Jun 24 Podcast #484: The Next Next Big Thing
It seems the Home Theater industry has a new “next big thing” every few months. We read articles and blog posts from authors who claim anything Apple releases will be the next big thing that will revolutionize something somewhere. Others think anything that comes out of Google will reshape the modern technology world. We’re going to go out on a limb and talk about something that doesn’t come from either company. We know, we know …crazy.
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Today's Show:
Blu-ray Reviews:
News:
- 3M Ethernet-powered TV ditches conventional plug
- Google buys up SageTV to bolster Google TV with useful features
- Plasma Group Says Its TVs Are Selling Better
- HD DVRs Are Energy-Sucking Vampires
Other:
- Step by Step - DIY Wall Mounted iPad Controller
- COMCAST CEO: Netflix Won't Kill Us - In Fact, It's Good For Our Business!
- 4 Tips to Sell Electronics to Women
The Next Next Big Thing
It seems the Home Theater industry has a new “next big thing” every few months. We read articles and blog posts from authors who claim anything Apple releases will be the next big thing that will revolutionize something somewhere. Others think anything that comes out of Google will reshape the modern technology world. We’re going to go out on a limb and talk about something that doesn’t come from either company. We know, we know …crazy.
This most recent new shift in technology comes from a company called Bamboom. Their concept actually lines up pretty well with what we’ve been talking about on the Podcast for the last couple weeks. We’ve been somewhat debating the need for, or the role of, Broadcast Television in the US. The CEA has questioned whether or not we need to use all the spectrum we have now for OTA broadcasts. But what if there was a way to compromise? Maybe Bamboom can help with that.
What is Bamboom?
Bamboom is all about bringing Broadcast Television to any “connected” device (we assume they mean Internet-connected). Sure we’ve talked about other websites that wanted to do the same thing, like the embattled ivi.tv on Episode 443, but Bamboom claims to be different. According to the website:
Bamboom is a big, bold new technology rooted in three basic principles:
- Free over-the-air broadcast TV should be available to anyone within the service area of a channel.
- Consumers should have the freedom to choose when and where they watch whatever they want to watch, on whatever device they want to watch it.
- Smart technology and magical design can overcome the obstacles preventing consumers from reaching that goal.
Free OTA for anyone in the service area of a channel.
This seems like a silly statement to base your new service on. Don’t we already have that? It’s called over-the-air broadcast. What they’re probably after is the ability to watch OTA TV on any Internet connected device. It you go on that premise, what’s really different here is that they require you be “within the service area.” That’s where ivi.tv went wrong.
The first principle of Bamboom is that you get access to live TV if you could get the same content by putting an antenna on your roof. Although we don’t see why this would upset broadcasters or content owners, we’ve been surprised in the past. We anticipate some sort of lawsuit or injunction as soon as the service goes live. If something has proven true every time one of these “next big things” comes out, it’s that somebody wants to squash it for one reason or another.
Freedom to choose when, where and on what device.
According to the website, Bamboom will deploy hundreds of thousands, potentially even millions, of tiny (and they stress tiny) HDTV antennas in each service area they plan to cover. These antennas will receive the over-the-air broadcasts and retransmit them over the Internet. Every Bamboom subscriber is assigned their own antenna, and that antenna only retransmits to the individual subscriber.
We’re sure this on-to-one antenna relationship is there to avoid breaking any retransmit laws. And it sounds like a pretty creative solution to the problem. It’s like leasing an HDTV antenna and a slingbox on someone else’s roof and office. Although we still assume lawsuits will be filed, we really get then impression that Bamboom has done their legal homework and will have an answer for any complaint that comes their way.
Smart technology and magical design
Ok, we’ll admit it sounds like they lifted this one from Apple. But who says Apple has the exclusive on “magical”? The other features Bamboom has built into the service sound quite compelling. First, your DVR is actually your own dedicated storage space in the cloud. (Yes, dedicated storage space does sound like it’s there for legal reasons). The Cloud DVR allows you to record whatever you want and play it back wherever, whenever. You get whole home DVR and placeshifting built right in.
Secondly, they’ve already integrated Netflix, so you have access to library TV and Movie titles as well. Whether you want live TV, what you’ve recorded on your cloud DVR, or something else, Bamboom has you covered. They have support for Facebook and Twitter, which appeals to some, but is more interesting to us because we see potential for inclusion of more integrated services in the future. They could add Hulu Plus, Vudu, Amazon VOD, Pandora, you name it. Anything you get from your Cable, Satellite or IPTV provider (VOD, digital audio stations, etc.) could be available for, hopefully, a fraction of the price.
Can it work?
