‎Veveo Pioneers "Siri on Steroids" Voice-Based Video Search

Veveo, a provider of search solutions for connected devices, has debuted a new voice and natural language-based, "conversational interface" technology for video search which is available for trial currently and for release in Q1 '13 in its Reveal 3.0 product.

The new voice capability is targeted to pay-TV operators, connected device manufacturers and set-top box providers eager to give users more flexibility in how they navigate the ever-increasing array of video choices.

 Sam Vasisht, Veveo's CMO, discussed three key ingredients to making conversational interfaces effective: disambiguation, statefulness and personalization. Disambiguation means being able to identify a user's intent (e.g. distinguishing "Cruise" from "Cruz") or to ascribe the correct meaning to a word (e.g. "Eagles" as football team vs. as a rock band). Statefulness means either maintaining the context of the user's search or adapting quickly to a new one (e.g. from movies to sports). Personalization means retaining knowledge of a user's prior searches in order to inform subsequent ones.

Looks like Siri just got yet another strong competitor and Apple has a lot to think about. Agree?

 

‎Viggle Acquires GetGlue For $25M Plus 48.3M In Shares To Expand Social TV Presence

All 34 GetGlue employees, including founder and CEO Alex Iskold, will migrate over to Viggle, with Iskold taking a senior executive position and a spot on the board of directors.

In case you’re unfamiliar with these companies, they’re quite the match made in heaven. GetGlue has an app that lets users check-in and socialize while watching TV, and their 3 million users prove just how much demand there is for a well-executed product in this space.

On the other hand, Viggle (which launched just a year ago) uses audio verification technology to reward users for loyally returning to their favorite TV shows, whether they’re live or on DVR. Users can then redeem points for real-world prizes from Hulu Plus, Fandango, Best Buy, Amazon and iTunes.

Source: http://goo.gl/QZT8T

Apple TV Is 'Imminent'

Apple's entry into the TV market is "imminent," says Jefferies analyst James Kisner. Kisner talks about Apple TV in a note about ARRIS, a cable tech company.
"... at least one major N. American MSO is working to estimate how much additional capacity may be needed for a new Apple device on their broadband data network..." says Kisner.

What's interesting about this wording is that it suggests Apple is going to be doing something over broadband, as opposed to normal cable. We've been hearing about an Apple television for a long time now. The big problem for Apple seems to be figuring out how to get cable companies and content companies on board. This isn't like launching the iPad, where Apple just makes a tablet and then developers build apps.

Content makers have restrictions in their deals with cable companies on their content, which could limit what Apple would like to do. Apple has to negotiate with both groups simultaneously to crack the TV market.

And, even when Apple figures that out, the TV market is not like the smartphone market. People aren't going to buy a new TV every year, or every other year. So, anyone looking at Apple attacking a huge new market, should temper expectations.

Source: http://goo.gl/D8HCm

Like this if you think Apple will 'crack' the TV market, and let us know in the comments the why of your decision.

 

Amazon takes on Netflix and Hulu Plus.

Amazon Prime offers unlimited TV and movie streaming for $7.99 per month. Amazon is clearly hoping that price-matching its competitors will help drive more subscriptions.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime

Bloomberg TV goes behind the scenes at Zynga.

Bloomberg TV goes behind the scenes at Zynga to find out how the things are going on with FarmVille 2; the game is supposed to make Zynga "stay dominant on the desktop".

http://bloom.bg/RBZ4P5

Watch Bloomberg TV with Balakam here and share it with your friends! :-D

http://balakam.com/search/item?id=6404708

Comcast Loses Subscribers: still feeling good about the future.

Last Friday morning Comcast reported strong Q3 '12 results, including its 8th straight quarter of lower year-over-year video subscriber losses. For Q3 '12, it lost 117K subscribers, vs. 165K in Q3 '11. 

This pattern stretches all the way back to Q4 '10, when Comcast lost 135K subscribers, vs. the 199K it lost in Q4 '09. 
Obviously no business likes to lose customers, but Comcast's (and all cable operators') reality is that with the incursion of telcos and satellite operators, some market fragmentation was inevitable.