After a month or so - I took the focus group back to the Akimbo... ready to play with some new features and new channels.

I'd done the leg work, and gone through the menus to find things for the boys...

for the young one - lot's from National Geographic, Lions and Egypt. For the older (15) music videos.

Good news. the download indicators now show a progress bar. Strangely, still can't watch a progressive download. This matters, because it means that it's entirely deferred gratification.

The new channels are cool. Much as I hate to admit it, the channel brands make the service more comfortable and welcoming. I don't get why the more esoteric channels don't offer free samples. there's no way I'm going to plunk down hard earned cash for the Quicksilver channel or VARSITY TELEVISION
without getting a sense of the quality or the offerings.

Some sort of trailer system (5 min for free) would really help here.

Overall - I'm still more passionate about the concept than the execution. The idea that i'm getting access to programs that come from a server rather than a cable network or satellite provider has a ton of possibilities.

But in order for Akimbo - or anyone else for that matter - to plug into the soon to be overwhelming new content sources, some sort of user-controllable filter is essential.

The weird thing is that too many choices, without a way to narrow them, tends to drive me back to safe choices like National Geographic (known brands) and away from tasting new things...

What i want is a line up that includes personalization:

- Steve's Channels.

New options..

- New things Steve may want to see (as filtered based on my channel choices)
- New 'other' things. New things that haven't been filtered.

This way i start in a place that's safe, and targeted. And then based on my curiosity and time available, i can dig down deeper to explore.

BTW- My Tivo has lost it's mind. Some number of months ago, it decided i like "B" sci-fi movies. I SWEAR i never did a thumbs up on Mothra vs. Godzilla. But Tivo is sure i did. Now it's gone further, and is downloading SPANISH LANGUAGE 'B' SCI-FI. Ok, Why? Just wondering.

Back to AKIMBO.

I do think i'm seeing their long term plan. Because having a box gives them permission to cut to the head of the line in the VOD / IPTV deal making process. And if they're betting that the box business will be overtaken by MCE... then they win either way by being able to deliver the AKIMBO service to either their box, or any IPTV ready platform. Pretty smart, if that's where they're going.

They should focus on the user-interface. Tivo was slick and usable right out of the box (and in fact has changed very little). Akimbo still makes my head hurt a bit (i wish the remote was heavier). Overall - good steps, new channels, download progress. But still needing a filter and better sampling.

I haven't bought a single VOD show off the service yet, and they already have my credit card.