Los Angeles: It's about to get a lot harder to turn off the TV. A torrent of television-ready gadgets will hit the store shelves this year, including dozens of phones and tablet computers that will allow viewers to watch movies and TV shows from just about anywhere.
The proliferation of viewing devices — including a new generation of TV sets that connect to the internet — could boost the chances that viewers will do what cable and satellite companies fear most: cancel their $70 (Dh257)-a-month subscriptions in favour of cheaper web options.
"2010 was the year that people started wondering, questioning if cord-cutting is real," said Phil Wiser, co-founder and president of Sezmi, a service that allows users to watch TV from both local stations and on-line sources. "In 2011, it's going to become obvious."
Parade of tablets
At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, the buzz was centred on internet-connected TV and whether it would take off. Internet TV would allow viewers to watch web videos alongside traditional television shows and movies. "It's going to be a fundamentally big transition," said Jason Kilar, chief executive of the Hulu on-line video service. "You'll see unparalleled choice, from the standpoint of the consumer, when you open up the web through that screen."
Manufacturers are also trotting out a parade of new tablet computers, each hoping to compete with Apple Inc's dominant iPad. New tablets — like their cousin, the web-connected TV — will also be video-friendly, with high-resolution screens that will let users watch movies and shows they can download from the internet.
The next generation of smart phones is also likely to grab a share of the spotlight. The newer 4G phones — that's fourth generation — operate close to ten times faster than current smart phones, allowing users to watch movies and television via a cellular connection.
Cars too
Verizon Wireless is widely expected to unveil its first 4G phone to take advantage of the high-speed network the company is rolling out. "People more and more want to take all the stuff they're doing on a computer or a TV and start putting it in their pocket," said Scott McGregor, chief executive of Irvine-based Broadcom Corp, which makes microchips for popular consumer devices including the iPhone and iPad, as well as TVs and Blu-ray players.
Automakers will also jump on the internet bandwagon, rolling out cars that will let drivers send one another real-time road conditions messages or allow passengers to watch YouTube on in-car displays.
Last year the Consumer Electronics Show's "it" gadget was 3D television, but 3D TV has yet to gain traction with consumers. Before that it was HD DVD, which was touted as offering extra-sharp high-definition home video. But HD DVD succumbed to rival format Blu-ray.
Huge market
But much-hyped gadgets in other years, such as the high-definition TV, have become ubiquitous.
More than 80 per cent of Sony's Bravia TVs will be able to connect to the internet this year, compared with 50 per cent in 2010, said Greg Belloni, a spokesman for the company's TV business. In addition, all of Sony's Blu-ray players and Blu-ray home theatre systems will have the ability to connect to the internet to pipe in additional content.
Said Avner Ronen, Boxee's chief executive and co-founder, "This is a huge market that's getting disrupted: the living room. The giants of the tech world — Apple, Google, Microsoft — are trying to claw their way in. We're one of the little guys trying to establish ourselves."
