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* Posts by FuzzyDunlop

3 publicly visible posts • joined 30 Apr 2012

YouView: You're delayed - Sugar

FuzzyDunlop
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Re: I still think YouView will be a huge success

wow paranoia! I work for a University in video/audio/web and I have no affiliation with YouView at all.

I've used some of the TV manufacturers Smart TV functions and they're generally awful. Even the BBC iPlayer on my brand new Panansonic TV is a pain the backside. Streaming via iPad and Apple TV is also woeful user experience. It's all way too fragmented and disjointed, one device for this, another for that, and a myriad different UIs. What I and I suspect most other users want is one device and one interface for everything.

I agree that's it all dependent on a usable consistent UI and the price point of the STBs but I think YouView has the content and the backing to be a success.

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FuzzyDunlop
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Re: I still think YouView will be a huge success

I've never seen a YouView powerpoint, I'm just a regular consumer, although I do work in video/audio/web for a University so I have a passing interest in the app ecosystem.

I think it all depends upon the price point of the STBs and the usability of the EPG. If the EPG is as good as they’ve promised and people get used to the web version then I can see them wanting the same experience in the lounge on their TV. I believe they also plan to integrate the service into TVs in which case there would be no need for a separate set top box.

In terms of apps I was thinking more along the lines of Netflix and LoveFilm rather than games etc.

You say that the rest of the catch-up content is available elsewhere but is it available on the TV in the lounge? I can get BBC iPlayer through my TV and possibly 4OD on my xbox but the interface is lousy and I still can’t get iTV player or 5 OnDemand. What I really want is everything all in one place so I’m patiently waiting for the new Humax YouView PVR before I upgrade my existing PVR.

Thanks for the heads up on HbbTV, that’s new to me and it looks interesting.

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FuzzyDunlop

I still think YouView will be a huge success

It’s a shame that YouView has been delayed again but I still think it will be a huge success. I think the naysayers are rather missing the point. Yes you can BBC iPlayer on *some* smart TV’s but what about 4OD, iTV player, 5 onDemand and what about people who have older TVs?

YouView set top boxes will offer an integrated Freeview and IPTV experience through a single EPG and will have built in PVR functionality. Put another way you can schedule PVR recordings and also catch up on things you missed using the same EPG and a seamless mix of broadcast and IPTV. Add to that DLNA capability, an apps ecosystem with the potential for online video rental stores and other broadcasters to join the party, that fact that it’ll be subscription free and also available on the web, and that the price of the set top box hardware will only get cheaper, it makes for quite a compelling package.

The reason people tend to be ambivalent about smart TV is that it’s so fragmented. What people want is all their TV/Video content in one place and YouView is the only platform that will offer the subscription free UK terrestrial TV that UK audiences want and all the other Smart TV / PVR functionality in a single package.

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