Apple & Google: The Battle For The Living Room Has Begun

The battle for the living room has begun. With Google’s announcement of Google TV, and their quest to provide the best of what TV and the Web has to offer, it is conceivable that Apple’s recent evolution of the Mac Mini legitimizes Apple’s seriousness in the same quest. With Google targeting release this Fall it appears that Apple is already in the lead, although the issues and obstacles behind who will gain predominant market-share are more complex than they seem.

Many industry pundits believe that Google still has quite a bit of work before they achieve their stated goal. In simple terms, Google TV is based on a modified version of the Android OS. The OS will be tailored for two types of devices: Televisions and a Logitech set-top box.

Notable Features:

1. Google Chrome Internet Browser

2. Wireless Keyboard Connectivity

3. Android Mobile Phone Voice Control

4. Android Apps

5. Flash Video Support

Potential Obstacles:

1. Integration with other Cable Provider/DVR set-top boxes (Currently Google TV supports only Dish Network for a seamless integration).

2. Getting additional content providers on board. Access to premium content will be limited unless partnerships are made with larger providers such as DirectTV and Comcast.

3. Google will have to rely on others for delivering the best content.
A major determinant of success for Google TV will be based on whether cable companies will want to relinquish complete control over their subscription service and valuable viewership analytics about their customers.

With respect to Apple, it’s clear that Apple TV did not gain the market share that some thought it would. Apple TV lacked the flexibility and drive connectivity that it needed to be a game changer. But let’s face it, I bet it’s not too far from anyone’s imagination to envision Steve Jobs on stage evangelizing the simplicity and brilliance of the Mac Mini/TV solution. I think it’s clear that this new generation of the Mac Mini is laying the groundwork for another world-altering Apple product.

That said, the Mac Mini currently provides a turnkey solution for getting a flexible and powerful core to a Home Entertainment System. Basically, plug in your power supply and your HDMI cable, run whatever web browser you want, run whatever video app you want (Boxee, PLEX, XBMC, Hulu Desktop), and play whatever media you want. The Mac Mini opens the door to an endless array of premium content (iTunes Store, Netflix, Amazon Video On-Demand, KoldCast TV, and anything else you can think of).

Last year, I posted an article entitled, Web TV Made Simple by the Mac Mini. The article detailed the Mac Mini’s features, functionality, and also, how to set up and optimize it for use as the core of your Home Entertainment System. Simply put, Apple’s newest release of the Mac Mini has made this endeavor simpler, prettier, and more powerful. For comparison, take a look…

Previous Generation:

New Generation:

Added Benefits:

1. Streamlined, unibody design

2. HDMI Port (No need for a Mini-Display Port to HDMI adapter, No need for Toslink Optical Audio adapter for digital audio)

3. Built-in SD card slot

4. No need for the power brick

5. Removable panel for memory upgrades

6. Ultra Power Efficient- consumes less than 10 watts, a 25 percent reduction from the previous generation

I think it’s fair to say that Apple is not going to stop innovating around the Mac Mini any time soon. We will continue to see the Mac Mini evolve to fit our entertainment needs. All known things considered, I would take the flexibility of the Mac Mini over Google TV at this point, barring any mind-blowing developments that Google may announce.

Brian J. Samuels is the Chief Technology Officer, a Vice President and Co-founder of KoldCast TV.

Web TV Made Simple by the Mac Mini

Keeping an online television Network operating 24/7/365 requires me to be on-call 24/7/365 and sometimes it’s nice to do what I do from home. In this regard I thought it was time to take KoldCast TV off my desk and into my family room, where my 50” Panasonic TC-PV10 plasma display sat waiting, and where I also prefer to relax and watch KoldCast TV shows. My home entertainment system consists of multiple game consoles, a DVR, and an A/V receiver, but I knew the nucleus of my new set-up was going to be Apple’s new Mac Mini, so I drove over to my local Apple store this past weekend, made the purchase, and set up the ideal KoldCast TV viewing environment in under an hour. Here’s what I started with and how I completed it.

A few months back, I purchased the Panasonic TC-P50V10 plasma display for a few simple reasons.

