• 3 Video Predictions for 2012: Digitalsmiths' Ben Weinberger

    Following are 3 video predictions for 2012 from Ben Weinberger, CEO and co-founder of Digitalsmiths, a technology leader in the rapidly growing segment of video search and recommendations.

    1. All set-top box divisions will be sold or spun off
    Companies like Ericsson, Cisco, Motorola Mobility, Technicolor and others will finally sell or spin off their set-top divisions.  The groups are generally less strategic, not growing in meaningful size (and sometimes shrinking), and IP video needs a new wave of development that current set top groups are better at starting with a clean slate.

    2. Paris Hilton uses the word HOT to describe content discovery
    Maybe this doesn't raise to Paris's awareness, but when she needs a quick movie to watch, she will appreciate discovering one more easily.  Cable, Satellite and Telco and pay TV operators are quickly focusing on the need for better search and recommendations experiences.  Consumers demand it, providers will respond.

    3. The Second Screen helps clean up a dirty word
    The word convergence has been discussed for years and means different things to different groups.  As more second screen applications like MediaNavi from Technicolor and IntoNow from Yahoo become adopted, consumers will see enhanced experiences while watching television and interacting with programming.  Convergence comes to mind once again as mobile devices, Smart TVs and the Internet become interoperable.  I believe the dirty word, however, will be cleansed…at least in this experience.

    (Note: Digitalsmiths is a VideoNuze sponsor)