Month: May 2004

New HomeChoice Service Launches

The HomeChoice set top boxVideo Networks have launched the latest iteration of their HomeChoice service, available in the UK from 1st June.

The basic package includes 1mb of broadband (capped at 1gb per day downloaded – about 20,000 light web pages or 200 mp3s), more than 60 TV channels and a video on demand service. Films available on the on-demand service cost between £0.99 and £3.50 (€1.47 to €5.19) for the standard 24 hour rental.

The TV channels available are an extension of the standard Freeview fair, and include channels unavailable on Freeview such as E4, Discovery, CNBC Europe, UKTV Style and UKTV Gold. The are also some music offerings exclusive to Video Networks such as V:MX Hits and V:MX Dance. Interestingly, the service carries Club Zebra – a sort of exercise on demand (EOD – you heard it here first) channel where you can interact with keep fit and health programming.

The broadband component of the service can be upgraded to 2mb for an additional £15 (€22.26) per month – this takes the download cap to 45gb a month. The HomeChoice box comes with an Ethernet port in the back for connecting to your home network, but a rather smart wireless option is available for an extra £125 (€185.53). Including an Ethernet port makes the service a true competitor to existing broadband services. Beforehand, HomeChoice was really “VOD with broadband”, as the broadband connection from the box was USB: this iteration is more “broadband with VOD and content”, a much richer and flexible offering.The service is initially launching in West London to those with a BT phone line.

HomeChoice

VideoNetworks

E3: PSP Revealed

Sony has announced the specifications of its new PlayStation Portable console to attendees at this year’s E3 in Los Angeles – we can confirm that the new console is indeed region-locked, so won’t play games from other markets.


Some prototype peripherals were also on display with the console: a keyboard, camera and even a GPS unit (presumably so that kids can answer that perennial question for themselves: are we there yet?).


With a launch in Japan by the end of 2004, followed by European and US launches Spring 2005, it won’t be long before consumers get their hands on these to see what they’re like for themselves.



PSP™ Product Specifications Product Name:  PlayStation®Portable (PSP)   Color: 		Black   Dimensions: 	Approx. 170 mm (L) x 74 mm (W) x 23 mm (D)   Weight:  		Approx. 260 g (including battery)   CPU: 		PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)   Main Memory: 	32MB   Embedded DRAM:	4MBDisplay: 		4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD 		480 x 272 pixel (16.77 million colors) 		Max. 200 cd/m2 (with brightness control)  Speakers:  	Built-in stereo speakers  Main Input/Output: IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi) 		USB 2.0 (Target) 		Memory Stick™ PRO Duo 		IrDA  		IR Remote (SIRCS)    Disc Drive: 	UMD Drive (Playback only)  Profile: 		PSP Game 		UMD Audio 		UMD Video  Main Connectors: 	DC OUT 5V  		Terminals for charging built-in battery  		Headphone/Microphone/Control connector Keys/Switches: 	Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)Analog pad 		Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square) 		Left, Right keys 		START, SELECT, HOME 		POWER On/Hold/Off switch 		Brightness control, Sound Mode, Volume +/- 		Wireless LAN On/Off switch 		UMD Eject  Power: 		Built-in lithium-ion battery, AC adaptor  Access Control:  	Region Code, Parental Control  Accessories: 	Stand 		Headphone with remote commander 		Headphone with remote commander and microphone 		External battery pack 		Case 		StrapUMD Specifications Dimensions: 	Approx. 65 mm (W) x 64 mm (D) x 4.2 mm (H)   Weight: 		Approx. 10g   Disc Diameter:  	60 mm   Maximum Capacity:	1.8GB (Single-sided, dual layer)  Laser wavelength: 	660nm (Red laser)   Encryption: 	AES 128bit

In-Game Advertising with Massive

I must confess, the first time I fired up WipeOut in 1995 and sailed under that Red Bull banner (scraping my way along the barrier), I was impressed by this new collision of real products and virtual worlds. Even though it’d been done before, this was, to me at least, the most impressive example at the time. Mind you, I’ve only just ceased being amused by the Dole logos in Super Monkey Ball.

Fast forward a few years and product placement and advertising is everywhere in games – sometimes it works, sometimes it’s intrusive. A football game without any ads on the pitch would look strange, yet fantasy RPGs with soft drink product placement would break the sense of immersion.

Massive Incorporated, a New York based company have come up with a solution for games development houses keen to acquire revenue through placing adverts in their games, and for advertisers desperate to reach all those gamers that don’t watch TV any more.

Massive Ad Server is a service for streaming advertising into games live through an internet connection – allowing more adverts in games, and hopefully keeping them focused. Advertising is traditionally hard coded into games, and so the ad is never updated – this gets fresh advertising in to games, and allows the sponsor and products to be changed and updated.

