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Nokia and Intel to make Linux-based Set-Top Box
hkon writes "Nokia and Intel are apparently going to make a set-top box that "integrates the internet and digital TV" Intel claims it'll "change the nature of television". Does that mean I can't watch silly american sitcoms on sunday mornings anymore? =)"
Talks about internet TV delivery, which I'm a big fan of. But something tells me that'll be awhile.
"What's on television then?"
"Looks like a penguin."
Sorry to burst your bubble Intel, but you just don't get it.
When people sit down in front of thier TV, they want to turn their brain *off*. When you use a computer, you have to use your brain, and *do* stuff... you have to think.
On the surface, TV and Internet might seem similar, but because they require entirely different mindsets to use, they will never be effectively combined.
Think about where you sit to watch TV... on your couch (usually) about 6 feet from the screen. Your computer is usually on a desk, in an office environment (even at home, its probably the same desk where you did your taxes before you got a computer). For years companies have been trying to cash in on this market that doesn't exist. Note the failure of WebTV (granted: there were other reasons that bombed).
*Turning my brain off now*
CokeBear, UWO
Reality has a liberal bias
If they actually leverage the power of Linux well, this could be very cool;
everyone reading this remembers the Coke machine in MIT that had its own IP, yes?
Imagine setting up your TV to automatically record the news IF AND ONLY IF you are not already at home...
Imagine being able to steal ALL the HBO movies into mpg files... (this would prob require some programming, but hey, thats why we are (most of us) CS majors
Imagine, sitting 100 miles away and checking the channel that your kids are watching...
The ultimate user-configured Vchip is inherent, and before all the 12-14 year olds on this board demoderate me, keep in mind that this IS a useful feature for the public at large
it will allow for EFFECTIVE programable functions (ie all those record-this-show-every-week)
and the best part of all this is, you do not inherently need to use those annoying on-TV menus, but can ssh (telnet) in or use some networked GUI app to do all this...
Since this is all opensource (alledgedly) we can probably work around any of the safe-guards they create to prevent mass copying, commercial exclusion, etc.
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars --Oscar Wilde
Grrr. my nick is "Forward the Light Brigade"...
This is not an origional concept. At all.
"By taking the lead and creating products that..."
Excuse me, but no.
Every major communications company has been working on something like this for years. One of the major problems being the infrastructure to support it. That's one of the reasons you might not have heard about it. Lack of infrastructre to install the box doesn't mean you can't have the box working in the lab waiting for the day when the bandwidth is available.
Why do you think Motorola bought General Instruments? The company states that "Motorola has a Global Commitment to broadband multimedia/communications solutions." Which is true.
Only only advantage to the deal is that Nokia might have the communications connections to actually sell the thing. Then again GI has a install base of over 15 million.
Intel and Nokia now see how much money they'll be missing in the upcoming broadband revolution and want a piece. This is also why Sony is selling the Playstation2 as a "home gateway" unit.
They aren't taking the lead, they're already behind.
"You want to kiss the sky? Better learn how to kneel." - U2
"It was like trying to herd cats..." - Robert A. Heinlein
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