TechClicker

Does Apple TV Really Matter Long Term?

September 1st, 2010

The big news from Apple’s press event today was the re-introduction of Apple TV. The device, which is available immediately for $99, allows users to stream 720p high definition video over the Internet to their HDMI capable televisions. TV shows can be rented from ABC and Fox for $0.99, movies can be rented for $3.99 on the same day that they’re released to DVD, and Netflix users can stream that service’s library of content. Even a users locally stored digital media can be streamed to their TV by Apple TV.

The revamped Apple TV is an admitted attempt to bring Internet streaming technology out of the “hobby-stream” and into the mainstream. Competitive products from Roku and Boxee, as well as upcoming offerings like Google TV, all give users varying degrees of freedom from traditional cable and satellite based subscription services. The niche market to which these devices play is growing with each product iteration, but remains minuscule compared to the markets of the incumbent providers.

None of these new Internet media streaming devices or services is yet robust enough in either its available content or interface to supplant traditional providers such as Comcast and Verizon. For many subscribers to cable or satellite TV service, HDTV and DVR’s are still the driving force of service upgrades. The general population still needs time to adjust to the changes in viewing behavior these mature technologies afford before they’ll be willing to alter their viewing habits yet again.

This isn’t to say that early adopters won’t drive early growth as they alone adapt to some form of Internet streaming media offering. Many products from several competing companies currently offer users various visions of what the future of TV will entail. Unfortunately, this fractured market without standards could work against companies like Apple and Google as the legacy providers develop similar competing services that offer just enough functionality to prevent subscribers, already grappling with the last generation of TV technology upgrades, from “cutting the cord.”

We saw this happen with DVR technology as content providers let TiVo cater to a market of enthusiasts while they developed inferior knock-off product offerings with which the market was flooded via their massive customer base.

Apple TV could face TiVo’s fate in its current incarnation.

Content providers have fought a la-carte delivery plans for decades because of the very benefits these plans provide consumers. Most people realize that they never watch a large percentage of the channels available from their content provider – and that they’re paying unnecessarily for these channels.

Technologies like Apple TV are no different than a la-carte plans and the cable companies know this. They know that their $100 a month subscription doesn’t stand a chance against $0.99 TV show rentals available from Apple TV. Even families who watch more than an average amount of TV stand to save money via this new model. The only thing preventing them from switching is the fact that no single alternative from Apple, Google, Boxee, or any other company has the breadth of available content to which they’re accustomed. And by the time an alternative comes close, the legacy providers will have a “knock-off” offering with which they can retain customers.

I fully intend to enjoy Apple TV, Google TV, and other products in this space as they become available. I’ll enjoy them for what they are presently – compelling devices for early adopters, not what they’ll ultimately be when the masses adopt some future, cable company inspired version of this subsequently mature technology.

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TechVidz Brings Together The Web’s Tech Related Video Content

September 1st, 2010

We’d like to welcome a new addition to the TechClicker network of technology websites. Recently launched, TechVidz aggregates much of the most compelling technology, science, and consumer electronics related video content into one convenient and attractive website.

Rather than sift through pages of written content across multiple technology related websites, TechVidz users have access to logically categorized video channels that present the most important, recent, and interesting technology news and demonstrations without distracting written commentary. Users can submit videos for review and follow @TechVidz1 on Twitter.

So sit back, relax, and go watch some TechVidz!

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Review Your Teen’s Driving Habits With A SafeDriver Monitor

August 30th, 2010

Getting a driver’s license is a cornerstone in a teenager’s life. The freedom afforded by unsupervised driving is something for which most teens yearn. But unfortunately, hubris, inexperience, and distractions from both modern gadgets and friends often have disastrous consequences – leading to 1 in 4 teens having a car accident within their first year of driving.

