Media on the Rise
I’ll admit it – I’m a geek. I enjoy implementing new technology before it becomes mainstream. I canceled my cable service about a year ago and I haven’t looked back. It has been replaced by media servers and streaming systems that give me more choices than I ever had before. I’ll go over some of those choices and show you just how easy it is to get started.
The Revolution is Here
We are on the brink of a media revolution and it’s probably not what the media industry wants to hear. For decades we consumed video content by what was given out to us at the time. We could go rent a movie but for the most part it was easier to watch what the cable or satellite provided. Now we have the opportunity to watch what we want, when we want it. Streaming and on demand video is changing how we view and perceive our entertainment. While the technology is still in its infancy, there are plenty of ways to integrate the new systems or maybe replace your old one forever.
Stream Baby Stream
For the average consumer the biggest change is the ability to stream video on demand to where ever you are. Services from Netflix, Amazon and Apple can bring content to you at a fraction of your monthly cable bill. And with the convenience of starting and stopping anytime and watching on multiple devices, it just gets better. With new hardware hitting the streets you are no longer limited to watching just on your computer screen – from your phone to flat screen TV, you’re covered.
What Do I Need to Get Started?
The hardware is everywhere and sometimes it can be hard to figure out what you need. To start you’ll want at least a basic broadband connection – the faster the better. Once connected you need to figure out what service provides the best options for you. By far Netflix is the leader at the moment. At as little as $9 a month you can stream an unlimited amount of content and their library is getting better each day. Both Amazon and Apple have new release TV and movies and rent on a pay-per-view basis.
For the hardware you have more options. Many TVs are coming out with Netflix integrated in them. If you don’t have that, a small box about the size of an external hard drive will take care of all the heavy lifting for you. Roku was the first to provide a set-top box for Netflix to your TV. Since that time they have included Amazon and other providers. Their new XDS box will provide 1080p high-def video and play back content from a connected USB device. Western Digital has come out with their WD TV Live Plus that not only has Netflix support but can stream just about any type of video file from your local network or USB device. If you are in the Apple ecosystem the new version of the Apple TV might interest you with support for Netflix and pay-per-view from the iTunes store. All these devices are very affordable with prices ranging from $99 to $120.
What are the Downsides?
As with anything new it takes a little getting used to. You have to think a little bit about what you want to watch. You don’t just turn on a channel and watch whatever is on. Live sports are still very limited if available at all, so if you are a sports fan you might want to keep the cable. Also, first run content such as recent movies and TV shows come at a premium. If you enjoy talking about last nights show at work you might be out of luck.
Despite the slight growing pains, this is the future. It won’t take too long before most video is delivered this way and the new technology has made it easy to integrate in to your existing infrastructure, whether you decide to cut the cord or not.
A Note on Google
The new Google TV is coming out soon and this looks pretty exciting. Although I’m not too impressed with the first piece of hardware announced, there is real potential. Once the remote is simplified and you have access to Android applications on your TV, this could really take off.
October 8, 2010