I don’t know if this is on the road map for Netflix or not; but I would hope that they are building up enough streaming customers to make it a negotiable item for them.
I would love to watch new release movies in my living room on opening weekend in my home. I would be willing to pay 20$ for this. My own snacks, a pause button, my couch, being able to sit and watch a new movie in my home! That would rock! Think about it the Studios could take most of that [90%/10%] and make much more than I am guessing they do through the current movie theater system.
Of course, if I like a movie enough, I may then go see it in the theater for that huge screen or to see it in 3D. I am just saying … how about it Hollywood!?!
iron wil
I always check the Astronomy Picture of the Day because NASA puts up some amazing ‘photos’ of the universe around us. Today there is a Google Earth/Universe video showing size and scale it is 6 minutes long and pretty cool. See it here.
iron wil
When we first got our Wii, I knew very little about it because my eyes were set on a PS3. the wife wanted the console because she felt it would be more fun and engaging.
Well, a year later, I like it okay. But it doesn’t play DVD’s, blaaahh, and it doesn’t do anything else except games. Atleast with the PS3 we could play Blu-ray and stream iTunes. So, this morning I saw that Netflix & Wii have come to an agreement & so I rejoice in being [soon] able to watch Netflix streaming video on my TV. No, we had considered a Roku box, but I didn’t want to put one more box on the TV stand.
So, sign into your Netflix account in another browser tab & then hit this link and you will be able to auto-register for the disk to make it possible. I hope that this is an upgrade & I won’t have to keep track of another disk. It’s free, so Get it now!!!
iron wil
I was reading in Wired this morning about Mr. Kutcher, yes – Ashton Kutcher, and his work with UStream and his own company Katalyst Media. As some of you may know he is a huge Twitter user and has over 4 million followers. He was interviewed by Scott Brown in Don’t Laugh: Ashton Kutcher Is The Future of Video. I can’t say that the article was very insightful except for one comment, “The consumer is the brand“.
Now this is the correct concept when it comes to reaching the consumer and ’selling’ products to them. It can also be called smart advertising, Leo Laporte “gets this” concept which can be seen by the growth of the TWiT.tv network that he has built over the last several years. Those, like myself, that listen to TWiT network shows understand the content and are not blind buyers. We are people that research and look into products that we purchase. Leo said once in a talk that advertisers are seeing real returns from those that listen [& now watch] shows on the TWiT network. I am an Audible subscriber now because I love to read, but I have a long commute (sometimes) during the week and my physical book reading time is reduced to nill. Now, I read books while driving or taking the train. It has allowed me to read Tarzan, Free, and John Adams in the last few months.
There are other products that I have been made aware of via the NetCasts from TWiT because they covered and talked about, not because they were a sponsor of the shows. I am not interested in everything mentioned on the shows I listen to; however, I do spend time on the pages of the products mentioned so that I can get a better understanding of them and become more informed about that product.
So, the Brand is the Consumer, the products that we use and consume key to us for a reason, they resonate with our culture or our needs. They maybe something that we are already using; like on TWiT’s book pick section of the Audible ad it extends our awareness of something that we maybe interested in. I have picked up Free: The Future of a Radical Price, Ringworld, John Adams, and The World is Flat from listening to Audible ads in the NetCasts. These books are not something that I would have picked up on my own.
What the future holds will be in show ad placement and ads that reflect the audience you are trying to reach. The days of TV commercial ads are going out and companies will have to be able to adapt to the changing consumer. Smart, engaging, and doing research on the things they may want to purchase. That is social media and that is the future.
iron wil
I was listening to MacBreak Weekly #174 and I listened to them discuss the Nexus One, Google, where the phone can be used, and Verizon’s closed network.
As I thought about it, I remembered that Verizon & AT&T both said they would open up their networks by the end of 2008. Well, it is the beginning of 2010 and Verizon & AT&T, from what I know, are still clam-shelled. They are not allowing users [us] to bring the device that we want to their service.
I am disappointed in this, very disappointed.
I believe that one day the mobile providers will have to open up because hardware manufactures & users will stick it to them and they will change. The beginning of the end for their selecting of hardware we can use was started when Apple released the iPhone. Since then, Google has released the Android software package and now the Nexus One phone. Other hardware manufactures are jumping in and building handsets and devices that access mobile providers networks.
Times are changing. The hardware manufactures are tightening the thumb screws and things will change for users and the carriers that provide our services. I have to say that my prediction for 3 to 5 years is looking dismal; however, I am hopeful that it will happen. That soon handsets and NetBooks will be open to provider transfer. I know there are people that would like to take their iPhone to Verizon or T-Mobile and have the ability to move around per their need.
Time will tell, I am hopeful that it will happen soon.
iron wil
Additions Below – Just Updated
I was on Yammer the other day and the group was asking about the iSlate and what our predictions were for next month. As I thought about the question and thought about rumor mill this is what I thought of = JooJoo + Sports Illustrated Demo + Kindle + Lala + built in battery + Inkwell + Wi-Fi/3G.
Okay, we already know that whatever Apple and Mr. Jobs are doing is going to look great and fit into the architecture that already exists and the JooJoo is a good idea of what can be done today. Since we don’t have to worry about design [it's not a mouse] we know that it will look great! Some of my favorite concepts can be found here. We also know that it will work with iTunes in some way, have built in Wi-Fi [iPhone/iPod Touches and possibly some 3G/4G if the Verizon rumors are true], and a built in battery.
The next thing it will have to cover is the usefulness and ease of use. What if they left in Inkwell, the handwriting recognition software and allowed for capacitive writing with your finger?!? … Or a puff ball … which would allow for quick note taking and editing, like the Windows Courier project? Now, allow for Sports Illustrated Tablet demo functionality with books, magazines [I would love to get Wired like this!!!], and mixed media. This would make the Kindle and other eReaders look last decade.
Now add iTunes with subscriptions or Lala, which Apple bought in December 2009, and then you don’t have to port your entire library … you can stream it through your iTunes account to the new device!
Well, I don’t know about you, but I want one!!! I don’t know if I am even half right; Apple is making waves and the rumors are in the water. We will see on the 27th of January.
NetBooks and eReaders beware they are about to redefine your markets and youse will lose market share.
Listening to MacBreak Weekly #174 and I realized that I forgot something very important, the App Store!!! It has been leaked that Apple has expressed to some developers that they will want to work on full screen coverage. They have talked about my thoughts that I wrote about here!!!
iron wil
For those of you who may actually be reading this blog and spending a minute or two here, I want to make you aware that I am changing it to include my thoughts and musings. I imported my Writings Blog from IronWil/Writings and will be removing that section of this site permanently. This means that amidst the computer parts and commentary you will find poetry, thoughts, funny bumper stickers I have seen, and a myriad of other things.
One thing noticeable is the removal of some pages and the addition of 3 more, which are Friends, Poetry, and Reading. Friends is a great definition of friends and friendship, that I found years ago and feel it to be true and accurate. One of my best friends is a Puerto Rican and the other is a Texan, yes a real Texan – Cowboys fan and all. JS and I have been friends for over 20 years dating back to High School in a beautiful pastoral town in Germany. While BSR is the short timer with 13 years of our friendship underway. I have to admit that either way this definition applies to them. Poetry is my favorite definition from Archibald MacLeish and Reading is a list of books that I have read and I am reading.
There is a bit more content and I hope to put in more time and provide better commentary and content. I look forward to the challenges of another year!
iron wil
