HP is planning to bring a line of Internet-ready HDTVs to market:
HDTV 2.0 is described as adding support for place shifting, enabling content derived from Internet-connected PCs or media servers to be displayed on them, achieved through the use of Ethernet and wireless networking connections on HDTV sets. HPâs 2.0 sets, due out later this year, will also include âMediaSmartâ? software, allowing consumers to browse, select and buy movies from third-party services.
This sounds similar in functionality to Sony’s upcoming “Internet Video Link” Bravia accessory (shown above). However, JT of LiveDigitally is up in arms over HP’s branding strategy:
HP, a company Iâve liked over the years, decided that they wanted to get involved and, for lack of a more perfect phrase, screw with the HDTV industry by using the term âHDTV 2.0â³. Shame on you, HP, for such an ill-timed, inappropriate, and unnecessary move.
Given the general confusion regarding HDTV technologies and specifications, I can see Jeremy’s point. Perhaps they should precede HDTV with “MediaSmart” – what they’re calling the movie download service. Yet, I do see value in HP’s simple, memorable “HDTV 2.0” naming scheme. In the end, this probably won’t matter much, as HP doesn’t have wide distribution/reach in the television market. The bigger news here is that just about everyone is gunning for a piece of that pay-per-view revenue.