Smart Screen Exclusive

By Chris Tribbey

After getting a chance to unwind from the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), we asked 2nd Screen Society members what stood out for them at the show.

Holly Dowden, director of product marketing for mPortal, said that while there was a “veritable smorgasbord of second screen solutions” shown at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show, she thought several items flew under the radar, solutions which could be “potentially game changing.”

“One of them that caught my eye was the Samsung TV Remote App,” she said. “While this solution has been available for awhile, Samsung has equipped their higher-end tablets, and recently their smartphones, with special infrared technology that allows consumers to control their TV through these devices.”

By using the app, a Samsung Galaxy S smartphone or Samsung Galaxy tab owner can change the channel, control the volume or power, launch other apps, search and more. While the app requires both a Samsung TV and Samsung second screen device, Dowden said more consumer electronics companies will adopt the idea, offering a simple bridge between mobile devices and TVs. mPortal itself has its ScreenBee app, which is a second screen solution combining content discovery with the social TV experience.

Geoff Katz, VP with Watchwith, said the industry should keep an eye on SeeSpace, which introduce a potential game-changer at CES.

“Their product concept just hit Kickstarter and is well on the way toward reaching their goal,” Katz said. “Super innovative synch-to-broadcast related content display via their InAIR device, that leverages 3D display to ‘float’ the interactive consumer experience in front of the big screen display.”

“SeeSpace pushes the boundaries of how consumers will experience synch program and advertising content beyond the second screen.”

SeeSpace’s $99 HDMI device has the potential to make any TV both a smart TV and a 3DTV, and is slated to be in stores this fall.

Billy Purser, VP of marketing for Digitalsmiths, pointed to DISH Network’s introduction of its Explorer app for iPad, a second-screen app for the Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR platform that combines program discovery, social media and remote control capabilities.

“Customers are already using tablets while watching TV but, until Explorer, it had been two separate experiences,” Vivek Khemka, VP of product management at DISH, said in a statement. “What we’ve done is develop an integrated, seamless experience between the tablet and the television; only the Hopper creates an entirely new viewing dynamic.”

The app recommends shows and lists popular programs by cross-referencing social media TV viewing trends and real-time viewership data.

Dowden also made mention of Zeebox and its development of content recognition apps that identify programs people are watching, and automatically pushes related content.

Zeebox at CES announced it would integrate Gracenote’s content recognition technology into its TV companion apps, allowing for the apps to pick-up audio and identify content.