Apple: Original Programming

Original content -- another reason to have a better delivery system. 

I think that the Mobile Phone companies are the best place to watch for this reason. They are going to use ad-supported free content, and the bigger and more shared the screen (and more often) the better. 

In my opinion, services like Go90 from Verizon, and BingeOn from T-Mobile are what to watch. 


Business Insider

The California-based technology giant is reportedly planning to bundle original video content with its Apple Music subscription service by the end of 2017.

It has apparently been talking to "veteran producers" about both original TV shows and movies — though the movie plans are reportedly more "preliminary." Apple has already shown some appetite for original video content — it bought the "Carpool Karaoke" TV series starring James Corden in July. But this would be a significant broadening of these ambitions.

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Historically, Apple has been all about "hits" — launching huge, revolutionary products that provide a major boost to the company (in theory). But with the exception of the Apple Watch, it hasn't launched a significant new product since Tim Cook became CEO in 2011, and sales growth of iPhones — on which the company is highly reliant — is slowing.

Subscription services offer Apple an opportunity to generate recurring revenue and better monetise its existing user base.

Even if Apple isn't immediately seeking to go head-to-head with the likes of Netflix and Amazon, it would still be a development of concern to the two subscription services. Apple enjoys enormous profits and has huge cash reserves — and is under increasing pressure to find new growth. If it develops the will to go all-in on original content, it has the resources to outspend anyone else in the market.

Forbes Predictions for Media in 2017

PicoP isn't mentioned, but everything here bodes well for it.

Forbes -- More at the source.

Wireless providers like AT&T can now let their subscribers access their DirecTV live and DVR'ed content for free on their AT&T phones. With Time Warner content in the AT&T family, those subscribers will also be able to watch even more HBO, Turner or Warner Brothers content in the same way. Verizon (VZ) has tried to make its own play for content by snapping up sports rights like the NFL and NBA for their subscribers to stream. They're also building their GO90 video content service to entice subscribers. What will Sprint (S) or T-Mobile (TMUS) do in response? 

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Expect more mega-media deals along the lines of an AT&T / Time Warner, as well as smaller Comcast-DreamWorks content stockpiling deals this year. If you've built the pipes to get customers, these companies will need to think of interesting stuff to show on those pipes to keep customers.

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If mobile net neutrality or no data caps on certain content is going to become increasingly important, why wouldn't Comcast want to launch its own wireless service when it already owns the content? Expect more MVNOs (or mobile virtual network operators)

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As this 8 year stock rally continues in the coming years, it wouldn't at all be unprecedented to see cash become an increasingly bigger component of new deals. Therefore, if the Trump Administration also allows companies to return offshore cash to the US to invest in more jobs and do more deals, this should act as a further stimulant to more deals.

Hilarious & Good MotoMod Review

MotoMod is starting to get some attention from various reviewers (myself included) and the reviews have generally been positive. 

PicoP is a lot better of course...  so, when whatever is in the way of mass introduction is out of the way, I expect really good things.
Just this week, for example, I walked into the kitchen and found my mom talking to my sister-in-law and her mom about the kind of things that Filipino women talk about when they get together in the, well, kitchen. Like that two-minute period when I passed out after being run over by a car, I honestly have no recollection of what the ladies were talking about because I tend to tune out that kind of small talk. That sound you hear, by the way, is the sheer wind pressure generated by millions of Filipino men furiously nodding in agreement.

Anyway, I decided to surprise them by suddenly turning off the lights. As they looked around with some confusion, I turned on the projector attachment on this phone I was testing and started playing a YouTube video about the Hokkaido Ice Festival on the kitchen wall.

“What’s that?” my mom said. “Wait, are you doing that with a phone?”

As they all started talking about how nice it would be to get a new phone, I decided to take a few steps back, which made the display even bigger. My showmanship was like freaking Steve Jobs at an iPhone unveiling.

“Ooooh!” one of them said. “Look how big the picture is!”

By the time I was done, my mom and sister in law practically agreed that they both wanted to get a new phone. Then I remembered that the last time they both got new phones at the same time, my brother and I were the ones who ended up paying. Nice, going Sherlock. Or is that Einstein? You know, I think it's time send this phone and projector back to Verizon.

Moto Insta-Share Projector

So what was this pocket-size projector that wowed my family? That would be the Moto Insta-Share Projector, one of several “MotoMods” that can attach to the back of a Moto Z Force Droid or other compatible Motorola phone. That includes the Verizon-exclusive Moto Z Force Droid, which I recently reviewed.

I get up close with the MotoMod Insta-Share Projector

So, last night found me in Seattle. After connecting with friends in Edmonds, I stopped at a Verizon store in the Alderwood Mall hopes of finding a MotoMod InstaShare Projector. They had it in the store and the manager was willing to let me operate it for a while. (Thanks Caitlin)

I managed to get hold of it. They keep it in the back. They have a difficult time keeping them charged up when it's out front.

The picture is pretty good relative to it's specs. It's good enough to enjoy the content, but not nearly as good as that offered by the PicoPro. 

I had to constantly fiddle with the focus wheel to get a focused picture. There was a wide focus range. It was quite difficult to find the place where the picture looked good. 

Most of the heat seemed to come from the phone, and not the projector unit. I'm almost certain the projector has a fan -- the environment was loud, and when I turned the sound all the way down I could still hear a hiss from the back.

The battery life is a very significant issue with this projector. I used it for maybe fifteen minutes at most, and the battery went from 36% down to 3% in that time. This may be because this sample battery has been abused by rapid, frequent and partial charge and re-charge.

I asked what the reaction to it is, (yes, I know that we're dealing with sales people here.) and the report was that it was very popular, and there's been a lot of demand for it.

This is the competition -- and Microvision can outclass this easily. I've been invited to bring the PicoPro back and do a side by side comparison. I'm not sure when I'll get down there again, but hopefully soon.

Watching Soccer

So, here a projector that is really poor next to PicoP is regarded as mind-blowing.  More that no one really knows the tech exists, it's connected here to Verizon's Go90 service.

He's also alerting a lot of soccer(football) fans about it -- and that's a pretty huge market.

Pretty soon he'll see PicoP -- and be really blown away..


World Soccer Talk  (More at the source)

I had a chance to demo new technology recently that blew my mind.

Watching as much soccer as I do and I’m sure you do too, the rate that technology is changing our viewing experience is progressing at a slow and steady pace. Many of us are watching more soccer via legal streams than we used to. We’re also watching a wider array of leagues, teams and competitions as the sport becomes more accessible than it ever has. And for many of us, nowadays we’re watching our soccer games across a wider array of devices other than just the television.

So I was pleasantly surprised last week to stumble across a technology that I wasn’t aware even existed. I hadn’t seen or heard of it, but the idea is novel and could be something that soccer fans, like you, can use.

It’s the ability to snap a small projector on to your smartphone so you can beam soccer streams from your phone to your wall in your home, dorm, office or anywhere you want.