This past April, Roku's announcement of updated Roku 3 and Roku 2 set-top boxes solidified the company's intention to continue improving its platform. Users received the first hardware update from the company in about two years, and with that step forward they will see voice search and a boost in processing speed.

Analysis of the updates at nScreenMedia suggests that Roku has raised on the bar on the coming update (soon, we hope) to the Apple TV platform. Aside from grabbing the launch of HBO Now, Apple TV hasn't seen much change as of late. It received a software update with a few minor changes, but improvements to hardware are still just expected for later this year. At this point, Apple is really pushing for local news content for the next generation of its box, reports Motley Fool, which could be impressive but may halt the company's launch goals.

Fans of the Apple set-top may have wanted support for 4K. It doesn't look like they'll get that opportunity, but that isn't exactly a dealbreaker according to industry pundits. The news surrounding Roku is all about improvements to its speed and to the adoption and functionality of its voice command tool. Voice search on the new hardware has proven itself worthy of comparison to Amazon Fire TV which has had a similar function for some time.

Similarly, speed while searching for TV shows or movies continues to be important to users. They want their content, and they don't want to wait. Not even second longer than they have to. And why not? When you're just moving through a menu, it's not unreasonable to expect modern hardware to breeze through the options.

Menu items continue to impress reviewers as well. The addition of the Roku My Feed menu that collects and tracks users' selections of Movies Coming Soon is the sort of bookmarking tool that can compliment options such as "Favorites" seen on other streaming devices. This is all part of the ease of use of today's platforms.

All of this is what Apple will need to deliver if it wants to have success with an upcoming hardware release. Speed, options, and original functionality that makes life easier on the user. It's not just about providing content; there is ample opportunity to impress with the ways in which content is processed. Roku appears to be getting it right. Will Apple have equal prowess in the living room?

Inline images courtesy of Mike Mozart and Mike L.

Roku Updates Set High Bar for Coming Apple TV Release

When it comes to content, startups all want to offer what their competitors lack. But the big question that looms over them all is, "What do consumers want?" Some recent news stories provide great examples of diversity in the market and a look into a possible answer for that question.

The most outstanding reference this week is the example of Xbox One, the platform most people seek for gaming. Microsoft, however, has recently begun working with Mohu and Hauppauge to stream over-the-air content on the Xbox through peripheral devices. This gives viewers access to live sporting events and primetime shows on broadcast television -- a large jump in content with only one set of partnerships.

What we get from the Wall Street Journal, in contrast, shows us that streaming media is not lost on high-profile news reports. Even though the WSJ sits primarily behind a paywall, it has a team of 40 full-time employees who work to produce up to 40 videos every day for access outside that paywall. The videos only run a few minutes in length, and the head of the WSJ video distribution team, Andy Regal, admits, "You can't conduct Wall Street Journal journalism in 15 to 20 seconds." Yet there is an advantage of exposing viewers to the treasure that sits behind the paywall. Long-form stories may not find development in videos, but their teaser trailers of sorts can help bring viewers into a paid subscription.

Finally, take a look at the ambition of Facebook which wants to begin producing its own content. Its Anthology project will join the social media giant with "Facebook Marketing Partners" such as Vox Media, Funny or Die, and The Onion. Partners will have their content play on the Facebook site in return for a share of revenue. Fictional news, humorous shorts, and global news could initially reach consumers. The growth potential could extend it far beyond just those categories.

What do consumers want? A little bit of everything. We can also find out how providers will get them that content. It won't come from a single, monolithic provider. When you want local content, you can go to Xbox. For news, you make it to Wall Street Journal website. For a little bit of humor, step on over to Facebook.

No single destination will have everything for everyone. Instead, many niche providers will remain relevant because they can offer a quality service to a specific genre. We could be entering a time -- if it isn't already here -- when there is truly something for everyone, yet without the bloat of hundred-channel cable packages. That is something to look forward to.

Header image courtesy of hi-tech via Wikimedia Commons.

Inline images courtesy of Tarek Guez-Guez, Dow Jones, and RomanLier via Wikimedia commons here, here, and here.

Content Providers Establish Niches to Reach Consumers

One of the biggest stories in the news this week was the release of Spotify's financial report. The audio streaming service has seen its shares of ups and downs -- most recently fighting to keep high-profile artists such as Taylor Swift on board -- but the company's losses this past year are nothing like it has experienced before.

Spotify lost $197 million last year; that is nearly triple the loss it posted in the 2013 ($68 million). Although, according to Mashable, the audio streaming company points to product development, brand expansion, and music licensing as the main causes of monetary drain, it has remained consistent that it would be able to find profits once it hit a certain threshold of paying customers.

