rAVe HomeAV Edition Volume 4, Issue 9 – May 10, 2007

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Video Download Services Finally Arrive
Part 4: Amazon Unbox for TiVo

By Denise Harrison, Editor-in-Chief, rAVe
dharrison@kayye.com

Consumers are starting to ask about downloading movies from the internet, and it can only be assumed they'll be asking local HomeAV installers how and where to do it. You, the installer, will want to know the answer so that you don't appear out of touch with the latest technologies and, importantly, because that question could lead to a business opportunity. So, we at rAVe present this series to you about the different services available.

You can read Part 1 at:

http://www.ravehome.com/issues/2007/03/rhvol4iss6/index.html#feature

Part 2:

http://www.ravehome.com/issues/2007/04/rhvol4iss7/index.html#feature

Of all the internet feature film offerings, Netflix is by far the simplest. You hit

Part 3:

http://www.ravehome.com/issues/2007/04/rhvol4iss8/index.html#feature

All the video and movie download services we've covered so far in this series require a PC or notebook computer somewhere in the distribution path. CinemaNow, Movielink, Vongo, and Netflix instant viewing "Watch Now" let consumers watch a movie or episodic television show on the PC screen. Or, more awkwardly in the average home, they can string a cable between the PC to the TV in order to watch that content on the bigger screen.

When smart TVs with built-in PC/internet functionality dominate the market (and I assume they will), the CFOs of these services will be cheering. With integrated TVPCs, these services will be easy for consumers to adopt. Users will be able to use the TV remote control from their sofas to acquire content right from the internet and watch it together on the big screen TV, all from a central box.

Until then, there is currently only one movie download service that doesn't require a PC to store the video. It does require a broadband-connected TiVo box, but 1.5 million homes already have a networked TiVo connected to the TV. So, this model has a bit of a head start.

There are three things that make Amazon Unbox for TiVo the most elegant solution on the market.

1. Mac users can use this. This is a huge deal! Mac users can't use any of the movie download services that we covered in previous parts of this series. They can use iTunes, of course, but otherwise, they're pretty limited. And they can't use Amazon Unbox. But Amazon Unbox for TiVo lets anyone with a browser, no matter what platform, use the service.
2. The download goes directly to the TiVo box. Users select the movie from the webpage and when it's done downloading, the title appears on the "Now Playing" list just as does any other TiVo recording. That means a user could order a movie off the internet while at work and have it waiting at home at the end of the day. Until recently, there was no easier way to get an internet download onto the TV (Apple TV being the new contender).
3. Once you purchase an Unbox title, Amazon stores it for you forever. This is a first: users who buy videos from Amazon Unbox don't have to worry about the massive storage required for keeping a digital video library. Amazon says they will store your purchased videos for you, on their end, letting you download them again whenever you wish. (That service is sometimes restricted on new releases, so you have to do a little homework.)

Amazon Unbox has both purchase and rental options. To test the service, I chose to rent "Hollywoodland" ($3.99). Once I registered (a very fast process), Amazon Unbox immediately recognized my two different TiVo boxes and what they are called. So, when I chose the movie, it let me choose the destination TiVo.

Sure enough, it was listed in my "Now Playing" list along with my other recordings. There was no difference, so there was simply no learning curve.

There are two cautions, however, and they both have to do with how long the recording is kept. First, users have to be sure, before they do the download, that there is enough room on the TiVo box to receive it. Second, users have to check the "keep until" feature. Rentals from Amazon Unbox for TiVo should remain available for 30 days, or for 24 hours after you hit play. So, when you look at the listing on the "Now Playing" list, it will show you a date that is 30 days later, but there is also a "keep until" section that is separate and is basically estimating when other scheduled downloads (such as from the Season Pass) will bump this recording for lack of room. If the user is an avid TiVo user, that date could be imminent. So they'll have to change it from within the TiVo box to, preferably, "keep until I delete."

The picture on the TV was incredible. It was easily DVD quality, and there was nothing to indicate the download had any interruptions during the process. It appeared artifact-free.

Most feature films are $14.99 to purchase and $3.99 to rent, which is comparable to other services.

The only complaints that I have about these services are common to all: you can't get closed-captions and you don't get the special features available on most DVDs.

Bottom Line:

For TiVo users, this is probably the winning service. Not only does it provide a TiVo owner the most direct path to watching downloads on the television, Amazon Unbox for TiVo ALSO lets users download a selection on up to two PCs or TiVo DVRs and two portable devices at any one time. So, there is a ton of flexibility in terms of where and when you want to watch a download.

