• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

Microsoft to take on Google and Apple?

January 5, 2011 09.34 Europe/London By Robert Briel

CES 2011 – LAS VEGAS. According to various US reports, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer is said to unveil a new Windows-powered set top box to take on Google TV and Apple TV. Ballmer is expected to make the announcement during the opening keynote this Wednesday.

The keynote will start at 6.30pm PST (or Thursday, 02.30 GMT) and can be followed live in a webcast from the Microsoft website. Following a number of unsuccessful attempts, Microsoft is rumoured to once again try to enter the connected TV market.

Both Google and Apple are struggling to move into this market. A number of hardware manufacturers were expected to show their latest Google TV product at this year’s CES, but Google has asked them to refrain from doing so. Meanwhile, Apple has announced it sold one million Apple TVs just before Christmas.

The new Windows TV set-top boxes will reportedly run the Windows embedded platform and utilise the Windows Media Center interface. The new STBs are expected to sell for just under $200 (EUR 150).

Connected TVs will be on show with a lot of manufacturers in Vegas. Sales of connected TVs will more than double over the next two years, with more than 100 million sets sold in 2013, according to research by DisplaySearch.

When Ballmer takes centre stage, we can again pose the question – is Microsoft the right company to achieve success in the world of interactive TV? So far, all their projects have failed. Who remembers Web TV? A small US start-up, in which Dutch CE manufacturer Philips was also a minority investor, which aimed to bring the world wide web to the TV set. An attempt to sell the service as MSN TV to (elderly) people without a computer failed.

Then there was Microsoft TV, which would bring full interactivity to cable networks. At least, that was the plan and one UPC was planning to introduce in the late 90s. They never did – except for one operator in Portugal in 2001. And French company Alcatel tried to sell their early IPTV products bundled with Microsoft TV software. The idea evolved in Multiroom – as used by AT&T’s IPTV service in the US.

Another go at the TV market was the concept of Windows Media Center, which involved having a built-in analogue TV tuner (!) in the PC. By doing so, it tuner the computer into a de facto TV set with PVR. The idea wasn’t so bad, but until now, it didn’t catch the consumer’s imagination.

Can Microsoft be successful this time? We are not so sure – especially when we look at the cold reception Google TV is getting from the established forces in the entertainment world. For them, one Apple and iTunes store seems to be enough. No more out-of-left-fielders, if they can help it.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Connected TV, Editor's Choice, Newsline, Tech, Top Story Tagged With: Apple TV, Google TV, Microsoft Edited: 6 January 2011 11:48

About Robert Briel

Arnhem-based Robert covers the Benelux, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as IPTV, web TV, connected TV and OTT. Email Robert at rbriel@broadbandtvnews.com.

Latest News

  • BBC journalists threaten action over News Channel merger
  • Ukrainians reluctant to pay for sports TV
  • Aleksander Kutela to head Ringier Axel Springer Polska
  • CEO Thorsten Dirks to leave Deutsche Glasfaser
  • Take part in steaming technology survey

Watch Video

Xperi on using AI to identify your audience – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Patrick Byrden, Xperi's VP of Business Development & Strategy, tells Julian Clover how the company is using AI to detect who is watching the TV, and providing them with more relevant content. … [Watch Now ...]

EKT backing RDK – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Jill Mulder, VP Marketing, EKT discusses how viewing habits and the role of the operator is changing and why EKT now backing RDK, with Broadband TV News editor Julian Clover. … [Watch Now ...]

Free Ebook

eBook: The Full Guide to IP Monitoring

IP is the future of your facility, if not already your everyday reality. It enables incredible agility and cost savings, but also introduces a new set of challenges. Read The Full Guide to IP Monitoring to learn about the best practices for IP monitoring in live production, playout and OTT and the methods to help you to reduce complexity in these workflows. … [Download the eBook...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2022 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...