3Screens

And Now….boxee.tv on Three Screens

Over the past 6 months a small startup named boxee has been making big waves in the digital media space. The company makes downloadable software for your computer (Mac&Linux at the moment) that weaves personal media, streaming Internet content, and social networking with a visual interface that makes your media come to life.

Boxee is, if you will, sort of what I could call PBS – not Public Broadcasting Service, but rather the Peoples' Broadcasting Service. As you add friends to boxee, you can see what shows they're watching and exchange recommendations with each other. In this way, you have the opportunity to create a bottom up approach to video programming that includes most of the mainstream online TV sites like Hulu, CBS, theWB, and more. It's the people and not the broadcaster who decides what merits viewing in what is becoming and increasingly noisy and crowded marketplace for attention and viewership.

The best way to demonstrate the power, freedom and social community aspect of Boxee was to shoot the video that follows below. While the focus of my review remains on the video content portion, my review illustrates how to use boxee on an iPhone, a laptop and a big screen TV. You get a pretty cool way to enjoy moviews, TV shows, music, photos and streaming content from sites like Hulu, CBS, Comeday Central, Last.fm, Flickr, etc.

I'm just now starting to make new "friends" on boxee and listening to recommendations for programming that I can follow.

But Wait! There's More!

Today, the company will be announcing that Netflix subscriber can play, browse and queue Netflix 'Instant Watch' movies from within boxee.  If they're away from home, they can queue movies from their computer or phone, and then watch them on the big screen when you get home. I was told that Netflix on AppleTV is not currently available as they are working to overcome the hardware limitations of the AppleTV.  Check back with boxee's blog  for progress on this initiative..  The boxee Netflix application was created using the embeddable Silverlight plug-in for Netflix, and they are now recognized as a Netflix affiliate.

Other announcements today include news services and channels such as:

New Content
- TheWB - shows like Angel, Buffy, Firefly, The O.C., Smallville, and In Living Color
- The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog - amazing photos from around the world
- MTVMusic - songs/artists in your collection are now linked with music videos

Updated Content
- Hulu - enhanced UI with access to personal queues from Hulu.com
- YouTube - newly developed interface with improved browsing/playback as well as h264 support
- CNN, Flickr, Picasa - custom interfaces with improved browsing and playback

All in all, a very cool approach to delivering a three screens experience.

Highly Recommended

AT&T's Mobile TV Debuts. How Does It Really Work?

AT&T Mobile TV is launching today in San Antonio, where I live. 

Think  traditional multi-media cell phone meets TV programming.   Currently, AT&T is offering  continuous streaming, full-length live TV programming and sporting events to mobile phones from leading sources: CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX News, FOX Mobile, NBC 2Go, MSNBC, MTV, Nickelodeon, CNN Mobile and PIX.

My review is a bit different.  I asked my buddy, George Kauss, whose previous company, Vesuvius owned the patents to make the technology work. (Their patents were sold to Qualcomm.)   George is now with a new company, Vulano Group.  Here's George's review of the service and how it works.

The service is available on four AT&T handsets: Samsung Access, Samsung Eternity, LG Invision and LG Vu.  For the purposes of this review, I was given the Eternity to try out. 

I like it alot and found myself leaving the phone on and watching CNBC during the day, watching yesterday's  Senate Hearings with the Automobile Industry.  (I am against a bail-out).

Aside from traditional programming  the service includes two channels exclusive to AT&T:

•    CNN Mobile Live provides users with access to 24 hours of breaking news with live streaming anchored coverage from CNN.com Live as well as CNN’s most popular programs, including “American Morning,” “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” “CNN Election Center,” “Larry King Live,” “Anderson Cooper 360º” and “CNN International.”
•    PIX, from Sony Pictures Television, offers a variety of contemporary films, including comedies, cult classics, action films and family favorites from the studio’s vast library.

Costs...
Monthly access packages for AT&T Mobile TV begin at $15 per month for the basic package, which includes unlimited access to Mobile TV. AT&T also offers a Mobile TV plus package for $30 per month, which includes unlimited Mobile TV, unlimited mobile Web browsing on MEdia NetTM and unlimited CV mobile video. Programming is delivered to mobile phones over MediaFLO USA’s own dedicated multicast network, meaning AT&T customers do not incur additional data or voice charges.

In addition to new availability in San Antonio, AT&T Mobile TV is also available in roughly 60 markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Here Are The iPhone Apps I Have Downloaded So Far

These are just a few of the applications I have downloaded so far.

Most have a social media element to them.

Will start to play with them once the service enables you to sync with the new 2.0 software update.

Aside From Gizmodo, CrunchGear, Engadget And The Like, Put The NY Times' "Bits" On Your Reading List

I am a huge fan of blogs such as Engadget, CrunchGear, Gizmodo.   

