It’s been a long time in the coming, but the internet may finally be making serious inroads to your living room. The appetite for smarter media options is nothing new, but greater at-home bandwidth, smarter compression technologies and the proliferation of internet-enabled devices may finally be making it possible. People have already incorporated the internet into all aspects of their lives (business, communications, shopping, etc.) and are eager to upgrade their dated and passive home entertainment experience, too. The internet has trained users to expect live, on-demand content that is highly interactive, bundled with the ability to customize and share. Only the internet can deliver that to our living rooms.

So far it is still the Wild West when it comes to internet media solutions, and there is no clear leader or standard in the space, just lots of folks trying to find the right solution. Let’s meet the players.

Content Sources

Content is king, and it’s the abundance of rich content that is encouraging people to want to consume it in their traditional entertainment environment. When it comes to viewing online content on your TV, there's a smorgasbord of digital sources. 

Home Network Content: Before we even talk about the internet, we need look at what we already have on our laptops, PCs and home servers. Our hard drives are busting at the seams with videos (downloaded, ripped, homemade), music and photos. As more homes become networked, this content can finally be freed from our computers and consumed in more comfortable and social surroundings.

Streaming Services: Arguably the most exciting content source is streaming video from services like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand (VoD), YouTube, Vimeo, MTV, and many more. These sites and services serve up on-demand video whenever and wherever we want it.

Download Services: Lots of players are vying for your download dollars, and unlike streaming services (at least for now), they can generally offer much higher quality and the joy of ownership. Services like iTunes, Amazon VoD, Starz Play and CinemaNow are slowly honing in on pricing, format and device support standards.
 
Photo Sites: But video isn’t the only star of the show, the digital photography craze has also netted gobs of photo content ready to enjoy with friends and family. While many users may simply want to view photos from their home computer on their TV, the vast majority of people have embraced online sharing sites like Flickr, Facebook, Kodak Image Gallery and PhotoBucket to house and share their photos.

Audio and Video Podcasts: While streaming sites are popular for their immediacy, users and media creators have also embraced downloadable content for its high quality and portability. The web is packed with audio and video podcasts that users would love to consume on their media centers.  

Internet Radio: In many ways Internet Radio has lead the charge in getting web content onto the home media center. The early availability of content, low bandwidth requirements, and relatively simple interface requirements made it a great starting point. For years now, devices like the Roku SoundBridge and Logitech Squeezebox have made it painless to wirelessly stream services likes Pandora, Shoutcast and Rhapsody, plus thousands of independent radio stations to your living room. 

Hardware

So we’ve established that there is a plethora of content available in a number of different formats, now how to get it onto the TV. As luck would have it, there are numerous hardware options available to bring online content to your living room. 

Video Game Consoles: The latest round of gaming systems from the major players all sport an advanced array of web-enabled media options. Both Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PS3 offer video on-demand services and support full web browsers, which allow users the ability to access any number of streaming sites. The Xbox also features integrated Netflix streaming and PlayOn software, which enables a more TV friendly interface to access sites like YouTube and Hulu.

Dedicated Devices: More recently, devices already associated with TV consumption or new, dedicated web devices have begun to gain traction in the market. While devices like Roku and Vudu focus more on traditional content, devices like AppleTV and Tivo offer users more variety in the types of media they can access.

Embedded Devices: Why build a whole new device when web services can be bundled into existing form factors. Major television, DVD and Blu-ray manufacturers like Sony, LG, Samsung and Vizio are all rushing to bundle in streaming services like Netflix and Blockbuster On-Demand, as well as emerging internet-enabled platforms like Yahoo’s Connected TV.

Media PCs: Let’s not forget the device that already does it all, the PC. Prices have dropped to the point where a dedicated media PC is no longer just the territory of the super rich and media geeks. We are also seeing people completely replace their TV with all-in-one units like the Apple iMac or the Dell Studio One that were designed to be your media hub. 

