APRIL 16, 2009

Apple TV vs. Roku vs. SlingBox -- How I spent my sick days

 by James McQuivey, Ph.D.

I confess I spent much of a recent illness on the couch watching movies and catching up on TV shows. I still claim it was time spent on your behalf, gentle reader, because in the process I put some of my video gadgets to the test, trying to see which one would earn the majority of my viewing. I post the results in greater detail on my OmniVideo blog,feel free to read that post to find out which box I like best and why. But what I found more interesting than which box occupied my time, was the realization that I am starting to develop specific habits for meeting my content needs.

Here's what I mean: Imagine you feel an urge to watch some video right now, this very instant. What are the first two or three ways you imagine satisfying that need? Okay, go ahead and imagine you're at home if you're not, so you'll have some options to consider. Here are some options that may come to mind:

• Live (linear) television. 
• A DVR 
• Your PC 
• Some other set top box 
• Your game console 
• Other... 

There are many options, but I'm only interested in the first few that came to your mind. For me, it's PC, DVR, and Roku box. Live television almost never came into the picture unless I was truly out of good stuff to watch (okay, so I did watch that whole hour of DIY live, but I was feverish). I paid close attention to these urges while I was lying around recovering and it turned out to be rather consistent. Even if I was in front of the TV, the PC was still my first choice because it gave me more control and choice since I don't have unlimited DVR space.

I don't claim to have bellwether habits, so I can imagine your list is different from mine. But pay close attention to your list! Because it is the aggregation of all our emerging lists that will eventually set some behaviors in stone. I have a hunch the PC is slowly rising on most of our lists. How about yours?

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Posted by James McQuivey at 11:28 AM in James McQuivey | Permalink

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MY COMMENTS

PC is clearly on top of my list.

The key for most people is to have a PC or laptop in close proximity of the TV and make sure it's connected to the TV, so you don't have to settle for the small screen and low quality sound.

If you give this option to most family's where they can access their computer on TV you will see this list shoot up so high it will be the new bubble.

KO

Surviving the Economic Crisis

Project, Adjust, Steer, & Clear.

Every CEO should be focused on the overall health of his company. If cutting expenses in one department will boost productivity in another, thus affecting a positive overall effect should be considered very seriously. In this tough economic time sometimes it’s a question of choosing -1000 over -10,000.

Slow economic times are best for invest in ERP, R&D, Planning & Forecasting.

ERP:
If an Investment in ERP will cost Rs.100,000 and it will cost 30% overhead on productivity. In a viable economic environment that 30% could be a large figure than it could be in a much slower economy.

R&D:
This will give you the cutting edge competitive advantage you need to overcome the slow market. Better product or service has much greater chances to suceed becuase buyr’s are now doing very rigorous risk mitigation thus disqualifying sub standards.

Planning & Forecasting:
This is the single most important stage that can effect the company’s position among its competitors and any impurities in planning can result in serious financial loss. Use of effective planning software & analysis matrix is a key to success in this stage.

The above three are the major arteries of any business and if there is any clogging of communication it should be rectified immediately. Invest smartly in communication & collaboration technology to efficiently manage project cost and timeline. Audit at every level is often overlooked due to the financial overhead but maintaining a resilient workforce requires high standard of audits and control.

There should also be a efforts made to engage employees into the long term sustainably off the company giving them sense that less today could be worth a lot tomorrow. Introduction of hourly wages could also be an effective way to impose responsibility of time on employees. If the planning stage is executed correctly than measuring employees hourly production against the projected estimates will reveal a greater insight into employees efficiency.

What's New:
1. Stimulus package to spur high-tech jobs
2. Microsoft lays off H-1B workers
3. Yahoo down but not out

Technology Tool Box:
1. Monster.com orders new passwords
2. Cox tries to manage Internet traffic

Management and Careers:
1. Protect your ID when job hunting