Web-to-TV

A Web-to-TV installation uses a variety of 3rd party components, typically built around a PC capable of running a browser and the most popular codecs (Flash, Windows Media Player, Real, Quicktime, etc.) and a home network.

The hardware components required for Web-to-TV can be categorized as Media PCs, Media Extenders and Video on Demand.All of these solutions provide A/V outputs for a TV and Ethernet and Wireless network adapters.

Entertainment PCs

Some examples of stereo cabinet friendly PCs can be found at http://www.web-to-tv.com/players.html and other similar sites.

Media Extenders

Several companies provide media extenders including [http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers.aspx Netgear] and [http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=655 Dlink] . Advanced game consoles - Xbox 360 from Microsoft, PS3 from Sony, and the Nintendo Wii - can be configured to stream or view content delivered from a PC on the user's home network.

LocalCasting

A new entry from [http://www.zeevee.com/home ZeeVee] connects to the VGA output of a home PC/server and LocalCasts (transmits) it throughout the users house over the existing coax wiring as a normal HD Dolby 5.1 channel that is directly tunable by all connected HDTV's. A unique benefit of this approach is that no additional boxes are required at each TV because only single LocalCast device is required to insert a private channel on the homes coax distribution system. In order to do this the monitor output of the PC is digitized, MPEG2 compressed, and QAM encoded all at HD resolution and in real-time. The LocalCasting PC is controlled with an RF remote or RF keyboard that includes a pointing device to provide normal interactivity with any PC application within a range suitable for the normal home. Another important benefit of this over-the-top approach is that it provides the broadest access to internet content because it supports any content or application that can be viewed on a PC.

Video on Demand

Examples of video on demand solutions include [http://www.apple.com/appletv/ AppleTV] , the Netflix player by Roku and the [http://www.vudu.com/ movie service from Vudu] .

Content subscription solutions

[http://kylintv.com KylinTV] provides a "box" that serves a number of Chinese language web channels. The service is sold on a monthly subscription basis. [http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN3030690720080530 Time Warner cable] announced plans to offer a web to tv solution.

Internet Ready TV

[http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665090966 Sony Bravia Internet Link] provides Web to TV without a PC.

Sony has also announced plans to integrate this functionality into future TVs. Several major TV suppliers have made similar claims. The advent of high performance, low cost processors from [http://www.arm.com/products/CPUs/ARMCortex-A9_MPCore.html ARM] and [http://www.intel.com/technology/atom/index.htm Intel] will ultimately bring the Web to (every) TV.

Press References

Slide's SuperPoke is coming to VH1CNET News - San Francisco,CA,USAWho said you couldn't bring the Web to TV? Slide's absurdly popular social-network application "SuperPoke" is coming to a new platform... [http://news.cnet.com/8300-13577_3-36.html CNET News]

Time Warner Cable: Web to TV ComingBy Gary KimTime Warner Cable plans to offer subscribers an easier way to port Internet-delivered video to their television screens, says Glenn Britt, Time Warner Cable CEO, reported by Reuters news service. The future move, with no definite ... [http://www.ipbusinessmag.com/blogs.php IP Business News]

News Bytes: June 3By Lauren(Lauren)While web-to-TV technology is still in its early stages, similar models are offered by APPLE’s AppleTV and TiVo, however, neither are capable of surfing for Web videos, which the Time Warner Cable box would be able to do. ... [http://digitalmedianews.blogspot.com/ Digital Media News]

[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-25-2008/0004838612&EDATE= Programmer, Technology Provider and Analyst Comments] PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USAThis in turn will speed up the prospect of a Web-to-TV fully interactive experience. It is the reason we at ComedyNet believe that ActiveVideo is a front ...See all stories on this topic

[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-25-2008/0004838570&EDATE= ActiveVideo Networks Unveils First Platform To Bring Web 2.0 ...] PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA"The enormous market fragmentation in Web-to-TV solutions makes it difficult for us to author interactive and timely content for many diverse platforms," ...See all stories on this topic