Software Platforms

With tons of content available and plenty of devices that can access it, the problem comes down to interface and ease of use. While computer users are accustomed to dealing with complex data, navigational challenges and inconsistencies across sites, the living room media consumer demands ease of use and consistency. Here are the major trends:

Operating System as Media Hub: Both Apple and Microsoft would love to own this emerging market and are taking unique approaches to the problem. Apple’s base solution is Front Row, a remote-friendly interface baked into their OS that gives users a 10-ft. interface to interact with primarily pre-downloaded content. Users can also step up to the dedicated AppleTV that adds connections for services like YouTube, Flickr and internet radio. Both options are tied closely to Apple’s iTunes universe.

Microsoft’s Media Center was initially launched with Windows XP as a separate version of the OS and has continued to evolve into its latest Windows 7 version. In typical Microsoft form, they take more of a do-it-all approach, including DVR functionality, streaming video from major network sites, Netflix, internet radio and more.

Media Hub Software: One of the more exciting trends is the emergence of 10-ft. interfaces for both existing services such as Hulu Desktop and YouTube XL, along with all-new universal media hub software offerings such as XBMC and Joost. While the TV-friendly versions of existing services add little new functionality, services like Boxee hint at what the future of living rooms might hold, with integrated web, local media services and tied-in social features that let friends share content. Boxee is currently still in alpha but already runs on all major operating systems as well as the AppleTV and even has an iPhone remote app available.

Internet Widgets: Yahoo! Connected TV and Verizon FiOS are taking a slightly different angle by building internet-enabled widget platforms that augment traditional media delivery rather than replace it. These new layers of content allow users to get services like weather and stocks updates or access services like Twitter, Facebook and Flickr for updates and media. 

Thoughts and Conclusions

So far much of this puzzle is still unsolved, there is a ton of players and no one is rushing to develop standards or harmonize their approaches. With that in mind, there are several things that jump out at me: 

• More opportunity to engage. As someone dedicated to creating experiences that connect people and brands, I see a huge emerging opportunity to expand the ways in which I do that. 
• Interface design and usability, important as ever. Just when you thought that mobile platforms were the hardest thing you could design for, the 10-ft. interface presents a mammoth, new set of challenges.
• Balancing uniformity and individuality. When it comes to consuming media on a television, users are accustomed to a very simple and consistent experience. So as we begin to develop media and experiences for these new platforms, we need to be mindful of those expectations. Only then can we push toward the new and innovative. 

 

In the world of social media, fantasy and reality duke it out for your attention daily — and the lines between them get blurrier by the second. Hence the branded avatar. Whether you're sick of using the same 3 profile pictures or you just want to kill a few minutes between meetings, avatar builders give you a chance to escape from all that other...escapism.

As you might expect, companies love branded avatars. The way they see it, you get to express yourself socially while their corporate logo keeps your feet firmly planted on the ground (or your head in the clouds, depending on your persective).

But people don't just go nuts over any old avatar. It has to hit that elusive sweet spot more and more companies are competing for these days. Which brings us to the battle: 

MadMen Yourself. Went from dark horse to reigning champ in seconds flat, thanks to a perfect storm of marketing hype, genuine anticipation, authentic panache and reality fatigue. Plenty going for it from a UX standpont, too: no barriers to entry, easy-to-use controls, lots of customization options, decent sharing capabilities and a generally lounge-y vibe. The pure joy of creating clone after jazzy little clone almost makes up for the overt branding or the occasional glitch (try going back to clean shaven once you've grown facial hair...OK, so maybe they did that on purpose). Plus Dyna Moe's mid-century DIY style gives it an organic allure that's hard to resist.

Yearbook Yourself 2009. If 2008 was Thriller for this franchise, 2009 was just Bad (blame MadMen Yourself). Which is a shame, because Colle+McVoy really brought it this year. You can upload images or use your webcam, rotating, moving, scaling, flipping and adjusting skin tone until your face fits your avatar (you have 5 decades' worth to choose from — each one calling out different online stores — but you'll have to re-tweak your photo as you jump from year to year). On top of that, you can create solo or group portraits, then share them via Facebook Connect and other services as neatly branded files. Confused? The funk-fueled video tutorial explains everything. 

