Walt Mossberg reports on two new set-top boxes that try to link the PC to the TV. They work fine, but have severe limitations:
The problem is that one of the boxes supplies content from a wide range of Internet video sources, but only works on selected models of one brand of TV set; the other works on a wide variety of TVs, but only provides a single source of content.
Why is it so hard to get this right?
It brings me back to the long-standing rumors that Google is working on a Google-branded PC. Back in '06, CNET reported that Google denied it was working on a device that would "link up a user's PC, TV, set-top box and cell phone."
I don't know about cell phones, but a PC optimized for cloud computing and streaming content to a TV would be a great thing to have, and is something Google should do.
It struck me last night as I was watching yet another round of synchronized diving on NBC. I appreciate the coverage of acrobatics and Michael Phelps and the swim team, but can't we get a little coverage of some other events? I mean, synchronized diving?
So I thought I'd see what MSNBC has online, and discovered I would have to download Microsoft's Silverlight to watch. My PC has enough problems without having to download another program Microsoft is unnecessarily trying to foist on us.
Get with the program, Google. This device is something that's needed, that people would appreciate, and that could really open up internet video for an alternative to TV programming. Force networks to let us see programs we missed and didn't TiVo. Break the single-network monopoly on the Olympic games. Bring more content to more people.
I gues the company is too busy with Android.