3Screens

Roaming From Afar Part 1: If Google Can Serve Me Ads in Hebrew, Why Can't AT&T Deliver my U-verse TV Programming on my Computer?

Today marks the first of 5 installments which I am writing while I am here in Israel, hence the name, "Roaming From Afar."

If Google can serve me related ads in Hebrew on this blog as shown here, why can't AT&T serve me U-verse programming - even at an extra cost, on my computer?

Sure, they do offer a fairly lame and limited channel lineup from another company called provided by MobiTV, which is has limited to only 30 or so channels and cannot be viewed overseas.

Sure, I could use my SlingBox, but I would like to have the convenience of working around my SlingBox and just logging onto U-verse TV from my PC.

I realize there could be licensing issues, and local regulations in foreign countries which prevent this notion from being a reality, but I certainly hope that in time, AT&T could offer this type of service, with expanded programming for those of us who travel and sometimes travel outside of the U.S.

Need A Beta Site for Your IPTV Product, Service or Technology? Alan's House Available. (I Also Sign NDA's)

If you are a manufacturer or provider of IPTV products and services and need a real world Beta site, in a setting family friendly home (here's our family room with HD home theatre) send an email to: alan at weinkrantz dot com and I will contact you.

I sign NDA's and won't write about what you are up to unless you say go for it. 

My goal in doing this is to provide the industry with a real test bed for new products, services and technologies in IPTV and beyond.

Also- analysts, media, bloggers and financial analysts coming to San Antonio to see the phone company as we no longer no it, are welcomed to come to a real home with real HD TV over IP with a nice home theatre set up.

The housekeeper comes on Tuesdays, but it only takes a day or two for us to mess up the house.  If you don't mind  dirty dishes, un-made beds, and piled up laundry, you can get a real world experience of seeing U-verse and all it has to offer. 

 

Apple TV: Why It Matters to Me @ 3Screens.net

I've got the Motorola / AT&T IPTV set top box in 3 rooms.

I've got a Slingbox that sits on top of the main set top box in the family - home theatre room.

What's next at the Weinkrantz home in San Antonio?  Apple TV

Tim Bajarin has very good story on why Apple TV really matters.

Tim addresses three key issues:

1.  Apple Mac/PC content to the living room via wireless technology.

2. The user interface encompasses a powerful yet simple ecosystem that, especially in the Mac version, ties it directly to Apple's iLife suite of products.

3.  Apple (like AT&T / Cingular) has its own retail stores in order to demonstrate - and sell the product.  Who knows, as AT&T rolls out and re-brands its Cingular stores they may be selling products like Apple's as well...

Worth Reading....

Save $50 On A Slingbox!

SlingMedia is offering an online special where you can save $50 off the retail price of their SlingBox device that lets you watch TV on your computer anywhere in the world that you have an Internet connection.

Go to their online store and type in the promo code: BLITZ to receive the discount.

This offer is good only through September 25, 2006.