• The display is equipped with Panasonic Vieracast, which provides access to a number of popular Internet services (Amazon On-Demand, YouTube, Picassa, and a few others) and continues to improve with each update.
• The excellent black-level performance and color accuracy are crucial for ensuring the best HD viewing experience either via the web or Blu-ray.
• There are plenty of inputs for anything you want to connect to it.

XBOX360:

The first entertainment/game console I added to my system was XBOX360. Overall it’s the most well-rounded console for both entertainment and gaming applications. Here are its definitive strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

• XBOX360 clearly sports the most user-friendly interface amongst its counterparts and it is simple, yet elegant.
• XBOX360 offers the strongest Netflix integration when compared to the competition: PlayStation 3, TiVo, Boxee, and Roku.
• The Zune Marketplace, the centerpiece to Microsoft’s entertainment initiatives, provides a simple way to rent and purchase feature films, music, and your favorite traditional TV episodes.
• XBOX360 provides simple access to your video library, owned, borrowed or otherwise, by supporting the widest array of video formats when compared to the competition. And, you can stream content to your XBOX360 via your wireless network, or by connecting a compatible (FAT) hard drive.
• XBOX360 pricing starts at the low price of $199.99.

Weaknesses:

• In order to use Netflix, the Zune Marketplace, and receive relevant software/firmware updates, users must become XBOX Live Marketplace members for an additional $49.99/year.
• In order to purchase content via your XBOX, you need to first purchase pre-paid credits from your computer before ordering content via XBOX360. And, personally, I would rather just see how much something actually costs, in real dollars, at the point of viewing.
• A Web Browser is not included.
• A Blu-ray player is not included.
• The hard drives store a very limited amount of video content.

Playstation 3 Slim:

The second entertainment/game system I dropped into the mix was the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim. The PS3 Slim is the best value in the market largely because of its built-in Blu-ray player. If you have a 1080p television, Blu-ray is a MUST. It legitimately provides the best home audio/visual experience consumers have ever had. That said, the PS3 Slim comes with its own strengths and weaknesses as well.

Strengths:

• As previously stated, PS3 is the only game console with a built-in Blu-ray player and it happens to be one of the best Blu-ray players on the market… not to mention, the best value.
• The PS3 has built-in Wi-Fi. XBOX360 requires users to separately purchase Wi-Fi unless you buy the XBOX360 Elite, which is not cheap at $399.99.
• The PS3 has its own web browser, albeit quite restrictive in some instances when compared to the web browsers on our computers, i.e. Firefox, Safari, and Chrome.
• The PS3 supports Bluetooth for a host of peripherals like keyboards, mice, etc.
• The PlayStation®Network and Store is becoming a very strong offering for movies and traditional TV shows.

Weaknesses:

• The PlayStation®Network and Store is not as strong as the XBOX360 Marketplace.
• The graphical user interface is difficult to read on large monitors and requires more navigation to get to where you want to go.
• The PS3 requires a separate DVD to utilize Netflix’s Instant Streaming service.
• The PS3 is more expensive than XBOX360: PS3 $299.99 vs. XBOX360 $199.99.
• The PS3 does not offer Facebook, Twitter, and numerous other applications that XBOX360 does.
• The PS3 does not play nicely with videos purchased from iTunes.

When it comes right down to it though, both the XBXO360 and PS3 have very solid offerings and serve unique purposes. Both consoles, when connected via HDMI, are capable of displaying a crystal clear 1080p picture.

The XBOX360’s core competencies are its elegant user interface, best-in-class Netflix integration, wide array of accepted video formats, multitude of popular social applications, and vibrant XBOX Live community. The PS3’s core competencies are Blu-ray, web browsing, and media sharing with your personal network. In order to use both of these systems to their fullest potential, users must do certain things on their personal computers such as purchasing credits, sharing content libraries, activating third party accounts, etc.

Despite all these great features, I needed more before I could call my entertainment system complete – I needed (a) a legit web browser, (b) my personal media library at my fingertips, (c) support for all the video formats that I use, (d) the ability to add peripherals quickly and easily, (e) the ability to secure and backup everything I purchase, and (f) the ability to communicate and work within my Networks (Web TV Network, and Personal Network). I simply needed something that respects all of these values and I wanted a simple and relatively inexpensive path to get there. The Mac Mini turned out to offer that path.

