Apple, Google, and Amazon's Quest For One Remote Control Is Futile 130
smaxp writes: "If the cable and satellite live television providers were to comment on the latest Amazon Fire TV or reports of the new Google Android and Apple TVs, it would likely be in the voice and character of Charlton Heston: 'We will give up our remotes when they are pried from our cold dead hands.' Amazon's Fire TV and the rumored Google Android and Apple TVs excite and then disappoint. At first glance, it looks like cable and satellite television are about to be outflanked and the eternal struggle with the TV remote and set-top box will be solved with an intuitive interface to search both live television and archival content from streamed online video companies such as Netflix. Sadly, it isn't so. The cable and satellite companies that provide live television have made sure this won’t happen, because putting Amazon in the forefront would make live television providers’ brands less relevant. Amazon would then also have a wedge to pry its way into the live television ecosystem."
Re:Grammar (Score:4, Interesting)
I have one remote for everything: my wireless mouse. My TV is just the display for my "media PC" (actually a laptop). Everything I watch is easily controlled that way. I can browse my media library through an actual file manager, not some "tiles" BS nonsense. If I need to actually search on Netflix I'll have to grab my keyboard, but that's rare. My favorite radio stations are all online now. What more could I want?
Now, this wouldn't work if I were foolish enough to send some damn cable company $100/month for "nothing on", but fuck cable companies.
The best part is, when I occasionally travel, I just take that laptop with me, plus an HDMI cable to connect to the TV in the hotel room if needed. Quite handy.