While these well written, and often irreverent, I am also a big fan of The New York Timem's "BITS" blog.   

BITS- which stands for Business, Technology, Innovation and Society, takes a broader look beyond just gizmos, gadgets and toys. 

Their writers cover serious topics about how business uses and is affected by innovation, disruption and new technology.

Worth Reading!

AT&T to Deliver MediaFLO USA's FLO TV Service in 58 Markets on New AT&T-Exclusive Handsets Designed for Mobile TV Viewing; AT&T Introduces CNN Mobile Live, PIX and CNCRT, a Special Concert Channel

AT&T  and MediaFLO now has announced AT&T Mobile TV with FLO™ service. This powerful new mobile television service will provide around-the-clock access to some of today's most popular television programs — live and in color on the mobile phone.  Wired has a positive review of the service here.

To ensure an unmatched mobile television experience for consumers, AT&T is introducing two new exclusive handsets: the Vu from LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A. Inc. (LG) and the Access from Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung).

3Screens News Summary:

• The service will offer unmatched TV-quality programming from leading news and entertainment brands: CBS Mobile, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, NBC 2Go, NBC News 2Go, MTV Networks' COMEDY CENTRAL, MTV and Nickelodeon, as well as PIX and CNN Mobile Live, which are both AT&T-exclusive channels on MediaFLO USA's FLO TV™ service.
• PIX, from Sony Pictures Television, offers a variety of contemporary films, including comedies, cult classics, action films and family favorites from the studio's vast library.
• CNN Mobile Live provides users with access to 24 hours of breaking news with live streaming anchored coverage from CNN.com Live as well as CNN's most popular programs, including "American Morning," "Lou Dobbs Tonight," "CNN Election Center," "Larry King Live," "Anderson Cooper 360°," and "CNN International."

Below are examples of some of the entertaining TV programs and events that are scheduled to air the week of May 4:

• CBS Mobile: New episodes of "CSI," "CSI:NY" and "How I Met Your Mother"

• CNN Mobile Live: Live breaking news coverage, including real-time results from the Democratic and Republican primaries in North Carolina and Indiana on May 6.

• Comedy Central: New episodes of "The Daily Show with John Stewart" and "The Colbert Report"

• ESPN Mobile TV: Live game coverage as well as ESPN Mobile TV shows such as "ScoreCenter," "ReSET" and more

• FOX Mobile: New episodes of "Bones," "Back to You," and LIVE Big 12 College Baseball

• MTV: New episodes of "The Hills," "Real World: Hollywood" and "The Paper"

• NBC 2Go: LIVE NHL Stanley Cup Playoff and Final games and finale episode of NBC's "30 Rock" (Thurs., May 8)

• NBC News 2Go: LIVE coverage of the Indiana and North Carolina Democratic Primaries

• Nickelodeon: Episodes of "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "iCarly"

• PIX: "Memento," "In The Line of Fire," "Groundhog Day," "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Resident Evil"

AT&T Mobile TV will launch in 58 markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Costs....

• Monthly access packages for AT&T Mobile TV begin at $15 a month for the Basic package, which includes unlimited access to Mobile TV, as well as access to the exclusive CNCRT channel for a limited time. AT&T also offers a Mobile TV Plus package for $30 a month, which includes unlimited Mobile TV, unlimited mobile Web browsing on MEdia™ Net and unlimited CV mobile video.
• Customers can also subscribe to a limited basic package for $13 a month, which gives them access to four channels: CBS Mobile, FOX Mobile, NBC 2Go and NBC News 2Go.
• Because AT&T Mobile TV operates on MediaFLO USA's own dedicated multicast network, AT&T customers do not incur data or voice charges. Additionally, programming is subject to change, and sports programming is subject to blackout restrictions.

PodCamp San Antonio is Now Live and on UStream

PodCamp San Antonio is now live and on UStream.....or just about live.

Anyway, check it out and see us live.

AT&T’s Stockholder Meeting- More Like a Town Hall Meeting – Part 1

I’ve just come back from attending the AT&T stockholder meeting in San Antonio.  There’s lots to tell and share, and in the interest of time and in the interest of getting at least one post up on my blog, I am going to do two posts- one today and another one early next week.

Before I begin, just a caveat- if you are looking for insight on earnings per share, news on when the 3G iPhone will ship, and new technologies coming out of AT&T labs, you’ve come to the wrong place. 

This post is a quick summary of some of AT&T’s Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson’s comments in his State of the Company.  Next week, I will post on my observations of what I observed to be more of a town hall meeting, as opposed to this event being a traditional stockholder’s meeting.

And so the meeting came to order…
The meeting comprised of introductions, stockholder proposals, a presentation by the Chairman & CEO and an open microphone session for attendees.

First order of business was to define and articulate what AT&T was all about.  Last year, the company’s mantra was about being a communications and entertainment services company.  This year, with Randall at the helm, there was a subtle, but important shift in the message:  he wants AT&T to connect people with their world, where they live and work, and do it better than anyone else.