Legally, it sounds like Bamboom has done their homework. Technologically, it doesn’t really represent anything huge. It’s really a massive scale version of what many of us do already. But if they can deliver, this might really be the answer for those who want to cut the cable completely. The only “live” TV you’d be missing are the cable channels like ESPN, Fox Sports, CNN, Versus, etc. Hopefully Bamboom will find ways to integrate their streaming services as well.
In the future, it might even make more sense for Broadcasters to deliver a feed directly to Bamboom, instead of Bamboom having to pick up the signals from over-the-air broadcasts. That would move us significant closer to reducing OTA bandwidth or even eliminating OTA broadcasts altogether. If that spectrum could be made available for wireless Broadband Internet, you might be able to kill two birds with one stone. You get Broadband Internet to places where it couldn’t reach before, and you still get all the OTA content that’s always been there.
It’s in Private Beta Now
If you’d like to try it out, and you live in the New York area, you can request access to the Private Beta. Unfortunately it isn’t available in our area, and we don’t know if they plan to expand the Beta at all. If you’re a New Yorker, it doesn’t hurt to give it a try. If you get in, we’d love to hear about it.
Reader Comments (7)
Well as you might guess from my name I'm out here in the S.F. bay area. Since I've an antenna that points to the huge Sutro tower overlooking most of the surrounding cities, I get clear local HD channels. Plugging that into my TIVO HD provides me with free local programming, and with wireless to my access point connected to a cable modem I've got their offerings for Netflix, etc. So, at least in my case, unless they provide Hulu Plus or other things that Tivo has yet to offer, I seem to have what BamBoom is planning. So, it's not at all clear who they are targetting, and whether they will even offer the huge bandwidth that I already get OTA.
I suppose much depends on what is defined as "service area". Given the challenging terrain and lack of "line-of-sight" issues, that may well help many people who otherwise would not be able to get OTA channels. And I suppose that they might offer a means for streaming media not to a set-top box but to anything you own, using their service, and, ala Apple's iCloud, hiding the particulars of viewing platform constraints / plumbing from the viewer, maybe even allowing, ala Comcast, the pickup from last watched (TV to iPad, etc.).
Should prove interesting moving forward.
Re: DVRs being power "vampires" - my DVR draws 60 Watts of power whether it is "on" or "off", which raises the obvious question, "why have an 'off' position at all?"
It literally doesn't matter what the DVR is doing. So long as it is plugged in, it is drawing a constant 60 Watts. So it's exactly the same as leaving one lightbulb on all the time, day & night, 24/7. 60 Watts doesn't seem like the end of the world to me, but when I consider how most of the time, I am NOT watching anything and the vast majority of my recordings take place during 2 hours of "prime time" every weeknight, I must agree that it's a pretty big waste when other devices draw very little power when they are in "standby" mode.
Some how I can't see the current POE model being used for powering TVs etc. The max power rating for Class 3 POE devices is 12.95 Watts so most TVs will draw way more than that. Also 0.5mm wire with the current type of punchdown RJ45 LAN jacks is not designed for this sort of function and POE switches are not cheap compared to the normal home 8 port switch you buy today..
On how to sell your wife on your project. You are discovering the basics of sales....sell the sizzle, not the steak. When Steve Jobs says the Ipad is magical he is selling the sizzle. Nothing technical interferes with the sale. The product is beautiful, untechnical and perhaps magical.
He is the ultimate sales and marketing executive. You are emulating him when you are selling your wife on your project.
Most high tech companies don't get this at all. Dell is the opposite of Apple....all technical. Works OK for the business market to a point....does nothing for consumers.
Braden, you are an evil genius! Evil in the eyes of the meeces...that is. I too have a an unwelcome mouse in house. Tomorrow I'll be going out to pick up some of the 'Shark' traps you referenced....sounds awesome and much better than the cheapo traps I've been unsuccessfully using. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
As for power vamps...why do DVRs have to burn so much energy? I have a Dell Zino hooked up as an HTPC and that thing only draws a few watts in standby....wakes itself up to tape Gossip Gir...er, I mean Fringe... and then drifts gently back to low power sleep.
BTW...I cut the cord a few years ago. It's over the air HD, Netflix and some Hulu streaming via the Zino and Netflix DVD/Blu-ray rentals for the projector. The only thing I really miss is Dexter. My local library will have that on DVD by October, so I'm a season behind.
Have a great holiday weekend guys!
Would you give more details about the mac mini with apple tv combo.
What features does streaming to the apple tv from the mac mini vs just putting the mac mini directly to the tv?
Does the apple tv support amazon video, hulu, pandora, or slacker?
Hi Jason,
Email me and we can talk about this. I quick phone call will work much better than going back and forth here.
Ara