Garret H's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/157984/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/120176-stocks-with-the-largest-short-positions?source=feed#comment-391276 391276 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:03:21 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/85546-sector-relative-strength-7-17-08?source=feed#comment-208335 208335 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:29:18 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/82932-new-divx-hook-up-with-matroska-to-provide-enhanced-video-experience?source=feed#comment-196366 196366
I actually see Sony adopting walled garden approach with their movie store, and limiting interoperability. However, they are also offering their movies for download in DivX format internationally, so that is a promising gesture of open-ness, and maybe that's all DivX is going to get out of them.

Being a large corporation, it seems like Sony will most likely be slow to embrace an open system and will need a lot of coercing from DivX's dealmakers to out some kind of partnership in the near-term. Longer term, DivX will keep on pushing their branded unified video solution with interoperability and DRM to many CE manufacturers, so it should be interesting to see who picks them up.

]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:12:56 -0400
I actually see Sony adopting walled garden approach with their movie store, and limiting interoperability. However, they are also offering their movies for download in DivX format internationally, so that is a promising gesture of open-ness, and maybe that's all DivX is going to get out of them.

Being a large corporation, it seems like Sony will most likely be slow to embrace an open system and will need a lot of coercing from DivX's dealmakers to out some kind of partnership in the near-term. Longer term, DivX will keep on pushing their branded unified video solution with interoperability and DRM to many CE manufacturers, so it should be interesting to see who picks them up.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/82932-new-divx-hook-up-with-matroska-to-provide-enhanced-video-experience?source=feed#comment-195520 195520
This is great news for hobbyists, but the impact on the bottom line is foggy. However, I cannot dismiss it's impact on DivX's overall value as a franchise, since they have built their reputation on enabling hobbyists to record and manipulate video, and transfer it between devices. As a tech geek, I can see the value in this. It will help the company continue to garner support with the purist "hackers" who want an open and hackable solution, but may be willing to accept something that isn't quite "Open Source", but still very multifaceted and caters to a wide variety of technologies.

I'm actually more interested to see if DivX is going to be involved in Sony's upcoming PlayTV to any extent. The two companies have been awfully snuggly lately, with PS3 support and the Sony Pictures deal. Sony has a large variety of DivX certified devices and they could help provide the "glue" to help "connect" them together. Sony's PR (URL pasted below) has talk about interoperability between PSP, TV's, and mobile devices, which DivX could feasibly provide the software for. Also, if Sony Pictures distribution in DivX ever happens, they could seamlessly put their own content on those devices.

However, Sony may be interested in coming up with an in-house solution rather than paying licensing fees to DivX. DivX may not be the solution that Sony had in mind for their PSN download service. Also, Sony could go with Microsoft for software video and upgradeable DRM support, but this would be giving an awful big nod to a competitor.

This brings on the next interesting talking point. I'm surprised there isn't more murmur about a Sony buyout of DivX. DivX's "Connected" DSM-330 device has been better received than Sony's DMX-NV1. Sony could get DivX support on all their products without having to pay license fees, and help them to compete with Microsoft and Apple with DivX's "open" ecosystem.

I suppose this is pretty speculative, but one has to wonder what pieces of DivX's overall strategy still have yet to be revealed. People aren't asking questions about Stage6 anymore, but that doesn't mean that they have been answered. DivX still has gobs of money sitting around, and it's a bit puzzling why an aggressive tech company would be happy to let it sit around and collect interest, rather than invest heavily in RnD. Unless they think they already have the RnD that they need, and they are keeping their money for other purchases, or waiting to get acquired.

metue.com/06-27-2008/s.../
]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:26:27 -0400
This is great news for hobbyists, but the impact on the bottom line is foggy. However, I cannot dismiss it's impact on DivX's overall value as a franchise, since they have built their reputation on enabling hobbyists to record and manipulate video, and transfer it between devices. As a tech geek, I can see the value in this. It will help the company continue to garner support with the purist "hackers" who want an open and hackable solution, but may be willing to accept something that isn't quite "Open Source", but still very multifaceted and caters to a wide variety of technologies.