Massive back the service up with a sales team that have advertisers keen to reach gamers in-game, using information gathered about the game and its demographics. No point in streaming Barbie ads to young adults playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, is there?

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this one really. Given that 20% fewer men between 18 – 24 are watching TV these days, advertisers need new ways to reach audiences. Gaming is a good way to do it – but the second I see Link wearing Nike, I’m taking up croquet.

Massive Incorporated

Nintendo DS Specs

Nintendo have been leader of the hand-held video game platform for the past fifteen years – no-one has ever been able to come close. Many have tried – Sega with the Game Gear, Atari with their Lynx console. Sony even had a mild go with the PocketStation. What do you mean you’ve never heard of it?

Nintendo’s monopoly of the market is even more surprising considering how dated their GameBoy platform is looking. They got away with the standard GameBoy for nearly ten years before finally adding colour to it. Even the GBA SP isn’t an enormous leap beyond previous GameBoys.

With Nokia’s N-GAGE QD on the horizon and the PlayStation Portable getting closer every day, Nintendo know that they’ve got to release something pretty special to stay ahead – hence the DS.

Rumours flew around the internet for months over what the machine would be like – and it seems that some of the more outlandish claims are actually true.

Here are the facts:

  • It has really does have two screens

  • It’s true, one of the screens has touch input

  • The two processors allow true 3D polygon graphics on both screens

  • Voice recognition is built in

  • It has built in wireless communications

  • It has a chat client

  • The battery is rechargeable like the GBA SP

  • The game media is smaller than a GBA game cartridge – and can store over a gigabit


The new console is certainly innovative – and might well prevent Sony or Nokia taking over their party, but we’ve yet to see any confirmation on how much it’s going to cost. Since the console is certainly not a phone, its price won’t be subsidised with a service contract – but we think it’ll probably come in a bit cheaper than Sony’s PSP, which is being targeted at an older (and slightly richer audience). This puts it at about $150 (€127)– but what will this mean for the suddenly, massively, outdated GBA SP at $100 (€84.50)?
Nintendo on the DS

BT Announce 70% Reduction in Local Loop Price

BT has been under considerable pressure for some time to reduce the cost access to the last mile of copper linking households to telephone exchanges, and it looks like they’ve finally done something about it.

The cost of Local Loop Unbundling has long been accused of preventing rival broadband providers from offering competitive products to BT. Ofcom are on the eve of announcement regarding BT’s treatment of the situation – hence BT’s timing, no doubt. BT hope to reduce the need for regulatory intervention – and this demonstrates that they would have been quite happy to sit there enjoying the status quo had Ofcom not accused them of overcharging.

BT chief executive Ben Verwaayen said in a statement: “Our announcement marks a major move towards the telecommunications market of the future. BT has always argued that a market needs to develop in which those who are willing to invest and innovate can reap the rewards. This is a significant step in that direction.

“We now have a far clearer idea of how Ofcom sees the market developing and we share their view that competition based at the infrastructure level will be good for everyone and for the UK in general.

“Their statements about regulatory certainty are crucial as we have enormously ambitious plans for the networks of the future and require that certainty for shareholders if we are going to invest the huge sums required.

“BT took a bold step forward two years ago when it cut the price of broadband and changed the shape of the broadband industry. This is an equally ambitious move and one we are confident will have long term benefits for both the UK and BT.”

The price cuts will take effect form 1 June – the monthly rental price for the existing LLU product will drop from £4.42 to £2.26 (€6.59 to €3.37), connection charges will now be £83.33 (€174.38), down from £117 (€124.20).

Ofcom

BT on the announcement

Napster Signs Distribution Deal With the Association of Independent Music

Napster will have just acquired another 50,000 tracks for their summer launch in the UK in a new deal with the Association of Independent Music (AIM). AIM is a UK body of 800 independent music companies, and Napster have licensed tracks from 50 of them. US Napster users will have access to the music too, once it has been uploaded.

“Napster creates the ultimate community experience for music fans and the variety, quality and originality of music from the independent UK sector is a vital to delivering this experience,” said Napster president Brad Duea. “The Association of Independent Music has shown great foresight in joining forces with Napster at this time and has underlined its reputation as an influential player on the international music scene.”

“Napster is going to make a big difference to music fans in the UK. At last we have a legitimate service from the world’s leading online brand, which offers flexibility in streaming and downloading to music fans. It also takes our music to fans around the world, confirming the promise that the internet can deliver a global business to independent artists and record companies,” said AIM chairman and chief executive Alison Wenham.

Artists made available through the deal include darlings of Hoxtonites such as Coldcut and Kruder & Dorfmeister. Billy Bragg will also be available.

Wippit, a subscription-based music service previously reported here has also just licensed tracks from Sony Music for distribution in the UK and Ireland. Sony Music’s artists include Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce.

