[opendtv] Re: Google pulls plug on YouTube for older iPads, iPhones, smart TVs

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:06:56 -0400

On Apr 22, 2015, at 8:05 PM, Manfredi, Albert E <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


John Shutt wrote:

For cord cutters, this may get expensive if you have to replace your
TV because one of your YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu apps no longer work.

That was my reaction too, when I saw that article, although usually it would
not be the TV but an STB of some sort.

That used to be the case until the CE vendors started integrating smart TV
features. These TVs are really just application specific computers with large
integrated displays, or TVs with integrated computers if you prefer.

The issue here, as with PCs is extensibility. How long can we expect any device
to keep working given the rapid evolution of technology. There was a time when
we were on a PC treadmill that required upgrades ever 2-3 years. Fortunately
that treadmill has slowed considerably; but we are now on the smartphone
treadmill, fueled by the rapid pace of change in cellular networks and the
subsidies built into the telco contracts.

And we are just beginning to learn what the upgrade cycle is for tablet
computers. The old rule of thumb for TV upgrades was about 7 years. That's a
long time to expect an integrated computer to handle the rapidly evolving
technologies used by OTT services.

Bert has never liked the use of set top boxes, especially those deployed by the
MVPDs. He has also been critical of the add on boxes like Apple TV, Roku, and
the Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV stick. Part of his concerns about the
latter is the use of apps that run on these devices that are specific to the
ecosystems that exist around these devices.

The decision by Google to stop supporting some older APIs across multiple
platforms is exactly the kind of issue that Bert is concerned about. My only
concern here is the track records of the platforms. If you buy into an
ecosystem, how long can you expect the devices that are part of that ecosystem
to offer full functionality before upgrades are required?

Using a PC will keep you going as long as possible. But even there, a new
codec will eventually come around that the aging PC can't handle. Happened to
me with H.264, which my PC back then could not keep up with. It would skip
frames all the time.

Using a PC as a front end to a TV is no better or worse than other options,
including game consoles, and TV specific boxes and HDMI dongles. Sooner or
later an upgrade will be necessary. The downside of using PCs and game consoles
is the higher initial cost. Add on boxes from Apple and Roku, and the HDMI
sticks are now selling for less than $100, often as low as $39.

The add on box/dongle approach is clearly the most affordable way to keep your
HDTV up to date.

Our current LG HDTV has the smart TV features. It did not take us long to
disable them, especially after the reports of the manufacturers monitoring our
usage. As we are heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem, Apple TV was the
logical choice as our OTT front end.

Relying on these "apps" is just begging some self-interested party to have
greater control over your equipment, though. I never understood the
fascination.

And PCs are different? Me thinks Microsoft is a third party with a rather poor
track record in terms of managing the Windows ecosystem.

What is far more aggravating is being forced to buy an ATSC receiver that is
not extensible, or even necessary. At least the shift to OTT delivery of TV
content is building upon open standards, affordable extensibility, and
competitive ecosystem options that extend functionality across multiple "must
have" computing/ telecommunications devices.

Regards
Craig


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