Jack - <<All of Microsoft's money and power may be helpless against the user's reluctance to pay for content.>> If I might change that a bit to - search for content - and is the reason for "PUSH". That along with security and reliabilty issues are Novl's salvation.
It is what will allow them to keep and expand their very large user base. Which, if I recall, was Dr. Schmidt's primary motivatation to accept CEO job.
The following MS announcement is interesting. Isn't it what GM is doing now on its network? Isn't GM a Novl customer? Is Novl doing this with GM?
LAS VEGAS, April 6 /PRNewswire -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today
announced that the next releases of the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) and Windows
NT(R) operating systems will enable PCs to receive video and digital data from
existing satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast sources. Effective with
these new versions, every copy of Windows shipped is expected to include the
ability to receive interactive entertainment and information delivered via the
high-speed nationwide television networks. The enabling hardware for this
technology is expected to add a nominal amount to the cost of PCs.
"With this innovative technology, PCs running Windows can deliver the
benefits of digital TV and high-speed Internet 'push' technology in one cost-
effective package," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the platforms
group at Microsoft. "The combined power of television and the PC promises to
revolutionize the way we use TVs and PCs, purchase goods and services, access
the Internet, and communicate with friends and family."
"The ability for PCs to receive NBC's current television programming
combined with NBC's ability to enhance that programming for PC viewers is an
exciting concept," said Marty Yudkovitz, president of NBC Interactive. "We
anticipate that our digital television signal, in the future, will be received
by computers as well as digital television sets."
"Imagine TV sports events where the viewer can receive instantly updated
statistics and information about their favorite players, or game shows where
viewers can play along with the contestants on TV," said Brian J. Connors,
vice president of IBM's consumer division. "TV will never be the same again,
and today's announcement is just the first step toward a larger vision of
easy-to-use connected information and entertainment appliances and devices
that IBM believes will ultimately be a part of every home."
New Features
Beginning with the next release of Windows 95 (code-named "Memphis"), new
versions of Windows will deliver the following:
-- A TV viewing experience that can be seen on small- or large-screen PC
monitors or on TVs connected to PCs. Microsoft is providing new user
interface elements for Windows for use with a remote-control device, allowing
customers to control the PC from a single device and electronically search the
program schedule for their favorite shows.
-- A common data networking capability built on broadcast, cable and
satellite services. Speeds will range from 9600 bits per second to 30
megabits per second in the case of satellite transmission, allowing fast
downloads from the Internet without requiring the use of a telephone line.
. -- An easy, and inexpensive, upgrade path from analog TV to digital TV
when broadcasters begin to transmit digital signals. Customers will simply
have to add a digital tuner card to their existing PCs.
-- The digital TV experience today, by allowing customers to begin viewing
and using enhanced television programming material right away, at an added
incremental price lower than a digital set-top box or digital television
. -- Integration with the Microsoft NetShow(TM) server for delivering data
and video over IP-based connections.
New Opportunities
The combination of full-motion video and data provides new business
opportunities for broadcasters, cable companies and satellite operators to
generate revenue by creating a new inventory of interactive advertising space,
subscription revenue and transactions.
Television producers will have an open creative palette to produce
compelling enhanced television with interactive elements such as games, chat,
voting and the Internet. Internet site builders and software vendors will be
able to use true push technology to broadcast multimedia-rich Internet content
and software to consumers, without tying up customers' telephone lines.
Virtually any kind of data could be transmitted to Windows, including software
upgrades, Web site information, stock tickers, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0
Active Desktop content, and enhanced television programming.
Television production companies that recognize the business and creative
opportunity to produce new, interactive versions of their television programs
include Big Ticket Television (Spelling Entertainment), Glen Larson
Entertainment Network Home and Garden Television, NBC, North Hall Productions,
Recovery Network, Sci-Fi Channel, USA Network, TV Food Network and The Zalman
King Co.
Additional companies that have said they intend to develop technologies
and services for the new versions of Windows span every industry involved in
technology convergence. They include Adaptec Inc.; AST; ATI Technologies
Inc.; Brooktree Division of Rockwell Semiconductor Systems; Cirrus Logic Inc.;
Compaq Computer Corp.; Comspan Communications; ComStream Corp.; CyberSource
Corp.; DIRECTV; DIRECTV Japan; Fujitsu Ltd.; Gould Resources and Internet
Telecommunications (GRIT); Guthy Renker; Hitachi Ltd.; Hughes Network Systems
Inc.; IBM Corp.; Micron Electronics; Ministry of Film; Mitsubishi Electric
Corp.; MSN(TM), The Microsoft Network; NEC; News Digital Systems; Nippon
Telegraph and Telephone Corp.; Norpak Corp; PerfecTV Corp.; Princeton Graphics
Systems; Samsung Information Systems America; Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.; SGS-
Thomson Microelectronics Inc.; Sharp Corp.; Sony.; StarSight Telecast Inc.;
Telesaurus REX; Thompson Consumer Electronics; Toshiba U.S.A.; Toshiba Corp.;
Tseng Labs Inc.; VLSI Technology Inc.; and WavePhore Inc. |
