egafd.com

So much to answer just in from the show, where we are going down a bomb, The codec I am talking about at 1.8 is a plugin to WMV so will be a download to box. Yes the sigma chip will support it, we are doubling the ram in the first box to allow longer buffering as it has been identified as helping. (thats why we put out so many boxes and I deployed in Atlanta). H264 is not cost effective, and it does not work so well on an open broadband line(it does work really good on a telco based box. H264 you pay for per stream as an ISP. I am not knocking it its just hopeless in our enviroment I have 4 WMV bit rates stored as a multi-bit rate file, With H264 I have to store as 4 files so takes up much more space.
1. you buy the box then its up to the channels what is free what is PPV or subscription many will be free running a schedule with advertising and then backed up with VOD. I think this will be most popular. It will be up to the individual channels.
2. one payment gateway. You buy credit then spend it on any channel using a 4 digit pin you top up the same way. That way you don't have to keep putting your CC details in every 5 minutes. Also you don't need to give your CC details to these doggy porn guys.
3. very few are Hi-def, its up to the channels to decide. I am an agregator of channels I don't own them. It runs on 400kbs at 800 it is good well watchable 1200kbs looks like DVD. (most streams I have delivered and thats 16million since Dec the most popular is 600. last year it was 400kbs.
4. Hi-def will almost certainly be downloaded at the start not streamed, you hi-def guys are anoracks you will wait to get the quality you want even a few hours. I am not slagging you I employ plenty they are great guys one of my team buit the software that detects the weather and landing conditions for an oilrig, it is fitted to a helicopter so at the point of no return it can decide if to go on or turn back,,,hope you follow that, anyway yesterday he had two odd shoes on at work real brainbox but no common sense.
5. buffering is limited because of ram, in the Linux boxes (remember I have 4) it is about 10-15 seconds.
6. Will look at this as I think it does as it has been tested on a d-link wi-fi set up and it is compatable. You have raised a really good issue. The box is wi-fi so will it stream the content off your PC, Over an network or wi-fi....I would bet yes and I will take it up with our team tomorrow.
7. I think 18R is hard enough, I have the EPG so decide what goes on the box, I don't want to be a martyr and I don't want anyone else to be I am co-operating with the BBFC on software that would allow digital certificates to be read by PC and the Boxes. Can't say to much about it as its early days although we have a fully working demo for anyone who is a client of the BBFC to look at. Again we are only co-operating because I believe in some forms of regulation, Eveyone knows I would have soft-core freeview and tantalising adverts kicked off SKY/Cable tomorrow But I would allow hard-core encription because you need to PIN to be offended. Follow me.
8. Expect 700 at launch with another 300 quick behind only 20 adult channels

Hope this makes sense and keep it coming I had a few calls today from producers who are folowing the thread and you are asking questions they don't understand but know I have to answer them..

Phil McC

Don't quite know what you mean Monkey but I am the MD not a sales guy, I have a team doing that.

Phil McC

I was at Olympia today and whilst my knowledge of all things technical is extremely limited, one thing I noticed was that there was a great deal of interest in Phil's site from many of the other exibitors.
Whatever he is doing, it seems to be leading the field.

I'll find the link that I read the other day - but the gist of it was it will be worth $12bn globally and $1bn for the UK in revenue by 2011.

Now it doesn't take a genius to know that you need to be part of it.

Phil

Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions i posted, its really appreciated and if others are viewing this, then i hope that the time and effort you put into answering them will mean you get asked them less often (although im sure it wont :p )

All the best with your plans

Twingo, box will stream content from external hard drive or computer so all your saved Hi-Def movies can be played using the box as the controler, it works over wi-fi as well. We had a demo of it today on our stand and it looked amazing even on my el-cheepo Goodmans plasma. Now for the bit you might like, I saw Hi-def 720 today streamed on a 2mb line, using progresive download, the box would have hi-def adverts in it already so when you choose a movie it plays a few clips or adverts allowing the download to start and build up enough to play, halfway through the movie there is an advertising break which allows the download to build up again...I know you will understand this. I don't know how succesful this will be but it shows another option.
Thank Buck that shows over, nice to see some adult faces(you know who you are) and a full list of our new channels will follow later this week,

Phil McC

Phil

Thanks for checking the information for me, its extra features like these which will really make your box more sellable. Im surprised you dont advertise that fact somewhere, as its a big thing for some people.

Hi mate, I only found out yesterday, Also found out today depending on the PIN number entered at start what EPG it shows so the box could be diguised, so if your friends or family switch it on it could show as a sqeaky clean box.

Phil Mc