As video professionals we are always looking for better and more effective ways to distribute our videos and films. As content consumers, we are always searching for more new and cool content that looks good, at an affordable price. And if we can get it on demand – delivered to where we want it when we want it, even better.
Checkout Akimbo (www.akimbo.com) – a new content provider aggregator web video company that is offering a compelling new product and service. By combining a bunch of existing streaming and net related technologies and combining them with some good old fashioned promotion, they are providing an online service that delivers video to your home TV via a set-top box and your high speed broadband Internet connection.
Once connected, you can choose your programming from either the user interface on your TV set, or via your personal account online at Akimbo.com. This is not streaming video. Instead, Akimbo is downloading the entire file, compressed but still very high quality, to your Akimbo players hard drive.
You can choose from a wide array of programming that runs the gamut from classic movies, to cartoons, to travel and instructional and sports videos, to films hosted by iFilms, and even some of the top video blogs. You can opt to received many of these programs via subscription which means that as soon as a new piece of programming ready and posted to Akimbo, it will be downloaded to your player unit. This means that you won’t experience any disruptions when you are watching the program.
If you have a relatively slow broadband connection, it may take a while for the programs to start appearing on your hard drive. One of the cool ways to use Akimbo, is to access your personal account at Akimbo during the day or while you are at work, pick your program for the evening, and it will be waiting for you when you get home.
As Akimbo grows, it contact adds new programming and programming options. You can search through them by service provider, by channel or by subject. Channels include iFilm, CNN, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, History Channel, Granada TV, Food Network, Fitness on Demand, Inside China, LetsGoYoga, as well as some adult oriented fare. You scroll through the various offerings, select which programming you want to access, and then the system downloads it to your Akimbo set-top box. Once there, you can watch it on your schedule.
The Akimbo Guide is a comprehensive listing of all the Akimbo Channels and thousands of programs available through the Akimbo Service. The Akimbo Guide features on-screen search, full program descriptions, and video previews - all of which make it easy to find shows that match your interests.
There are two pieces of the Akimbo package – the set up box and the service itself. Currently the box costs $199 and the basic service is about $10 a month. At the moment they are offering several interesting deals – if you buy the box you get three months for free or $30 off the life-long subscription rate of $199. However, not all the programming on Akimbo is covered by the service agreement.
The prices vary from 99 cents to maybe $4.00 per show. The shows also vary on how long you can have them on your hard drive. Some shows, even free ones, only stay resident for a week, two weeks or a month, before they will self delete. Other shows, once downloaded, are your sot watch over and over again for the rest of your life. The content pricing, and how long they last, can be a bit confusing to figure out at first. However, when you select he program, it will tell you the details of pricing and license period before you start the download. If you opt to download a fee program, the cost gets added to your account.
Installing the System
Akimbo does not connect to your cable TV system, satellite receiver or to a TV antenna. It works off your broadband Internet connection. The program files gets downloaded to your Akimbo box via the net and then output form the box to your TV set via standard video and audio cables. For best quality, you’ll want to use the S-video connectors.
As this is a broadband connection, you need to add the Akimbo unit to your home network. If you simply have a single computer attached to a DSL or cable modem, you can unplug the cable form the computer and plug that into the Akimbo box and start downloading that way. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do downloads and use your computer at the same time.
Akimbo is really for those who have a network router or hub, wired or wireless. If your network is already up and running, you can simply attach an Ethernet cable from the Akimbo box to your router/hub. If you prefer to work without wireless, and already have a wireless network up and running, you can attach a wireless network adapter to the Akimbo box’s USB connector.
Once connected, they Akimbo box and system will walk you though a simple process of registering your box and getting your system up and running. The system comes with directions on how to do the set-up plus the Akimbo service team is very smart.
Once the Akimbo service is talking to your Akimbo box over your Internet connection, you can start picking movies and downloading content. I found the system to be very slow when first initiated because there is a lot of crosstalk going back and forth between the box and the online service a sit updates it program guides and user software. However, once completed, the speed of the download is only limited by your broadband connection.
If you have a family, you’ll be happy to know that you can set various filters to control who can access what on your Akimbo service.
The settings range anywhere from allowing only G rated material all the way up to allowing NC-17 or adult materials.
Is the Akimbo service for you?
If you are looking for easy access to a diverse range of non-traditional television programming, you definitely should look at Akimbo. Currently, they don’t feature regular broadcast programming, current sports events or news. Most of the fare is more educational and eclectic. If you are an early innovator who wants the coolest stuff, Akimbo is for you.
Actually my kids really loved the access to all the children and family programming – the cartoons, the old movies, the how o stuff. As usual with kids, they found joy in watching the same programs over and over. Instead of wading through a pile of DVDs and VHS tapes, they know can store their favorites programs on the hard drive and watch them whenever they want.
As you can imagine, Akimbo has plans to add lots more programming. You can imagine the libraries of films that are available. For sports freaks, Akimbo could possibly offer access to every game, race and event ha that ever been captured and recorded to video or film. Akimbo is also open to licensing content from video producers of all types and interests. Explore the category and subject areas at Akimbo and figure out how your programming can fit into their mix and how you may be able to make some money.