He proudly stated that AT&T was:

• Numero Uno in Wireless

• Numero Uno in Broadband

• Numbero Uno in Residential

• Numbero Uno in being the first in the U.S. to lead in TV over IP (IPTV)

• Numbero Uno in Yellow Pages

He stated that he was ramping up on $20 Billion in future investments in four key areas:

1.  Mobility – he emphasized the growth of the wireless side of the house.  And with the melding of  Cingular/BellSouth into the company, it’s full steam ahead.

2.  Consumer and Business Broadband -  he highlighted the fact that consumer broadband traffic was up 140%  in the past two years and the recent launch of its alliance with Cisco in deploying its TelePresence solution was now under way.

3.  AT&T’s “footprint.”  Randall talked about AT&T’s “footprint” citing the example of the deal they just announced with Starbucks. By the company’s footprint, he described making WiFi available in more places (like Starbucks) and the transition to GSM so you can have global cellular coverage.  Case in point:  in March I was in Israel.   I walk off the plane, and CellCom, AT&T’s partner in Israel picks me up and can hand off calls to me 1/3 of the world away.

There was one element of AT&T’s footprint strategy that Randall left out:  it’s footprint on the retail         landscape of America with its AT&T stores and its newer flavor of AT&T Experience stores. 
With all its money, technology smarts, and way cool iPhones, I have always contended that AT&T’s retail presence is a key competitive advantage that only Verizon can match up with.  Retail draws traffic.  It educates customers and cross-sells new services.  That’s something the cable companies aren’t doing.

4.  IP Networking.  Randall talked about the vision to deploy IP over three screens (hence the name of this blog) and how the core of its IP residential play, U-verse is now reaching close to 400,000 American homes like mine.  In May of this year, I will be starting my third year as a U-verse customer and look forward to continued upgrades with new services such as Whole Home DVR.

After his state of the company, the microphone was opened up to the audience.  I will get into some of the questions and issues addressed in my post next week.

Finally, a nice finishing touch to the meeting- a free $5.00 gift card from Starbucks; thanks Randall.

What Randall did not talk about…

Maybe it was matter of time, or the fact that as a publicly held company, you can’t go around publicly touting what’s coming down the pipeline, but here are a few of my own takes on what I think will matter for the balance of 2008.

• The 3G iPhone (expected sometime this summer) will not only be popular with consumers, but will begin adoption (limited) by corporate America because of its support for enterprise class applications.
• Whole Home DVR on U-verse will illustrate yet another feature of managing video over IP, and the growing importance of having the equivalent of a small enterprise network in your home.
• A few more global acquisitions.  I don’t know what they are or what they will be, but AT&T is not just an American phone company.  Look for its presence and brand to grow worldwide.
• It’s alliance with Cisco and the deployment of its TelePresence solution will help AT&T in disrupting some of its competitors.
• San Antonio will continue to be a Petri dish for testing new types of telecommunications technologies in AT&T’s own back yard.  More on that to come.

And more to come....stay tuned.

Photo of AT&T Chairman, Randall Stephenson and me at this morning's annual stockholder meeting, courtesy of AT&T. 

AT&T Annual Stockholder Meeting Adjounred; Randall Gives Us a Free $5.00 Gift Card to Starbucks

I've just returned from AT&T's annual stockholder meeting in San Antonio.  Stock Symbol: T

I will have another post up soon about my views on the meeting, which was really more like a town hall meeting.

AT&T Chairman & CEO, Randall Stephenson officially announced the AT&T / Starbucks rollout, and we each got a free $5.00 gift card to Starbucks.

After the meeting, I headed over to the Starbucks in The Quarry, where the iTunes store is up and going.

Reporters on deadline can call my cell at 210.410.3075 for consumer insight on the AT&T/Starbucks/Apple iTunes deal.

AT&T Cell Phones for $00.01 From Amazon (Service Plan Required)

Read all about it in Consumerist.

One penny gets you a selected AT&T phone (not an iPhone) for one red cent.

Service plan needed.....

Yes, I Am Covering the AT&T / Starbucks Story, But I Got Started With 3Screens Because of U-verse (IPTV)

There's been quite a bump in readership and media coverage because of my coverage on the first AT&T WiFi / Starbucks store in San Antonio.

While I am very excited about the notion of having free WiFi at Starbucks, there is more to the story here.  From the start, I have always felt that AT&T was about to give me more than just an alternative to cable. 

Starting next month, I will be going on my third year of writing from the mind's eye of the consumer of what it's like to be a 'three screens" customer.

I hope my perspectives are helpful to you and welcome your continued participation in the conversation.

My instinct tells me that I am just getting going.....

Photo by Alan Weinkrantz (c) 2008 - All Rights Reserved