Not just another iPad app, some top tech watchers say Showyou has the promise to redefine consumers' TV viewing behavior. Developed by San Francisco-based Remixation, the free app lets people
create and watch personalized streams of online video. "Instead of relying on the talents of TV studios and network programming executives, it draws from user-generated content sites (YouTube,
Vimeo and TED at the moment) and social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Vodpod)," The Los Angeles Times explains.
As CNet explains, Showyou is "taking a stab at
success where many others have failed: a fresh, visually-impressive way to view and browse online videos." Critically, Showyou exploits Apple's new AirPlay service, which lets users play
video instantly and wirelessly from their iPhone or iPad to their big-screen TVs, and which blogger Robert Scoble calls "the
most important new protocal since RSS."
The short-term goal is to be "the best app on your phone or your tablet for finding video and sharing it with your friends," Chief
Executive Mark Hall tells the LA Times. But "the more provocative long-term vision" is to become prime-time TV alternative. Under the flattering headline, "Showyou Brings Flipboard
Experience for Video to iPhone, iPad," Mashable writes: "We wish the app had also taken note of Flipboard's
sophisticated browsing and search structures. It would be nice to peruse videos by specific topic and genre, such as music videos or movie trailers."
Likewise, "ShowYou's
interface is sleek, especially on an iPad, but I'm curious if consumers will want a dedicated app for social video," TechCrunch's Leena Rao writes. "I like apps like Flipboard because it
aggregates content from all of my news feeds and social networks in one place."
Read the whole story at Los Angeles Times »