UPDATED 09:50 EDT / AUGUST 03 2013

Weekly Cloud Review: Video Streaming & Xbox Trolls

This past week featured a number of newsworthy cloud updates. Intel revealed that it’s entering the on demand media market, Qwilt raised funding for its online video streaming solution, and Microsoft made a splash with a new reputation algorithm for its next generation console.

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Intel has assembled a 350-strong team of programmers, industrial designers, and video experts to develop a cloud-based DVR. The firm is laying down the foundations for a massive server farm that will store every piece of programming aired locally, nationally and internationally for at least three days. Users will be able to access all of this content via a purpose-built set top box.

SiliconANGLE’s Mike Wheatley pointed out that Intel is among a small handful of companies with the resources to execute a plan of such magnitude. The chipmaker has both a large talent pool and a steady supply of cutting edge server and STB chips.

Qwilt netted $16 million in Series C funding a day after Intel’s latest initiative crossed the wire. The Redwood City-based startup sells a controller that reduces the load on carrier networks by caching popular titles and streaming them directly without connecting to origin sites or content delivery networks (CDNs). Qwilt’s technology has attracted the attention of several high profile investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Redpoint, and Accel. The company will use its new capital to expand worldwide operations and accelerate product development.

A couple days after the funding, Microsoft announced that its cloud-dependent Xbox One console will feature an improved player reputation model. The system will determine user behavior using by aggregating and analyzing feedback reports, player data and a number of other social metrics.


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