2010 will be the year that web TV set-top-boxes start to make it into the mainstream. The recently announced Popbox priced just shy of $130 has received a lot of promising buzz, but does it deliver?

The PopBox is replacing its predecessor, the Popcorn Hour box with newer features and a sleeker interface.

Content Partners

The PopBox has partnered with a number of companies to bring a variety of video. It’ not got everything, but it’s got decent selection to keep you busy.

• Netflix – rent and buy movies instantly.
• Crunchyroll (Asain entertainment site)
• BlipTV – video clips and independent episodes
• NextNewNetworks – independent web TV shows
• Revision3 – independent web TV shows with a tech focus
• Livestation – live TV from various worldwide sources
• Internet Video Archive – archive of public domain video and old movies.
• MalaysiaKini – Malaysian videos

App Innovation Myth?

Apps were certainly big in 2010 on cell phone devices, and Popbox is trying to cash in on the app craze for the set-top-box.

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It may be happening slowly but people are gradually moving away from physical media to digital media. In terms of video, Netflix is in a great position, and could be an acquisition target. However, it still needs Hollywood to play ball or it’s game over for the whole venture.

Netflix The Player

Netflix has, partly by accident and partly by design, put itself in a great position to be the premier choice for video streaming.

Its core business is still DVD rentals by-mail, but its ‘Watch Instantly’ feature, which started as nothing more than an additional draw for would-be subscribers, could provide an assured future for the company.

Indeed, it could make the company an attractive acquisition target for big players such as Google and Amazon over the next few years.

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Further evidence, is further evidence was needed, that physical media is on its way out to be replaced by digital media. Netflix in particular is undoubtedly eyeing a streaming future, pushing its ‘Watch Instantly’ library onto users more vehemently.

Physical to Digital

The move from physical media to digital is happening rather slowly. In fact, it could be classed as a lurch currently. However, there will come a point when it speeds up and becomes all-consuming, with more companies jumping on the bandwagon rather than risk being left behind.

Netflix looks like being one of the early movers. Built on the basis of delivering DVDs-by-mail, streaming now looks like being the main focus of its attentions in years to come.

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Netflix has already revolutionised the DVD rental market, and its now attempting to do the same in the online streaming sector.

You hear nothing from a company for ages and then three stories come along at once. Today has seen Netflix add Starz Play movies to its Watch Now service, open up its API, and make a promise to Mac users.

There’s a small event going on right now in Los Angeles called the E3 Media and Business Summit, which is the place where Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, as well as a host of games developers unveil plans for the next year.

Today was the first day, and Microsoft was the first of the big three to show its hand. And one of the announcements means that Xbox 360 owners will soon be getting more access to online movie downloads.

This will be coming from Netflix, the online movie rental company, which is teaming up with Microsoft to allow Netflix subscribers, who also own an Xbox 360, to have access to its extensive catalogue through their consoles.