Image via CrunchBase

We’ve been trying out the iPad since April 3 and instead of figuring out how it compares to a netbook or what the killer app is, we found those questions to be irrelevant.  There are three main reasons – it’s a true blank slate platform, it’s instant gratification, it’s always ready to transform into a new device.

First, the iPad is a blank slate that allows a touch screen to turn into any interface.  A netbook is also blank but is keyboard centric.  That means products are are keyboard driven – you know you’re always using a computer.  I’ve used Windows Tablet computers and while I enjoyed them, the GUI was a constant reminder that it was meant for a keyboard.

Second, the app store means in about 30 seconds your blank slate becomes a new product.  Now, it’s an e-reader, in 5 minutes, it’s a music mixer, after that, it’s a TV, get bored, it’s a video game and so no.  I can pretty much do all that in ten minutes or less.

Third, who cares what kind of processor it uses.  It lasts ten hours between charges and when I need it, it turns on instantly.  Checking the weather on it in the kitchen takes half the time of doing so on a laptop (which often has to wake up, fire up a browser in a longer period of time etc.  This means I use it a lot more for quick requests.

So what is the iPad really about?  For us, not about being a netbook but a media gateway.  I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years iPad and imitators are just cheap commodity hardware as the real win is getting them everywhere so that we all have this gateway to instant media.

So stop fighting, for now, true tablets like the iPad and Netbooks can all get along.

Related articles by Zemanta

• iPad vs Netbooks (chris.pirillo.com)
• HP Slate Details Leaked: $550 Keyboard-less Netbook (wired.com)
• Internal HP Document Admits Slate Tablet is Like Comparing Oranges to iPad’s Apple (cultofmac.com)
• iPad LapDock results in transformation (ubergizmo.com)

No “it’s coming” or “find out more".”  Just a banner that says I can watch Netflix on PS3 now (once my DVD arrives).  And this just after I start seeing those great PS3 commercials showing how it is also about the Playstation Network and not just games.  So if both the PS3 and XBox offer Netflix, and the Wii by Christmas, what does this do for the console, cable and broadband TV industry?  Possibly everything.

If people start seeing Netflix as a service they can get via video game console boxes, then they start seeing their console boxes as a broadband replacement for cable boxes.  This can potentially change how consumers view the whole TV experience and start redirecting TV viewing habits from live to TV to greater increases in TV on demand.

On approach can be fond with Picscout, a company trying to solve the discovery and rights management challenge for images.  They just launched a tool that allows someone (like a yours-truly blogger…) to conduct a transaction with an image owner regardless of where they found an images.  As someone who has often found great images for posts and presentations, but on sites that had no link to the owner, this solves a frustrating problem.

Can this really solve a problem.  Probably.  Ideally, a solution like Picscout becomes industry standard (for images, video, sound etc) so that when you discover something anywhere, you can easily acquire the rights. 

There is a free beta now at http://imagex.picscout.com and an impressive list (maybe they are on the way to becoming a standard) of industry participants here: http://www.picscout.com/news-and-events/industry-wide-support.html

CNet’s Ina Fried has a good review of this feature here.  The bottom line is that it’s not yet consumer friendly but has potential.  If the final version of Windows 7 makes this a well known, easy to use feature, it could be the beginning of people using their home PC as personal media server and extender on a broader basis.

The lousy reputation of Vista is so well earned at this point that I was curious to see if Microsoft had learned their lesson with Windows 7.  Based on my day 1 trial, It seems they have.

I installed Windows 7 on a four year old Pentium 4 2.4 ghz, 2GB SDRAM PC.  Installation went smoothly with the only hiccup being difficult in getting drivers for the built-in LAN card.  However, once that was fixed, all other drivers were downloaded and updates without even hitting a button.

And it runs fast.  Really fast.  Faster than Vista and almost as fast as the XP installation on a separate partition of the same computer.  This is based on human usage.

I’m still testing all the features but one that really leaped out is the ability to access media and files on the PC from anywhere.  I can’t figure out exactly how this will work as it seems the Web end of this service is not yet built in, but the ability to turn this feature on was easy enough to find in the Windows Media Player (which, by the way, runs a lot faster than the player in XP). 

