Links
The latest example of succesful convergence is the iPod phone or iPhone. According to Apple, the iPhone combines three products or devices into one small and lightweight handheld device. The iPhone acts as a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching.
Click the phone to access apple.com to learn more about the iPhone
Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, stated that the “iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone. We are all born with the ultimate pointing device—our fingers—and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse.”
Below is a video extracted from youtube.com that details the iPhone even more
Other characteristics the iPhone include
- an SMS application with a full QWERTY soft keyboard to easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions.
- a 2 megapixel camera and a photo management application
- WiFi support and integration with iTunes, which could make it the ultimate device for enjoying audio and video podcasts.
The iPhone is considered by many as the ulitmate example of media convergence to date. It literally replaces many devices and makes life easier. The question is, will it stick around? and, What competition will it face in the near future?
Microsoft has developed the "Windows Media Center Edition" that promotes the idea of convergence via a hybrid version of their operating XP system that designed to serve as a home entertainment hub.
Wireless LAN's are making it easier to share internet access in homes. In the past, dial-up modems only allowed one person to access the internet from that computer. Today, everyone in the house can access the internet as long as their are connected to the router. The connectivity alone is helping promote convergence in the home.
Major networks such as NBC are posting their content on websites like youtube.com. On this site, you can access programming from many networks that you may have missed during its initial programming. Below, is an example of programming from NBC that they posted on youtube.
This is a video posted on youtube by NBC for their program, The Office. This clip is a teaser for an upcoming episode and in order to make it beneficial for NBC, they provide a short commerical for other programming after the video.
Other websites such as alluc.org provide a hub for illegal posting of network programming. Though it is illegal, people are finding ways to post network programming on the internet. Alluc.org cannot be held liable because their site only acts as a directory for programming. When clicking on a link, the program is displayed on a site other than theirs.
TiVo video digital recorder
The TiVo video digital recorder is a fine example of computing converging with entertainment. TiVo automatically finds and digitally records ones favorite shows, every time they're on. It allows users to time-shift their viewing and watch their favorite programming when they want to, not just when it is aired on TV. It also allows users to watch them over and over again.
