling to get the codes into the Apple TV.
No big deal, but we concluded:
- If the auto-magic stuff doesn’t work, most folks are going to be baffled
- The interfaces across the Apple computers, the iPad and the Apple TV were different enough to give us some serious hunt and browse work.
- The potential for major home entertainment chaos is pretty high.
In short, the quote to note makes clear that a content company (albeit one in a state of change) sees the world as hungry for content. The hapless user may indeed want to watch content but if the interface sucks, no joy.
Like any complex system, the components have to work seamlessly. At this time, not even Apple has the rough edges polished. Does this tell us anything about the rush of new “consumer” add ons for one’s TV entering the market? I still can’t use my remotes without a magnifying glass and the Windows Office ribbon continues to baffle me. I must be one in a million goose.
Stephen E Arnold, October 10, 2010
Google TV: Interesting Assessment
October 9, 2010
Short honk: The Google TV is marching to a store near Harrod’s Creek. The 20 somethings are eager. The Sony executives are more than eager. Those folks are hoping a Google Sony tie up will undo the Kutaragi era, the Apple era, and the Samsung era. That’s a lot of eras to remediate. Logitech is on board too. From mouse to big consumer sales. Quite an evolutionary path.
I found the estimable Washington Post’s article “Google Airs More Details about Google TV” quite interesting. Of course, “real journalism” is much better than blog baloney. I recall that the Washington Post once owned and maybe still does own a TV station. This quote resonated:
So it may come down to balancing two different sorts of pain: the ongoing irritation of a dumb and clumsy cable or satellite DVR interface versus the onetime frustration of setting up a Google TV box to control that DVR through an infrared remote-control relay. Which sounds like less fun to you?
I don’t know. Both choices strike me as lousy. I don’t watch much TV unlike my neighbors hanging at the River Creek Inn. Hardly a ringing endorsement for any of the tech titans consumer plays. Maybe Apple is on to something with its tiny, economical box? I will never know. TV. Wasteland for Newton and wasteland for me.
Stephen E Arnold, October 9, 2010
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Autonomy Spins Another Rich Media Deal
October 8, 2010
Searching radio content based on its meaning alone is indeed unique. That’s how semantics is rapidly transforming the traditional search. The Wallstreet Online.de press release “Radioplayer Selects Autonomy,” informs about the important task attributed to Autonomy’s core infrastructure software, the Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL), to power the Radioplayer’s search box. Equipped with “unrivalled meaning-based search capabilities, unmatched scalability, and easy maintenance,” as the press release states, “Radioplayer listeners will be able to search every station, identifying news programs, sports highlights, musical genres or even individual songs, and potentially also find a specific place within the program that mentions the topic they are searching for.”
Not only does Radioplayer encourage radio listening, but puts the audience in control and make radio listening easy and accessible. The IDOL search platform will make available rich content across the radio industry through meaningful, relevant search results, and retrieve audio content based on the meaning of key concepts in the live stream. That’s really quick and effortless.
Harleena Singh, Octobr 8, 2010
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Google TV: I Deplaned and
October 6, 2010
I had to hunt for information about the Google TV. My trusty sources about 6 pm Eastern touted Facebook’s announcement of a Facebook user now being able to download his/her information. I had to navigate to Google News and run a query for Logitech to find out about the $300 gizmo and its pricey accessories. I am not a TV goose, so the key point for me was that Facebook was the big news. Set aside the price difference between the $100 Apple TV Version 2.0 gizmo and the soon-to-ship Logitech device. For me the big news was that Facebook stole the headlines. That’s the take away from my post flight news check. Does that represent a one time twitch or is the focus on Facebook the new normal?
Stephen E Arnold, October 6, 2010
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Dynamic Pricing for Content Distribution by Google?
September 18, 2010
We noted an interesting patent application published on September 16, 2010 by the USPTO. The title of US20100235266 is “Determining Charge for Content Distribution.” You may want to download the document at http://www.uspto.com. The abstract for the application said:
A method of determining charge for content presentation includes identifying multiple target criteria that a content provider specifies for distribution of content, the multiple target criteria associated in a hierarchy. The method includes determining, for a presentation of the content to a user, which of the multiple target criteria are met by the presentation. The method includes recording a charge to the content provider for the presentation, the charge determined using the hierarchy and charge values associated with the multiple target criteria. The method can be implemented using a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform the method.
What struck us about this system and method was:
- Google asserts it has a way to price content distribution dynamically
- The invention touches upon functions that may be germane to the rumored Google music system
- The approach taken echoes other functions but packaged in Google’s “big data” system.
Applications may be red herrings. Google’s rich media patent documents comprise a useful body of information in some circumstances.
Stephen E Arnold, September 19, 2010
Google and Its Content Hoover
September 7, 2010
Nothing works better than money when one wants to grease the content skids. Financial details are tough to get and then difficult to verify. In today’s content Jacuzzi, one pays to play. Two examples:
“YouTube Seals Its Biggest Premium Sports Deal Yet”. Google has found a way to make major league baseball find love and affection for distribution of baseball games in a handful of countries. If this generates clicks, I think the Google will extend the deal. Why would the major league play ball? My hunch: money.
“Google, AP Strike New Deal On Web Licensing Rights”. Google and the Associated Press seem to have found common ground. My hunch is that money makes the dominance of Google palatable.
So what?
First, these deals may be precursors of more high value content tie ups. A big pile of content means that lots of users will visit Google. Good for Google, reasonably good for its partners, and possibly lousy news for other distributors.
Second, once Google users get out of high school, those viewing habits may be tough to change. Google has time on its side and content creators with some old school love do not have time.
Third, other vendors who want to compete with Google will either have to pony up or watch the Google start thinking exclusive. Yikes.
Stephen E Arnold, September 7, 2010
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Going Beyond Google for Searches
September 6, 2010
There are search engines specially tailored to provide specific information. We found an IBNlive photo gallery displaying “Top 10 search Engines beyond Google” that may not be compelling replacements for Google, but are quite interesting.
You may have heard about Answers.com, one of the most reliable Q&A websites, or Healthbase.com that delivers results for health-related queries. There are more innovative search engines like WolframAlpha.com, that makes all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone, or the fashion search engine EMPORA.com bringing together thousands of stores and brands. You can search your music on Guruji.com, and track major Bit Torrent websites on isoHunt.com. GazoPa performs remarkable ‘similar image search’, where you can draw instead of typing the words, and Pipl.com provides the most comprehensive people search on the web. Yummly.com is fascinating for people who love to cook and search for recipes, and Like.com boasts of being the “first true visual image search” platform, now acquired by Google.
Leena Singh, September 6, 2010
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