SVEDKA Bot Builder. This slam dunk from Barbarian Group (with the assist from Oddcast) oozes style. The Bot Builder leverages 3D modeling technology to create cool avatars that are icy and detached yet freaky-looking and kinda kinky. In other words, Scandinavian (although art director Ryan McManus tells me he snuck Tom Brady's jersey number in as a customization option — USA! USA!). Facebook Connect is integrated right off the bat, allowing you to do things like upload and use profile pictures. Once completed, your animated avatar will fly, sashay or karate-chop as you see fit, and will continue to do so in your news feed or on your friends' walls. Blame it on the alcohol.  

Dell Lounge Trans-Poser. Our contender doesn't need bells and whistles; what it does, it does well. Sporting a retro look and feel, the Trans-Poser makes cutting and pasting yourself into the action at X Games 15 as easy as twisting a few knobs. But it's the little UI touches (like multiple drag-and-drop anchor points for editing) that keep you coming back to see how far you can push reality's boundaries. Every trans-posed image gets saved to Dell Lounge community gallery, where you can see, rate, comment, download and share whatever grabs you. And because we built the Trans-Poser into the Dell Lounge, it can be reskinned and repurposed to engage users on an ongoing basis. Check and mate.

Microsoft’s new search engine Bing is garnering attention these days, backed by news that it surpassed Yahoo as the second-highest ranked search site for a day. This development prompted critiques and sound bites from notables such as Yahoo’s CEO and Google’s CEO. Naturally, I figured I’d get in on the action, too,  and test drive Bing for a week.

If you haven’t tried it or seen one of the information-overload TV spots Microsoft is airing to raise awareness, Bing is being marketed as a decision engine, not a your run-of-the-mill search engine. What’s the difference, you ask? This marketing video outlines the finer points, complete with enthusiastic voiceover.

And so armed with the information above and looking at a few blog posts, I entered the world of Bing for one week. Here’s what I found:

The look of Bing
The first thing you notice about Bing when you land on its main page is the image of the day, a kind of new-agey, glorified stock photo. You can mouse-over areas of the image for interesting, time-wasting facts. Not sure who wins out here: Bing’s main page photo or Google’s logo swap-outs.

The main page also features an explore tab that lets you drill down to information. Bing’s initial focus is on shopping, planning a trip, researching health conditions or finding a local business. As Bing expands its expertise, perhaps a more robust interface will be developed.

Search results
Bing organizes its search results with a sponsored URL first, with the site’s deep links exposed for quick access. Subsequent hits are sub-divided with headers, which appear to be based on related searches, a definite plus over Google’s long lists of pages. Bing also provides you with options to refine your search. The left-hand column offers related searches and filtering criteria to help you get closer to your destination.

New creature comforts
Bing’s creature comforts are top highlights for me. When searching for videos, mouse over a thumbnail for a video preview, complete with audio. A seven-day price predictor comes in handy when booking airfare, along with Bing’s filtering tool that helps you comparison shop. The image search process greatly benefits from something Microsoft is calling infinite scroll — no more paging through pages of images, just scroll away to your heart’s content.

The verdict
While I’m not willing to part with my Google searches and the comforts of my iGoogle page just yet, I am interested in seeing the upgrades Microsoft has planned for Bing going forward. I'm not sure if Microsoft is refocusing its efforts in innovation — Bing is a good first step.

Let me just start by saying I admire Dustin Curtis's courage. Anyone willing to speak truth to power about a massive fail like AA.com is aces in my book.

But the medium is the message online, and imho there's just one problem with an otherwise spot-on critique. With all due respect, the choice of color (#cccccc) for inline links baffles me. Good user experience relies on an intuitive user interface. When you have to squint to read a hyperlink, UX suffers a little as a result.

Full disclosure: I don't specialize in UI or UX. But I do make the interactive content. And I value the opinions of my peers. Dustin, if you're reading this, I hope you feel the same way. Also, thanks for doing what you did. I hope your effort wins you a well-deserved new client.

If you think Dell can’t hold its own with Apple when it comes to getting love from Gen Y, you’re probably Justin Long’s agent. Or you haven’t been to DellLounge.com lately. Either way, shame on you. 