Opportunities in HomeAV

This service probably offers the least opportunity for the HomeAV installer among those services we looked at so far. TiVo owners tend to install the systems themselves, and the video goes right to the TV, so there is not as much challenge for the homeowner to use it as there is with other download services. It's certainly, however, an option you can offer customers for whom you are installing whole home networks.

Next issue: the newest contender — Apple TV!

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Thanks to our sponsor D-Tools, worldwide leader in easy-to-use, highly accurate system design software. System Integration just got easier!

CEDIA's Industry Outreach Team Presses On

CEDIA, an American Institute of Architects Cornerstone Partner, exhibited at the 2007 AIA convention at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX May 3 – 5.

CEDIA provided three education courses. Each course was instructed by Utz Baldwin, CEDIA's Vice President and Industry Outreach Chair, and Seth Lauritzen, a CEDIA ROI Instructor. The courses that CEDIA offered included: "Working with Technology", "The Fully Integrated Home", and "Understanding Media Systems and Home Theaters."

If you have any questions regarding the AIA Show or the American Institute of Architects please contact the CEDIA Industry Outreach Department at (800) 669-5329.

Come One Come All!

Its CEDIA EXPO time! Can you believe it? Spend one intense week, September 5-9 in Denver, CO and increase your bottom line. Online registration officially opens June 1 at 8:00 a.m. (PDT), and register before July 11 to receive early bird discounts on education, tradeshow floor access, golf outing participation, and your awards banquet ticket.

If you would like more information visit to www.cedia.org/expo or call (800) 669-5329.

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The Kitchen as a Digital Hub

The ideal components of a digital kitchen were demonstrated this month at the 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show. One component is a digital calendar that can be viewed on a large screen and used for adding appointments as well as adding notes, and can be accessed from both the kitchen or over the internet. Another desired option is a recipe projection system, and they prefer wireless and even voice-recognition systems for controlling these functions. A possible application is projecting the recipe onto a surface in the kitchen from a small cabinet-mounted device. Those surveyed also wanted to monitor energy consumption by area (family room, swimming pool, etc.) and by appliance (hot water heater, etc.); to monitor energy usage by circuit in order to see where they might be wasting energy.

Obviously, a home control station is on the wish list. Consumers want a home control station in their kitchen that allows them to manage their HVAC and security systems. They also requested a screen where they can view the temperature inside and outside the home, with the ability to adjust the thermostat on a touch pad. They also want security with the ability to view live video of both the front and back of their house.

A universal charging station for PDAs and cell phones as well as wireless internet access were other functions listed as desirable by the survey respondents.

For more details, go to http://www.caba.org/iha/dkit/DigitalKitchenReleaseFinal.pdf

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LG Incorporates HD in the Fridge

This remote-controlled, cable-ready, high-definition LCD screen also includes an FM radio on the right door and a DVD connection on top of the unit.

The left door houses a four-inch Weather & Info Center LCD display located above the ice and water dispenser. Options include weather forecasts, a recipe bank, a digital photo album and date/time clock and calendar with anniversary alarm.

The LG HDTV Refrigerator, model LSC27990TT, will be available in the second quarter of 2007 at MSRP of $3,999.

This is not yet up on the website, but for more on similar products, go to http://us.lge.com/products/category/list/home%20appliances_refrigerators_side-by-side.jhtml

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New Line of Remote-Controlled Flat-Panel Art Coverings From Media Décor

Prices start at $2,495.

For more information, go to http://www.mediadecor.com/Pages/Illusion%20Series.htm

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Kramer Introduces High Performance Component Video Cables for Home Theater, Commercial Applications

The C-R3VM/R3VM family has three conductors for component video (Y Pb Pr/Y Cb Cr/Y R-Y B-Y and YUV) signal use and the C-R4VM/R4VM has four conductors, three for the video signals, and one for digital audio (S/PDIF, Dolby Digital, DTS, Pro Logic II, etc). Both families of cable are housed in a single rugged jacket and are terminated with gold plated and color coded RCA connectors. These cables are compatible with any standard or high definition analog component video signal. The cables come in standard lengths of 3, 6, 10, 15, 25, 35 and 50 feet (from .91 to 154 meters).

The C-R3VM/R3VM and C-R4VM/R4VM cable families are shipping. Prices start at $33 list price for a 3 foot version of the C-R3VM/R3VM cable and go up to $94 list price for a 50 foot version. Prices for the C-R4VM/R4VM start at $37 list price for a 3 foot version and go up to $104 for a 50 foot version.

