ruk.blog

What works one direction in tech and consumer electronics doesn’t always work the other, it seems.  While many TV studios are delivering their shows to the Internet for video sites like YouTube, the Internet video players that let you watch the Internet on your TV set at home just haven’t found a mass market yet. 
 
The Wall Street Journal thinks that the players are just too complicated (I agree), and consumers just don’t want to add one more device to the list.  They mention a number of vendors whose products haven’t taken off — like Akimbo, which was founded in 2003, even Apple TV.
 
To get consumers, particularly families, to get their feet wet in a new concept means you have to make it simple.  Easy.  Uncomplicated.  Intuitive.  No extra electronics to buy and have to configure - most people just don’t want the hassle today.  iMemories customers ship us their home movies or stop by our studio because they don’t want to have to go out and buy all the equipment necessary to modernize home movies on their own.  Life’s too short.
 
I love my iPhone.  It’s like a universal remote because it lets me consolidate so many activities into just one device, and it’s easy to learn.  I haven’t bought an Internet video player yet because I haven’t felt the need or desire — even though I have tons of AV equipment at home.  Maybe someone out there is developing a product that will change all this.  Early adoption is always a risk, both for the user and the provider.  It will be interesting to see how long the consumer electronic heavyweights invest in the next-generation gadgets for viewing Internet on TVs before they either hit their aha! moment or walk away.