Google Now is awesome; merge them with the iGoogle team to bring it to the browser and make it amazing. Playing around with TV interface options, I wanted an app that I’ve nicknamed “Oatmeal” for a while for the iPad, but maybe it is better as a Web App on the TV.  When layering these iframes to a dashboard it started to look more and more like Google Now… and that’s a good thing - We can use more Environmental/Ambient Intelligence in our devices and ultimately it should permeate into all internet enabled devices. Merging the Google Now group with iGoogle will be an amazing combination to bring this to the web.
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Google Now is awesome; merge them with the iGoogle team to bring it to the browser and make it amazing.

Playing around with TV interface options, I wanted an app that I’ve nicknamed “Oatmeal” for a while for the iPad, but maybe it is better as a Web App on the TV. 

When layering these iframes to a dashboard it started to look more and more like Google Now… and that’s a good thing - We can use more Environmental/Ambient Intelligence in our devices and ultimately it should permeate into all internet enabled devices. Merging the Google Now group with iGoogle will be an amazing combination to bring this to the web.

Could a global ad company open up streaming web content?

If there was a streaming ad company that offered the ability to target ads by location, could we open up streaming blackout and location restrictions? Would sporting event broadcasters be more open to streaming globally?

Currently the companies that are pushing ads on streaming networks are either the station themselves (Watch Hulu, while watching Hulu) or national brands that have less concerns about location, as long as they ban it for outside national IP addresses. ESPN is just showing you a black, “Be back shortly” clip. Clearly networks are struggling to figure this out, when it should be easier than what their current over-the-air tools offer.

It seems that there would be an opportunity for a ad company to manage and deliver streaming ads based on users location and potentially login info. This gives relevance and targeting to the ads that are on the screen during air time. This provides an even better model than what broadcasters provide to the companies buying air time today. In this option, if a venue wanted to stream the events, only local/relevant content will be displayed - instead of a spot for a  UK cellular company to be shown to a pub full of folks in Los Angeles.

I understand that there is value in holding a US show for a year to keep hype high before rebroadcast in foreign countries, but sports is different… it would be the equivalent of replaying the Weather Channel from last week.

Wishlist - foursquare downloadable To-Do bundles from Travel Channel TV episodes

A great gift for travelers, and foodies, in the world, would be if  foursquare and the Travel Channel could partner to allow viewers the ability download trip bundles to their foursquare To-Do list

We just finished watching Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations episode in France, from last season via Netflix. We plan to be back to there within the next two years and although we can jot down the names, was it in the same arrondissement near our hotel/plans? Not sure. It would be great to watch an episode and go to either the foursquare partner page, or Travel Channel and click to add that episodes visits to your to-do list.

Voilà! Merci!

The key to a connected media TV experience will be in layering content

When it comes to a connected media experience on our TVs, full screen apps will have their place, but the benefit will really be in layering over other content -A customizable sidebar would be a key feature in a connected media experience on your TV.

I’d love to have the ability to have an open bar on the side of the screen that would show when my friends are on Skype, emails in, plus a section that is adaptable to the content on the screen: Like when a movie trailer is playing on the screen that a button slide onto the sidebar that would allow me to a) Check local availability via Flixter b) Add to Netflix. When watching a sporting event then I can add a player stats bar, or a Twitter feed with a #hashtag of inline conversations (like the World Cup Tracking Page).

VoIP for the Massies… or, Masses

Cisco should purchase Skype, if only just for a hardware component: SkypeTV - a small TV top unit w/vcamera, internet connection (Wi-Fi & CAT5) on top of a TV with video in/out. Mainly as a simple non-tech/elderly friendly set-up to connect families, but also to connect people where they socialize, not huddled around a laptop, but in the living room.

For that matter, a camera peripheral for the next Apple’s iTV to FaceTime, or GoogleTV to Google Voice would all help connect us with our loved ones in the place where we keep company - not in the office.