What Will They Think of Next?: Santa Sends a Personal Video Message to Your Child

Every year, kids from all over the world pen letters to Santa, assuring that they've been nice, and requesting their favourite toys, along with things like peace on earth and happiness for all. They might receive a letter back confirming that Santa has received the note, but in the digital age, why not take things one step further? Sympatico/MSN has done just that with a dedicated Website, www.portablenorthpole.sympatico.msn.ca/home that allows you to create a personalized message from Santa to a child of your choice.

Visit the site, and answer questions like how old the child is, whether it's a boy or girl, and what his/her name is. Select (from an existing list of options) what the child has requested for Christmas (a doll, electronic toy, or movie, perhaps?) To make the message even more personal, you can even upload a photo of the child, which will appear on the "nice" list that Santa has on his lap.

Once completed, show the child the video message that Santa e-mailed to you for him/her; you've got connections! The fact that he calls the child by name, knows his/her age, and even what the child has asked for, will light up the child's face. The only drawback is that if the child's name isn't in the pre-made list, while you can manually type it in for consideration to be added to the growing list, Santa won't say it. The same goes for an unusual gift requests.

The video can be accessed at any time afterwards via an e-mail address and password; or by clicking on the direct link.

From a technology perspective, the site is actually part of a beta platform set up by Ugroupmedia. The company hopes to utilize the patent-pending technology for other concepts in the future, ranging from online advertising to video blogging.

Even the "Good" Networks Going Online

Don't be mistaken: offering your TV programming online is not a last ditch effort to gain customer loyalty nor maintain a dying audience. Case in point: Popular subscription channel HBO says that it will soon offer its subscribers the option to access movies and original programming on the Web.

HBO, along with fellow subscription channel Showtime, arguably broadcast the best content on TV today, with popular (and edgy) programs like The Sopranos, Entourage, and Curb Your Enthusiasm from HBO, or Dexter, Californication, and Brotherhood from Showtime. HBO certainly isn't suffering for viewership, so is this move simply indicative of the future of TV?

According to the New York Times, HBO is starting the online video offerings in Green Bay and Milwaukee, WI, but plans to roll-out the service through other parts of the U.S. Of course, only those who subscribe to the HBO channel through a cable or satellite provider will be granted access to the online version, but HBO obviously sees value in giving them the option at all.

The New York Times says the programming will be watchable via an application that downloads it to the PC's hard drive. I wonder: will downloads be password-protected? Will there be an additional fee to download a show or movie? More important, does this mean that an HBO subscriber who's traveling outside of the U.S. (even in Canada!) will be able to log-in, download a show, and watch it, no matter where he is?

If this is the case, it's an absolutely fantastic step in allowing customers to enjoy the content they pay for in the ways they want to. But it might also pose concerns for devices like the Sling Media Slingbox and Sony LocationFree TV, which let you tap into your cable or satellite set-top boxes at home to watch programming from anywhere in the world. If you could essentially do this directly from your cable or satellite TV provider, why would you need these additional devices? Imagine being able to log into your cable or satellite TV service using your laptop in the same manner you use a TV and set-top box. The computer monitor becomes your TV screen, and the keyboard your remote.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: nothing beats the in-home, high-definition TV and movie viewing experience, where you can view programming on a big-screen LCD or plasma TV in gorgeous clarity, and enjoy listening in pleasant surround sound. But when you're on-the-go, or just want to catch a quick news program or sitcom in between school or work reports, why not be able to tune in on your PC?

It's entirely possible that this wave toward online video will die out as quickly as it begins. But with consumers more often than not on the go, and becoming increasing frustrated with the lack of quality content on the tube, this shift could be more than just a passing fad.