While parents can’t expect to chaperon their children on all driving excursions, they can monitor their teens habits with a clever product from Lemur Monitors. Rather than relying on GPS technology for tracking, the SafeDriver from Lemur has a wireless transmitter module that plugs into a car’s OBD port, which has been required on all new cars sold in the U.S. since 1996. The transmitter sends data about the car’s speed to a receiver on the teen’s key chain, which logs the information so that it can be reviewed later. Tampering with the data is also recorded.

While the device isn’t going to physically prevent the kind of irresponsible driving behavior for which teens are notorious, its presence will subtly remind the driver that his/her actions won’t go unnoticed.

[Via: NYT GadgetWise]

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An Answering Machine For Text Messages

August 29th, 2010

Considering an estimated 28 percent of car accidents are caused by drivers distracted by cell phone calls or text messages, it’s not surprising that several companies have developed smartphone applications to block these distractions. The potential savings in repairs, medical bills, and human life far outweigh the cost of even the most expensive of these applications.

State Farm Insurance recently announced that it released a free Android application called “On The Move” which automatically responds to incoming text messages so that users aren’t tempted to do so while driving.

“The new “On the Move” widget allows Android smartphone users to compose and preload customized messages that can be sent as automated responses to incoming text messages. With the service, instead of reading and responding to text messages while driving or otherwise occupied, smartphone users can activate the service and let the widget respond for them.”

Obviously, State Farm stands to save a lot of money if this application is successfully deployed and reduces auto insurance claims by even a fraction of a percent. More importantly, the fact the application is free could encourage those that may not have otherwise done so to use it.

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Indoor Positioning System Trial Underway

August 25th, 2010

The usefulness of GPS is indisputable. From GPS enable child tracking devices to GPS data aggregation services like Google Maps’ real-time traffic reports, the technology has spawned several location based industries that are changing society. An intentional limitation of the GPS system to which consumers have access is its resolution, which is limited to a few meters. This limitation has prevented micro scale positioning applications, such as indoor positioning systems (IPS), from thriving on GPS technology. Instead, WiFi and cell phone signal triangulation techniques have been employed with varying degrees of accuracy.

Now, a company called Point Inside is developing maps of indoor destinations for use with its mobile smartphone indoor positioning applications. Point Inside has announced that it is partnering with Meijer stores for a pilot program that will enable shoppers to “see the location of more than 100,000 items in a retail supercenter using their smartphones.”

“Point Inside’s platform facilitates the aggregation of destination-specific content, adding the critical context of location to each item. This marrying of ‘what’ to ‘where’ enables shoppers to quickly find what they need at their destinations, whether it’s a specific department, service, like a fitting room or restroom, or even an individual product on the shelf.”

While current IPS technology will still likely limit product specific location information, the concept is compelling. Imagine creating a weekly shopping list that is converted into optimized in-store navigational instructions in much the same way current GPS devices find the shortest route between destinations. Users would simply follow the instructions on a smartphone, travelling from aisle to aisle, no longer wasting time searching for the right brand of chunky peanut butter or current sale items.

The technology might just make shopping a little more bearable.

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BBC Overlays Historic “Dimensions” Onto Local Maps

August 20th, 2010

Sometimes it’s hard to put measurable numbers into an understandable perspective. For instance, it’s common knowledge that the deepest hole ever drilled on Earth is 40,230 feet. But superimposing that distance on a map of your town offers much more insight into that holes actual depth.

Thanks to a new website from the BBC called Dimensions, users can finally visualize dimensional data in an interesting and graspable way. So try it out. You’ll be amazed how big the moon really is overlayed onto your town.

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The Decent of a NASA Space Shuttle Booster Rocket

August 19th, 2010

We’ve seen stunning footage of NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis and its possible successor, the SpaceX Falcon 9, blasting off into Earth orbit. Now NASA is providing a video perspective of the decent stage shuttle booster rockets take on their voyage back to Earth after separating from the main fuel tank. The video has its dull moments, so skip forward to the 1:45 mark to see the separation. After that, enjoy the view of Earth’s horizon as the booster tumbles back into the atmosphere for an eventual spash-down in the ocean.