WebProNews

Tag: connected devices

  • Connected TV Adoption to Double in Coming Years

    As the year comes to a close, sales estimates are now being finalized and predictions for the next few years are being made.

    Market research firm Strategy Analytics today issued what seems to be a safe bet for the tech industry, predicting that the install base for connected-TV devices will double by the year 2017. The firm believes that an average of one connected-TV device will have been sold for every household worldwide by that year – again, double the 0.5 connected-TV devices per household that have currently been adopted.

    These connected devices include smart TVs, streaming set-top boxes. DVR devices, DVD/Blu-ray players, and video game consoles. Such devices were among the most sought-after products during this year’s Black Friday shopping weekend, particularly TVs and streaming video players.

    “Consumers are increasingly drawn to over-the-top (OTT) services in the home and on the go, so it’s not surprising to see shipments of connected devices rising year after year,” said David Watkins, service director for Connected Home Devices at Strategy Analytics. “Furthermore, vendors are looking to build in IP connectivity into devices that have traditionally been un-connected to garner higher retail sales prices but also take advantage of the expanded availability of and interest in OTT content. Accordingly, we see market retail value growth of connected CE devices doubling the pace of growth in the overall CE device market.”

    Strategy Analytics also laid out its predictions for the mobile market, predicting that the adoption of connected mobile devices will also reach a global average of 1.8 per household by 2017. This will be led, of course, by smartphone adoption in emerging markets. Other mobile devices that have what the firm calls a “single function” (handheld video game consoles, mp3 players, e-readers) are predicted to lose market share as smartphones continue to cut into their sales.

    “Although AV devices have become increasingly overlooked by consumers in favor of infotainment devices such as Smartphones and Tablets, the integration of IP connectivity is breathing new life into the sector and creating new opportunities for vendors” said Eric Smith, analyst with Strategy Analytics. “We see sustained growth in connected models of Flat Panel TVs, Set-top Boxes, DVRs, Digital Media Adapters (i.e. Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Sky NOW TV), and Blu-ray players. And although ownership of Games Consoles is expected to shrink from current highs as gaming becomes more casual and increasingly mobile, these powerful devices will continue to act as important multimedia hubs in the living room.”

  • Apple TV, Google TV – Is 2012 the Year They Take Off?

    We’ve heard it before and nothing happened, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t, right? I’m referring to the idea of Internet TV that has, up to this point, failed to really take off. But, is 2012 the year that this trend could change? There is a lot of speculation and rumors that indicate that it could.

    The concept behind Internet TV is fascinating but many of the early offerings lacked luster. The products that have taken off are the Internet video boxes such as Roku, Boxee, and Apple TV.

    Do you currently use an Internet TV device? If so, are you happy with it?

    This year, the opportunity is said to lie in TV sets with built-in Internet connectivity. The reason for this is largely a result of the shift in consumer behavior. The trend has gone from viewing online entertainment through a desktop to viewing it through mobile and tablet devices. From all indications, the next shift will be to the living room.

    At this time, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, LG, and Panasonic all have connected TVs on the market, but there are reports that Apple will release a TV set later this year. In addition, based on what Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said at the Le Web conference, Google TV will be integrated into the majority of televisions by this summer.

    (He begins talking about Google TV around 38 minutes in)

    In order for 2012 to be the year for Web TVs to become mainstream, consumers will have to be educated on what they are. For this to happen, the consumer electronics companies will have to use effective marketing strategies to create a need for consumers to want connected TVs.

    If this happens, it will, no doubt, open many doors for hardware makers, content providers, and others. However, there are questions that remain such as, what will happen to the Internet video boxes that have been, up to this point, primarily responsible for the success of Internet? While this could be a very real concern, it appears that companies such as Roku have already taken this into consideration.

    Earlier this week, the company announced the Roku Streaming Stick that plugs directly into a TV and transforms it into a Smart TV. Users will be able to purchase the Roku Streaming Stick later this year, but it will also be available as a bundle with Best Buy’s Insignia TV. According to the company blog, Roku is working to secure more partnerships with other TV manufacturers.

