Hulu: Do I need to say what is about?

Maybe many of you don’t have a clue of what I’m talking about. That’s what I’m here for guys!

A media server is software that lets you stream media from a desktop or laptop to your gaming device (or other devices such as your iphone, smart phone, other PCs, etc. ) over your home network. One of the most known ones is TVersity but, for example more established companies like Ahead (the creator of Nero Burning Rom) have their own media server too.

TVersity: one of the most successful and versatile media servers on the market. And they trust you to pay them after download. How cool is that? Or is it confidence in their product?

Basically what this thing does is that converts the video to whatever format you need and streams it to your gaming device such as PS3, XBOX or Wii (technically speaking any device with Flash 7 support) and allows you to look at it on your HDTV. Depending an your computer power, the TV specs and the source of the video you can watch even HD videos on it. Imagine it as what Netflix has with PS3 but over your own network and with your own content. This mean you can stream your MP3s, family videos, photos, etc. Whatever you like.

Ok, this is all interesting but what does it have to do with Online TV? Here is the trick. Media servers can connect to your Youtube or Hulu accounts (or any online TV such as CBS.com, NBC.com or TV.com – you name it) and stream directly to your device and therefore your TV. And just as memory refresh that is what some people is trying to avoid. Hulu even blocked their page to access it directly from PS3 last year. One important detail: since the streaming is direct, you get everything, even the commercials.

A media server working

Why this is all of these so important? Broadcasters have been trying to separate people who are willing to see TV in their computers and people who see it on actual TVs. They feel that systems like Hulu are for catching up and not for actually watching the shows there. There has been ideas that try to bring the gap between these 2 types of users closer like Hulu Desktop but in this cases you still need to connect your laptop to a TV through a RGB or HDMI cable. With media servers you can access all your content without cables to all your devices. Even better: you can enjoy “old school” TV in your living room from an Online TV service.

Actually is much better. For example in a PS3 you get a XMB menu where with your remote you can browse through all the media in your computer, your Hulu queue or your Youtube subscriptions among other things. If you get bored you can switch to a game and after resume the show where you left it.

This product gives the user the ability of enjoying online TV the old way: on a big TV sitting on your couch. Yes, I know you have to be kind of a geek if you want to set this up but I can assure you, it’s no big deal and people who watch TV on their computers are geeks anyway, or not?

One last thing: Why content creators don’t want this to happen? They are still scared to move on to new distribution channels for

More than a gaming device? Video games, internet, shopping and now TV

content. Especially in this weird situation where there is no barriers for a TV user to switch completely to this system. Imagine for second: PS3, movies on Netflix, shows on Hulu, music from your laptop, photos of your family and you’re done. Content creators will have to realize (and soon) that this is going to be one important trend in the future TV consumption. Whoever finds the right combination or way to charge for this is going to take advantage. At least TVersity is doing it. And making money with trust on their clients that they are going to pay. How cool is that?

Some cool links if you want to go further

Stream video to your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360

TVersity: The Playstation 3 as a Multimedia Center

A Complete Guide to Playing Video Files On Your PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii

How To: Stream Any Video to Your Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii

by DMEC Careers Della Huff and Chris Finegold

Internet and Social Networks

Content and Distribution

Mobile

Hardware

At this point everyone has heard about 3-D TV. It made a lot of noise at CES with some companies announcing their hardware and with some content providers announcing programming in 3-D. But when it comes to actually talk about it: will someone use it? Is it useful? Is it entertaining?

A few facts so we are all on the same page:

- This technology is going out really soon since all major manufacturers are announcing their releases and talked about it at CES 2010.
- You WILL have to use glasses and manufacturers WILL charge for every extra pair (around $50 Mmmm).
- There are already content providers that have promised to have content around June 2010 (DIRECTV will have three channels on air). This content includes live sports events (world cup included) and obviously movies.

Okay so let’s talk about good things and bad things about this technology.

Something good is that this it’s not the usual technology that we see currently in some products. For example TV shows that offer 3Dscenes with those awful red and blue glasses or DVDs like Coraline. 3DTVs will be able to reproduce the 3D content in HD and with the flickering technology, the same one that we see today in Avatar for example. This means a huge quality increase for what we already identify as home 3D. Actually another good thing that we mention before we’ll have content to enjoy in a few months.

But where is the added value of a product like this? Why is it going out now? The reality is that the new boom of 3D at theaters is boosting the release of these devices. The problem is that there are many issues to solve yet and we have already seen that we need sometime to see what happens. A good example being Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. There are no clues that is going to be the next standard (yes, there will be different 3D standards too) so my recommendation is no, don’t buy it yet.

Who will enjoy the most this product and it’s a large enough market? There are some numbers that say in 10 years we’ll have 200 million units in the hands of eager 3DTV fans. I don’t think is that easy.  Let’s start thinking about potential users and the content that will be available: sports. The world cup it’s a good example and it applies to my knowledge. Basically since I live the US I watch all my soccer on TV and I can assure you that there is no added value to what a fan is looking for when watching a game in 3D capacity. It just doesn’t add value. It’s a cool feature and nothing else. You don see the plays in a better way, you don’t obtain a better perspective of the game, etc. And I think this apply to almost every sport that is broadcasted.

Other users? Movie fans. Yes, there could be a market there, but again. There is almost zero content. Studios are just trying to release 3D versions of films and just one big hit won’t assure that this will go on. Still not a huge market.

So, where there will be a market for this product to be successful not immediately but faster? My best guess are video games. Yes, as gamer I see some cool features in having a 3D game in front of my eyes. Gamers usually value visual improvements more than other TV users. But the downside is that there are almost zero news about game studios taking advantage of this new technology. Why? They usually wait to see what happens, which is a wise decision.

We’ll have to wait to know how 3DTV enters the market but in the meantime, let users figure out for you if this will be a worthy technology. For me, once I’ll be able to play winning eleven in 3D, I surely get mine!

By Della Huff ‘11, DMEC VP Careers
Everyone has heard the rumors about Google’s amazing campus, and last Friday, DMEC members got to experience it firsthand.

And I can tell you, firsthand, that everything you’ve heard is true. There is a dinosaur. And nap pods. And volleyball courts. And a small army of massage therapists. And Google-colored bicycles. And a spaceship in the lobby.

There are also over 10,000 Google employees, working on everything from Gmail to Maps to Adwords, and our group was able to hear from a panel of Haas alums at Google and ask them our burning questions about what life is *really* like at the Googleplex.

From what we heard, it seems that life is nearly always interesting at Google. White boards, adorning nearly every wall at Google, are filled with network diagrams, complex algorithms, and creative doodles. Posters advertising visiting speakers from political leaders to artists decorated the walls and doors, which reminded me of a college campus. Public spaces are filled with diversions from foosball to yoga balls to encourage creative discussions. And of course, there’s Google’s famous 100-foot rule, which dictates that Google employees never be more than 100 feet from sustaining caffeine and goodies.

When we asked what Googlers liked best about their jobs, the panel was in consensus: it was the stimulating work environment, the brilliant people, and the challenging work that keeps Google going. When asked what is most challenging about working at one of the most innovative companies in the world, the panel was also in consensus: managing and prioritizing the workload was the most difficult aspect of their jobs.

Google also proved that the company is always full of surprises: the day was made even sweeter by a random giveaway of five Verizon Droid phones for the Haas visitors. Unfortunately, I was not amongst the lucky five, but I felt lucky to visit the Googleplex nonetheless!

A BIG thank you goes to Lauren Gellman, Haas ’11 and former Googler, for arranging our incredible visit!

Haas - DMEC Visits Google, February 2010