DOUBLE FINE!!!!!

Oooh, purdy!

I've wanted a Zune HD ever since it was released. But I'd prefer a 64GB version.

The fact that you can pay Google for the right to build a YouTube app targeted for television screens leads me to believe that this move isn't about stopping people from viewing YouTube on TV, but rather figuring out a way to monetize that activity.

Anyone with a functioning pair of eyes will have noticed a drastic upswing in the number of ads appearing on YouTube these days... preroll, postroll and lower-third ads. These ads are not shown on API-based YouTube apps.

In addition, if you're viewing YouTube on a television, chances are much better that you are viewing long-form, professionally-produced content such as movies and TV shows, whereas if you're viewing YouTube on a PC or mobile device, you're more likely to be viewing shortform content.

When you've got a segment of the audience who views long-form content (higher bandwidth requirements) but sees no ads (no revenue) there has to be some way to monetize that, otherwise it makes no sense. Rather than block the content entirely when watched on a television, Google has opted to charge app developers.

Makes sense to me.

For the life of me, I will never understand the thought process that goes through a marketer's mind when he/she decides to come up with a scheme like this.

To my eye, three of those logos should be stricken. Eliminate "Standard", "Standard w/ Ethernet" and "High Speed". Just don't certify those cables. Then all you have left are "HDMI High-Speed w/ Ethernet" and "HDMI Standard Automotive"... which could easily be renamed "HDMI" and "Mobile HDMI". Easy and straightforward.

Well said.

While I'm nowhere near any sort of audiophile, I totally appreciate great surround audio and I feel it is vital to a good home theater experience. Do I have an expensive, audiophile-grade surround audio system? No, I have a cheapie HTIB. Even so, I find it so much better than relying on TV speakers, especially those in a flat-panel TV.

As bad as Motorola boxes are, Cisco boxes are much, much worse. If Motorola's exit paves the way for a more innovative company to enter this space, then I say bring it on.

Of course, that's unlikely to happen. :(

Facebook seems like an easy add, as well as Twitter. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony tries to one-up Microsoft by adding the ability to tweet directly from the XMB or within a game.

It's only funny when it happens to someone else. Which, for me at least, it always will. Hehehe.