Zatz Not Funny!

Storing Stuff, Part 2

Given how cheap storage has gotten, it’s tempting to think that we’ve solved all of our problems around storing stuff digitally. In Part 1 I talked about how digital storage is going to change in the home. This post looks at how storage is changing on a larger scale.

There are currently two basic ways to watch recorded shows on your TV. Setting aside SlingCatcher for the moment and other Web-to-TV technologies, you can either watch a program stored on your DVR or access VOD content stored on remote servers. As VOD content grows and starts to include HD and mobile TV versions of shows, service providers will continually have to add storage capacity to keep up.

Storage + Processing Power = Huge Energy Consumption and Lots of Heat

Question of the Day: Stream Netflix Video Via Wii?

Today’s question was lifted straight from the ZNF comments. And I promise this will be the very last mention of Netflix movie downloads for quite some time. In regards to getting Netflix content onto a television screen (rather than a PC monitor), Josh wondered:

Couldn’t you do this on a Wii?

I don’t have a Wii (yet), so I again enlisted the help of my buddy Matt…

I tried to stream a movie through the trial version of Wii’s beta Opera browser (Internet Channel), but to no avail. I thought I could get a movie up and running on a television in front of a couch, but video isn’t enabled… at least for now. Regular sites/content/pics work surprisingly well, but no video. It will be interesting to see if we’ll be able to get video content when the final pay version is available this spring. I’ll keep you posted…and will look around a little more on this.

I was wrong. Just a few weeks ago I speculated that we wouldn’t be able to purchase a next generation hybrid disc player in 2007. Heck, I even saw a glass enclosed model at CES but refused to believe it would make it to retail any time soon. But the rumors started that LG Blu-ray HD-DVD hybrid players (BH100) would be available at Best Buy 2/4, then a unit showed up in someone’s home, and yesterday Gizmodo posted a hands on review.

I had figured this project (and others like it) would be derailed, that to sell a device like this a vendor would need endorsements from both consortiums — something I didn’t see happening this early in the game. However, it looks like the player is in stores despite the lack of support for many HD-DVD interactive features. I suppose Toshiba’s HD-DVD camp could try to block this, but I dont’ see them stuffing it back into Pandora’s box.

I’ve got two Skype items for you this month…

Skype 3.0 was released out of beta mid-December and while it’s generally been a smooth upgrade, I noticed a few quirks. One was the alignment/layout of certain elements seemed slightly out of whack, another was duplicate time-delayed text messages, and finally this week I experienced a spectacular implosion of hundreds of rapid fire Windows access errors before Skype committed hara-kiri. Honestly, I can’t say I’ve seen a crash like that in Windows production (as in non-beta) software in years — Fortunately, Skype didn’t take down my OS with it. Hopefully I have some good news: Version 3.0.0.205 is out (replacing 3.0.0.190). Skype Journal has itemized the bug fixes and linked to the download. FYI A current 3.0.0.xxx client will not recognize this incremental upgrade and the Check for Update option will indicate your are current. So, you’ll need to download the complete package and overwrite your existing install.

James Kim Memorial Fund Charity Raffle

Stephen (aka TiVoStephen, aka Director of TiVoCast Operations) and I were deeply moved by the Kim family ordeal and the tragic death of James while trying to find help for his wife and children. I thought it would be worthwhile to leverage ZNF to raise money for the James Kim Memorial Fund, and I approached … Read more

Dave Gets Netflix Downloads

I’ve been actively trying to get access to Netflix’s new online movie service. My first email response from customer service:

I appreciate you inquiring about âWatch Nowâ? feature, at this time we do not have any information on this feature. I have enclosed the list of plans that are available.

Their response to my second query a few days later:

We appreciate your interest in our new instant viewing feature. At this time, we are enabling members to the program in stages. This is to ensure the best possible experience for all participants. We currently plan on making instant viewing available to all Netflix subscribers by June of 2007. We are currently unable to add subscribers to this program on demand.

Frankly, this irks me. Not because I’ll frequently use this service, but because it’s less than ideal customer service — either enable everyone who asks, or call it a beta and let folks apply. Well, it looks like I got the back-door blogger hookup through their PR department because I’m live now. Though, I suggest everyone who wants access to keep the pressure on Netflix Support to encourage a shift in policy.

Question of the Day: Blackberry Slingplayer?

Another day, another question! Actually, we probably won’t do this daily and this question came in yesterday. A fellow tech blogger asks:

Would you clear something up for me? Is there a Blackberry version of the Slingplayer and is EDGE fast enough to support it?

Sling doesn’t currently provide placeshifting software for the Blackberry platform… which is too bad as Windows Mobile drives me crazy. While getting briefed on Sling’s CES announcements a few weeks ago, I did inquire about Blackberry support. They are aware of consumer interest in such a product, though I wasn’t able to determine if something is or is not being developed at this time. Either way, I wouldn’t expect support in the near future. To recap, Sling does offer Slingplayer Mobile for Windows Mobile PocketPC and Smartphone editions ($30), while Symbian and Palm clients are currently in beta testing.

Digital Media Bytes: Zune Edition

A periodic roundup of relevant news… Microsoft eying WiFi-enabled Zune filling stations: Engadget Flash-based Zune due in Q407, better WiFi soon: Digital Music News Microsoft made Zune because partner hardware “sucks”: Bloomberg Universal and Sony prohibit Zune sharing for certain artists: Zune Thoughts Europe dreaming of a brown (Zune) Christmas: Washington Post