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Vizio Releases Web Enabled TV

The new line of Vizio TV’s will feature “Vizio Internet Apps” which basically provides features of a web connected PC to your television. Yea – it’s about time. This fully HDTV features 802.11 dual-band and wired networking and bluetooth universal remote with slide-out keyboard. It is built with a Yahoo Widget Engine and includes support for Adobe Flash that can deliver HD video, rich applications (AIR support?) and other web content.

Select Models of VIZIO XVT Series also include VIZIO Internet Apps “VIA”(TM) feature with Wireless Internet enabled content (42″, 47″ and 55″ sizes)

Here’s the prices and availability…

• 42″ – 1080p – July – $1,199.99
• 47″ – 1080p – October – $1,699.99
• 55″ – 1080p – September – $2,199.99

VIZIO’s VIA(TM) Connected HDTV feature incorporates multiple technologies and software services to enable a unique experience that hides all of the complexity from viewers. One such technology is the Yahoo! Widget Engine, which provides an open platform that allows a new class of Internet services, called TV Widgets, to thrive in the TV environment. VIZIO’s platform also includes support for the Adobe(R) Flash(R) Platform for the Digital Home, an optimized implementation of Flash technology that enables developers and content providers to deliver HD video, rich applications and other Web content to Internet-connected televisions, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players and other devices in the digital home.

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The Cyber War in Iran

This is one of the most advanced cyber battles I’ve seen and what is even more important is the involvement of citizens using social media to enter the trenches of this web based cyber war. Sides have been taken as protesters from around the world have collaborated and planned attacks, rallies, and protests via social media, especially Twitter.

via Wired – “Web Attacks Expand in Iran’s Cyber Battle“…

“We turned our collective power and outrage into a serious weapon that we could use at our will, without ever having to feel the consequences. We practiced distributed, citizen-based warfare,” writes Matthew Burton, a former U.S. intelligence analyst who joined in the online assaults, thanks to a “push-button tool that would, upon your click, immediately start bombarding 10 Web sites with requests.”

Distributed citizen based warfare… And I thought citizen journalism was cool – this definitely trumps that on a scale we’ve not seen before. Social Networks have provided millions of interconnected networks of people to band together and organize mass protests and attacks in an unprecedented manner.

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Real Time Blogging With FriendFeed

For the last couple weeks I have been live blogging here – but not in the traditional sense of being at an event and blogging about it in real time. I am talking about blogging in real time – writing, discussion, comments, everything. Let’s call it Real-Time Blogging so as not to get confused.

Why? Aside from real-time being the craze, live blogging in this manner creates a discussion around a topic rather than just writing something and leaving it for the Google robot and the long tail. I am an avid comment replier – If you comment on this blog you are likely to get a response within an hour, unless its the middle of the night. By blogging in real time I am able to re-purpose those comments into my post – making it that much better. I like to create conversations and discussions, not blog posts. I don’t want to write about something, I want to discuss topics to solve problems and develop new ideas. This method of real time blogging facilitates that.

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A Message To Hotels On WiFi

It’s nice to know I’m on the same wavelength as Jeremiah Owyang. You see I had this post in the oven a couple days ago and he drops a post on the exact same topic – “Hotels: Don’t Charge Us For Internet Use“.

I am traveling the rest of this week and need to get some work done – but I am dreading the $10/day WiFi charge that is likely to await me at the hotel. Jeremiah makes some good points on why your hotel should provide free WiFi. His first point is that providing free WiFi will likely keep him on the property longer, which means he’ll spend more money and have more meetings there. The second point is even better – free WiFi will encourage guests to rate, register, etc your hotel and surrounding areas – which will only help your presence and reach on the web.

For some that’s not enough ROI and for that I have two additional suggestions. First off, have your guests opt-in to an email newsletter before granting WiFi access. By having them opt-in to your email marketing campaign you get something in return for the added value of free WiFi. You can now send them permission based promotions, deals, coupons, and “sponsored attractions” (see below).

Another option is to send the free WiFi surfer to a landing page before they are “let out” onto the internets. On this page you can sell advertising placement to surrounding restaraunts, bars, and attractions. This will more than pay for the free WiFi.

So if just being a good host doesn’t give you enough ambition for providing free WiFi – here are some real business reasons for doing so. Now go – take down the walls.

For fellow travelers – here’s a Guide To Hotels With Free WiFi (and a list of of those that have fees)
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Dear Microsoft: Address Your Pricing Structure

Awhile ago I addressed the myriad of choices that is Microsoft Windows versioning and how they need to learn a lesson for the Windows 7 launch.

The same goes with pricing… Apple announced today the upgrade to Snow Leopard will be $29…

Microsoft – can you match that for a Windows 7 upgrade? Or will it be $300 for the Ultimate version?

In many cases it’s as expensive to buy a new PC to get a Windows upgrade… Don’t you see a problem with that?

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