However, I was able to quickly access my Windows 7 stored media from my Playstation 3 without minimal configuration (just hitting the share option in the media player).

Once amusing driver plus is that the driver for my TV tuner was not working with the XP Media Center Edition, but there were no problems with Windows 7 (and Media Center runs faster as well).   

All in all, it’s fast (did I saw that), seems to have strong driver compatibility, and looks to be focused on sharing PC-based media both locally and across the Web.  In other words, this is the real XP upgrade.

Mobile video has been around for a number of years, standing ready to break out.  Hulu, which took online TV mainstream with a consumer friendly site and familiar content, now plans an iPhone app which could have the same impact, according to Alley Insider.

It’s still too early to now the app’s exact capabilities and how more mainstream mobile video usage will truly impact marketing and communications (the mobile video related campaigns right now are small and experimental as compared to TV and Web video).  But it will be interesting to see what Hulu comes up with and if it has the same impact as their site.

The thing that is clearly a force in digital are the game devices. I think when we see the Wii come into the market with the ability to stream movies, which I think is maybe going to happen as soon as this year, I think that’s going to be a big marketplace for digital distribution.

This comes on the heals Wii announcing a video service in Japan, of Sony reporting strong video sales for the PS3 ($180 million according to this article), XBox reporting strong streaming viewers for the Netflix service (1 million activations reported here), and increased reports of people looking for more video on demand services.

Given the Wii’s simple to use design, it’s possible it could be a breakout device for video downloads as well as people that find other devices and services complex, find the Wii’s potential service simple.  However, success or failure, future hype around a Wii video service increase discussion around cable vs. direct to TV video delivery.

(Also reported by Greg Sandoval of News.com here.)

3D camera technology can tell if you’re kicking, punching, swinging a golf club and more.  In other words, you can turn on the TV by just moving your hand, turn on a video game by pointing to it and then play all those Wii like games but with more accuracy and without a controller.  The technology is actually available today so manufacturers are not simply exploring technical feasibility, but how to roll out and market it.  CES 2010?

Of course, it also open up the box to the porn market via CinemaNow’s not-exactly-safe-for-work adult section.   Adult content often drives early adopter media device and ecommerce model sales.  It’s been a big part of CinemaNow’s success (read here) and it may be one of the keys to getting more usage of streaming movie boxes.

http://valleywag.gawker.com/348685/microsoft-cisco-and-lionsgate-are-pornographers

(disclosure: the author sometimes does work for an LG competitor)

Here’s the full release:

LG Electronics Announces New Streaming Content Partners for Its Network Blu-ray Disc Players

LG to Offer Consumers Unparalleled Access to Streaming Entertainment from CinemaNow, YouTube and Netflix

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Dec. 30 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics today announced the expansion of network entertainment options for its Network Blu-ray Disc players through new alliances with CinemaNow and YouTube(TM).

Available on new LG Network Blu-ray Disc Players in the first half of 2009, these new services complement LG’s instant streaming from Netflix and advanced Blu-ray capabilities to deliver consumers an exceptional entertainment experience. (In 2008, LG was the world’s first manufacturer to stream movies instantly from Netflix on a Network Blu-ray Disc Player.)

CinemaNow – an innovator in digital entertainment technology, delivering high-quality movies, TV shows and videos to users through online connectivity – and YouTube – a leading online video community for people to discover, watch, and share originally created videos – will be available in LG’s 2009 line of Network Blu-ray Disc players to be unveiled next week at the 2009 International CES(R).

"As millions of U.S. consumers view and download movies or TV shows through the Internet, they are demanding easier ways to access content and more home entertainment options," said Tim Alessi, director of product development, LG Electronics USA.

"From Blu-ray to instant streaming from Netflix to CinemaNow and YouTube, LG is bridging the gap between packaged media and video-on-demand services to provide entertainment solutions for consumers’ demand for content," he said. "With these new alliances, LG continues its innovation leadership by allowing consumers easy access to multiple entertainment options in one device."

