If you're American, don't even pretend you care about this. 'Cause you don't care about mobile TV at all, and we've got
the facts to prove it. For those parked in Japan, though, you have every right to get jazzed. Softbank's
1seg TV tuner / battery charger has finally been loosed on the carrier's home turf, and the lucky cats over at
DVICE were able to acquire one and give it a whirl. Setup was said to be a breeze, the 1seg pickup was crystal clear and the device itself was satisfactorily lightweight. As for downsides, the entire app is in Japanese, and even with the extra juice, watching TV on the go zapped the life out in around an hour with brightness maxed. Check the full writeup and unboxing gallery in the read link below.
[Via
OhGizmo]
posted Jan 3rd 2009 2:35PM
I have a slingbox and smartphone. I've got mobile cable tv... so there!
We care about mobile TV just not the crap Sprint, Verizon and ATT try to pass off as TV. I want full access to what's on TV not select episodes and useless short clips.
I agree, can't wait for an iPhone slingbox app, that will be huge.
I have the same as well. Works great, but when here in Japan, it's also nice to use 1SEG. Unfortunately, the battery life on this doesn't seem to promising when you combine calls/data use with this Softbank solution.
I use a PSP and a 1SEG adapter to get the job done, but there is one thing...signal reception. 1SEG on a train, or in your car doesn't work to well, unless you use an external antenna and it provides an electronic signal boost. In Tokyo the buildings also cause havoc, but I've had issues in Kyoto as well. I do like the ability of the PSP to record shows to the memory stick, so you can watch them later.
It will be interesting to see how well the Tokyo Sky Tree will "resolve" the reception issues.
Agree. I never messed with SprintTV or any of that stuff but running Orb from home gives me access to my cable on my phone as well as my work PC (shh don't tell the boss).
When I'm in China and Japan, I never find anything on TV worth watching. Especially when there's all those nice Japanese women to meet ! ^__^
What apple really should do is figure out a way to get an IPTV through itunes/app store for 3G connected phones - that would kick ass if they had good channels - which they'd have to since every company wants to advertise through apple products.
That hurts, Engadget. It hurts alot. :/
sounds like a keeper. who needs more than 1 hour of battery life these days
just carry a spar...
Nah carry a kwik-save.
Well they did say that was with the brightness maxed. I'm curious if it actually makes that much of a difference in battery life to turn the brightness down.
When I first saw that cord sticking out of a box, I thought it was a pencil sharpener...
thats horrible.
After you watch house you can't call to talk about it
FAIL FAIL
If it's lupus, get out of there - the universe is collapsing.
Why does it matter if it's in japanese, nobody reads anymore!
If you'll excuse me for the above comment, while I have misgivings about mobile television, (you've got a device which you can put any video on and you're choosing to watch the sillybox) phones are probably the most market-specialist consumer electronics, it seems remarkably silly not to adjust the iPhone for different markets.
And that works for those parked in Brazil too.
The PSP 1seg tuner is a much better design. http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sony-psp-1-seg-digital-tv-tuner-hands-on/
nah, it's uglier...
Damn it! When Japan upgraded from NTSC they actually upgraded! ATSC provides for a high-def picture, but what about interactive services and mobile users? ::sulks::
To extend battery life, can't they add an auxiliary battery in to the tuner to charge the iPhone?
Ok, ok, I just noticed it does already.
But pack a bigger battery...
Hey! I'm in Japan, and I'm going to Akihabara today; I can get one of these of I really want to, but I assume it won't work in Australia.
And you'd be right - 1-SEG is Japan specific, Australia uses a different standard.
Maybe I would care if someone would make something that could pick up ATSC signals, AND I lived close enough that a mobile TV could pick up said signals. It's kind of hard to get excited about things that won't work for me.
And collects as much fingerprints as the iPhone :( ...
I'm sick and tired of Engadget always saying that we "americans" don't care about portable tv's!
I use my NHJ VTV 101 at work (security outside) and I really need a replacement comes Feb 17, either in the form of a portable tv that gets the new ditgital signal or the MPH system, and I need something in the 2to4 inch size range (16x9 of course)
So, Engadget, shut up! and push for portable tv's, ok! thanks!
It looks like the iPhone nano!
No, the downside is the content on 1-seg. Bad, like all broadcast TV here in Japan.