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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Comment Guy @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:56AM
Download set top boxes and download portable players ( ie Blockbuster, Apple TV, VUDU, Hulu, PS3 ) are a thing of the past, only to be replaced by the technology used by service providers such as MyTVPAL ( www.mytvpal.com ) and Netflix ( www.netflix.com ).
Service providers like MyTVPAL offer 1080p instant blu-ray streaming video on demand and live tv over PC Player, set top box, and I think they will have a portable device out soon.
Keep in mind also that P2P is on the way out because it uses to much bandwidth, both up and down, and is unstable. I'm refering to service providers such as VUDU ( a one trick pony ) and Joost, who latest foray into portable video on demand on the itouch / iphone is frezing, buffering, and providing a horrible user experience even on my 6mbps connection.
Streaming video is a great addition for live tv an video on demand, but at the end of the day only those technology companies like Matrixstream ( www.matrixstream.com ) will be able to support the best quality over the best effort public internet when doing a triple play ( set top box, PC Player, and portable device ) because currently where Netflix requires 8mbps for 720p streaming, MyTVPAL can support 720p streaming a 3mbps and 1080p blu-ray streaming at 6mbps.
Keep the above in mind when considering the average person today in the United States and Canada has between 1.5 - 3.0Mbps. So While MyTVPAL can service the majority of broadband users today in the United States and Canada in both 720p and 1080p today it will be years before Netflix can service a fraction of the broadband population in high definition instant video streaming.
At the end of the Day service providers such as Netflix and Blockbuster will have evolve to provide a service like MyTVPAL or suffer the consequences of not providing low bandwidth, instant playing, 1080p blu-ray high definition platform that we've come to expect from MyTVPAL ( www.mytvpal.com ) on PC Player, set top box, and soon I would imagine, portable player.
scyber @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:34AM
Netflix 720p HD encodes are 2600kbps and 3800kbps. At least according to their own blog:
http://blog.netflix.com/2008/11/encoding-for-streaming.html
Blair in West HollyWeird @ Jan 2nd 2009 10:21AM
Perhaps what you say about speed is true, or not. Have to check it out more. BUT, in the meantime I can say I checked out the website for the box you were promoting. So far in the US the only HD quality stuff was Movie Trailers and IMAX Movies. Also, it isn't clear on the site if it will charge for HD Movies as it goes from listing Free TV/Movies and then mentions nothing free in the HD Quality stuff.
Plus the channels available are really odd. I have an Apple TV hacked with BOXXEE and it gives me tons of stuff to watch that way AND I have a Roku box to watch my Netflix stuff that seems to play just fine and I only pay my low monthly fee to watch that AND get DVD's into the house within 2 days turnaround. So I think your description is not quite all it is cracked up to be. I would say the playing field is pretty level right now as to who will come out on top, and you need more than one box/service to make it all work for now. Probably have another few years as people are only just starting (like myself) to switch over to Internet TV Services and let go of their Cable and Satelite Service.
Take care and have a better than good day.