viiv

[512ke]

Does anyone happen to know what MS's 'viiv' is, and if it will negatively impact the Mac platform?

From macsurfer:

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2151607/intel-positions-viiv-pc-future

This is the same thing as MS's making Windows Media Player not compatible w/ Macs, right?

If so... that sucks. You can use iTunes on Windows but not viiv on Macs?

(Sorry if this has already been talked about. I did a search here but didn't find anything.)

 

[strider42]

viiv is a certified platform, similar to centrino. Basically, it allows intel to say if you use all of these components that we certify (and make and sell to you), then you'll get the benefit of our marketing behind your product. This is the same concept as "Centrino" wireless technology. its not anything actually unique, just a common set of requirements and marketing.

Affect on the mac platform is zero. Viiv won't do anything apple couldn't do, and if apple really wanted to put the viiv brandname on anything, they could probably work that out with intel. But so far, there isn't a point to doing so.

 

[SpookTheHamster]

Strider is right. Viiv isn't Microsoft's doing, it's a system (like Centrino) that Intel have devised, which is suited to Media PCs.

Like Centrino, it's a combination of processor, motherboard and other hardware that enables the manufacturer to use the Viiv name for marketing the product.

It's a way for Intel to make more money; because all the parts are made by them, and it's a way for the computer manufacturers to sell more units; because consumers will associate the Viiv name with HTPCs, even if other combinations of hardware are better.

 

[512ke]

Thanks, that's helpful.

So Apple could integrate all the Intel stuff and brand their products viiv?

 

[strider42]

Thanks, that's helpful.

So Apple could integrate all the Intel stuff and brand their products viiv?

they would need intels permission to do so. Right now Viiv requires windows as a component. They would have to get that changed with intel first. This is a concept owned by intel, so they have control over what you can call viiv.

But apple could put all the components in and call it something else (which would be mroe their style)

 

[skrogokc]

viiv is a certified platform, similar to centrino. Basically, it allows intel to say if you use all of these components that we certify (and make and sell to you), then you'll get the benefit of our marketing behind your product. This is the same concept as "Centrino" wireless technology. its not anything actually unique, just a common set of requirements and marketing.

Affect on the mac platform is zero. Viiv won't do anything apple couldn't do, and if apple really wanted to put the viiv brandname on anything, they could probably work that out with intel. But so far, there isn't a point to doing so.

I have DirectTV and thinking of adding their Media Share wireless adapter. They say your computer needs ViiV technology. Would you say that Mac would work for this w/o this brand name technology?

 

[mkrishnan]

But apple could put all the components in and call it something else (which would be mroe their style)

Apple seems to go back and forth with this -- they don't show any interest in the Centrino brand, but they do prominently advertise the Core 2 and Xeon Intel brands.

But from the article...

Computer manufacturers are allowed to use the Viiv logo if their devices meet certain criteria. A computer requires an Intel dual-core processor and remote control, and has to run Windows Media Center Edition to qualify.

The Viiv logo won't be one that Apple uses. OTOH, don't almost all Macs have two or more cores, a remote control (or at least the IR and an option to buy the remote control), and Front Row? So if this is what Viiv is, it's what Apple did ... three years ago.