Google's last effort was a bit lackluster to say the least, hardware OEMs missed the mark by some distance and there was a definite lack of hunger from Google to expand the program any further. While Chromecast was hitting the market that already saw Roku and countless other TV streaming systems come and go, Boxee Box was one already out there and that was bought by Samsung - wonderful system let down badly by poor support and under-powered.
OUYA too has been stumbling around the market place trying to find its feet like a crazy drunk man dancing to a fiddle in an Irish bar. That is the closest we have to the Amazon Fire TV, assuming we can include XBMC. Apple TV needed to be jail broken to be enjoyable in any fashion but its still out there. Chromecast works with a handful of apps and there are only so many ways we want to watch Netflix and Pandora. The PlayStation and Xbox have many of the features the Amazon Fire TV has and then some too - including Amazons own Amazon Prime Movie service. So what gives, we now have a choice between 5-6 boxes / systems in a market that's already crowded with ways to watch movies and TV over the internet, oh wait we already have TV with smart apps too from Sony, LG and Panasonic et all and now we need MORE ways to access TV.
As I have posted before about crowded market places, sometimes its best to stay out until we have a couple of "winners" unless you have already backed on one horse. This time though these systems are cheap and cheerful, which is great for the consumer.
As I have posted before about crowded market places, sometimes its best to stay out until we have a couple of "winners" unless you have already backed on one horse. This time though these systems are cheap and cheerful, which is great for the consumer.
Market ? What market ?
I do wonder what exactly is it everyone is fighting over, as I said Boxee Box came and left as quick as it did, you then have Apple TV that's been on the market for at least 2; that's been a bit of a disaster. Chromecast is limited just now - Roku has done well in this space but mention it to anyone over the age of 30 and they say "a what ?!" Amazon will use their name (and Gary Bussey) to promote their new box but lets face it, its a Kindle Fire on a big screen with more power, nothing more; throw into the mix that its Android based and could have a good entry into the mod community - again hardly a big market. What Amazon Fire TV will do is grow awareness - something Google will do well to capitalise on; and +Julie Uhrman too. OUYA would do well to ask to be included into an Android TV eco system, just like OUYA want theirs to be more open to more hardware partners, would be easy to do and since they changed their "Free to Play" policy more inline with Googles they could at least shift some more units rather relay on a non profit making XBMC and side loading apps feature to sell some tin.
Again only Roku have done well to sell a number of units, which I think will be replaced by Amazon Fire TV's pretty quickly because of its versatility and backed by many vendors over and above Roku's list of supported players. Branding Android TV
Google would be wise to re-brand its TV service and create something with far more finesse than before and of course support for games and a controller (any controller), the ability to use the games you have already paid for too, a huge incentive. I think Google with a 'you first' mentality to the streaming TV market is a good strategy but they need to get it right first go, or in this case second go. Google will be all too aware so many have fallen at the first hurdle and I suspect the Amazon Live TV box will too but awareness sells boxes.
Right now I cant seem to think why one box would outsell another by a large chunk as they all have pros and cons and they will be left to the consumer which will have the best abilities for the common man.
Streaming also has another big problem, and that's the ISPs themselves.
Many throttle or packet shape after abusing certain ports after whats been seen as "abuse" by ISPs, certainly UK ISPs have been guilty of this in the past - those being Virgin, Sky, Talk Talk, all of which have some very woolly wording in their FUA (Fair Usage Agreements) and many others too so I'm not just singling those ISPs out. If you are going to cut the cable (dash the dish) then making sure you are with a ISP that doesn't practice those shady activities; you need to be very very aware of those FUAs so make sure you ask direct questions. I'm sure packet shaping occurs in the US too. Many ISPs demanded the BBC help them expand their networks after the iPlayer hit incredible usage in its first 2 years and Netflix were up in arms after ISPs turned on them too. So a mass switch over to network based TV will be something rebuffed by ISPs in the not so distant future assuming they tag those ports as an additional cost to the end user for streaming only.
Could streaming TV systems punch themselves out ? In the short term absolutely. Until we see a decent "play"form (my new word for home TV platforms) emerge, the ISPs will be unwilling to play ball and could strangle the whole idea in a heartbeat.
Until then - stay out of the fight for at least another year.
Sneak usage
These boxes could come in handy for those hotel trips, assuming you can get access to the Hotels TV HDMI port and free wifi or even tether from your phone - goodbye hotel PPV bills and rubbish Russian / German TV.
Sneak usage
These boxes could come in handy for those hotel trips, assuming you can get access to the Hotels TV HDMI port and free wifi or even tether from your phone - goodbye hotel PPV bills and rubbish Russian / German TV.