Video on demand was an old term but without the bandwidth and the storage technologies to enable it was just that – “a neat idea”. But its time has come. First with Apple (there were a few before, but they made it popular) and now with Google VideoStore. I have been visiting video.google.com com and as always like their simplicity of design. Design is best when you cannot take away anymore… (as some wise guy whose name I conveniently forgot).
So is Google that innovative? When it come to originality they really are not. Their main source of revenue come from Ads, that was Overture’s idea. But when it comes to doing something well, they are focused and inventive, like the Japanese car makers. They take something that is ordinary and perfect it till it stands out to be the best way to do things. I think some of it has to do with the organizational structure. Smaller groups and smaller project are easier to execute them some grandiose ERP solution.
So how do all these video download services make money. They pry on our insatiable appetite for entertainment, which I feel is some desperate attempt to fill some spiritual void with materialistic band aids.