The new Dell Lounge delivers the kind of stuff digital kids go nuts for — authentic, grassroots and ready to share on your social networks du jour. But the site isn’t just winning hearts and minds with original shows, exclusive interviews, UGC and cool partnerships: it’s cementing self-expression and creativity as Dell brand values.  
 
Like any relationship, Dell Lounge is a labor of love. A crush this big doesn’t develop overnight, though. It’s taken years to make it work — and we’ve been there every step of the way.

Stage I: Serious Flirting
Before Dell Lounge was even a glimmer in Dell’s eye, the company tapped us to help promote its role as tech sponsor of Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex LoveShow. They needed to spread the word about the world tour and (ZOMG!) the chance to win an Inspiron signed by JT. Fast.

To get the job done, we created a simple, stylish microsite designed to turn heads and bring the masses on board. It worked, and audience response got the C-suite talking about how to apply this approach to other Dell sponsorships. Since these relationships fell outside of the product-centric domain of Dell.com, everone agreed the solution should, too. Enter Dell Lounge.

Stage II: Courtship Dating
We designed the original Dell Lounge as a place where Dell could showcase its partnerships and its playful side to reach new audiences. For launch, the site featured JT's fall tour, ACL Music Fest, the BMW Sauber F1 Racing Team and the Inspiron Urban Challenge.

Springbox handled every aspect of site development, from creating a fresh new look and feel to cultivating a unique voice. A Flash-based interactive site, Dell Lounge came equipped with custom-built video player, image galleries and MP3 player to provide visitors with a fully immersive multimedia experience.

The resulting site was unlike any other Dell property, yet it tied back to the brand in all the right places. As a result, Dell Lounge began to carve a niche for itself as a lifestyle brand, connecting Dell to young audiences via cool, engaging content. As soon as we put it out there, they wanted more.

Stage III: Gettin’ Engaged
Thanks to big wins with events like ACL Music Fest and the Sound & Jury Contest, Dell partnered with Springbox again to take Dell Lounge to the next level. Dell Lounge 2.0 delivered even more exclusive content, fan participation opportunities and live events — all tailored to suit the audience’s digital tastes.

As Dell Lounge expanded, it embraced opportunities to partner with the likes of Paste Magazine, Billy Bob Thornton and Hot Freaks. The crowd went wild. “The Dell Lounge has quickly become a great destination site,” explained former Dell Lounge project manager Michael Lambert. “Now the 2.0 launch will allow us to become a true lifestyle site.”

So our brand and our audience were making full-on goo goo eyes at each other. It was time for their mutual friends to get to know each other, too.

Phase IV: 2gether 4ever
Our relationship with Gen Y had blossomed in a matter of months. Still, there was one crucial piece missing: a real sense of community. So we completely reinvented the site, extending its reach with a branded social media ecosystem (Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Imeem, etc.), custom tags and RSS feeds so we could create and share our killer content everywhere. Which, incidentally, slashed our production time in half. Then we gave it a coat of neon candy paint and spritzed it with SEO body spray. Voila. The new Dell Lounge.

OK, so it was a little more complicated than that. You get the idea. Fresh look and intuitive feel plus flat IA and easy-to-use CMS equals a site that thinks young but gets along with everyone. Best of all, the site’s design also allows us to fold in branded content from Dell and partners in engaging but unobtrusive ways, so brand skeptics can open their mind at their own pace as they grow to love the site.

Back to the features. Whether we're talking user-generated or premium content from Springbox, Super! Alright!, VBS, Perez Hilton or whoever, Dell Lounge makes it easy to find what you love. Users can scan by category (Music, Style, etc.) or browse our channels (Koi, Motherboard, Comrades, Candy and Limelight). They can also click, search or create tags to drill down directly. No matter what, the most popular stuff always rises to the top. Digital democracy at its finest.

Apparently, people just looove democracy. “When Springbox pulled up the new site for me, I was simply awestruck,” says Lisa Martin-Louro, Music and Entertainment Digital Content Integration for Dell Global Consumer Online. “The Dell Lounge has evolved in so many ways — it’s amazing to see where it’s at today.” And with plans to go global, the love is spreading. Fast.