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Today's Show:
DisplaySearch recently released a report about what TV manufactures will need to do to sell more televisions in the coming years.  One of the key features was network, and specifically Internet, connectivity.  Just a couple days prior to that report we received a press release about the availability of HP's MediaSmart Connect for pre-order.  We saw the demo at CES and liked the idea.  All of this got us thinking;  DisaplySearch says TV's need Internet connectivity, HP agrees in theory, but prefers the set top box route.  If we could design our own Internet connected TV or STB, what would it do.  From the "If the HT Guys ruled the world..." point of view.

Next Generation Televisions
MediaSmart Connect

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 17, 2008 – HP today announced that HP MediaSmart Connect, a sleek digital media receiver that brings digital media from around the home or Internet (1) to any HDTV, is now available for pre-order.

First announced as part of the HP product launch at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, HP MediaSmart Connect features a sleek design with a piano-black finish as well as HP's exclusive "Zen" Imprint pattern and ambient blue lighting, making it a stylish addition to any room in the home.

• Play your music, photos, and video from any Windows-based PC in your house on your HDTV1,2
• Direct access to OnLine Media Services3,4
• Integrated Windows Media Center Extender functionality5
• HP Pocket Media Drive bay6
• Built-in wired and wireless networking - IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n7,3
• HDMI, Component video, and digital audio outputs
• Media playback from USB-based portable storage media

The Ultimate TV/STB, "the Box"

Broadcast based HDTV
The TV should still be primarily a TV.  The Box would need an ATSC tuner or two and the ability to accept CableCARD or the upcoming DirecTV Card technology. 

Internet Connectivity optimized for streaming video
Build in the Roku style Netflix streaming, or the ability to get straight to Hulu content.  Optimize it for content we actually want on the TV.

Storage
We can't live without our DVRs.  If we can watch broadcast TV on there, we'd need to be able to record, and schedule future recordings.

Internet based Interactivity
Let's face it, the interactivity on Cable, DirecTV and Dish set tops is really bad.  The interactivity on Vudu and AppleTV is really good.  Rout that traffic over the Internet, it just works better.

HDTV Movie Rentals
Why re-invent the wheel?  OEM technology from Vudu or AppleTV for HDTV movie rentals, they've got it down.

LAN Connectivity
All content, and tuners, on the Box should be visible to other Boxes on the local network.  Let's make this vaporware dream a reality - in full high def, though.

USB Port
USB Port and the ability to automatically export content to a portable device in a "portably fiendly" format like MP4.

Bottom line
Really it just sounds more like the Ultimate DVR.  Whether or not it's built into the TV or in a set top box, who cares?  TiVo is really close to this, and they're hurting trying to sell against the "free" DVRs from Cable and Satellite, so maybe there's more to it.  We say that "if this device existed, we'd buy it in a heartbeat" but price is a big concern.  If the separate devices all add up to less cost that the one, most people will still go separate.  And with separate devices you can "phase" in the functionality.  So we need it all, but we need it cheap too!