According to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records, Comcast is underdevelopment of a portable audio and video player they've dubbed Anyplay.
Comcast officially has not announced any specific Anyplay details, but the patent filing suggests this device would not only play videos but also support streaming of Comcast content.
In other words, Comcast is designing a video iPod with a cable TV tuner.
In case you're not aware of all the must-have gadgets available or in development for watching movies and TV shows on the go, here's a short list:
- RadioShack Analog TV Tuner
- Many New Cellphones
- Video iPod
- Sony PSP
- Microsoft Zune
- EchoStar PocketDish
- DirecTV DirecTV2Go
- Comcast Anyplay
- did I miss any? add 'em to the comments
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Listen - I'm a heavy user of all things online, film, and TV related (except for watching traditional TV). I frequently take public transportation, I'm an early adopter of digital goodies, and I have disposable income - BUT - I HAVE LESS THAN ZERO DESIRE TO OWN A PORTABLE VIDEO PLAYER GADGET THINGAMABOB.
The iPod worked because listening to music by and large is a passive activity. Focusing your eyes AND your ears on stimulus is a completely different situation.
Am I alone in thinking that the Portable Video Buzz/ Market is Officially Out of Control?
Let's here those opinions in the comments.
1. Thee are some applications. I drive 2-3 hours a day with a 3 and 5 year old in the car. Without portable video my blood pressure would be about double what it is.
I use a portable media player that outputs composite video to the flip down flat panel in the back. No way would I pay for streaming video. I use Tivo to automatically download the shows that they watch, convert them to MPG4. I then have to manually move them to the media player, but that is a drag drop operation- no sweat.
But as for myself, I could care less. I think I have watched a total of 4 minutes of video on the thing. Instead, I listen to tons of podcasts.
Posted at 10:34PM on Nov 10th 2006 by Mak Thorpe