I'm actually more interested to see if DivX is going to be involved in Sony's upcoming PlayTV to any extent. The two companies have been awfully snuggly lately, with PS3 support and the Sony Pictures deal. Sony has a large variety of DivX certified devices and they could help provide the "glue" to help "connect" them together. Sony's PR (URL pasted below) has talk about interoperability between PSP, TV's, and mobile devices, which DivX could feasibly provide the software for. Also, if Sony Pictures distribution in DivX ever happens, they could seamlessly put their own content on those devices.

However, Sony may be interested in coming up with an in-house solution rather than paying licensing fees to DivX. DivX may not be the solution that Sony had in mind for their PSN download service. Also, Sony could go with Microsoft for software video and upgradeable DRM support, but this would be giving an awful big nod to a competitor.

This brings on the next interesting talking point. I'm surprised there isn't more murmur about a Sony buyout of DivX. DivX's "Connected" DSM-330 device has been better received than Sony's DMX-NV1. Sony could get DivX support on all their products without having to pay license fees, and help them to compete with Microsoft and Apple with DivX's "open" ecosystem.

I suppose this is pretty speculative, but one has to wonder what pieces of DivX's overall strategy still have yet to be revealed. People aren't asking questions about Stage6 anymore, but that doesn't mean that they have been answered. DivX still has gobs of money sitting around, and it's a bit puzzling why an aggressive tech company would be happy to let it sit around and collect interest, rather than invest heavily in RnD. Unless they think they already have the RnD that they need, and they are keeping their money for other purchases, or waiting to get acquired.

metue.com/06-27-2008/s.../
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/67359-is-the-breakdown-of-stage6-the-beginning-of-divx-s-end?source=feed#comment-127455 127455
I think the truth here is much more benign than whatever has been thrown around on various blogs or whatever. DivX didn't have the resources to make this dream a reality. stage6 died a teenager, but we'll see it in another form someday, maybe from DivX, maybe from somebody else.. In the meantime, Netflix and Amazon have their respective offerings.

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:54:09 -0400
I think the truth here is much more benign than whatever has been thrown around on various blogs or whatever. DivX didn't have the resources to make this dream a reality. stage6 died a teenager, but we'll see it in another form someday, maybe from DivX, maybe from somebody else.. In the meantime, Netflix and Amazon have their respective offerings.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/67359-is-the-breakdown-of-stage6-the-beginning-of-divx-s-end?source=feed#comment-123136 123136
In regards to stage6, to It would have been infinitely smarter to just totally revamp the site, remove 99% of all the videos, remove upload capability, and just stream a few special independent movie series, commercials, promos, etc.. Bandwidth costs are cut by 95% or something and it becomes a negligible expense.

That way they could keep their yahoo toolbar downloads, add marketing value, and even maintain some forums. Maybe they'll end up doing this. They are certainly going to keep the domain name as a property (or sell it) although I don't know if they still kept the people around who maintain the site.

Unlimited upload limits is just not going to fly. It would never have worked. Stage6 has been obsoleted and eclipsed by a multitude of other video sharing sites and really can exist only as a marketing campaign, which is 1/2 the purpose of the original, albeit half-baked idea.

But, back to shareholder value, this is probably what they have to focus on now due to their stock being in trouble, so I can't really blame them for the stock buyback, especially because I am a shareholder.]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:15:09 -0500
In regards to stage6, to It would have been infinitely smarter to just totally revamp the site, remove 99% of all the videos, remove upload capability, and just stream a few special independent movie series, commercials, promos, etc.. Bandwidth costs are cut by 95% or something and it becomes a negligible expense.

That way they could keep their yahoo toolbar downloads, add marketing value, and even maintain some forums. Maybe they'll end up doing this. They are certainly going to keep the domain name as a property (or sell it) although I don't know if they still kept the people around who maintain the site.

Unlimited upload limits is just not going to fly. It would never have worked. Stage6 has been obsoleted and eclipsed by a multitude of other video sharing sites and really can exist only as a marketing campaign, which is 1/2 the purpose of the original, albeit half-baked idea.

But, back to shareholder value, this is probably what they have to focus on now due to their stock being in trouble, so I can't really blame them for the stock buyback, especially because I am a shareholder.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/66198-divx-and-stage6-chock-full-of-fail?source=feed#comment-119922 119922 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:52:31 -0500