Watching web based TV, from traditional and non-traditional broadcasters are coming into your home, on wired networks and on to the big screen. Yahoo Widgets is bringing what the company calls at Cinematic Internet experience to new TV manufacturers including Samsung, LG, Vizio and Sony.
Think of a widget as popup utility that operates independently of the broadcast you are receiving on your TV. While it was interesting to see companies like Facebook, Amazon and eBay offering widgets you may view and interact with, that I found more compelling was that the now Yahoo offered an SDK so that a local high school football team, church, or neighborhood could broadcast their own channel and have it play in the background as you are watching mainstream TV.
Here's Yahoo's Russ Schafer talking about the latest offering. The video is a little over six minutes long because there are so many great examples of how Yahoo Widgets can be used.
You don't necessarily have to buy a brand new TV to watch and engage with Yahoo Widgets.
ViewSonic is now shipping the VMP80 media player which may be inserted in-line between the TV and the set top box, eliminating the need to toggle between the Internet and cable or satellite box.
Via an existing IP connection, Internet content and services can be overlaid with broadcast programming from the video provider to a ViewSonic or any HDTV.
You may view your shows or watch a movie, all while checking out the latest news and sports scores, shop on eBay®, connect to photos on Flickr® catch up with friends on Facebook® or much more.
All you have to do is press a button on the remote control, and up comes the TV Widget Dock. Just browse through content and select the service you wish to enjoy without missing a moment of your favorite TV program.
Everywire is a blog that will talk about G.hn and related wired networking news.
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This is an important trend Alan. One that could heavily influence, or even dramatically change, the subscription video model.
Posted by: Bernie | March 02, 2010 at 01:26 AM