Why does Lightbox have a suicide wish?

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#1249843 2-Mar-2015 21:29

NonprayingMantis:
davidrg:
rugrat: It's a shame all TV's are not running the same OS for applications, so when written for one, will work for all.

Android devices work that way. And yet the Android app is locked down to select Samsung tablets only.

If there was a common application platform for TVs I wonder if we'd see the same behavior - one manufacturer pays to lock out all the others.

this fragmentation of devices is a commonly cited reason why people dislike developing for Android, and why it's all too common for major apps to appear first on ipad, then later (often MUCH later) on Android (e.g. Hearthstone)
I imagine it is a lot easier to develop JUST for the samsung suite of products, where quality is pretty much guaranteed, and there is a relatively smaller range of screen sizes buttons etc, compared to developing a generic android app that will need to work on everything, including those dodgy chinese super-low end devices.

Don't forget that Samsung generally are making a significant contribution to the development of a lot of these apps. If you are resource constrained, which every business is, this makes a lot of sense early on.

MikeB4

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#1249857 2-Mar-2015 21:37

Handle9:
NonprayingMantis:
davidrg:
rugrat: It's a shame all TV's are not running the same OS for applications, so when written for one, will work for all.

Android devices work that way. And yet the Android app is locked down to select Samsung tablets only.

If there was a common application platform for TVs I wonder if we'd see the same behavior - one manufacturer pays to lock out all the others.

this fragmentation of devices is a commonly cited reason why people dislike developing for Android, and why it's all too common for major apps to appear first on ipad, then later (often MUCH later) on Android (e.g. Hearthstone)
I imagine it is a lot easier to develop JUST for the samsung suite of products, where quality is pretty much guaranteed, and there is a relatively smaller range of screen sizes buttons etc, compared to developing a generic android app that will need to work on everything, including those dodgy chinese super-low end devices.

Don't forget that Samsung generally are making a significant contribution to the development of a lot of these apps. If you are resource constrained, which every business is, this makes a lot of sense early on.

I agree, but it's a doubled edged sword that will both help and hurt Light box. However it be a calculated risk they are taking.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MileHighKiwi

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#1250133 3-Mar-2015 11:24

As suspected...

At launch, Netflix will be available on smart televisions from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and HiSense as well as PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles.

It can also be used on Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple and Android tablets and smartphones.

This is significantly more devices than Lightbox or Neon.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/66869295/netflix-to-launch-new-zealand-service-on-march-24

When your company is valued at US $28 billion I guess you can afford to launch with plenty of options.

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#1250137 3-Mar-2015 11:26

Netflix started as a Mail DVD rental service in late 1990s. They then started streaming a few years back - to Windows PCs only, then Macs, then adding devices over time. They have at least ten years lead over any other local competitor.

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#1250155 3-Mar-2015 11:45

MileHighKiwi: As suspected...

At launch, Netflix will be available on smart televisions from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and HiSense as well as PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles. It can also be used on Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple and Android tablets and smartphones. This is significantly more devices than Lightbox or Neon. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/66869295/netflix-to-launch-new-zealand-service-on-march-24

When your company is valued at US $28 billion I guess you can afford to launch with plenty of options.

As freitasm said - they've developed for those platforms over a very long period! It's not that they can afford to launch with plenty of options, it's more a case that those options had already been developed for use in other markets previously. Probably they have had to do is some licensing, changes to their services/servers and some minor changes in the apps/clients. Still quite a bit of work, but nothing like developing completely new clients/apps too.

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#1250404 3-Mar-2015 16:43

keewee01:
MileHighKiwi: As suspected...

At launch, Netflix will be available on smart televisions from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and HiSense as well as PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles. It can also be used on Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple and Android tablets and smartphones. This is significantly more devices than Lightbox or Neon. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/66869295/netflix-to-launch-new-zealand-service-on-march-24

When your company is valued at US $28 billion I guess you can afford to launch with plenty of options.

As freitasm said - they've developed for those platforms over a very long period! It's not that they can afford to launch with plenty of options, it's more a case that those options had already been developed for use in other markets previously. Probably they have had to do is some licensing, changes to their services/servers and some minor changes in the apps/clients. Still quite a bit of work, but nothing like developing completely new clients/apps too.

I agree.

However, Lightbox knew they were coming and would most likely launch with a wide range of viewing options. As we're still in the early adopter stage for SVOD in NZ, Netflix will now have an edge over Lightbox by being more accessible to the average kiwi as demand for SVOD grows.

I know we're not comparing apples with apples but I'm a little surprised Lightbox have pumped so much money ($30M?) into their service and didn't have at least a couple more viewing options at launch.

At the end of the day it's a win win for us, the more the merrier I reckon.

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NonprayingMantis

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#1250406 3-Mar-2015 16:47

MileHighKiwi:
keewee01:
MileHighKiwi: As suspected...

At launch, Netflix will be available on smart televisions from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and HiSense as well as PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles. It can also be used on Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple and Android tablets and smartphones. This is significantly more devices than Lightbox or Neon. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/66869295/netflix-to-launch-new-zealand-service-on-march-24

When your company is valued at US $28 billion I guess you can afford to launch with plenty of options.

As freitasm said - they've developed for those platforms over a very long period! It's not that they can afford to launch with plenty of options, it's more a case that those options had already been developed for use in other markets previously. Probably they have had to do is some licensing, changes to their services/servers and some minor changes in the apps/clients. Still quite a bit of work, but nothing like developing completely new clients/apps too.

I agree.

