In what resembled a sold-out rock concert at Yahoo’s! Sunnyvale campus, the Yahoo! Digital Home team showed the latest gadgets and services in development. There were three demos in total, one of which was a sneak peek at what the plans are for next year.

As I chomped down on my free Coldstone Ice Cream I visited the various lounges for demonstrations of current products. The Digital Home team showed My Channel, Yahoo! Sports for TV and more (Please refer to other entries for other Digital Home Products).

At the end of the event, the group raffled off a Nintendo Wii gaming console (which actually has Yahoo! on it as well, but I’ll write about that later). The lucky winner was….not me.

However, I did manage to get a snapshot of the Yahoo! Digital Home Team before I left. Enjoy!

-The Digital Home Guru

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to program my own television channel. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a product that would allow me to select the subjects I want to see and click to the TV shows that I want?

Yahoo! My Channel is one of the first products that takes us a step closer to making this a reality. Yahoo! My Channel is currently on MCE (Windows Media Center Edition).  After playing around with it for a little while,  I have to admit I was hooked.

Here is how it works.

When you first login to the application with your Yahoo! ID you can select which categories that interest you. For example you can watch documentaries, news clips — even the latest movie trailers.

Yes, I am a video nut, but the application offers other cool features, as well, including the ability to get a personal stock ticker and favorite sports scores on a scroll bar at the bottom of the screen.

Pretty cool for your first customized channel.

-The Digital Home Guru

Ok, not quite.  But later this year our Digital Home Site will have a brand new look. In the meantime, feel free to look at our temporary home.

Go into one of the leading elextronics stores these days, and you’ll see Yahoo! content on Sony Bravia teleivsion sets. How cool is that?

Yesterday, the Digital Home Guru had the chance to talk to Ed, product marketig manager for Yahoo! Digital Home, about what Yahoo! is doing with Sony.

Digital Home Guru: Ed, it’s good to see you. So what’s going on with Yahoo! and Sony?

Ed: Hey, Guru.  It’s good to see you too. I’m more than happy to talk to you about this exciting initiative. Yahoo! is Sony’s premier partner on one of the industry’s first IP connected TVs. We’re providing original Yahoo! Internet video content and some of the most popular Yahoo! information like news, weather, and traffic.

Digital Home Guru: Whoa, whoa, whoa.  Did you say Internet connected TVs? Are you saying that I just plug my ethernet cable into a Sony television set and I’m up and running?

Ed: Not quite. The connection is a separate device–the Sony Bravia Internet Video link (BIVL).  You attache it to your Sony Bravia TV.  There are 37 models available!  Turn on your TV, and you’ll have access to the great Yahoo! content.

Digital Home Guru: Cool, but how much does this all cost?

Ed: The Sony BIVL, costs $299, but there is no monthly fee. I know, you’re probably thinking “$299!”. But keep in mind that’s there’s no monthly fee, and the content on the device is constantly updated. So you get a wide variety of Yahoo! videos—-more than 2,300 clips to be exact.

Digital Home Guru: Ok. I’m almost sold.  But what’s this about the news, weather and traffic?

Ed: I’m glad you asked. In addition to the Internet video, Yahoo! delivers news clips, weather, and traffic content to My Page. My Page is a channel on the BIVL that lets you get up-to-date local information with a click of your remote control. This feature is especially convenient if you’re in a rush to check out the latest traffic or weather, so you know what to expect -and what to wear!

Digital Home Guru: Alright, one last question, because I know you need to go. What else can we expect from the Digital Home Team?

Ed: (Laughs) I had a feeling you’d ask that question. Let’s just say that we’ve got a lot going on.

Digital Home Guru: Well, it sounds like I’ll have to keep on coming back to the Yahoo! Digital Home blog for updates. Ed, it was nice catching up with you.

There have been a lot of questions about what we actually do here at Yahoo! Digital Home.

We hope today’s entry sums it all up.

What do you Yahoos in Digital Home do–besides watch TV all day? 

We’re responsible for bringing the Yahoo! experience to TV and other connected devices. We’re leading Yahoo! into this new and exciting product category, creating the best of the next generation of “Lean Back” user experiences.  For us, it’s important to build an experience that optimizes Web content for TV screens, as it enhances the traditional TV viewing experience.

This is a big task. Did we mention that we’re hiring?

We’re seeking experienced, creative people to contribute to the next generation of TV entertainment! We are looking for talented new team members in the areas of engineering, product, design, and marketing.  Send us a note at itvopps@yahoo-inc.com if you’re interested!