Intel To Launch Paid Web TV Service With Set-Top Box 70
New submitter kdryer39 writes "In an unexpected but kind-of-makes-sense move, chip-maker Intel has decided to delve into the TV world by creating a set-top box and a paid Internet television service. The box will contain an HD camera and microphone for various 'novel applications.' Intel expects to provide various live and on-demand content, as well as re-inventing the wheel by changing the way people search for content. How will they do this, and where will they get the content from? Unfortunately, we don't know...and apparently neither does Intel. Erik Hugger, head of the newly-created Intel Media group, has stated that negotiations with content providers are in process, but gave no specific details. Is this an effort for the company to re-invent itself? Perhaps, but either way, it'll be one of those things that will be interesting to follow as it develops."
The "novel applications" for the on-board camera include identifying who's watching the TV and providing programming it thinks they'll like. At one point, Huggers said, "There's a scenario where the TV recognizes that it's you and says 'Hey, I know what you like. I know what you want to watch', versus the environment we're in today where the TV literally is not interested in you at all.' Maybe I'm getting old, but I like that my appliances aren't particularly interested in me. (Haven't they seen Maximum Overdrive?!)
Re:Not going to happen. (Score:5, Informative)
And those giants are also ISPs, so don't think they'll give higher caps so you can stream their competition
Re:Not going to happen. (Score:2, Informative)
Strange, pretty much the same things were said about Apple entering the phone market....
Apple has yet to make serious play , but their Apple TV is starting to sell in reasonably serious numbers for a "hobby".
My DVD collection is growing because I am getting sick of the adverts, they are all ripped to my Mac Mini which has a 12TB RAID array attached to it so my movies and TV series stream really well to the multiple Apple TVs we have. We are all watching less and less live TV.
And at the moment I buy DVDs from 2nd hand shops for $3 each so my collection can be huge at sod all cost.
Apple could do a lot more to tidy up how the Apple TV handles hundreds/thousands of movies TV shows, but that will come with time and I think that the TV shows will simply come out to DVD quicker. For the $100-$150 a month I could be paying a satellite provider for TV I will settle for Freeview and use the free cash to buy the stuff that I want on DVD.