ExtremeTech just posted results of their tests comparing CPU utilization across recent ATI (Radeon X1800 XT) and nVidia (GeForce 7800 GTX) cards for three codecs: DivX, H.264, and WMV9.  The results?

For 720p content WMV 9 plays back at typically 25-40% CPU utilization for the clips tested.  H.264 on the other hand takes 80% (using ATI's acceleration) and on other systems even spike to 100%.  Note however these are different clips than those used for WMV 9 testing. Playing back 720p DivX clips results in 50% or so CPU utilization

To quote:

"H.264 acceleration has a long way to go before it's ready for prime time. Even with ATI's hardware acceleration, it's way too CPU intensive. What's more, ATI needs to work to offer acceleration on basically all popular H.264 decoders, the same way their DVD acceleration works with DVD decoders."

Also interesting to note DivX playback performance of DivX player vs. WMP:

"The performance of the GeForce 7800 GTX when using the DivX Player is atrocious, at 75-80% CPU utilization. Under Windows Media Player 10, it's right around 50%."

One thing's for sure, there's still a lot of work to be done in this area. 

"The video landscape on the PC is still far too big a mess. There are too many codecs, and sometimes too many software providers making decoders (we found a dozen H.264 decoders and at least as many DVD decoders in 10 minutes of Google searching). Some are accelerated, some are not."

I have some ideas on how to fix this (that don't involve "destroying" the competition thank you) but I'm interested in your thoughts first?

Developers can get their hands on the latest Internet Explorer 7 Beta preview starting today for XP users.  Congrats to Dean & team for releasing. While not quite ready for the mainstream consumer quite yet, I'm running it on my main system at work- a few quirks but I've reported them to the team and they've responded already.

A tour of the new experience is here.

Chris Pirillo says,

The ala carte iPod Video store is getting worse, not better. If you watch only one TV show per week (and you don't already have a cable subscription), I'm sure their efforts are a godsend. However, if you're like me, and already have three DVRs in your house to record all the shows you want to watch, this lack-of-subscription thing is an absolute nightmare.

...I'm thoroughly disappointed that I can't take my Napster subscription with me on my PSP or iPod. Instead, companies want me to spend even MORE money for LESS freedom - and to complicate my life even more than it was before. The sad thing is, many folks walk into it blindly thinking it... "looks like fun." Bullshit. It's all Bullshit, and Apple's leading the bullshit charge (albeit with style).

Bullshit?  Hmm.  Convenient?  Yes.  It's all about variety and viscousity.  Offer just enough variety with a low viscosity among the key moving parts (discovery, purchase, and download) and you're set. It's just another take on the path of least resistance.  Nature doesn't lie.

Perhaps we need a viscosity index for software experiences end to end?

This one was too good not to share.  Today I received an invitation via my personal email to test a new software app.  The email touts the many features of said app, many cryptic in nature.

Then under known issues:

"Deadlocks observed when [running] or exiting [the application].”

+1 points for honesty.  Now -2 points for not fixing the problem before issuing the beta. Grrrr.

Thomas Hawk has an excellent writeup on his blogger's dinner with Microsoft VP Jim Allchin last week. Jim confirmed that in order to get HDTV over digital cable in a Windows Vista PC, you'll have to buy a PC system that has been "certified" by CableLabs. Unfortunately there's nothing Microsoft could do here - they must honor the wishes of  CableLabs.  I've been fortunate to be one of those who has been testing the technology and I have to say it's fantastic.  I've done A/B switching tests vs. my Comcast set-top DVR and see no difference in image quality, despite the fact that the tuner is a simple USB-based box (RNDIS) that you just plug your cable (and cable card) into and go.  No news on whether free and clear QAM services will require a CableLabs certified system but I will check. I suspect local channels in HD may still be an often from after-market or home grown builders.  In order to get your premium channels DVR'd you'll need that CableCard-qualified system and CableCard installed by your local cable operator.

Also news at CES was the DirecTV Media Center announcement.  In the future (timing wasn't discussed), you'll be able to have an installer come out and install a DirecTV tuner into your Media Center PC and get your local channels complete with DVR.  As many know, DirecTV uses their own protection scheme with a "conditional access card" not unlike a cablecard.  The big difference here is that they recognize the value in offering an after-market system installed by their own installers.  In the past, it was DirecTV that was considered "evil" for their use of DRM and protecting their assets too stringently vs. Cable. Could the shoe be on the other foot?  Only time will tell.

Google's company mantra is "Do no evil". How do you feel about pop-ups and those annoying floating ads that won't go away?  Apparently coming soon to Google Adsense.

ArsTechnica has an interesting (and data-filled) article detailing public perceptions of two of the largest (if not the largest) figures in the personal computing space.  In my experiences with Bill, he's been benevolent yet driven as ever.