    While only time will tell if 2012 is, in fact, the year that connected TVs take off, hopefully, we’ll have a better idea of what to expect after next week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

    Would you be willing to buy a connected TV this year? Let us know.

  • Tweeting From Your Refrigerator? There’s an App For That.

    How does a WiFi connected home appliance sound? One that would, theoretically, allow you tweet updates of your frequent trips to the fridge through the use of a computer touchscreen? Is so, Samsung has just application-powered refrigerator with your name on it.

    And no, this is not a joke, either. What we have is Samsung’s WiFi-enabled, embedded touchscreen-powered refrigerator, and as you can see from the lead image, the appliance features an touchscreen preloaded with various apps, including ones for Twitter and Weatherbug. If you’d like to show off your Picasa library while fetching a refreshing beverage for your guest, you can do that too, provided the guest follows you to the fridge.

    In fact, there are two refrigerator models featuring the app-loaded touchscreen. The apps, according to the specifications PDF, are as follows:

    – Memo
    – Epicurious Recipes
    – Picasa Photos
    – WeatherBug
    – Calendar
    – AP News
    – Pandora
    – Twitter

    Here’s a closer look at Samsung’s touchscreen:

    Samsung Refrigerator

    Because the computing device is WiFi-enabled, it avoids the necessity of needing to be plugged into to a router or other hardwired connection. Samsung’s product description shows their intention behind the design:

    Check the morning weather, browse the web for recipes, explore your social networks or leave notes for your family—all from the refrigerator door.

    Is such a feature even necessary? Are people even at their refrigerators long enough to “miss” their electronic connection to the outside world, increasing the demand for such a feature? Do people not carry their smartphones when going to the fridge for some delicious pizza? Apparently, I’m missing the spirit of such an innovation.

    If you’d like yet another connected device in your home, this time, in the form of a kitchen appliance, you’re going to have to pay a pretty penny to get it. The cheapest model refrigerator (30 cubic feet, side-by-side doors) goes for $2699, while the four-door model goes for $3499. That’s a hefty price to pay for yet another connected device, especially when all smartphones and tablet computers can do accomplish the same tasks, as well as many others, for a fraction of a price.

    But then again, you wouldn’t be able to say you have an app-powered refrigerator, which is probably the reason most people would purchase such an appliance to begin with.

    H/t to Uncrate for pointing this out.

  • Connecting You With an Internet of Things

    Connecting You With an Internet of Things

    You’ve probably heard about the refrigerator that tweets introduced by Samsung at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in the US.

    I bet you’ve also heard about plans by car maker Ford to offer the capability for you to listen to your tweets read out to you via Ford’s Sync system which also gives personalized traffic reports, navigation information and even provides a “health report” on the state of the car.

    Other car makers including BMW and Mercedes-Benz have similar plans as well.

    These examples may seem the apogee of triviality but they are representative of a clear trend to enable an everyday need – in these examples, listen to or interact with things that interest you when you’re mobile in your car – to be met simply and safely.

    They are also examples of a much bigger picture that shows how mobile and wireless connectivity can enable everyday things to be part of your information and communication needs.

    Computer networking firm  Cisco Systems highlights this with “The Internet of Things,” an excellent  infographic that illustrates how everyday things are beginning to provide you with so many opportunities to get and share information that interests you. This infographic presents complex information – read the  Wikipedia entry on The Internet Things to see what I mean – in a simple, visual way that helps you grasp it more quickly.

    The infographic is big (over 3,000 pixels in height); as a JPG image, it should load in your browser relatively quickly although that might differ if you’re reading this on a mobile device. You can see it in its glory after the jump.

    Via ReadWriteWeb.

     

    ciscoinfographic_iot

    Check out NevilleHobson.com for more articles by Neville Hobson.