Gadgets and Video Games

Normally when Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter whips out his crystal ball and starts getting the vapors, he doesn’t have time to turn on his minirecorder and take down the futurespeak channeled through his body. Luckily for us (and you!), he not only recorded it this time, but also wrote it down in the form of the 2009 Interactive Industry Report! We delved through the beast of a document this afternoon and found an interesting segment regarding the Nintendo Wii relying on “slower adoption rates of current generation technology” (read as: high-def displays) to help boost sales. Pachter writes on page nine of the report, “The global recession served to benefit Nintendo at its competitors’ expense,” referencing Microsoft and Sony as having slower console sales this generation due to HDTV functionality built into the systems. He argues that consumers who might purchase the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 are more likely to buy the Wii not only because of the lower price point, but because of the subsequent HDTV purchase price. “Expect most consumers to defer purchasing a PS3 or an Xbox 360 until they have purchased an HD monitor,” Pachter explains.

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Pachter: Nintendo is benefiting from global recession side effects

Tags: a-friend-via, hdtv, industry-report, Media, minirecorder, nintendo-at-its, pachter, purchase-price-, time, wedbush-morgan

In-Stat , a market analysis group, published a report this week which takes a look at how online video-to-television streaming is putting pressure on traditional cable providers and will eventually restructure “today’s video distribution ecosystem.” As noted by In-Stat, gaming consoles are at the forefront of this new direction, leading in web-based video streaming and beating other devices like digital media adapters, set top boxes ( Apple TV ), Blu-ray players, web-connected HDTVs and even PC media-centers. Indeed, current gen consoles hold many advantages over the competition, seeing as they’re relatively inexpensive and serve multiple purposes. The Xbox 360 has supported Netflix streaming since late last year, and both PS3 and Wii feature internet browsers (additionally, the PS3 allows for YouTube uploads on some software). In-Stat claims 29% of US console owners between the ages of 25 and 34 currently use their consoles to stream video to their televisions. In-Stat expects consoles to stay as the top device for at least the next five years

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Gaming consoles lead in web-to-TV streaming

Tags: a-friend-via, Blu-Ray, cable-providers, Gadgets, in-stat, members-one, seeing-on-the, sound, unison-whilst

Starting Feb. 17, 2009 the U.S. Analog TV broadcasting will be gone for good. Meaning that if you don’t have a digital TV, or a DTV Converter Box your current TV will be pretty much useless. For those of you that are or will be signed up with cable or satellite service, the current set top box should accommodate the DTV Transition. For the few that don’t subscribe to cable or satellite service and are happy watching only the local channels, TV will come to a screeching halt.

(The FCC has mandated that cable carriers must support analog TV sets until at least 2012) (continue reading…)

Tags: Analog, best buy, Box, Converter, Digital, FCC, Internet, Retailers, TV