As we’ve begun to put the final touches on our upcoming “Smart and Social TV” report, we’ve found some trends staring at us that were too important to wait. While all the industry hype floats around the newest TV sets and the latest specialized smart gadgets, we’ve noticed that some of the tried-and-true players in the space are doing well and that, for now, some of the trends of the first smart devices are still key to consumer success.
The three biggest issues are:
1. There is going to be a gap in what’s available on older models and on the lower-end models of a given series. If a user purchases a Blu-ray player from one company and then that company switches over to a new platform, they will likely not see all of the new updates come their way. For example, LG previously called their smart TV apps platform “NetCast,” but has transitioned to branding the platform on its newer systems as “LG Smart TV” and added some video services. Companies aren’t standing still, so this isn’t just a simple rebranding—it’s new content and online services that older hardware can’t necessarily support.
2. Authentication is going to be a big hurdle as devices add new content and evolve. Part of the reason older hardware can’t get all of the new apps/services is that it can’t properly authenticate its security and grab appropriate content licenses to verify its eligibility to display content. This is why some older Blu-ray players haven’t been updated with various services like Qriocity or Hulu. The big content names want to make sure their content is secure and that users aren’t recording content somewhere along the way.
3. Right now, it’s hard to recommend a new smart TV. In just the past six months we’ve seen major platform shifts among smart TVs. These include new partnerships, whole new platforms, older platforms losing support and platform fragmentation that looks similar to the way Android has fragmented across mobile phones over the past year due to differing versions and carrier restrictions. Presently, a separate smart TV adapter like Apple TV or Boxee is best for consumers who’ll not want to be obsoleted. Ranging from $75 to $200, most smart TV adapters provide a better investment for consumers who have purchased an HDTV in the last three years.
Smart TV adapters are also appealing because they’re typically portable. Being able to use that relatively cheap purchase on two or three TVs makes it feel like an even better deal. And trust us, consumers are definitely willing to lug the few-pound box from the living room to the bedroom, especially on rainy nights.
For any questions, concerns or comments about our upcoming “Smart and Social TV report,” or to make sure your favorite device or platform is covered, drop us a line at whiting@onlinereporter.com.
To see 4 free editions of The Online Reporter, the weekly source for competitive intelligence about digital content, online entertainment services, mobile media and wireless networks, visit www.onlinereporter.com/trial_copies.php
No comments:
Post a Comment