It is that last note which points to a way out of this jam: paying consumers. Spotify is generating a lot of revenue ($1.3 billion in 2014), but that last nudge it needs could ultimately be in the hands of the clientele it doesn't have. Only 15 million of its 60 million strong listeners are paid subscribers.

Apple has hinted at this reality in recent talk about its upcoming audio streaming service that will arrive as part of its acquisition of Beats. It will push forward a subscription model, says Engadget; however, some free trials or access to slim selections of music could help bring people into the fold. The point is that paying customers can generate the revenue that ads cannot. Furthermore, it will be on the shoulders of Apple and others to make their services worth the money.

This leads to another way out of the financial jam: video streaming. Services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Roku all demonstrate, in one way or another, that viewers are willing to pay for quality products. The glut of new streaming services that accompany these giants are all after the dough present in the industry. Consumers are willing to extend the cash if they can get what they want.

For audio streaming companies such as Spotify, this could mean beefing up its service with more features or changing the way in which it interacts with customers. Apple will jump out the gate as (primarily) a pay-only service, so that expectation will remain in tow. Spotify and others may have a harder time moving from a free to a paid service.

This could be why Spotify is also considering getting into the game of video. Ars Technica reveals that Spotify is speaking to YouTube affiliates to acquire their material. It is also in talks with traditional media companies to get some of their content as well. And on top of that, there could be original content present in the fold.

There is no release date yet set for Spotify's new service. What we can see from this present vantage point, though, is a connection to other trends in the multimedia industry. Ad-supported streaming services struggle while paid video seems to rise above. Innovators in the market may also have more to show in the end because they started the next trend or just gave customers everything they had been looking for.

The combination of business models may also give developers something to brag about. Audio and video streaming providers can capitalize on services such as Zype, which help build cohesive streaming destinations, to help pad the corporate bottom line as well as customer happiness. In the end, those are the only two elements that matter. It's about how your video functions and how your service is perceived, and in that space, it's clear that there is room for combining audio and video, pairing of business assets, and subscription fees when they are paired with a quality product.

Feature and header images courtesy of Sorosh Tavakoli and Unnar Ýmir Björnsson via Flickr here and here. Inline images courtesy of Matthew Raymundo and VersusLiveQuizShow via Wikimedia Commons and Flickr here and here.

The Quest for Revenue in Audio and Video Streaming

In what is surely good news for both established entities and newcomers within the streaming business, a recent report from TiVo-owned research company Digitalsmiths claims that approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. this year will leave cable behind.

Analysis of the survey at FierceCable concludes that the study of more than 3,000 U.S. adults points to 38.1 million dissatisfied Americans. Many of them will apparently take action such as the 4.2 percent that plan to end their cable service within six months and the 7.9 percent that plan to alter their service (perhaps by downgrading).

Those figures, while impressive, are not enough to take cable out of the game entirely, but they are chipping off the block. FierceCable again points to industry commentary with media analyst Craig Moffett predicting that the gains for over-the-top streaming services (you know them: Netflix, Roku, SlingTV...) will continue to trickle. However, he does not expect even the most impressive of the group to eliminate cable from the equation.

If he is correct, it could be a while before big cable becomes small cable. Regardless of its speed of entry, though, what is holding the new kids on the block from market dominance? One answer, at least in the U.S., could lie within a specific demographic. MediaPost suggests that the Hispanic population could be the last stronghold for traditional media. Alongside food and beverage, retail, and a handful of other markets, changes in the way that Americans pay for TV content is affecting that population. They are embracing streaming services but are also known for holding on to traditional media a bit longer than others.

This has reportedly prompted media companies to get on the defensive and keep those holdouts under the wing of traditional services. A younger Hispanic generation, though, may look to adopt new types of content at higher rates, so big cable will have to do more than just defend. It is now important, MediaPost concludes, for an active strategy that adapts new products to the changing preferences of an up-and-coming generation.

The future appears bright yet with progress moving at more of a snail's pace than one might like. As younger generations grow up, they will surely continue to demand instant content and leave traditional media behind. Broadband streaming services can give them what they want and should be ready now and prepare for a sea change in the overall market -- no matter how swiftly it comes along.

Feature and header images courtesy of Nicole-Koehler and Crimollo via Wikimedia Commons and Flickr.

Streaming Services Will Continue to Edge Out Cable

If you follow Zype on Twitter (hint: if you don't, you should) you may already have already read about how cable companies could continue to hold their grip on subscribers by charging more for Internet service.

This may seem counter-intuitive, but in its article, the Huffington Post asserts that a lack of competition in most cities throughout the U.S. could allow cable-based ISPs to get away with that sort of action. Cable can say they are losing revenue to online streaming and can hike their broadband prices to compensate for those losses. The unfortunate part for consumers is that they may end up paying the extra fees because there will be no competition at their homes. It's either costly Internet or no Internet.

