By John Antonchick, NCN Associates (June 28, 2011)

Moderator: Kurt Scherf, Parks Associates
Panelists:
- Jim Denney, TiVo
- Jose Pinero, Xbox Live, Microsoft
- Hank Skorny, RealNetworks

Kurt introduced the panelists and indicated that they wanted to look qualitatively at how things have been changing in new technology services/products. In introducing the panelists, Kurt noted that Xbox Kinect has sold more than 10 million units, and that RealNetworks’ Unifi solution won the CNET ‘Best of Software’ Award at the Consumer Electronics Show.. Each speaker is taking 20 minutes to demo their products/services.

TiVo’s topic and demo was on the interaction between TiVos and tablets. Jim noted that TiVo’s services are supported via service providers as well as retail distribution. Jim discussed tablet support and demo’d their current implementation(s) that started with a tablet app introduced this year. The tablet includes an “information stream”, e.g. what you are currently watching, and enables access to additional information, e.g. on an actor, sources for content, e.g. Amazon, and connection to social media, e.g. Facebook. Remote control functionality is enhanced using scrolling to specific content, using gesture-based control, etc.

Questions:
1) What monetization models result? Answer: Pay TV service. Tablet consumption is a “personal use” so can bring ads to the tablet that are personalized.
2) What is the track record for recommendations, e.g. for VOD? Answer: People do more “discovery” than when watching conventional TV. That can result in adding lists of VOD content, etc. and increase consumption of content. Suggestions, browsing and directed search are all options.
3) Is this app available to users now, how is it being used, and how coordinated with Amazon? Answer: Yes, it’s available now. Amazon benefits from transactions. Consumers are made aware with TiVo ads and info, e.g. Tips and Tricks emailed to subscribers.
4) Is the tablet and applications tied to the TiVo or can it be used with other set top boxes and DVRs? Answer: There are several modes and you can use most of the functions with other devices.
Microsoft’s Jose Pinero showed a video promoting the new Xbox 360 and talked about Kinect. Jose talked about “natural user interface” and Kinect, i.e. using hands, body motion, etc. to control interaction. Kinect development started with video games; then realized that this technology can be used to improve how people interact with entertainment. Microsoft’s vision for entertainment is that it should be simple, etc.and that the best technology is “invisible”, i.e. you don’t know it’s there. Kinect was launched last November and has sold more than 10 million units.
Microsoft’s approach is to partner with content providers and add natural user interfaces, social features, and more interactivity in providing value-added features to an “entertainment hub”. Today, there are 55 million Xbox360 units installed. 35 million of those are connected to their Xbox Live service. This indicates that at least 10 million can leverage the types of services today that are being developed. Also, Netflix is “kinect-enabled” and other services are also providing enhanced Kinect services. Today, they offer live TV and VOD service via SKY in the UK. A live demo from the UK was shown using gestures and voice control. Jose pointed out that they use several types of business models in order to work with various partners who can provide content, e.g. what video appeals to consumers in Spain. A demo using voice to access BING purchasing service was also shown.

Real Networks Hank Skorny described how Real Networks powers over 90 media services worldwide and derives a lot of their revenues from those services (not just the Real Player software). A new effort to support multiple (new) devices is a major effort for Real. A massive problem results when content is isolated on specific devices. Social networks is in effect another device. Their mission is to “unify” this content using a “librarian” application that moves content to the cloud and/or devices of your choice. Hank demoed Unify software. He also noted that they are developing additional types of software/service, e.g. their “Rinse” software that will complete or “clean up” content that has been identified by Unify. Hank demoed accessing content on his phone, PC, Facebook page, etc. including music, music playlists, videos, and pictures. He also demoed high quality audio streaming on an iPhone from multiple sources. Content like latitude/longitude is also supported. He also noted and demoed that they can push content from devices, e.g. to Facebook. Other device support is being developed including Blackberry, Xbox and connected TVs.

Questions:
1) Kurt asked if this means that there is cloud to cloud interaction. Hank confirmed that if a device has open APIs, they will integrate with that device/service.
2) Kurt asked if there can be local caching, e.g. to avoid bandwidth limitations. Hank said yes and noted that they have network preference settings to synch/control the amount of usage on a network (e.g. 4G).
3) Can I stream my birthday party live over the world? Hank said no at least at this point.