Intel Viiv
Intel and AMD Jump on the Set-Top Console Market
Competition between chip manufacturers is intense. In certain instances, companies will use similar terminology and codifications when naming their products - Intel’s latest processor is being dubbed Core, which also happens to be the name AMD used for their own technology called Dual-Core.
It’s very easy to see how convergent entertainment technologies have become today. Set- top boxes perform all sorts of jobs that can also be performed by the PC. Xbox360 and PS3 are just the beginning. TiVo can PVR and even bring Yahoo’s web content to your television. The future of entertainment is digital technology and many companies are vying for the data pipeline in your living room. However, the major chip manufacturers want the set-top boxes that take advantage of household home entertainment systems to be a PC using their chip technology.
But HTPC already exists?
Many digital entertainment enthusiasts have found Home Theater PC computers to be the way to bring digital entertainment to the AV system. However, consumers should be aware that there are problems associated with this type of solution. Technological incompatibility is a standard problem with PC hardware. The TV, even HDTV, was never designed to show images from a digital camera. More importantly, the content providers are reluctant to making it easier for HTPC consumers. For example, the movie and music industry do not want their proprietary information and copy right products easily available to consumers, even with a system of DRM protecting them. According to the movie and music industry, this type of technology makes their products vulnerable to piracy (lost revenue).
In 2005, Viiv was first to introduce a new family of high-end entertainment PCs. The Viiv PC’s are basically HTPC’s that include a series of minimum specifications. These specifications include high-end Intel processors and multi-media hardware that provide ambient surround sound video to HDTV’s. What sets Viiv apart from other competitors is its software that makes PCs more digital-rights-management friendly. It’s intended to give peace of mind to the entertainment industry and protect their property from piracy.
To expand their brand, Intel recruited some of the top studios in the film industry to generate "buzz" over the new “Intel Inside” products by offering users exclusive content.
AMD became a strong competitor in the market when they announced their intention to release a similar product: the AMD Live brand. AMD and Intel have both said that the new PCs will be compatible with Windows, but will not be exclusive to Windows multi-media features. Moreover, consumers should be aware that neither Viiv or Live can be integrated with Windows Media Center or Vista’s digital entertainment features. It looks like both Viiv and Live will work like a layer over the regular operating system.
Related Links:
DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