However, Lightbox knew they were coming and would most likely launch with a wide range of viewing options. As we're still in the early adopter stage for SVOD in NZ, Netflix will now have an edge over Lightbox by being more accessible to the average kiwi as demand for SVOD grows.

I know we're not comparing apples with apples but I'm a little surprised Lightbox have pumped so much money ($30M?) into their service and didn't have at least a couple more viewing options at launch.

At the end of the day it's a win win for us, the more the merrier I reckon.

because ti takes time to develop those apps.

so the choice would be:

launch eariler, and build devices over time

wait until a 'fuller' device catagalogue is available, then launch.

Generally accepted wisdom would be to do the former. It allows you to grow slowly initially, iron out bugs in the rest of your service whilst you build device lists, and in this case it allowed Lightbox to launch about 9 months before NEtflix did.
If they waited, they probably still wouldn't be launched. Better to have something in the market rather than nothing.

MileHighKiwi

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#1250437 3-Mar-2015 17:53

NonprayingMantis:
If they waited, they probably still wouldn't be launched. Better to have something in the market rather than nothing.

As they say, version one is better than version none. I completely understand the reasons behind Lightbox's launch strategy. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds over the next couple of years. Now can someone PLEASE get sports streaming sorted?

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#1250499 3-Mar-2015 18:55

Agreed. But getting a form of STB is not new. I don't use Samsung aside from fridge freezer but a base Sammy BR player that has Smarthub is a very nice and cheap option

dafman

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#1250547 3-Mar-2015 20:36

NonprayingMantis: because ti takes time to develop those apps.

so the choice would be:

launch eariler, and build devices over time

wait until a 'fuller' device catagalogue is available, then launch.

Generally accepted wisdom would be to do the former

or option 3, don't invest $30 million in unless you are able to compete effectively. It's all sensible stuff to say if takes time to roll out etc etc, and I'd fully understand the Lightbox strategy if Netflix wasn't about to launch - but it is - and in the yet next few weeks - and Lightbox will not be ready on day one with adequate capability to effectively compete IMHO. And the Netflix arrival is not unexpected, so why invest so heavily in this venture in the first place? Time will tell I guess.

sultanoswing

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#1251203 4-Mar-2015 17:23

Huh. No Roku on that list of Netflix supported devices above. I guess because it's not officially available here, but still.

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Bobdn

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#1251302 4-Mar-2015 20:03

dafman:
NonprayingMantis: because ti takes time to develop those apps.

so the choice would be:

launch eariler, and build devices over time

wait until a 'fuller' device catagalogue is available, then launch.

Generally accepted wisdom would be to do the former

or option 3, don't invest $30 million in unless you are able to compete effectively. It's all sensible stuff to say if takes time to roll out etc etc, and I'd fully understand the Lightbox strategy if Netflix wasn't about to launch - but it is - and in the yet next few weeks - and Lightbox will not be ready on day one with adequate capability to effectively compete IMHO. And the Netflix arrival is not unexpected, so why invest so heavily in this venture in the first place? Time will tell I guess.

Dafman, I assume you're a Spk shareholder and you think the money could be better spent elsewhere or even returned to shareholders? The tone of your posts would make sense to me if that was the case. After all, as a co-owner of the company, what the company does with its/your money IS your business. If you don't have a piece of the action then I really don't get it. There's plenty of ways to watch Lightbox and the list is getting larger.

I'm not saying this for dramatic effect but I'm just about to go and watch the 4th episode of Better Call Saul on my 50 inch 3 year old Panasonic plasma though my PS4. And it's free on my Spark plan. Seriously, whatever happens to Lightbox, I think Spk is diving it a descent go.

sultanoswing

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#1251311 4-Mar-2015 20:21

Bobdn:
I'm not saying this for dramatic effect but I'm just about to go and watch the 4th episode of Better Call Saul on my 50 inch 3 year old Panasonic plasma though my PS4. And it's free on my Spark plan. Seriously, whatever happens to Lightbox, I think Spk is diving it a descent go.

Nice. For extra dramatic effect, is it in 5.1 yet?

And I hope they don't go into some sort of diving descent [sic], as it would be nice to have good competition in the market. ;)

Bobdn

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#1251336 4-Mar-2015 20:44

sultanoswing:
Bobdn:
I'm not saying this for dramatic effect but I'm just about to go and watch the 4th episode of Better Call Saul on my 50 inch 3 year old Panasonic plasma though my PS4. And it's free on my Spark plan. Seriously, whatever happens to Lightbox, I think Spk is diving it a descent go.

Nice. For extra dramatic effect, is it in 5.1 yet?

And I hope they don't go into some sort of diving descent [sic], as it would be nice to have good competition in the market. ;)

No 5.1 support yet. My spelling is appalling.

sultanoswing

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#1251337 4-Mar-2015 20:47

Bobdn:
sultanoswing:
Bobdn:
I'm not saying this for dramatic effect but I'm just about to go and watch the 4th episode of Better Call Saul on my 50 inch 3 year old Panasonic plasma though my PS4. And it's free on my Spark plan. Seriously, whatever happens to Lightbox, I think Spk is diving it a descent go.

Nice. For extra dramatic effect, is it in 5.1 yet?

And I hope they don't go into some sort of diving descent [sic], as it would be nice to have good competition in the market. ;)

No 5.1 support yet. My spelling is appalling.

Thanks :)

No 5.1 support - while not quite suicidal (as per the OP's thread title) - still represents a real risk of deliberate self harm, IMHO.

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