Wave Systems Corp. (fka WAVXQ)

[Fullmoon]

Let the games begin

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10004340-92.html


The Olympic Games in Beijing begin next week, and more than 2,000 hours of live content and 3,000 hours of on-demand video will be available from the PC via NBCOlympics.com. And while it's a huge opportunity for Olympics fans, it is also a big test for both Web video and for the companies behind the site, in particular for NBC Universal and Microsoft, whose Silverlight technology is being used in the video player, and for Limelight Networks, whose network is being used to route all of those streams to Internet service providers.

Microsoft is hoping that its role in the Olympics will both prompt downloads of Silverlight in the short term, as well as help give the video-streaming technology a needed boost. However, those who can't get or don't want Silverlight will still be able to watch video from the NBCOlympics site, just without access to some of the cool features, such as the control room.

What you won't find is a lot of help if your computer runs into trouble during the Games. NBC is putting up online FAQs and other help, but there won't be e-mail or phone technical support. The good news is you can try things out now, with the video content already on NBCOlympics.com.

However, while there will be thousands of hours of content available live, you won't be able to watch some of the marquee events, like women's gymnastics and track and field, until after they have aired on the nightly TV programs.