Post by dkennedy on May 29, 2009 22:55:31 GMT -5
Hulu Desktop: Old Media gets a media center of its own
May 29, 2009
By Dave Jeyes, Tech Blorge Magazine
Hulu’s new Desktop application allows users to channel surf on their computer in a civilized manner- from the couch with a remote control. Locking Hulu’s impressive content offering to Hulu Desktop also gives the company an edge in the media center market.
Users can download Hulu Desktop to start watching programs on their Mac or PC, and attach a Windows Media Center remote to surf in style. The interface gives you access to Hulu’s channels, programs and personalized features.
By signing in with a free Hulu account, you can access your queue, subscriptions and viewing history. That way you can access programming from Fox, NBC, and now ABC-Disney.
This explains Hulu’s recent move to cut off Boxee media center users from accessing its content. The antisocial behavior was perplexing because it meant that Hulu’s content wasn’t available via any media center solutions.
By releasing its own media center, Hulu is able to force users to watch commercials when most media centers will allow users to skip right past them. This gives Hulu a way to monetize its streams even though it sacrifices user experience.
The larger strategic move for Hulu is in terms of the value of its media center offering. By making its content exclusively available on the Hulu Desktop, the company already has an impressive edge over other media center software.
The only problem with Hulu Desktop is that it’s relatively immature compared to its competition in terms of features. The Hulu Desktop isn’t designed for watching live television or to act as DVR.
The Hulu Desktop also cannot access a user’s personal media library on their PC. Without these features, the Hulu Desktop could prove frustrating for media center veterans.
However this move opens up an impressive opportunity for Hulu to take a sizable chunk of the media center market. That is, if the company can meet the needs of media center enthusiasts rather than forcing them to switch between two interfaces.
May 29, 2009
By Dave Jeyes, Tech Blorge Magazine
Hulu’s new Desktop application allows users to channel surf on their computer in a civilized manner- from the couch with a remote control. Locking Hulu’s impressive content offering to Hulu Desktop also gives the company an edge in the media center market.
Users can download Hulu Desktop to start watching programs on their Mac or PC, and attach a Windows Media Center remote to surf in style. The interface gives you access to Hulu’s channels, programs and personalized features.
By signing in with a free Hulu account, you can access your queue, subscriptions and viewing history. That way you can access programming from Fox, NBC, and now ABC-Disney.
This explains Hulu’s recent move to cut off Boxee media center users from accessing its content. The antisocial behavior was perplexing because it meant that Hulu’s content wasn’t available via any media center solutions.
By releasing its own media center, Hulu is able to force users to watch commercials when most media centers will allow users to skip right past them. This gives Hulu a way to monetize its streams even though it sacrifices user experience.
The larger strategic move for Hulu is in terms of the value of its media center offering. By making its content exclusively available on the Hulu Desktop, the company already has an impressive edge over other media center software.
The only problem with Hulu Desktop is that it’s relatively immature compared to its competition in terms of features. The Hulu Desktop isn’t designed for watching live television or to act as DVR.
The Hulu Desktop also cannot access a user’s personal media library on their PC. Without these features, the Hulu Desktop could prove frustrating for media center veterans.
However this move opens up an impressive opportunity for Hulu to take a sizable chunk of the media center market. That is, if the company can meet the needs of media center enthusiasts rather than forcing them to switch between two interfaces.
