October 14, 2005

One Guru's Take on Tech Heavyweight Lineups

The digital elephants are tromping around in the media jungle. David Berlind, who I respect for his depth of technical and industry knowledge offers this insight.

"The big picture behind Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, Real, and Sun deal-o-mania by ZDNet's David Berlind -- Maybe I'm crazy. But if you ask me, there's a super big picture that's begining to form when you start to look at all of this week's announcements, or maybe-announcements involving Google, AOL, Real, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Sun and more. If I'm not mistaken, just about everyone is taking sides in preparation for what [...]

[...On the other hand, between all the computers, handhelds and telcos that are in the Microsoft video camp (and there are very many), Microsoft's video ecosystem makes all other comers — including Apple — look puny by comparision. Today, Microsoft controls the video. Apple controls the audio. Neither is happy with the situation because it forces them to divide and conquer the market with their incompatible playback technologies when both (and their shareholders) would be better off having the entire market to themselves. But before Apple can try to slow the Microsoft media juggernaut down, it needs to do what Microsoft has already done — mobilize it's video technologies. Enter the video iPod. Now, much the same way it has been driving FairPlay-DRMed audio into the market, expect it to do the same with video."

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