Agreed that a YouTube video or compressed stream might not be crisp and clean on the 40″ HD, but if it is the only way to get the content you want when you want it, you might just go for the degraded quality.

Or schedule it to your TIVO and wait until the higher quality download has completed.

what little software twist will it take to convert a format? ”

Actually, it was more about the pipelines involved in uploading larger high-quality video. If you’ve got an HDTV, you’re not going to want to watch poor-quality, pixelated video of a game. You’re going to want to watch something equivalent to what you see on cable or satellite or over the air.

As with so many new concepts, this isn’t a “INSTEAD OF” so much as a “ALONG WITH” technology. New tech doesn’t usually kill the old tech, it changes the model.

No, broadband TV is not going to replace the channels — yet. But it is coming, it is happening and the smart people are preparing. That’s why we need Heaton - to tell us what’s on the horizon, and what’s here right now.

As Aidian put it so well up top - “if you wait until those technologies fully mature to have a plan, you’re done.”

Networks and channels are in place because of scarcity of distribution. Take that away, and then start thinking about the possibilities.

Hey, I’m addicted to my computer AND tv, so you’d think I’d be jumping up and down about this, but I’m not sold yet.

And as far as watching sports, just how much is that going to cost? Are we all really ready to spend that much money? I haven’t even bought an HDTV yet.

This is about empowering anyone to shoot, edit, share and now seamlessly play video on their TV sets. The quality may suck, but imagine coming home to your TV, turning it on, and finding two new videos from your friends. Will you watch? Absolutely.

you’re kidding, right?

First, you wouldn’t have to get cable or satellite.

Second, how about hundreds of sporting events from different countries. How about auto racing other then Nascar, when I want it, without halfwit US commentary over the top of it. How about soccer?

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Z - “So you’d watch 640×480 video on a full-sized TV?”

Geez, that’s what.. just slightly less then DVD resolution - especially if you take overscan into account? Compression’s come a long way, too, so the datarate isn’t that bad.

And, if its the only format you can get it in, then, yes, people will watch it.

I don’t seem to have any problems streaming HD quicktime trailers from apple over my cable-modem…

denial might be a pretty strong word to use, but awfully close.

By no means I’m I saying we should not be prepared for changes in technology, but to say this is “The Perfect Storm” seems like consultant hype to me.

The real ah-ha moment will be when we get “lean-forward” control easily available in our “lean-back” living rooms.

Two things for that to happen: bigger pipes (or distribution breakthrough) so we don’t HAVE to blow up 640×480 onto a 42 inch plasma, and an ipod/tivo/whatever to make it technophobe-friendly.

The thing is, if you wait until those technologies fully mature to have a plan, you’re done.

and in that order too!

This technology is not aimed at signing up more cable subscribers; it’s about the continued consolidation and blurring of the PC and the TV. Oh, and being able to order a pizza thru it – commerce.

what little software twist will it take to convert a format?

So you’d watch 640×480 video on a full-sized TV?