At $799, the Mac Mini more than competently handles all the core values listed above, and allows me to do it all from one seat. The only additional accessories I needed were a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, a DVI-to-HDMI adapter so that I can view 1080p video from my Mac Mini, and a Toslink digital audio cable that connects the audio out port to the optical audio input jack on my A/V receiver.

To further optimize image quality, simplicity, and aesthetics, I connected all of my components, XBOX360, PS3, CableBox/DVR, and Mac Mini, to my A/V receiver (Denon AVR-2310CI) using HDMI. HDMI is the only true way to ensure 1080p viewing, and it combines audio and video into a single cable, thereby avoiding cable clutter. The 6.5” footprint of the Mac Mini allowed me to maintain the minimalist appearance of my entertainment system. Setup could not have been easier. Another major advantage to the Mac Mini is the fact that it is really quiet, which is an essential luxury in a theater setting. No one wants to hear the humming and buzzing of a loud CPU fan during a feature presentation.

Of course, adding the Mac Mini created some redundant services already provided by my game systems, but adding the Mini essentially opened up the floodgates in terms of what is possible with my home entertainment system. Below are some of the services that the simple addition of a Mac Mini can offer to your home entertainment system.

• Netflix
• Boxee – a full-featured Web TV application that provides free, web-based content from a growing list of content publishers and television Networks (Watch for a KoldCast TV/Boxee application in January 2010)
• iTunes and Front Row (Apple’s Home Entertainment Interface)
• Amazon On-Demand
• A fully functional computer with an easy operating system and tiny footprint
• Data Security
• A host of additional cutting-edge functionality via the brilliant Mac OSX.

Once I completed my Mini installation, I invited a few guests over, layed back on my sofa and watched as everyone sat in awe of 50” of KoldCast TV original HD programming. And, despite what I do for a living, the moment represented a genuine epiphany. Tomorrow has arrived.

Brian J. Samuels is the Chief Technology Officer, a Vice President and Co-founder of KoldCast TV.

You’re only one finger-click away from being a social publisher with KoldCast TV’s new Midget Widget.

It was only three days ago that we introduced you to the various methods in which you can email and share videos with friends and family (Read: Sharing Videos. Even a Caveman Can Do it.) Well, we’ve just added another way for you to simply and easily share your interests with friends, followers and fans; we call it the Midget Widget and here’s how it works:

After watching an episode that you dig, click on the blue “Like” button that now appears in the Comments & Info window below our media player.

A new Midget Widget window opens, offering you the opportunity to automatically publish your “Like” to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Yahoo.  Simply click on the “connect” link for each site that you want to publish to.  You can even change the default message post/tweet to make your message a more personal one if you choose.  Click PUBLISH.  You’re done.  Even a caveman can do it!

The Midget Widget immediately publishes your message, a thumbnail image (where supported) and a link to the video you liked, on the social sites you selected.

And the Midget Widget also supports Commenting.  Simply enter a Comment and click on COMMENT.  Done!  You’re now a social publisher.  Congratulations.

Our filmmakers, whose great shows you watch on KoldCast TV, are grateful, as is KoldCast TV, for your support.  We hope you’ll start sharing today.

Sharing Videos with Friends and Family. Even a Caveman Can Do It.

So, you’ve discovered a web series that you think others should watch. You could simply copy and paste the respective URL into an email and send it to your distribution list, and that’s cool, but that’s kind of passé these days. The most simple, easy and effective way to share a video is by emailing the video directly from KoldCast TV, or by publishing it directly to your social news feeds in Facebook, Twitter, etc.

It’s so easy, even a caveman can do it (sorry Geico cavemen)!

Emailing a video has never been easier.  Follow these simple steps:

• Select this video, http://www.koldcast.tv/video/forrest_hump, and begin video play.
• With your mouse, hover over the video and click the blue MENU button.
• Click the blue SHARE button.  An email window appears.

• Enter the send to email address; then enter a subject like “Funny Porn Film Spoof.”
• Change the default message that appears, if you prefer.
• Click on the black/grey EMAIL THIS VIDEO button.  That’s it. Finished.

Cool, huh? Now try sharing the video on Facebook.

• First, make sure you’re signed-in to your Facebook page in a separate browser tab.
• Wherever you see a Facebook icon on a video page, or in our Media Player, click it.

• A new Facebook (or other site page, if selected) window appears with a thumbnail image and description of the video.  Enter any additional message, if desired.