While that's obviously not a situation most consumers want to find themselves in, they won't go unrewarded. Zype also made note of a number of things to smile about when it comes to the present and future of streaming. If you like augmented reality, you may have heard of the Google game called Ingress. It could soon become a television show and make its appearance on either Netflix or Hulu as possible online streaming destinations.

Do you like live streaming? Do you also find fault with the way YouTube has always handled its live streams? Even with major events such as the State of the Union and the League of Legends Championship Series, Engadget points out, there is still a lot to be desired regarding content and the user interface. Well, Google may soon give us an update with a revamp of the entire streaming service. The report indicates that about 50 engineers are currently working on the situation and that consumers could see progress as soon as June at the E3 gaming convention.

Let's also talk about resolution. High resolution found in 4K and the futuristic 8K. While consumers are only now jumping to screens that will support the definition of 4K, PCWorld says YouTube is testing videos that only the newest user devices can handle. Meanwhile, an additional report from the tech news organization says the entire Windows 10 operating system is looking even further ahead with support for 8K. Although 8K has only made a showing at some industry events and has a long way before it's widely adopted into consumers' living rooms and dens, it's clear that Microsoft wants to be with those early adopters when they splurge for the new big screen.

What all this implies is that the millennial generation and likeminded consumers won't back away from streaming. Even as they get older and make more money -- in contrast to some opinions noted this past weekend at PBS -- millennials will keep looking forward to streaming as the best way to get the latest in shows, movies, and live content. With support for the sky-high screen resolutions and continued adoption of the latest shows (Ingress) related to the latest trends (augmented reality), a jump in cost won't deter fans.

Header image courtesy of Mr.TinDC and Enzo Varialle via Flickr and Flickr.

Streaming is the Way Forward

It can be difficult to go even a week without hearing about the latest online streaming service or buzzwords in the video industry such as "cordcutting." That term, at least, refers to the break between people and their cable providers, and often, when people drop cable, they switch to online streaming in the form of Netflix, Hulu, or Roku.

How do you know if an online streaming service (Netflix), a website dedicated to streaming the latest television shows (Hulu), or a set-top box that brings together movies and television (Roku) is right for you? Your cordcutting fitness could rely on a number of factors such as the type of content you enjoy, the speed of your Internet connection, and how dedicated you already are to your existing cable package -- that is, if you have a cable package. The process of finding what fits you best isn't too hard, though, and the Associated Press recently put together an interactive test that packs all those elements into a single six-question quiz.

The test begins by asking users what devices they use to watch television. After clicking "PC" as this writer's device of choice, I was greeted with a message which informed me that there are a number of streaming services I can use while on my desktop. After that, I was told that my connectivity, the speed of my Internet connection, would be better if it was higher. But don't fret, readers, because even a moderate DSL or cable Internet package can usually sustain at least one stream of a reasonable quality.

AP then wanted to know about sports. I'm a casual watcher, and in my own experience, finding sporting matches can be a simple task if I know where to look. The quiz offers Sling TV and ESPN as popular streaming destinations for all types of competitive matches. Next up on the quiz was appointment shows -- the ones that come on every Sunday at 9 p.m. or only happen once per year such as an awards show. If you answer that there are too many on your list to count, the AP says it could cost you. Again, Sling TV, it mentions, has a number of cable channels to choose from, and Roku, which was mentioned earlier, can also fit that bill. To get all of them, you could end up forking out some extra dough just to have all the shows you once found in your cable package.

Finally, if you're into binge watching shows or viewing movies on your free nights and weekends, streaming could be great for you because there are a lot of avenues where you can find collections of episodes and films from every era. Do-it-yourself networks, AP says, may also find their way onto your devices either through some of the sites listed above or through channels such as HGTV which allow streaming from their individual webpages.

All in all, if you're willing to make a few sacrifices, a single streaming service can do well to replace cable. I can cope with the loss of a few channels in order to save myself some money, so in the end, my reasons for cord cutting outweighed my reasons for keeping cable. Take the test and find out where you stand. Even if you've already ditched the cord, the test could provide a few insights about which streaming services you should adopt if you haven't found them already.

Header and features images courtesy of theilr and Crimollo via Flickr here and here.

Is Cordcutting Right For You?

Zype's CEO on DEW Webinar: Optimizing OTT Distribution

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Roku Updates Set High Bar for Coming Apple TV Release

Content Providers Establish Niches to Reach Consumers

The Quest for Revenue in Audio and Video Streaming

Streaming Services Will Continue to Edge Out Cable

Streaming is the Way Forward

Is Cordcutting Right For You?

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