For more information, go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com/news_full_story.asp?iNews=205

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New Power Cords From Middle Atlantic Designed Specifically for Rack Components

Available in packs of four, IEC Power Cords are color coded and are available in lengths of 6", 12", 18", 24" and 36".

For more information, go to http://www.middleatlantic.com/index.htm

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V 3.1 of Lagotek Adds Distributed AV Control to Whole Home Control

Distributed audio/video control functionality was made available by integrating multi-zone solutions from Russound CAA44, CAA66 and CAV6.6. Support for General Electric SmartCom Audiohub CC-SCAMP4 was also implemented to fulfill requests from new home builders.

Lagotek HIP version 3.1 supports Global Cache GC-100 Network adapters for customers who want to control their current audio and video equipment using Lagotek's HIP. The GC-100 can be used to control multiple IR audio and video devices. Lagotek's HIP IR lets installers configure existing equipment and entertainment activities, so users can turn on the TV, switch it to the desired input, turn on the amplifier and switch to the channel with one touch of a button. For the devices that are not supported in the existing IR database, Lagotek HIP provides IR learning capabilities.

Also, Lagotek uses dual wireless technology. Lagotek HIP100 panels are WiFi and Z-Wave compatible.

For more information, go to http://www.lagotek.com/

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No Chump Change: Report Indicates Average Household Spends $1,200 a Year on Gadgets

And this is ADULT spending, not teen or tween.

The top five growth sectors were DVRs, network routers or hubs, MP3 players, cable modems and digital cameras. DVR ownership and network/routers in U.S. households grew eight percent since 2006 to 25 and 30 percent respectively. Thirty-two percent of households now own an MP3 player, up seven percentage points since last year. Cable modem ownership grew six percentage points and digital camera ownership rose to 62 percent of all U.S. households.

"It's interesting to note here that two of the fastest movers and shakers in the CE industry are devices that enable home networking," said CEA Senior Research Analyst Elena Caudle. "The other three products enable consumers to create, shift or transport digital content. As consumers continue to embrace digital technology this new convergence will continue to change the way Americans live, work and play."

Other categories with significant growth include HDTV with penetration reaching a quarter of U.S. homes. More than three-quarters of U.S homes have at least one cell phone; CEA estimates 178.5 million wireless phones are in use. DVD players have reached 84 percent household penetration and have surpassed VCRs, partially because of the availability of portable DVD players.

The study also sets out the spending habits of consumers by age demographics. While adults spend $1,200 annually on CE products, teens spend $350 each year – about half of their total annual discretionary income. Adults with children and teens spend up to $500 more on CE purchases than the national average.

"This is excellent news for the industry as children and teens who currently influence household CE purchase decisions grow up to become the next generation's early adopters," said Caudle.

The 9th Annual Household and Teen CE Ownership and Market Potential study was conducted in February 2007.

The complete study is available free to CEA member companies. Non-members can purchase the study for $999 at http://www.ebrain.org

For more information, go to http://www.ce.org/Press/CurrentNews/press_release_detail.asp?id=11274

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New Entry-Level MP3 Player From Creative

Users can drag and drop up to 250 songs to the Creative ZEN Stone. Choose "Play" or "Random" and listen to up to 10 hours per charge. Users can also skip between folders containing favorite artists or playlists.

The ZEN Stone can be personalized, with translucent skins that include a clip and are available in five matching colors, an armband that comes with a skin, and a keychain with a tiny case that carries the player.

The Creative ZEN Stone will also have its own unique docking speaker system, the Creative TravelSound ZEN Stone, which will be available in black or white in July. This will also be priced at $39.99 and it uses two AAA batteries.

For more information, go to http://us.creative.com

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New Video Dock for iPod From Altec Lansing

The built-in Apple universal dock fits an iPod, or users can listen to other MP3/4 players via the Aux input jack. RCA input connections also allow video play from other sources such as a camcorder or VCR. This unit uses a wireless remote.

The inMotion iMV712 will be available this month for $349.95.

For more information, go to http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details.asp?pID=IMV712

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CEDIA Featured on TV Show Later This Month

The show is scheduled to broadcast nationally on May 25 and May 27 on TLC and WE, with additional coverage on cable affiliates for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PAX and UPN. The first opportunity to view the episode will be at 7:00 a.m. PDT/EDT on May 25. It will continue to be aired at least 20 times in rerun version, says CEDIA.

For more information, go to http://www.cedia.net/press_media/designing_spaces.php

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