• Click SHARE.  Bingo! Your recommended video has now been posted to your Facebook News Feed.

You just passed the caveman test.  Congratulations.  You’re ready for the DMV now.

At the end of the day, “social publishing” is about publicly sharing things important to you, with others that may be interested in what you have to share. It’s like a digital megaphone. Suppose, for example, you’re walking through your local central park and your boyfriend stops and proposes marriage. After the crying and excitement subsides for a moment, you realize that there are people who need to know, some who might want to know, and some people you don’t know, who would find your exciting news good to know. You could call, text or email, all those who need to know, but geez, that could take serious time, especially when you want everyone to know as fast and soon as possible. That’s where social communication and networking tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, and yes, even MySpace, and others, come in real handy. There, you can “publish” your all-important message so that everyone you’re connected to, Family, Friends, Fans and Followers (your “Community”), can read, hear and even watch your personal broadcast, and then, if they give a hoot, instantly respond to your message with a message of their own (the Comment) like, OMG! I was wondering when he was going to ask you, and/or more subtly express their pleasure by telling you they “Like” your message and are happy for you. The best part is, that everyone in, and around, your personal community is delivered your message at the same time. You’ve been engaged for five minutes and already 1,000 people know. How cool. This is my moment!

Here at KoldCast TV, our community, our viewing audience, wants to know what others within the community have to say about the shows on our Network, so they leave episode comments in the Comments & Info window which appears for every individual series episode.

So, who sees these comments?  Everyone watching KoldCast TV.  But what if you want to share your comments with your personal community outside KoldCast TV.  You can automatically publish your comments to your social networks by registering and signing-in to KoldCast using our new social publishing features.

Simply click on the blue “Sign In” button found near the top of every site page.  A window opens providing you with the opportunity to register with KoldCast TV using the username and passwords you use with your favored social networks.  If you don’t use them, you can register with KoldCast TV only.

Once you’ve completed our simple registration and sign-in process, each time you comment on a video, as long as you’re signed-in, your comment will automatically post to your respective news feeds.  Registration is not required to watch KoldCast TV programming; but is required to use all social publishing and Friend Feed features.

When signed-in, the Sign In button is replaced by a new Profile button which, when clicked, opens your personal My Profile page where you can link and unlink your social networks, allowing you to control when, and where, you publish your comments.  My Profile is also the destination where you can change your KoldCast TV Username, Screen Name, Password, Email Settings, set your Social Publishing and Privacy preferences, manage your Linked Accounts (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Google, with more on the way), view and manage your Friend List, upload and manage your Avatar, set language preferences, and view your own Social Profile, where we keep track of your commenting for you.  But this is just the beginning.

We’ve just added a new Social Toolbar, appearing at the bottom of every site page, which currently provides you with the opportunity to make friends with other KoldCast TV viewers who share the same interests.

Beyond connecting to our Facebook Fan page and Twitter feed from the Toolbar, you can now make friends and track their activity in the Friend Feed.  There are currently four (4) types of feeds that appear in Friend Feed:  Messages from KoldCast (black background), Friend postings (dark blue/grey background), Friend Requests (light blue/grey background), and posts from non-Friends with common interests (grey background).

So just how do you become friends with another KoldCast TV viewer? To get started, whenever you see a comment in a Comments & Info window, click on the blue username within the comment, and the Profile for the respective viewer will open.  Here you’ll see what shows they have commented on, what they have said about the show, a linkable episode thumbnail, their online/offline status, and a blue Send Friend Request button.  Click the Send Friend Request button and a message requesting friendship will be sent to the viewer.  Once accepted, this viewer’s comments and Likes will appear in your Friend Feed, and yours will appear in theirs.  And, you can view all your Friends, in one place, simply by clicking on the blue Profile button (page top), which only appears when you are signed-in to KoldCast TV.  Once your My Profile page opens, click the blue Friends List button to view your current Friends.

Remember, you control everything.  You control whether you publish your comments to other social networks, which social networks you publish to, and who your Friends are.  At the same time, we’ll introduce you to other KoldCast TV viewers with common interests; generally those who Like and/or who comment on the shows you Like and/or comment on.

Watch for more Friend Feed features coming your way soon.  Hey, by the way, I’m engaged!