It looks like the battle for legal music downloads is hotting up with Napster and iTunes launching almost simultaneously in the next few weeks.

Napster UK – get five free tracks when it launches

AIM

Picture Messaging Slow in the UK

Although picture messaging seems very popular with troops in Iraq at the moment, the service is yet to make any impact in the UK, says a survey by NOP.

Texting took a while to take off – but look what happened when it eventually did. Network providers are hoping for much the same thing – in fact, Sicap, who provide messaging products to mobile operators are rather hoping that Euro 2004 and the Olympic games will lure customers into MMS adoption.

There are two main reasons given for the lack of messaging: 45% don’t have a handset (kind of crucial, really – and also applies if your friends don’t have any either), and 17% don’t know how to send them. Odd then, that they would go to the expense of buying such a well-featured phone. But given that I still receive text messages THAT LOOK LIKE THIS, then it’s not surprising that people only have a limited amount of patience in learning how things work.

Indeed, on the rare occasions when I venture out, there seems to be little use of picture phones in real life situations. Phone users tend to take a few snaps when they first get their new phone, but after a while apathy, privacy infringement fears and the hail of tutting from those nearby soon dampen any enthusiasm for sending your mates a picture of the great time you’re pretending to have.

“The findings of our survey highlight that we will still have a lot more to do as an industry to encourage consumers to embrace MMS in the same way as they have SMS,” said Per-Johan Lundin, Head of Marketing, Sicap. “The first goal is to drive as many MMS compatible handsets into the hands of users as possible. Secondly, the services need to extremely user friendly like Vodafone Live. But the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle is compelling content. Some of this will be generated by users themselves but a lot will need to be generated around the content that consumers are really interested in like sports.”

If picture messaging is this slow in the UK, then you can bet it’s nowhere in the US, which tends to drag behind Europe in the mobile market.

Sicap

Google Revamps Blogger Service

Google has completed a revamp of its Blogger site, adding a number of new features and another 27 design templates to the service.

Possibly the most exciting feature is the addition of email posting, so now bloggers can update their site from anywhere where they have email – handy for updating blogs whilst on the move if you have a PDA.

Google are keen to build a community between bloggers with new facilities for adding comments to blogs and setting up blogger profiles. Profiles can automatically link to other bloggers with similar interests.

Evan Williams, Blogger program manager at Google said: “We are focusing on helping users connect to one another, and that has always been a core part of blogging, with the combination of profiles and comments, we make it more built in than it’s ever been before.”

Blogger

Are There Really 1.67 million Illegal Movie Downloaders in the UK?

The British Video Association (BVA) has surveyed 16,000 people between 12 and 74 and extrapolated that there are 1.67 million illegal film downloaders in the UK, as they believe that 4% of the population are indulging in the practice.

We think this gives an inaccurate picture. The entire population doesn’t have internet access, and downloading all of Kill Bill Volume 1 on a dialup is frankly insane, limiting this kind of piracy to broadband subscribers. Ofcom estimates that there are around 4 million broadband homes out there – so perhaps 4% of them are downloading, making it roughly 160,000 pirates (which we feel is more accurate), or perhaps 25% of broadband subscribers are pirates (which we doubt).

The BVA goes on to estimate that this downloaders cost the video industry £45 million (€) in lost revenue. A quick calculation on the back of an HP48 shows that this is roughly two full price DVDs per downloader – yet the BVA goes on to say that the average downloader grabs some 30 films and TV episodes a year. Since many downloaders like to collect and share files for kudos, we suspect the picture in the UK is of around 160,000 pirates downloading 30 films.

Interestingly, according to the survey, the average downloader is under 35, male, and lives in the south of England – presumably because broadband is more prevalent there and not because they’re more prone to thieving.

The BVA’s report

Blockbuster’s Online DVD Rentals

Blockbuster Video have launched an online DVD rental business, much like that offered by Netflix. With a £13.99 (€20.78) subscription, customers can order up to three DVDs at a time from the online service. Blockbuster are are offering a library of 15,000 titles initially, with many more planned.

The service works in a similar fashion to those already in the market – you select titles from the website and up to three are sent to you from your list of desired films. When you’ve finished with a film, you return it in the reply paid envelope and the next film in your list is sent out to you. Subscribers never pay for postage no matter how many rentals they make in a month.

“Many of our customers rent on impulse and our stores are the perfect solution for this. However, the online service will suit those with very busy lifestyles who want a more up-to-date choice of movie than is available on the premium channels. It will be like having a multiplex in your front room.” said Steve Foulser, commercial vice-president of Blockbuster.

This is not Blockbuster’s first venture away from traditional forms for entertainment rental – the company is currently working with Kingston Communications to offer a video on demand rental service in Hull. Movies cost between £2 and £3.50 (€2.98 and €5.20) for a 24 hour rental, with television programmes costing £0.50 (€0.74) each.

Blockbuster