Netflix Launch Set-Top Box
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The online DVD rental service, Netflix, have launched a new set-top box that will allow subscribers to watch streamed movies on their televisions. The $99.99 set-top box is made by Roku and will link up with any wireless or wired network and TV. Once linked up, it will then stream content straight to the TV. The service will cost $8.99 per month, for the unlimited viewing option.
Netflix have announced that they already have over 10,000 movies available for download and they plan to offer more titles every week. The set-top box is really an extension of their current service where they allow users to stream content to their PCs, but using the set-top box they can now play these movies in their living rooms which are undoubtedly going to be more comfortable and convenient.
CBS - Internet Domination
The CBS purchase of CNET last week gives them a massive chance to reach millions more Internet users every single day. Whilst $1.8 billion may seem like a lot of money, especially with today’s markets not being particularly stable, they are gaining access to a selection of some of the most popular news and download sites on the net.
The purchased sites include: ZDNet, Gamespot, News.com, TV.com, MP3.com and Download.com - all of which already have a very good following - with Download.com being particularly popular for software and driver downloads.
I don’t think that this is going to be the last of the traditional TV networks breaking into the online world and purchasing digital property. After Rupert Murdoch’s (Sky) purchase of MySpace, and now the CBS acquisition of CNET, there will certainly be TV execs around the world looking for the next juicy target. Any predictions on who will be next?
AOL Purchase Bebo - Anyone Else Think This Is Doomed Already?
AOL, one of the more hated ISPs due to their horrific software and awful support, are purchasing the social networking website Bebo for $850m (£417m). Bebo is currently the third largest social networking website, behind Myspace and Facebook. Bebo have more than 40 million members worldwide, so there will be plenty of users for AOL to deliver their advertising drivel to.
The price of the Bebo brand is rather insignificant when compared to the price that Microsoft paid ($240m)for a paltry 1.6% of Facebook last year. Or in fact, the price that was paid for Myspace by News Corp ($580m) in 2005. News Corp now value the Myspace brand at more than $15bn. I’d love to have some of what they’re smoking…
There has been a lot of interest in social networking sites over the last couple of years and it is easy to see why. Social networking websites are seen as a very valuable method of online advertising due to the fact that the sites’ members post information about themselves and their interests and adverts can be targetted specifically towards those interests.
It will be very interesting to see what AOL do with the Bebo brand, as they’ve really failed to deliver anything useful in the ISP stakes over the last few years. I’ve lost count of the customers (mainly home users) over the last few years who I’ve supported and helped with removing AOL due to the software being bloated and about as fun to use as poking yourself in the eye with pins. Likewise, there isn’t a day that goes by without someone spamming me with Bebo invites and telling me to come and share my life with them on yet another social networking site. So with Bebo’s spam and AOL’s awful ISP reputation, I’m predicting that this will now be a ticking timebomb.
What do you think about AOL taking over Bebo? And does anyone have anything nice to say about either brand?
HD-DVD Nets Toshiba A Cool $1bn Loss - Ouch!
Abandoning the HD-DVD format has resulted in a massive loss for Toshiba, to the tune of $1bn (well $986 million to be exact), according to Reuters.
This is an amazing statistic and just goes to show that losing a battle with a rival in the current technology climate can have huge implications on your year-end profits, let alone the fact that if you are not established in other markets you could go out of business altogether.
I don’t know about you, but when I read out $1bn to myself, I’m saying it in an Austin Powers voice.
Out of interest, did any readers purchase a HD-DVD unit? If so, what will you be doing with it now? Do you have a creative use for it?
Xbox 360: European Price-cuts
Microsoft have announced that they are slashing the price of their European Xbox 360 consoles. This will be welcome news for buyers who are looking to get their first next-gen console or perhaps add to their next-gen console collection. If you’ve just purchased one at the current prices…you might feel a little less happy.
From the 14th March, the 20Gb hard drive model will cost €270 across Europe, which is a price drop of €80.
In the UK, the entry-level Xbox 360 console (which does not have a hard drive!), will be available for £159.99. This is a price drop of £40 from the previous price of £199.99. The top level Xbox 360 console which is Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite will be on sale for £259.99. The Elite has a 120Gb hard drive.
Microsoft’s price drops mean that their consoles are now cheaper than both their Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii counterparts. The PS3 currently sells for £299.99 (40Gb hard drive), and the Wii retails at £180.
The price cuts are due to Microsoft losing ground on their rivals, as both competitors have been outselling the Xbox 360 on a monthly basis. There’s no doubt that Sony and Nintendo will be viewing these price cuts with added interest and it’ll be fun to see how they react.
Do you own an Xbox 360 or will these new lower prices entice you into getting one?