Let's say you're hooked on Lost, American Idol, Desperate Housewives, or The OC, maybe. Soon, you may be able to catch the latest episode on your cell phone. Nokia
Just last week there was word of Sony's
Nokia had a tough time of it last year (revisit its dip to a two-year low here), when it seemed that rivals like Motorola
For my part, while I think the array of gadgetry increasingly available in the palm of your hand is interesting, I still find the idea of portable music more compelling than portable video, or TV for that matter. However, Nokia said that it conducted research that revealed that people like to watch TV in cars (hopefully, not while driving, for goodness sake!) and in cafes and other public places. The company also threw "the workplace" in as another possible venue for mobile TV, which many employers may not relish.
According to tech lore, Apple's Steve Jobs has in the past rejected the notion that consumers would want visual entertainment such as TV or DVDs on portable devices that lend themselves best to activities where one is doing something else at the same time -- jogging, running to catch the bus, or shopping, for example. I tend to think that TV is a much more sedentary habit, which just doesn't lend itself well to being on the go. (Nor does it lend itself well to tiny screens.)
Stranger things have happened, of course -- I thought digital cameras in cell phones were a ridiculous idea, and look how that turned out. However, I'm thinking that TV is still squarely in the realm of the couch potato.
What do you think of this latest brainstorm? Talk to other interested Fools on our Nokia discussion board.
Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned.