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Why Skype and a TV Tuner Could Be Killer Apps
- Thread starter michaelpachter
- Start date
The only thing preventing a full fledged service is Verizon. There is nothing magical that is missing from the 360.
GraveRobberX
Platinum Trophy: Learned to Shit While Upright Again.
Do you realize all TV companies are creating their own "Apps" for their respective channels
Verizon already gives me access to like 50+ "Go" channels with my subscription
Watch on iPad, iPod, Laptop, Desktop, hell iTV's (Internet Ready)
Give me a full breakdown how MS can offer Verizon a better deal than what Verizon have on their own now
Rollo Lawson
Banned
I only got thru 2 pages, so this has probably already been said:
The vita version of skype is so bad, it's not even relevant to the discussion. I don't understand why everybody keeps bringing it up. Skype as a set-top app is a completely different animal...
The vita version of skype is so bad, it's not even relevant to the discussion. I don't understand why everybody keeps bringing it up. Skype as a set-top app is a completely different animal...
The Albatross
Member
If you've ever used a smart tv you'll know the features, ui, and all else generally suck. My Samsung smart tv ui , on an expensive 2012 model, looks like something from a knock Korean android tablet from 2010. The software on these sets truly sucks, and it's never updated/improved.
Skype on the Xbox is a big deal. Few people will buy an expensive console for Skype alone, but the feature will help pad sales
-edit-
Pachter is getting mistreated in this thread, per usual. This was probably the best op of the day with the most original and well thought out content, and it's dismissed as wrong because somebody who has has high profile controversial opinions before has said it. It's a shame
"Hey, we can get people to buy a cable box from you--at the cost you pay us for it plus standard retail markup--instead of expecting to be given it for free, get them to sign up for a multi-year contract in the process, AND we'll take care of box-related tech support inquiries for you."
Your reading comprehension needs some serious work.
I do realize this and posted something to the same effect pages back. I am not sure what in the post you quoted actually indicates I do not understand it. My argument is that in Patcher's prediction where Microsoft somehow actually gets this killer cable deal, there is nothing (no special hardware) preventing the same channel/app/access from appearing on PS4, PS3, Wii U, 360, Ipad, etc. So, there is no way for it to be a "killer app" unless MS puts up unfathomable amounts of money.
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
Skype is a nice feature. But it is all white noise, it is not impressive to offer it anymore. In fact it is expected. When consumers hear a device has Netflix the reaction is not "Wow that is really cool", it is "well it better". DVR on the other hand, most everyone that has cable already has a cable box with DVR capabilities. Xbox offering sounds like there would be a lot heftier rental charges than the standard DVR box. Be interesting to see how many would be willing to pay those extra fees monthly on a long term contract.
skype has gone downhill like faster than a downhill skier since MS took over. shit that was free like dektop sharing now requires payment. google chat, HELLO. Plus it is so ubiquitous now that i'm surprised if a device doesn't have it.
TV stuff. LOL
I can get all sorts of rebroadcast stuff on my PS3 in Oz atm, along with the ability to turn my PS3 into a dual tuner DVR. I cannot imagine that the PS4 will be much different really.
i can also use my Mac, Ipad, daughters Toshiba Laptop, her ipad mini, etc to access most of the same services
i can't see people buying a console because of skype and DVR functionality which i can replicate on any number of other devices.
TV stuff. LOL
I can get all sorts of rebroadcast stuff on my PS3 in Oz atm, along with the ability to turn my PS3 into a dual tuner DVR. I cannot imagine that the PS4 will be much different really.
i can also use my Mac, Ipad, daughters Toshiba Laptop, her ipad mini, etc to access most of the same services
i can't see people buying a console because of skype and DVR functionality which i can replicate on any number of other devices.
TouchMyBox
Member
Wait a second.
How is Microsoft going to implement Skype's technology which constantly minimizes your games on the Xbox?
I guess this means the next xbox will have a desktop mode.
How is Microsoft going to implement Skype's technology which constantly minimizes your games on the Xbox?
I guess this means the next xbox will have a desktop mode.
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
^^^^^^There's been talks that the next Xbox is a trojan horse for the Windows 8 platform.
Plus, cable companies are stingy as hell. I don't know how they will convince those companies (and there are a lot of them across the US alone) to let them use the Xbox as a DVR that eventually the consumer will own. Those cable companies would have concerns about hacks and mods and etc. I mean try walking into a store and buy a DVD recorder with a tuner built or better yet a DVR with a tuner built into it. They are not there for a reason and it is not because they wouldn't sell very well.
Plus, cable companies are stingy as hell. I don't know how they will convince those companies (and there are a lot of them across the US alone) to let them use the Xbox as a DVR that eventually the consumer will own. Those cable companies would have concerns about hacks and mods and etc. I mean try walking into a store and buy a DVD recorder with a tuner built or better yet a DVR with a tuner built into it. They are not there for a reason and it is not because they wouldn't sell very well.
TouchMyBox
Member
Oh, I'm just being bitter that Skype's windows client is a giant flaming turd.
dreamcastmaster
Banned
I don't see Skype as being a killer app, video conferencing has been around for a long time, it's no longer a new thing. Also people have already pointed they don't want video cameras in their homes. There's a reason you check and call ahead when going to a fiends house to see if it's convenient. Just busting in with a videocall isn't comfortable.
I hate it when one of my customers makes a videocall to me at work as I have to look presentable and attentive rather than slouched in my chair reading GAF in a 2nd window for example.
Cable TV as hardware? Never. It would have to be a 2nd SKU at best because it will raise the cost too much for a feature they wont use for people that already don't watch TV in the traditional way and are happy with on demand and streaming services.
I hate it when one of my customers makes a videocall to me at work as I have to look presentable and attentive rather than slouched in my chair reading GAF in a 2nd window for example.
Cable TV as hardware? Never. It would have to be a 2nd SKU at best because it will raise the cost too much for a feature they wont use for people that already don't watch TV in the traditional way and are happy with on demand and streaming services.
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
Yea, I cut the cord 2 years ago and never looked back. You adjust a lot faster than you would think, mostly because you realize most of things you were watching were on Over the Air TV anyways or are on things like Hulu and Netflix.
The Albatross
Member
If it has a tuner card, isn't that special/unique hardware? The ability to grab content without the carrier providing a (usually half baked) app would be a differentiator.
This may not even be true, but generally service providers have really shitty apps.
While these would be cool features, it's unrelated to gaming however, People did buy ps2's for the DVD player. In Japan DVD movie sales skyrocketed, and the dvd movie feature was even demoed at E3 the year before.
But I can't see people buying 720 for Skype and a tv turner. Most people use Skype with their pc. It's up close, it's personal and it works that way. Do you really want to Skype with someone while many feet away on your coutch?
The tv thing makes more sense as we already switch from playing call of duty, to launching Netflix. So I can see that possibly.
From a gamers perspective, the ps4 has far better features with streaming, and the share button, assuming your predictions are true.
But I can't see people buying 720 for Skype and a tv turner. Most people use Skype with their pc. It's up close, it's personal and it works that way. Do you really want to Skype with someone while many feet away on your coutch?
The tv thing makes more sense as we already switch from playing call of duty, to launching Netflix. So I can see that possibly.
From a gamers perspective, the ps4 has far better features with streaming, and the share button, assuming your predictions are true.
Uno Venova
Banned
I see it as being a nice bullet point, not much more.
LukasTaves
Member
I'm still not sure people would actually bought consoles for that, but it would be a nice bonus for those who did.
Now, If ms managed to get 720 to be *the* default box for cable companies, than i could see it being a big deal.
Now, If ms managed to get 720 to be *the* default box for cable companies, than i could see it being a big deal.
That sounds like could be solved with smart glass. You use the kinect to record the entire room, crop the image, so only the people participating on the conversation is shown, and the console just streams the audio and video to a connected device that you can take anywhere... You'd still be limited to where you can go with the device, but on the other hand the camera is already seeing you perfectly, you don't need to point the device camera at you...
It's not the 1990s any longer.
Killing_Joke
Member
I didn't know Patcher was a "America only counts" Gaffer.
MS has 0 chance winning worldwide next gen. Unless they can somehow double their NA fan base to make up for Japan/Euro. Since they don't have the early start this time around i find it highly doubtful.
MS has 0 chance winning worldwide next gen. Unless they can somehow double their NA fan base to make up for Japan/Euro. Since they don't have the early start this time around i find it highly doubtful.
GraveRobberX
Platinum Trophy: Learned to Shit While Upright Again.
Gemüsepizza;49823268 said:
So did we read the description?
Here let me help you with that:
So any inkling of this will be 2018-2020
Which by then the next version of Durango 2.0 + Kinect 3.0 will be in play
So how is this feasible today
Get Grandma DAT Durango and wait 5-10 years and then you may get to act like that in youtube video!
It would be cheaper to get Grandma Kindle Fire/Nexus and just chat family through that
Much easier too
Gemüsepizza
Member
I did not say that it's a good idea. Just something that Microsoft sees as "the future".
travisbickle
Member
So basically the TV tuner, which I was discussing in the other thread, is actually IPTV that is available on all current gen machines.
Rayven_king
Member
what is this shit, cant I just have a console and some goddamn games and nothing else!
I dont see how this cable box thing would work in the uk, why because you get a nice big free box when you sign up to sky or virgin, yes a nice big free dvr. So paying for a 720 to do the same thing you get for free isnt going to be a killer app in the uk the opposite infact.
ionicbluebird
Member
Skype will be a big deal... made all the more accessible with Kinect voice control and HDMI-in.
ArchedThunder
Banned
My grandma can use Skype on her tablet just fine.
Will you be able to control the person on Skype using Kinect?
ionicbluebird
Member
No. Maybe. Yes.
Skype will only be a big deal if its
A) Not behind the paywall
and
B) Exclusive to Xbox
Can't see either of those happening.
ArchedThunder
Banned
A family and a grandma buying xboxes because of skype doesn't make sense. You can already video chat on xbox without skype and that hasn't been a selling point.
Beautifully Shaped Monsters
Member
A lot of these things, Skype, Voice control are they really a big deal?
I love Skype VoIP, but I hardly ever use the video chat function, simply because it requires and extra level of effort in terms of making the room not look like a dump and so on. My mum visible hates it, and we have only used Skype twice for Christmas's when I couldn't come home.
As others have said, it feels borderline intrusive.
As for voice commands, I can not imagine a situation where I want to yell at my TV.
The TV stuff is probably cool, but I don't see where it offers a significant advantage over Netflix? Isn't traditional cable TV pretty much dying, even in the US? I don't really follow that stuff since I don't watch TV.
I love Skype VoIP, but I hardly ever use the video chat function, simply because it requires and extra level of effort in terms of making the room not look like a dump and so on. My mum visible hates it, and we have only used Skype twice for Christmas's when I couldn't come home.
As others have said, it feels borderline intrusive.
As for voice commands, I can not imagine a situation where I want to yell at my TV.
The TV stuff is probably cool, but I don't see where it offers a significant advantage over Netflix? Isn't traditional cable TV pretty much dying, even in the US? I don't really follow that stuff since I don't watch TV.
Christberg
Member
The thing about these media devices is that tacking a TV tuner onto a console is like tacking a cell phone onto a camera. It's ass backwards and the resultant product is far too expensive to be mass market.
Wake me up when somebody makes something that's essentially an Apple TV, Blu Ray Player, IPTV tuner and Wii U specs wise in a package that's about a quarter the size of the current Wii U. Preferably with a Gaikai type subscription based video game service as well. Sold for around $150, with a modest profit. And marketed as a media device first and foremost.
The first company that pulls it off successfully wins.
Wake me up when somebody makes something that's essentially an Apple TV, Blu Ray Player, IPTV tuner and Wii U specs wise in a package that's about a quarter the size of the current Wii U. Preferably with a Gaikai type subscription based video game service as well. Sold for around $150, with a modest profit. And marketed as a media device first and foremost.
The first company that pulls it off successfully wins.
reptilescorpio
Member
Nice write up, good to see you willing to bring ideas where and see what discussion happens. I don't think either ideas will be killer apps though, having then behind a paywall would nullify them as well.
Mr_Appleby
Member
I dunno it seems like a big deal to me: if you're talking terrestrial digital TV, you have different standards in different countries and IIRC there's some factor that makes using the one tuner across different formats impractical - either that or Sony were just being idiots/had other reasons for not releasing PlayTV outside of PAL / DVB-T territories.
If you're talking TV-over-IP, what's the tuner for?
All that aside, PlayTV was fantastic for a while but that was before all our local stations had catch-up services. Now I just use the local equivalent of Netflix + catchup + youtube, haven't watched FTA in 2~3 years, haven't had cable in 12. I think being able to offer a smooth gateway to existing services is more desirable to the consumer than being tied in to eg. a MS/Comcast deal.. though I doubt MS think the same way.
Marty McFly used them in his living room all the time in the future so I'm gonna say eventually... yes.
With 20 million Live subscribers they get 1 billion a year. That's a lot of money to a) give to companies to get exclusive content to get even more subscribers and b) they have an incredible amount of users willing to pay that fee. That's pure gold for other subscription based companies, they get 20 million users who they know will play for services. On other platforms they get 80 million who they know nothing about.
I too see Skype as a huge feature but I doubt they want it to become bound to a single platform. They want it on every single device out there. I can see an Xbox TV SKU which is basically a Skype box with 360 gaming capabilities (digital only).
Not sure what you were getting at there. I'm just saying if Cable companies actually sold a SKU of the NextXbox as a Cable box, then it would sell numbers beyond what we have seen in any generation for hardware.
thetrin
Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
I honestly don't know anyone who wants to converse with their family over long distances while sitting on the couch, but maybe I just don't know the right people. I'm not sure that many people consider the living room as the place they want to communicate with people who aren't in the living room with them.
Not to mention the fact that both iPad and iPhone have skype, allowing you to access skype and chat with family anywhere in your house. If the argument is that "well, grandma won't have an ipad or an iphone", then I seriously doubt that grandma is going to buy something called an "xbox" to do that either.
I totally understand the appeal of a centralized set top box for multiple functions, but talking to people on skype in your living room is about as appealing as surfing the web on your TV.
Not to mention the fact that both iPad and iPhone have skype, allowing you to access skype and chat with family anywhere in your house. If the argument is that "well, grandma won't have an ipad or an iphone", then I seriously doubt that grandma is going to buy something called an "xbox" to do that either.
I totally understand the appeal of a centralized set top box for multiple functions, but talking to people on skype in your living room is about as appealing as surfing the web on your TV.