Paying Comcast and other ISP's extra money to deliver what they should be doing already is like passing out free crack to addicts. Once they get a taste they will never have enough and more and more companies will be cajoled into paying this extra fee to avoid being slowed down compared to companies that pay the protection money. This is a new way to tax the internet. The consumer is the one that will ultimately suffer with higher prices and likely fewer start ups that could ever be able to compete with Netflix, Amazon, or Apple since they likely can not afford to pay for that extra speed bump until they grow large enough. Let's not forget these cable companies have received tens of billions in federal subsidies over the years to help build out their networks with our tax money. This looks more and more like an extortion or protection scheme more suited to the Sopranos.
I'm not sure how Apple can possibly make a product in this space that people will not complain about... The software portion will be great. My concern is the remote. Apple likes to keep it simple. Look at the current Apple TV remote, it's all of 7 buttons. 4 if you count the wheel as 1 button! Being that the remote SHOULD be the central remote controlling your TV, (hopefully audio) and perhaps DVD, I just can't imagine Apple making a catchall remote due to their "form or function" mantra.
Paying Comcast and other ISP's extra money to deliver what they should be doing already is like passing out free crack to addicts. Once they get a taste they will never have enough and more and more companies will be cajoled into paying this extra fee to avoid being slowed down compared to companies that pay the protection money. This is a new way to tax the internet. The consumer is the one that will ultimately suffer with higher prices and likely fewer start ups that could ever be able to compete with Netflix, Amazon, or Apple since they likely can not afford to pay for that extra speed bump until they grow large enough. Let's not forget these cable companies have received tens of billions in federal subsidies over the years to help build out their networks with our tax money. This looks more and more like an extortion or protection scheme more suited to the Sopranos.
*citations needed
So you are on record against "Investing in infrastructure"?
Note to the whole GD world - please read up on Internet vs internets and [settlement-free]peering between providers. Dumping 8:1 in:out isn't neutral. When all internets are equal, then we can discuss neutrality.
Edit: make your wifi public with no password so your whole neighborhood and passers by can use it. Welcome to net neutrality.
What's going on here has more to do with the inevitable evolution toward streaming UHDTV (4K), which will place much greater bandwidth demand on cable systems.
Comcast! Stream 4K! EVER! Oh, that’s a good one. They’ll never, EVER do that. Not until the government forces them to change their entire company.
Check your local supermarket. Crow may be on special this week.
Additional thought. Comcast has a huge installed base of rental set-top boxes that are not capable of handling UHDTV. If the next-gen Apple TV can take a UHDTV signal from Comcast and deliver it to a 4K TV, Comcast doing a deal with Apple gets them an immediate streaming advantage without the time and cost pressures of Comcast rapidly replacing all those conventional HDTV set-top boxes. From a hardware standpoint, a wholesale upgrade of Comcast's home hardware is akin to changing course on an aircraft carrier. It can't turn on a dime.
Additional thought. Comcast has a huge installed base of rental set-top boxes that are not capable of handling UHDTV. If the next-gen Apple TV can take a UHDTV signal from Comcast and deliver it to a 4K TV, Comcast doing a deal with Apple gets them an immediate streaming advantage without the time and cost pressures of Comcast rapidly replacing all those conventional HDTV set-top boxes. From a hardware standpoint, a wholesale upgrade of Comcast's home hardware is akin to changing course on an aircraft carrier. It can't turn on a dime.
Comcast doesn't need to rapidly replace the HD boxes. They'll still get their rental fee and then charge $15 per UHDTV box for those who want it.
Comcast doesn't need to rapidly replace the HD boxes. They'll still get their rental fee and then charge $15 per UHDTV box for those who want it.
Point well taken, especially since the consumer migration to 4K TVs won't happen overnight.
