TV's future is here, although it needs work

TV's future is here, although it needs work | CNET News.com

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[~Tech Angel~] This article gives a great review of Akimbo, the service that allows you to download online content to a Tivo-like box. Although the writer acknowledges that the concept is a great idea, apparently Akimbo has had hard time following through due to the networks' reluctance to provide content (some of Akimbo's content includes "Veg TV", Adven TV, the first on-demand Turkish station in the U.S.). It also doesn't help that Akimbo overcharges for its services...

Some slightly related from Technorati and Google.

[Engadget - www.engadget.com] The Pipeline: Akimbo reviewed, playlists mixed >: David Pogue of The New York Times also checks out Akimbo this week, and sees the potential of the service — though he focuses mainly on the limits of the current service: “Akimbo’s library is laughable. As Akimbo’s Web site puts it, the list includes AdvenTV, ‘the first on-demand Turkish station in the U.S.’; Veg TV, ‘vegetarian cooking instruction’; and Skyworks, ‘helicopter flights over the most spectacular landscapes of Britain.’ .Some cable networks have contributed material, including Turner Classic Movies, CNN, A&E, Cartoon Network, Food Network, the BBC and National Geographic. The selection is limited to a few series from each network, but at least they are not Turkish sitcoms.” Pogue also hits Akimbo for having buggy software and a confusing pricing structure.

[Real Tech News - Independent Tech] Let’s Just be Honest Here, Akimbo’s On Demand TV Service Blows: Alice’s Rant of the Week: People are just tip toeing around this thing like it will rise up and kill them. I feel sorry for Akimbo - they are literally held in limbo thanks to the TV and film studios locking up content, but that doesn’t mean we have to priase a product that is literally not ready for prime time. Why can’t someone take a stand? Here are the facts and then tell me I’m wrong.

[TV Squad] Not much to choose from, but porn is only $10: Not shows that you record (a la Tivo) but TV shows that are housed on the web that you can watch anytime that you want! Imagine all those short-lived TV shows that we'll never see again being available, just a mouse click away. Right now, however, Akimbo is just not worth it, according to David Pogue at the NY Times. It's too expensive, you can't keep some shows on the device (they self-destruct in a couple of days or a week), and the only categories are Billiards, Extreme Sports, Golf, Martial Arts, Documentaries, and...Yachting?

[sLop] David Pogue describes Akimbo: What he doesn't mention is the serious amount of content being created by non-commercial interests and being distributed on the internet for free. For any set top box to make it they have to offer what the cable/tv companies don't, media for the people by the people. What good is using the internet without it?

[Wendy's Blog: Legal Tags] DRM Kills Gadgets: The NYT runs a scathing review of the new Akimbo set-top box. The device purports to offer video-on-demand, but it seems there's no video to speak of, and few viewers demand the patchwork of restrictions on viewing or saving what there is.

[Computer Alchemy] The Clicker: Perhaps ”˜What’s on?’ is no longer the right question: The first and most obvious series that you, as a discerning viewer, should see immediately is “Arrested Development.”Arrested Development is the type of series that, by some large stroke of luck, snuck its way onto television. Dry, wry,and, at times, just flat-out wrong, Arrested Development is a hilarious show that has developed a cult-like following.Arrested Development is also challenging some of the standard measurements by which experts determine what makes a“successful show.” Now, in addition to viewership and syndication possibilities, networks and content producers arebeginning to look seriously at the potential revenue that DVD sales could and do bring to the table. For a show withmarginal ratings, like Arrested Development, potential (and actual) DVD sales could make the difference.

[IP Democracy] Pogue on Akimbo: Web-delivered TV's Got a Long Way to Go: The Engadget review also had a different take than Pogue on Akimbo’s picture quality, which it said “ranged from acceptable to excellent” and “at best would be about what you’d get with TiVo shows recorded at the highest settings.” Though it cited “a few hiccups in playback” the review suggested these might not be noticed by typical viewers. Its description of Akimbo’s rewind and fast-forward functions as “unusually sluggish” was less harsh than Pogue’s, but still made the same point, one that is apparently not lost on the company. According to Pogue, Akimbo plans to offer an updated OS later this year that will offer faster (and multiple-speed) rewind and fast-forward functions.

[Mostly Muppet Dot Com] Akimbo: I just read the NY Times article on the future of Television and I’m not so impressed. The article focuses mostly on the Akimbo hardware unit/service and doesn’t sound too impressive. Amanda Congdon of RocketBoom has mentioned Akimbo on her vlog and I’m curious to see what a hands-on video review would uncover. My gut feeling, however, is caveat emptor.

[Super Jellyfish] Piracy Paranoia: NY Times profiles a device which downloads TV shows called Akimbo Unfortunately, DRM and piracy paranoia sort of destroys the value of the box”¦ don’t content providers understand that humans like... a month? Given that you have to pay $3 just to download a TV show, and then”¦ after a month or even

[Wiredhome-weblog.com] The Wired Home Weblog - Transform your home into a digital media ...: Audio (6) AV / Digital Receivers (4) Broadband / Internet (1) Cable / Satellite TV (4) Computing (1) Do It Yourself (8) DVD / DVD Players (1) Gaming Systems (5) High Definition TV (18) Home Automation (15) Home Networking (6) Home Theater (2) Media / Entertainment Centers (23) PVR / TiVo (29) Remote Controls (2) Stereo Systems (3) Streaming Music / Downloads (1) Telephone (1) Television (6) Video Projectors (3) Voice Over IP (3) Wired Home General (18) Wiring A Home (5)

[Wiredhome-weblog.com] The Wired Home Weblog - Transform your home into a digital media ...: Audio (7) AV / Digital Receivers (4) Broadband / Internet (1) Cable / Satellite TV (4) Computing (1) Do It Yourself (8) DVD / DVD Players (1) Gaming Systems (5) High Definition TV (18) Home Automation (16) Home Networking (6) Home Theater (2) Media / Entertainment Centers (24) PVR / TiVo (29) Remote Controls (2) Stereo Systems (3) Streaming Music / Downloads (1) Telephone (1) Television (8) Video Projectors (3) Voice Over IP (3) Wired Home General (19) Wiring A Home (5)

[Bigblog.com] Search: Review Content Mars Akimbo TV Service @ Big Blog: Television channels now number in the hundreds while video recorders have made it easy to watch shows whenever there's time. Still, the advances have done little to end the refrain: There's nothing on TV. That might just end with the arrival of on-demand video systems that let viewers choose programs from a library, transfer them to or through a set-top box and play them on a TV whenever it's convenient. (AP Photo/Akimbo Systems, ho)

[Gigaom.com] Om Malik’s Broadband Blog » Akimbo’s IP TV: This is how it works - the $199 Akimbo box is connected to your television/home entertainment center, and can also be plugged into your “high-speed Internet connection.” For $9.99 per month, plus additional premium options, users will be able to download up to 200 hours of content at a time onto the box. Initial content will include a lot of ’specialty’ video–foreign films, educational content, sports events that aren’t available on satellite or cable, and adult content, reports Paid Content. The company has a partnership deal with CinemaNow for movie distribution.

[Avc.blogs.com] A VC: Exlpoding TV - Akimbo: It connects to the Internet via ethernet or wifi, whichever is easier for you. Akimbo runs a proprietary programming service to the device which includes all sorts of content that you may or may not find on cable or satellite.