The obsoletion of cable.

November 8th, 2008

Netflix has had the instant watch over the internet for quite some time now, but this ability has been somewhat on the back end. Smarter users would simply hook their computers to the TV, but this was hardly how I would have my parents go about watching tv. Now that powerful network ready hardware is finding itself connected to more and more TVs, Netflix has seen the light and decided to create ways to use these machines to watch the online content. Tivo’s, blue ray players, devices purposely built for Netflix and Xbox 360’s will have access to the plethora of content available by the end of the year. This is exactly what the cable companies have feared all along.

Why would I pay 40 dollars a month or more to have access to channels when I can simply watch the same content on some combination of Netflix’s online archive of movies and TV shows for 18 or so dollars a month. I would have instant access to an array of content that no current cable based video on demand service comes close to in content. Granted this would limit me to tv shows that have been released to DVD, but I would still be able to watch newer episodes for many tv shows elsewhere on the internet like Hulu.com. I would expect the HD content available on these services and sites to increase in availability. Granted the quality of the video will be lower than what would be available on a cable channel, or a blue ray dvd, but this is hardly a drawback when compared to the advantages, and since I would have a real Netflix account I could just borrow the blue ray if it really mattered.

The biggest drawback to this is strain on your internet connection.  Which brings me to my earlier theory.  Why would a cable company provide a service that theoretically obsoletes their main money maker?  So, they are attempting to implement ways to make such an option impossible or prohibitively expensive through limits on the bandwidth.  Now, I have little problem with a company acting in its own best interest.  When there is competition in a free market, this is often not a problem for consumers.  A companies best interest is usually to sell the best product available at the lowest price.  When there isn’t competition, or is minimal competition, this doesn’t work.  In such cases regulation, or public ownership is unfortunately necessary (this is true of nearly all highly geographically dependent services)

When I move out of college housing which provides free cable, I believe that I will exercise this option.  For live TV events, mainly football games, I will simply employ an antenna.  With digital broadcasts, a decent antenna should allow for the same quality I currently enjoy on cable.  This option will only remain available with inexpensive high speed access to the internet with inexpensive cost per byte transmitted.  This doesn’t have to be the current standard of a flat fee for unlimited byte transmission, it just has to be inexpensive even at a large quantity of transmission.

 
 

A better picture

September 30th, 2008

 
 

A new presidential candidate

September 29th, 2008


http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Bm&altl=Tjnpof Follow that link to a video about a new presidential candidate, or click the picture bellow. Unfortunately the site does not allow for an easy way to embed the video, so you’ll have to go there, but below is a preview.

 
 

Joss Whedon Random Fact

September 27th, 2008

Watching the commentaries for The Office I heard a very unexpected fact.  First, Joss Whedon directed an episode of The Office.  During the commentaries they mention some of his previous work.   Works you likely already associate with him which include Firefly/Serenity, and Buffy.  Then they go back even further and pick up a relic of unexpectedness.  Joss Whedon was one of the screenplay writers for the movie Toy Story. IMDB confirms this. He also was a writer for Roseanne.

 
 

Hunting Wolves from Helicopters

September 4th, 2008

I was reading Sarah Palin’s Wikipedia page and couldn’t help but see this quote.

In 2007, Palin supported the Alaska Department of Fish and Game policy allowing Alaska state biologists to hunt wolves from helicopters as part of a predator control program intended to increase moose populations.

I would expect to see those words from a web comic, or some other rediculous piece of media, not a serious article about a potential vice president.

 
 

The Bird’s Nest

August 29th, 2008

I pretty randomly like and dislike the sort of experimental architecture that the Olympic Stadium from the recent games. For some reason, seemingly random columns built in a configuration that seems to serve no purpose just bothers me. They may be structurally supportive and sound, but I simply find it ugly.The columns  however are not my main criticism.  My main criticism comes from the overall shape of the building when seen from an aerial photograph.

Taken from olympic-spirit.blogspot.com

It looks like a poorly designed bed pan, or some kind of low to the grount toilet bowl!

 
 

The superbowl.

August 27th, 2008

As an Eagle’s fan, the last eight or so years has been a driving obsession with seeing the eagles win a Superbowl.  That aside, I would like to pick the teams that I beileve I will see in the superbowl.  This does come at least partly but not completely biased.  These two teams have been sitting in the wings waiting for their moment of glory for decades.  They come from two cities who have argued over who is more cursed when it comes to sports championships.  For the Superbowl, I pick the Cleveland Browns (AFC) VS the Philadelphia Eagles(NFC).  Both teams have the talent and the will to make this more than just a shot in the dark.  They are hardly the top picks for this honor, but both teams are low on the picks simply because of uncertainty.  For example, will Donovan McNabb suffer another injury?  Both teams could very likely overplay their expectations.