On 10 June, Hewlett-Packard announced its release of a “new generation of all-in-one PCs,” designed to boost user experience with enhanced multimedia applications presented in a touchscreen interface through a high-definition display. PC manufacturers such as Sony, Dell, and now HP, are using all-in-one designs with rich multimedia capabilities to appeal to new usage models around the home. In a recent report, ABI Research unpacks the home theater PC market, and details the growing competition as manufacturers attempt to lead the industry by setting new technological and usability trends.
“The act of combining standard PC form factors with high-resolution multimedia capabilities is the new evolution with respect to all-in-one device design,” says principal analyst Steve Wilson. “Moreover, this combinational trend is emerging in the budding relationship between TV and the Internet. For instance, both Samsung and Panasonic have announced TVs where the user can connect directly to the Internet. However, these likely will be limited to specific Web sites and services and cannot yet provide the full flexibility of a PC connection.”
Conversely, CinemaNow, an online movie service, announced in May 2008 that it has joined with Microsoft to rent and sell nearly 3,400 movie titles and TV shows within Windows Media Center. Using a direct PC-to-TV connection, the user can watch content directly on a TV; or, the user can employ the burn-to-DVD option, permitting access of purchased content across the full range of devices: from the PC, to the TV, to the DVD player.
With technology, industrial, and interface improvements, the role of the PC in the digital living room continues to evolve: all-in-one devices may become the norm, and TVs with PC/Internet functionality may be established as the next evolutionary plateau. The all-in-one device format, arguably brought to light by Apple’s iMac, is gaining favor as a space saver and as a platform upon which interactive digital entertainment can be accessed on-the-go or at a specific location.
Home Theater and Media Center PCs in the Living Room examines the forces driving the home theater PC market and the ways in which regional factors are influencing adoption throughout the world. Forecasts are provided on a regional basis for key markets and products.
It forms part of two ABI Research Services: Consumer Video Technologies, and Home Networking.
ABI Research is a leading market research firm focused on the impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business markets. Utilizing a unique blend of market intelligence, primary research, and expert assessment from its worldwide team of industry analysts, ABI Research assists hundreds of clients each year with their strategic growth initiatives. For information, visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.
Contact:Nicole Fabris Tel: +1 516.624.2542 Fax: 516-624-2501 pr@abiresearch.com
Sonic Branding For Social Media: Engage, Align, Connect
By Chad Cook -- With more than five billion people accessing social media daily, savvy brands understand the importance of cultivating a strong social identity. They devote massive resources toward brand awareness, audience targeting, content strategy and community engagement. Yet, while they know that social platforms are critical to boosting sales and attracting new customers, many neglect one of the most effective tools for connecting with consumers: sonic branding. Marketers often associate sonic branding with catchy mnemonics used by big brands like McDonald’s, Netflix and Intel in their advertising. But that is a very limited view of what sonic branding is and what it can do. Sonic branding is a way to build awareness and stimulate engagement across all touch points, from advertising to broadcast digital, in-person and social. And it’s not limited to members of the Fortune 500. Brands at all levels can benefit from a sonic identity that is memorable, engaging and reflective of its core values. Sound has been scientifically proven to be deeply tied to memory and emotion. There’s a reason that certain songs stick in your head and bring back memories formed years or even decades earlier. So, it’s surprising that sonic branding is often an afterthought in marketing plans. That is especially true in social media marketing. Faced with tight deadlines and strained budgets, creative teams are often tempted to select music for their content simply because it “fits.” Unfortunately, that may result in content that is in tune with what’s trending but is out of tune with brand identity. Effective sonic branding, by contrast, requires thoughtful strategic planning,... Read More