Comcast will happily send a new box to your home by a ground carrier, but what gripes me is having to schlep the old box back to one of their retail stores, then stand in an interminable line before handing it back to them and getting a receipt. Maybe it's possible to send the old box back, but I've heard horror stories about screw-ups and I just don't trust them. I want a physical receipt in my hands, on their stationery and identifying the returned equipment by serial number. I've learned to even take photos of the old units and serial numbers for my protection. Comcast is the unrivaled king of billing snafus.
Come the time we acquire a 4K TV, it'll be nice to just buy a new Apple TV and use our iTunes account to register and access 4K streaming from the cable provider. No screwing around with an upgraded cable box ... at least until the live content originators like networks and local stations start converting to 4K.
Comments
Paying Comcast and other ISP's extra money to deliver what they should be doing already is like passing out free crack to addicts. Once they get a taste they will never have enough and more and more companies will be cajoled into paying this extra fee to avoid being slowed down compared to companies that pay the protection money. This is a new way to tax the internet. The consumer is the one that will ultimately suffer with higher prices and likely fewer start ups that could ever be able to compete with Netflix, Amazon, or Apple since they likely can not afford to pay for that extra speed bump until they grow large enough. Let's not forget these cable companies have received tens of billions in federal subsidies over the years to help build out their networks with our tax money. This looks more and more like an extortion or protection scheme more suited to the Sopranos.
You hit the nail on the head.
Maybe Apple would be better off just buying Comcast. Then Apple could develop their own boxes and sell content all day long.
*citations needed
So you are on record against "Investing in infrastructure"?
Note to the whole GD world - please read up on Internet vs internets and [settlement-free]peering between providers. Dumping 8:1 in:out isn't neutral. When all internets are equal, then we can discuss neutrality.
Edit: make your wifi public with no password so your whole neighborhood and passers by can use it. Welcome to net neutrality.
Comcast! Stream 4K! EVER! Oh, that’s a good one. They’ll never, EVER do that. Not until the government forces them to change their entire company.
http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/cable-show-2013-comcast-well-be-ready-ultra-hd/143864
Check your local supermarket. Crow may be on special this week.
Thank you for your brilliant and insightful response, except that you're nine months behind the times.
http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/cable-show-2013-comcast-well-be-ready-ultra-hd/143864
Check your local supermarket. Crow may be on special this week.
Additional thought. Comcast has a huge installed base of rental set-top boxes that are not capable of handling UHDTV. If the next-gen Apple TV can take a UHDTV signal from Comcast and deliver it to a 4K TV, Comcast doing a deal with Apple gets them an immediate streaming advantage without the time and cost pressures of Comcast rapidly replacing all those conventional HDTV set-top boxes. From a hardware standpoint, a wholesale upgrade of Comcast's home hardware is akin to changing course on an aircraft carrier. It can't turn on a dime.
Comcast doesn't need to rapidly replace the HD boxes. They'll still get their rental fee and then charge $15 per UHDTV box for those who want it.
Comcast doesn't need to rapidly replace the HD boxes. They'll still get their rental fee and then charge $15 per UHDTV box for those who want it.
Point well taken, especially since the consumer migration to 4K TVs won't happen overnight.
Comcast will happily send a new box to your home by a ground carrier, but what gripes me is having to schlep the old box back to one of their retail stores, then stand in an interminable line before handing it back to them and getting a receipt. Maybe it's possible to send the old box back, but I've heard horror stories about screw-ups and I just don't trust them. I want a physical receipt in my hands, on their stationery and identifying the returned equipment by serial number. I've learned to even take photos of the old units and serial numbers for my protection. Comcast is the unrivaled king of billing snafus.
Come the time we acquire a 4K TV, it'll be nice to just buy a new Apple TV and use our iTunes account to register and access 4K streaming from the cable provider. No screwing around with an upgraded cable box ... at least until the live content originators like networks and local stations start converting to 4K.
Check your local supermarket. Crow may be on special this week.
Nah. But enjoy your single TV episode before you’ve hit your monthly cap and your Internet is cut off!
What on earth do you expect?!