Comments on: A Poor Reception for Mobile TV http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/ Technology Commentary & Analysis Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:48:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: MiGs http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-4191 MiGs Sun, 02 Dec 2007 08:13:20 +0000 http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/#comment-4191 As i see it, mobile TV is empowering the user to be able to watch his/her desired program wherever the user is or whenever when he/she wants to - TV viewing "on demand". It should not replace the traditional medium of watching tv programs. having a mobile tv feature in a phone is just a "plus factor" so that the phone will be bought. The only problem i see for mobile TV is the coverage area. Here in the Philippines, even 3G doesn't cover that much are. MiGs As i see it,

mobile TV is empowering the user to be able to watch his/her desired program wherever the user is or whenever when he/she wants to – TV viewing “on demand”.

It should not replace the traditional medium of watching tv programs.

having a mobile tv feature in a phone is just a “plus factor” so that the phone will be bought.

The only problem i see for mobile TV is the coverage area. Here in the Philippines, even 3G doesn’t cover that much are.

MiGs

]]> By: Gabriel http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-815 Gabriel Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:10:41 +0000 http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/#comment-815 Hi Robin, like the site. I think it's always a good hint that technology won't get taken up much if it's already been technically possible for a long time. We've had the tech to do some sort of videophone in some fashion since the 1960s, but no one was interested then - I think if they had been, there'd have been more R&D and we'd have all had them installed decades ago. Similarly with what you're describing. You could buy analogue pocket TVs with aerials 20 years ago. A bit chunky and basic, but if they'd been popular I'm sure they'd have got smaller and neater since then. But they were clearly pointless for all the reasons you've set out, so that didn't happen. In fact thinking about that now, I seem to remember that the acme of futuristic techology was a TV on a wristwatch. I'm sure you could make one now quite easily - but, oh the irony, mobile phones have meant that young people don't wear watches any more. Hi Robin, like the site. I think it’s always a good hint that technology won’t get taken up much if it’s already been technically possible for a long time. We’ve had the tech to do some sort of videophone in some fashion since the 1960s, but no one was interested then – I think if they had been, there’d have been more R&D and we’d have all had them installed decades ago.

Similarly with what you’re describing. You could buy analogue pocket TVs with aerials 20 years ago. A bit chunky and basic, but if they’d been popular I’m sure they’d have got smaller and neater since then. But they were clearly pointless for all the reasons you’ve set out, so that didn’t happen.

In fact thinking about that now, I seem to remember that the acme of futuristic techology was a TV on a wristwatch. I’m sure you could make one now quite easily – but, oh the irony, mobile phones have meant that young people don’t wear watches any more.

]]> By: Eduardo Cruz http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Eduardo Cruz Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:19:31 +0000 http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/#comment-18 Tucker, i think you are being over optimistic describing these scenarios, regular TV requires nearly full brain attention and this is not compatible our everyday life duties as Robin is well describing. Apart from the basic im stuck or long waiting for something cases you describe which i agree the rest are kind of extreme and socially incompatible. Then we are left with a product for minorities? I have written in my <a href="http://edcross.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">blog</a> some extended thoughts on this matter. Regards Tucker, i think you are being over optimistic describing these scenarios, regular TV requires nearly full brain attention and this is not compatible our everyday life duties as Robin is well describing. Apart from the basic im stuck or long waiting for something cases you describe which i agree the rest are kind of extreme and socially incompatible. Then we are left with a product for minorities?

I have written in my blog some extended thoughts on this matter.

Regards

]]> By: Tucker Snedeker http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Tucker Snedeker Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:36:10 +0000 http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/#comment-17 While you raise many relevant issues, you are missing the big picture. 1) For starters you can just assume "mobile TV" is going to evolve to be the same as "in-home TV". Maybe the current implementations are following this paridigm because it's the easier to imitate than innovate, but Mobile TV WILL evolve to be a more successful and useful service over time. 2) the Youth generation is different and consumes media and information differently. Don't underestimate this paridigm shift. MySpace is a great example of this. So is YouTube. 3) There are plenty of times and places where people will begin to watch snippets of video as the paridigm shifts and culture adopts this. Ex: UseCase: Standing at the bus station. UseCase: Alert while your at dinner with your wife that your favorite team has just scored a goal and you can see the highlight it in "near real time". Usecase: Your flight get's delayed at the airport. Usecase: You work as a security guard. Usecase: your working the late shift at 7-11. Usecase: There's breaking news and your stuck in a cab in LA rush hour. UseCase: your at the bar and there is only 1 or 2 football games on live but 15 of the teams you follow are all playing at once and you'd like to follow all of them for your fantasy sports league. There are plenty of places and usecases for a healthy mobile TV market to develop but don't assume it's going to be "identically patterned" to in-home TV - it won't be as it matures. It will become much more of an alert driven and interactive model that complements other mediums. Just like the naysayers said newspapers would be dead when the internet started to take off - they were wrong ---- Mobile TV will become a very successful complementary channel to regular TV. While you raise many relevant issues, you are missing the big picture.

1) For starters you can just assume “mobile TV” is going to evolve to be the same as “in-home TV”. Maybe the current implementations are following this paridigm because it’s the easier to imitate than innovate, but Mobile TV WILL evolve to be a more successful and useful service over time.

2) the Youth generation is different and consumes media and information differently. Don’t underestimate this paridigm shift. MySpace is a great example of this. So is YouTube.

3) There are plenty of times and places where people will begin to watch snippets of video as the paridigm shifts and culture adopts this. Ex: UseCase: Standing at the bus station. UseCase: Alert while your at dinner with your wife that your favorite team has just scored a goal and you can see the highlight it in “near real time”. Usecase: Your flight get’s delayed at the airport. Usecase: You work as a security guard. Usecase: your working the late shift at 7-11. Usecase: There’s breaking news and your stuck in a cab in LA rush hour. UseCase: your at the bar and there is only 1 or 2 football games on live but 15 of the teams you follow are all playing at once and you’d like to follow all of them for your fantasy sports league.

There are plenty of places and usecases for a healthy mobile TV market to develop but don’t assume it’s going to be “identically patterned” to in-home TV – it won’t be as it matures. It will become much more of an alert driven and interactive model that complements other mediums. Just like the naysayers said newspapers would be dead when the internet started to take off – they were wrong —- Mobile TV will become a very successful complementary channel to regular TV.

]]> By: Anon http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Anon Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:52:42 +0000 http://www.robinontech.com/2007/02/26/a-poor-reception-for-mobile-tv/#comment-16 You have said exactly what I feel about not just Mobile TV but most mobile video. If you are ever in the New York Subway, which I am daily, you see a large percentage of people listening to music, reading books or playing video games, But i can only think of a single instance in the last year where I saw someone watching a video on any type of player. You have said exactly what I feel about not just Mobile TV but most mobile video. If you are ever in the New York Subway, which I am daily, you see a large percentage of people listening to music, reading books or playing video games, But i can only think of a single instance in the last year where I saw someone watching a video on any type of player.

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