Downloads take to long to be a threat...

[CHICAGOTOM]

New chip allows high-def download in second

IBM unveils prototype that could make online services more viable
By Jennifer Netherby 3/28/2007
MARCH 28 | IBM scientists have unveiled a prototype chip that will quickly move digital movies, music and photo downloads over a home network.

The new chip uses optical technology to speed data across networks at a rate of 160 billion bits per second.

A full-length high-definition movie could be downloaded in 1 second on a network using the chip, substantially less time than the five to 10 hours it now takes .

The chip is expected to make it to market within the next 18 to 30 months, when it could make high-def downloads and TV channels offered online a more viable option than they are today.

“The impact on how we live and work and entertain ourselves and just live our lives is very profound,” said George Bailey, general manager of IBM’s consumer electronics industry business.

 
IBM is working with companies to incorporate the chip in the existing digital infrastructure, computers, portable devices and devices that connect to the TV.

Calling the chip a “disruptive business model,” Bailey predicted a “whole new category of devices will be developed to take advantage of the speed.”

IBM scientists have been working on the technology for several years.

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[nerothehero]

I still think this is about the same as pay per view.

[Hardcopy]

They are not going to be a threat for a while yet. They are getting closer, but we have a couple years yet. They keep upping how big a movie is and the technology lags behind in download speeds. Any TRUE system that will threaten DVD's will bog down the internet currently. Give it some more time.

It *will* get there and our business model *will* change. It should be interesting. I think games are the current way to go. Expand into more games because on demand for games just really hasn't been worked on too much. The current on demand type game services do not stream the game they download it and it takes forever. I have a 5mb pipe to the net, a 3ghz machine and get download speeds that are ridiculous and it is so slow as to be quicker to go out and buy the game. Or heck sometimes it is quicker to download the game illegally.

Expand into games. The industry is finding it's own now and is gonna be the next big thing for us.  As movies phaze out I think games are gonna become more and more important.

[Retrofit]

This is a really interesting perspective I've never considered before.  I think your on to something.  Games are going to always be pushing the limits of techology and will likely always be trying to max out the current technology.  At least that seems to be the trend.  Even if speeds increase on the net, I could see game designers just saying 'Make a bigger/more complicated game!"

I stopped renting games, but I offer a Buy/Sell/Trade and tell people they can buy a game, play it, and sell it back to me.  That's been a successful item for me.  I just don't take back the games the kids have trashed.  Still, now that I'm thinking about the future, I can see a case for bringing games back into my store as rental items.

[immortaljackwest]

It still is a matter of pipeline for the information. A chip won't change the speed restrictions of cabling... until the entire US is completely FIBER Optic and servers can take more of a beating, it still won't change much. It might make a difference in larger cities, but rural america will still be behind.

[palovita]

Update movie downloads STILL suck lol
all tho now theres more pirated websites that showing every thing from still in movies to old tv shows