Remember when I hinted network TV might be a dying entity? Well, add another shot of cyanide into this brand. Xbox sure is.
According to TV producer and executive Nancy Tellem, Xbox will have their own TV shows sometime in the first half of 2014. These shows will revolve around the popular video game Halo. These shows will be available to all 48 million Xbox subscribers, whether they have Xbox 360 or Xbox One. In the meantime, meetings continue between Tellem, Hollywood execs and Microsoft about how to reach the video game audience with this show. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Tellum agree more people are embracing what’s called the ‘TV Everywhere’ model. This is a good way for Xbox to jump on board.
Indeed more people are. Trends in Netflix and You Tube are proving that. But Xbox needs to be careful not to duplicate Netflix, You Tube, or any other non-traditional TV aspects. I don’t think they will. But will a show about Halo be successful? It is one of the most popular video game franchises of our times. But I’m old enough to remember when they made a Saturday morning cartoon of Sonic the Hedgehog, off the success of Sega Genesis. It did only moderately well. I also remember this cartoon called Captain N The Game Master, which tried to eat off of Nintendo’s late 1980s success. The cartoon flopped. So Xbox needs to be careful and creative in making this Halo show a good one. Don’t just depend on their game success and think you’re going to have an instant hit. Will Xbox TV shows work?
Now, let’s focus on the worst holiday gifts of 2013. Fruitcake isn’t on this list; that should be a given.
10. The Internship DVD: Two middle aged guys take a Google internship. It was supposed to speak to a generation of displaced economic downtrodden people. It spoke to nearly no one.
9. DNA Testing Kit: Nothing says ‘I Love You’ like questioning the paternity of your child. Maury Povich, here we come.
8. Star Wars Cuff Links: Normally, I’d endorse anything Star Wars to the tech crowd. But would you pay $200 for this humiliation? The only time this would work is a Star Wars themed wedding or funeral. I better not encourage anybody.
7. Tria Hair Removal System: This monstrosity cost $475. And paying this much to tell someone they need to shave around their bodies? Good luck with that.
6. Touch Screen Gloves: Do I decide between smudges or frustration of not getting to my apps? I think I’ll take the smudge.
5. Electronic Hand Moisturizer: Since that $5 bottle of lotion isn’t doing the trick, let the $120 machine do it for you.
4. Talking Watch Best Friend: As if social media haven’t messed up enough socially, you can make a watch your best friend. If you’re that socially deprived, remind me to pray for you.
3. Pocket Therapist: Let’s not stop with the watch, how would you like your own pocket to ask you, “How does it feel when they do that?”
2. Magic Wand Remote Control: If you want to relieve Disney’s Fantasia or Harry Potter, more power to you. There’s some TV show I’d like to make disappear.
1. Jobs DVD: It’s been voted one of the worst movies of 2013. I couldn’t even watch the first 20 minutes of it. It was a box office failure. I know what I’m getting my former bully this year!
Happy Black Friday everybody! This is dedicated to all of those who shamelessly brave long lines, stampedes and indifferent clerks and your crazed fellow shoppers.
Apple is getting into the act. Today only, in most western countries, you can buy an iPad and get a $75 gift card free. That’s 75 songs! And that’s just the beginning. Remember what I said about Bitcoin a couple of days ago? Not only is it getting popular with consumers, but retailers too. Over 400 retailers are offering deep discounts exclusively on their Bitcoin Black Friday website. But that website should be up throughout the holiday season. Other websites like thewirecutter.com are offering great deals on items from headphones to blu-rays.
I haven’t taken part in Black Friday since the compact disc was more popular than MP3 players. I’m more of a cyber Monday kind of guy. But here are some safely tips: no trampling! That electronic device is not worth your life or health. If you don’t make in the morning, go in the afternoon. Many, many deep discounts will still be there. If your item isn’t there, get creative. Order in advance if you can; I’m pretty sure it will be there by Christmas. And plus, have fun. This only comes once a year; don’t make an even bigger chore than dealing with the in-laws or family blacksheep. Which holiday gift are you looking forward to this year?
For decades, television has been the leading form of entertainment. But so far in the 2010s, the tide is turning. The TV isn’t what it used to be.
According to reports, 2013 is the worst year ever for cable TV. In fact, all of TV is having a very bad year, and a very bad decade so far. Five million households have cancelled their cable since January 2010. The 2012 Summer Olympics were TV’s only boost of the decade. More and more people are just ordering Internet services, forgoing cable. Even support for major sports events like the World Series, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup are declining. For example, NBA Finals ratings for the Micheal Jordan era are far higher than the Lebron James era today. Not only that, fewer households even own a TV. More people are turning to social media and mobile devices for entertainment. Just look at the triumphs of Netflix shows.
So while regular TV is going down, usage of You Tube, Netflix, Hulu, and other social media sites are going up. One thing cable companies can do is treat their customers a little better. In this office, we’ve gotten so many complaints about how cable companies have treated companies, from the price to the customer service. I don’t care what year or decade it is, treating people right never goes out of style. Maybe network TV can put on better shows. Ever get the feeling that there’s 400 channels and nothing is on? When I go on You Tube, I don’t have that that problem. In fact, I know of people who will hook up their TV so they can watch You Tube channels on the big screen! What else can TV do to make a comeback? Or is it too late?
Waze, the traffic app used by people and for people to tell other people abut traffic conditions, has been busy this year. First, Google bought it for 1.3 billion dollars. Now they’re turning to Hollywood.
Waze plans to use celebrity voices for navigation features. The first voice they’re turning to is that of Kevin Hart. Kevin Hart is a well known comedian, actor and reality TV star. He’s featured on Real Husbands of Hollywood. In January, he’ll be starring alongside Ice Cube in the flick Ride Along. This navigation is expected to work on two fronts: Waze app users will be more likely to listen to a celebrity voice for navigation features. On Hart’s part, this is a great way to promote Ride Along to over 50 million Waze users.
Waze just doesn’t talk about traffic jams. Things from police traps to accidents can be reported. I don’t know of any other celebs who are loaning their voices to Waze, but we should know Kevin Hart won’t be the only one, depending on how successful this campaign is. I’ve seen a commercial of Hart using his voice. It’s pretty entertaining, but is this a voice you want telling you what to do on the road? It would be very comical to listen to, but would you take it seriously? Which celebrity voice would you like to hear on Waze?
Yesterday, XBox One is released. I’ve expressed mixed emotions about it, especially when you look at the hype that was given it.
The numbers say Xbox One sold over one million units so far. That’s the same number of units Play Station 4 sold last week in the same amount of time. So the race looks rather even, right? There is one factor: the number of countries these gaming units were released in. Xbox numbers include the numbers sold in 13 countries. The numbers of PS4 are the numbers in the US and Canada alone. Did you know that over 60 million zombies have been sacrificed in Dead Rising 3?
I’m interested in which Xbox One games sold the most. When I find out’ I’ll let you know. What I do know is that I tried looking for a few, and they were sold out. Speaking of which, Xbox One is sold out at most retail stores. But as you know, the holiday shopping season is very, very young. And there’s still a lot of buying and selling to do. By January 2, who do you think is going to have the higher numbers?
