We are beginning to see a blurring of traditional distinctions whereby gaming and content consumption is taking place on a variety of devices. Announced January 7, 2010, ActiveVideo Networks has expanded its relationship with TAG Networks to extend enhanced gaming experiences to broadband-connected consumer electronic devices. The combined solution, which leverages TAG Networks' scalability with ActiveVideo's ability to deliver Web-based content as a single MPEG stream, brings popular, brand-name games to any connected device or digital set-top box, no need for a traditional game console.
The integration builds on the existing cable partnership between TAG Networks and ActiveVideo, as well as on recent milestones by both companies: TAG Networks recently announced that it established an industry record for streaming games density and scalability by supporting two thousand concurrent MPEG game streams at 1.25Mbps with a single off-the-shelf 1RU dual quad-core server, while ActiveVideo successfully demonstrated the integration of the ActiveVideo client with Blu-ray Disc middleware developed by Videon Central at the Intel Developer Forum.
Such technology promises to make Blu-ray players relevant despite the onslaught of network-delivered video as the optical disc becomes but one of their inputs.
TAG Networks' games channel, TAG, is specifically designed to meet operational concerns, including limitations of headend space, power, air conditioning and bandwidth. The company's platform reduces environmental impact and running costs while providing mass reach and ease of deployment to all digital cable/IPTV households by seamlessly integrating into their existing infrastructures.
ActiveVideo immerses viewers in an engaging experience that combines Web video, Web 2.0 functionality and traditional television. With ActiveVideo, viewers can navigate a completely interactive environment of both linear and broadband programming, including rich interfaces and graphics optimized for TV and remote control navigation; social networking; personal media; niche content; and targeted, actionable advertising. ActiveVideo uses intelligent MPEG streaming to deliver the Web 2.0 experience to a worldwide television audience through both legacy and next-generation digital set-top boxes and broadband-connected devices.
This is the blend between Internet video and traditional television broadcasting, gaming without a gaming console, computing without a computer. As devices become smart in themselves and connected with a big pipe to the Internet, new user experiences are emerging.