There's been a bit of speculation over the past few weeks about what Microsoft's recent reorgs both company-wide and within Robbie Bach's org mean to the company's entertainment efforts.  While I certainly don't speak officially for anyone other than myself, I did want to share my perspective:

Reorgs happen at Microsoft.  They happen more often across the company than gets reported (or speculated upon).  Reorgs in my experience bring more focus.

So what does this mean for me in particular?  Not much really.  I'm as strongly committed to my job and my partners as ever.  More and more devices are supporting our technologies and PlaysforSure and they're getting better (look at my prior CES scorecard post).  Partnerships like those with MTV with Urge and Verizon Wireless's V-Cast are the result of significant investments on both sides.  What matters isn't speculation, but proof.

Wow, we all knew that UPN and WB were in trouble, but this is surprising.  According to a release yesterday, CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. said Tuesday they will close their respective UPN and WB networks, and jointly launch a new channel in fall 2006.  The new CW network will be a 50-50 joint venture of the two companies.

The companies expect the station to reach 95 percent of the country.
The surprise news of the merger comes as the WB Network has faced pressure to perform and prove itself as a strategic asset at a time when its parent company Time Warner is under intense scrutiny on Wall Street and from maverick investor Carl Icahn.

From the wires: Netflix Inc. the world's largest online movie rental service, today

announced it will carry the first movies available in HD DVD when the new

high-definition format launches in late March, according to plans recently

outlined by several major movie studios, and said it will similarly offer

titles in the Blu-ray format when that product launches, expected to be

later this year.

GO HAWKS!  What a great game. Ok, here is my promised story:

Not many people know that there are actually two people named, "Shawn Alexander" in the Seattle area. One is the superstar MVP running back for the Seattle Seahawks leading the league in rushing yards. The other is me, a Microsoft employee whose been lucky to have my smaller moments in the limelight.  I wish I could say I get preferential treatment around town but that's not the case and no, I've never met the man. But one day about four years ago, our worlds collided.  It all started with my wedding.

My wife and I were married in the Summer of 2000.  The ceremony was held in the Bay Area and it was the best day of my life. We received a wide range of gifts from friends near and far that seemed to trickle in over a almost a year.  Then, about 14 months after our wedding, a package arrived to my office.  I opened it up and realized it was a wedding present, and subsequently left it in my office for about a month (bad Sean!).  Then packing up to leave one day, I realized my error and brought the package home. 

It was a typical evening- Nickie and I were chatting about our day and I left the package on the kitchen table while sorting through the mail.

"What's this?" Nickie asked.

"A belated wedding present I think." I responded.

Nickie opened the packaging and missed the envelope for the gift card.  She then went on to open the card.

"Honey?" she asked.

"Yes" I responded.

"Do we know a 'Coach and Kathy Holmgren'?"

The words hung in the air for a second as we went through our mental wedding lists.  Then it hit us.

"You don't think... isn't Holmgren the Head Coach of the Seahawks?" she started.

"Oh my gosh" I said.  I had remembered seeing Shaun Alexander had just gotten married. It clicked- the package and gift was from a local Seattle store on our registry.

"They must have picked the wrong Alexander from the gift registry."

We talked about what to do. The gift was nice, something we had picked out.  I was running scenarios in my head- would Shaun care?  Would he be offended to think Holmgren didn't give him a gift?  Probably not. But ethically, we agreed we just couldn't keep it.  So next posed the problem- how would I get it back to the Holmgrens?  It was from our registry, so I wasn't sure Shaun would want it.

Then I started the process of trying to return the item.  No daunting task.

You see, there are thousands of Seahawks fans locally who would like nothing more than to share their zeal for the team with the coaching staff and players.  You won't find an email address or phone #of the Seahawks on the web site (at least I didn't back then).  Eventually, I realized the path of least resistance was likely the Seahawks PR department.  Many a time I've been contacted the same way at Microsoft.  So, I cold-called the PR department, and left them  a voicemail message.

Two days later, I got a call back from the Seahawks.  They apologized for the situation and explained that the Holmgren's assistant had accidentally picked the wrong Alexander off the gift registry.  They asked to coordinate a time for a "runner" to pick up the item.  Later the next day, sure enough the "runner" arrived at my office and apologized for the inconvenience. I explained it was no problem. He also gave me a small bag with two Seahawks hats and bumper stickers as thanks. I was appreciative to receive it.  I wasn't expecting tickets or anything.

So... that was my first brush with Shaun Alexander.  Judging by the hugs after yesterday's game, I'm sure everything is fine between Holmgren and Alexander despite all the hoopla at the end of last season.

 By now you're probably wondering what the gift was.  I'm not saying... until after the Seahawks win the Super Bowl <g>.

Go HAWKS!