CinemaNow: Instant Streaming of Hollywood’s Latest Hits

CinemaNow has pushed the envelope of digital video distribution, becoming the first Web site to offer Pay-Per-View movies from major studios and the first broadband distributor of high definition (HD) content. Collaborating with CinemaNow will enable LG Electronics to offer consumers access to more than 14,000 titles from the major movie studios, broadcast and cable television shows, more than 250 independent film titles and music videos from all major labels. Key benefits include the capability to:

• Browse the entire CinemaNow premium content catalog, including latest Hollywood hits,
• Instantly stream content to enjoy on compatible devices, and
• Access and watch movies purchased from other CinemaNow-powered stores.

"We are extremely pleased to be providing CinemaNow premium content services to these innovative new products from LG Electronics that are helping to drive convenient consumer access to digital entertainment at home," saidMark Ely, executive vice president of strategy, Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq: SNIC), parent company of CinemaNow.

YouTube: Original Streaming Video Content

Leading the way in providing unlimited access to online content, LG’s alliance with a prolific online video community, YouTube, will allow consumers to instantly stream millions of Web videos directly from the Internet to an LG Network Blu-ray Player for viewing on their television (without a personal computer). Key benefits include:

• Unlimited access to millions of videos on topics such as current events, instructional videos for hobbies and interests, comedic and viral videos and
• Easy searching, thumbnail previews and multiple screen size viewing options.

Netflix: High Definition Instant Streaming

Now available to consumers as a free on-line upgrade, LG’s first Network Blu-ray Disc Player (BD300) now delivers a growing number of Netflix titles in high-definition (HD). This new access to high-definition streaming content enhances the existing standard-definition streaming service that LG and Netflix first brought to consumers in 2008.

Future LG Network Blu-ray Disc Players will also offer consumers a variety of ways to enjoy more than 12,000 choices of movies and TV episodes from Netflix. Netflix members owning these devices pay one low monthly subscription for unlimited DVD rental and unlimited streaming.

LG’s full line of Network Blu-ray Disc Players, additional new content alliances and other new products will be revealed at the LG Electronics CES press conference on Jan. 7, 2009 at the Venetian/Sands and will be on display at the 2009 International CES – Booth #8214, Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a wide range of consumer electronics (digital display and digital media) products, digital appliances and mobile phones under LG’s "Life’s Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visitwww.LGusa.com.

About CinemaNow

CinemaNow, part of Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), delivers high-quality Hollywood movies, TV shows and music videos to users across multiple platforms. CinemaNow is partnered with some of the biggest brands in consumer electronics and digital entertainment including ARCHOS, Dell, EchoStar Communications, Hewlett-Packard, Macrovision, Microsoft, Pioneer, Samsung, Technicolor and TiVo to deliver thousands of video titles directly to consumers. CinemaNow works with more than 250 licensors including 20th Century Fox, Disney, EMI, HDNet, IFC, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Sundance Channel, Vivendi Entertainment and Warner Bros. For more information: www.CinemaNow.com.

Headquartered in Marin County, Calif, Sonic Solutions (www.sonic.com) enables the creation, management, and enjoyment of premium and personal digital media content through its Hollywood to Home(TM) products, services, and technologies.

About YouTube

YouTube is the world’s most popular online video community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube, LLC is based in San Bruno, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Google Inc.

Video content will be created specifically for the Wii with cartoons being cited as the first example.  There will be a mix of paid and free content.

There are a few interesting points to note:

1. I’ve been waiting.  The Wii has the most intuitive channel (as in TV channel) interface.  It’s easy enough that my kids would probably prefer watching video through the Wii than flipping through the cable remote.
2. Is this a partial story?  I’m assuming a December 25th story means either it’s bad news (not the case) or it was leaked the Reuters rushed by print it (my bet)
3. The are launching with a cable like model of paid  premium and free entertainment.
4. The article implies that Nintendo and Dentsu are matching the content to the demographic.   They are producing for the Wii so that, like the video game strategy, they are not being all things to all people, but offering a specific type of content to the Wii demographic (just as casual and easy games are specific to the Wii demographic).
5. A video distribution service by an ad agency?  Does this show a new era of monetization where you don’t create and pray for money, but create with the money?

And what are the implications?

Bandwidth providers have to change their models.  I’m betting them get out of the entertainment game and end up providing tiered bandwidth along with partner devices…similar to where wireless carriers have been heading.  So, the next generation may decide they want AT&T bandwidth with the entertainment that comes along in a Wii set top box just as today we choose AT&T Wireless with the content and services that come with an iPhone or Blackberry.