Digital Home Thoughts: Popcorn Hour's Finest Hour

"Over the years I’ve tested several video / media players and have had good luck with the WD TV HD Media Player and more recently, the Popcorn Hour A-110. The Popcorn Hour has become one of the most heavily used gadgets in my home until now. Now I have found something even better… the Popcorn Hour C-200. "

There seems to be two main categories of personal video devices these days. Tivo-like devices, which tend to only be available from television providers (at least here in Canada), and media playback devices. I think the proliferation of media playback devices dependant on network or locally stored media does say one thing about the market; media through physical distribution really is on its way out. With devices like the C-200, Boxee Box and even TVs with their own Internet playback capabilities becoming morepopular, media like DVDs and Blu-ray will probably become less and less desired. iTunes, Hulu and the like will dominate the market. However, I do think one thing may be missing with this shift, is with physical media, or at least how physical media is currently packaged comes other benefits like liner notes, extra media and so on. This could be duplicated to an extent through the Internet, but it does not seem to be pushed. When I rent an on-demand movie, I just get the movie. I do not get the director's commentary, or cut scenes or anything like that. Hopefully, distributors will recognize there is value in these bonuses and start finding a way to include them.