You can't really compare DHTML to Flash, the two are totally seperate technologies though they both can be used to preform similar tasks. The cross-browser issue, while present in DHTML is quickly becoming a thing of the past since over 75% of browsers (depending on whose stats you use) currently support the DOM.
Don't get me wrong I like Flash and think it is the better tool for the job in certain situations however I think it's shortsighted to try to completely compare a programmatical implementation to a plug-in.
I actually work in the Interactive TV Space and just attended a conference related to this at the MS Mt View campus.
Just some general info.
First this only affect the cable systems which choose to use the MSTV platform. Right now that's only 1 in the US (a few others scattered around the globe) and that's Charter Communications (owned by Paul Allen hmmm.) And their rollout is still in the real early stages.
The use of MSTV is all via a Set-Top Box, so this is not something that will be sneaked into your house. And something not new, most PVR's (Personal Video Recorders) do the same thing and Direct TV is trying to do something like this via it's Wink Platform.
How most of these systems work is via "Virtual Channels" which are actually HTML based sites that can be viewed via a TV optimized for TV as well. Though some implementations allow general browsing most sites look like crap on TV so a lot of operators are going with a "Walled Garden" approach and only allowing select operators show. Any system that rolls these out will track almost anywhere you go since all calls will go through a centralized server. Basically when a user views a page it gets grabbed from a standard web server and converted to MPEG2 and piped back to the viewer. This is the general approach whether you use MS or not.
One of the issues here is that most users will only be interacting via remote so many are implemeting virtual "wallets" to make purchasing via TV easier. So yes if you use the MSTV servcice the cable operator (not necessarily MS) will be able to track everywhere you go and all that you purchase on their system.
However since it's through your cable operator they allready have a lot of your vitals anyway just by having you sign up for the service.
As an aside most of the personalized ads here (particularily on the MS system) are not TV ads, it refers to the ads on "Virtual Channels"
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Usability, most users do not want to go to individual pages one at a time to view large pics not to mention then trying to navigate back to the story.
Apparently you're an exception.
It has nothing to do with trying to prevent image theft that's ridiculous.
Yeah and I like Apples better than Oranges.
You can't really compare DHTML to Flash, the two are totally seperate technologies though they both can be used to preform similar tasks. The cross-browser issue, while present in DHTML is quickly becoming a thing of the past since over 75% of browsers (depending on whose stats you use) currently support the DOM.
Don't get me wrong I like Flash and think it is the better tool for the job in certain situations however I think it's shortsighted to try to completely compare a programmatical implementation to a plug-in.
Oh my if I download something and run it, it might be carrying a virus?
Ack who'd a thunk
Heck screw that I don't even use the internet anymore I'm just mailing in this post.
Worlds over I'm going back just to reading books and writing my code on a legal pad with a pencil and having someone else type it in.
I actually wrote a kinda long post about this already down below
But no. The tracking is done via your set top box provided by your cable operator.
This is actually no different than the tracking TiVO does.
I actually work in the Interactive TV Space and just attended a conference related to this at the MS Mt View campus.
Just some general info.
First this only affect the cable systems which choose to use the MSTV platform. Right now that's only 1 in the US (a few others scattered around the globe) and that's Charter Communications (owned by Paul Allen hmmm.) And their rollout is still in the real early stages.
The use of MSTV is all via a Set-Top Box, so this is not something that will be sneaked into your house. And something not new, most PVR's (Personal Video Recorders) do the same thing and Direct TV is trying to do something like this via it's Wink Platform.
How most of these systems work is via "Virtual Channels" which are actually HTML based sites that can be viewed via a TV optimized for TV as well. Though some implementations allow general browsing most sites look like crap on TV so a lot of operators are going with a "Walled Garden" approach and only allowing select operators show. Any system that rolls these out will track almost anywhere you go since all calls will go through a centralized server. Basically when a user views a page it gets grabbed from a standard web server and converted to MPEG2 and piped back to the viewer. This is the general approach whether you use MS or not.
One of the issues here is that most users will only be interacting via remote so many are implemeting virtual "wallets" to make purchasing via TV easier. So yes if you use the MSTV servcice the cable operator (not necessarily MS) will be able to track everywhere you go and all that you purchase on their system.
However since it's through your cable operator they allready have a lot of your vitals anyway just by having you sign up for the service.
As an aside most of the personalized ads here (particularily on the MS system) are not TV ads, it refers to the ads on "Virtual Channels"
Hmm I hope this clears some stuff up.
ARGGH WYSIWIGs are for fucking rookies. This is not a valid point. No self respecting Web developer would use anything but a text editor.