Samsung's Mobile DTV-enabled Moment hands-on
By Chris Ziegler 
posted January 5th 2010 8:22PM
posted January 5th 2010 8:22PM
Anyhow, we got a little video of the modded Moment in action -- unfortunately, Samsung's having reception issues with its private broadcast setup (there's no Mobile DTV network here in Vegas, or anywhere, for that matter) but we were able to see how the UI's going to work and learn a little bit about the system. Guide data will typically be pulled over the TV airwaves, though the company says that it'll be up to the manufacturer and carrier if they want to supplement or replace that with a 3G-based feed; the video was coming down at 416 x 240 and can be shown full-screen on the Moment's AMOLED display. Unlike MediaFLO, it's completely free for users -- and that might be just the kick in the pants mobile TV needs to take hold. Follow the break for our video!
Seems like it works pretty smoothly!
Wow!! It only took decades to finally get TV on our phones while Asia has had this forever. The sad part is while it's free in Asia, it will most definitely cost you more than your TV subscription at home...I promise you...
@Plazmic Flame It's OTA broadcast TV. I think it's just an extension of regular ATSC. So basically free local broadcasts coming in on subchannels off the main stations.
@andysexton
Why "sub"channels?
Why not just an ATSC tuner built in?
I'm , admittedly, not well versed on this topic, but does there need to be special broadcasting to get TV on a handheld device? Doesn't the device just need have the right kind of tuner?
@Plazmic Flame | Know why we don't have things like this here in the States? Nobody wants it.
@oneleggedchewbacca Mobile DTV aka ATSC-M/H is a subchannel that piggybacks on the base channel. The reason it needs to be a subchannel and it can't just be a channel by itself is due to the doppler effect. Due to doppler effect, the signal degrades too much when in motion but ATSC-M/H fixes this. Theoretically, ATSC-M/H should be able to handle speeds of around 55MPH before the signal hits critical degradation.
@Matrinix
55mph? don't they know that everyone travel 70-75mph? (here in LA)
@lettcco If it's any consolation, in Japan, where similar technology is very common, it only supports up to about 25MPH IIRC so you can't even watch it on the train which is the common form of transportation. Most people watch it when they are walking around or at work or somewhere else they do not have access to a TV.
That antenna is attractive
The antenna is huge and ugly, yes, but that will be really amazing to have true TV on our phones, as opposed to the lame VCAST videos and whatnot.
geez can i have some phone with my antenna?
lol @ all the comments above me. Do you not think that they won't find a way to hide the antenna and make it work more smoothly by the time it's ready for release? This is just to showcase the technology. This is not how it's going to look when we get it.
@ZeRoCo0L
Huh actualy in asia that is how the devices look with an antena out like that but it does hide inside the device when you dont need it. I think this is really stupid now becuase in a year or so IPTV will start happening more. I been watching real tv in my Windows Mobile phone for a long time using a media center pc and WebGuide. I also used slingbox for a while, but I am sure that it wontbe long before you can pay for a subscription base product that you can watch any show you want on demand. Plus then there is hulu. Can't wait to cancel my cable and sat and finally have access to all my media from anywhere.
antenna super long, stick w: slingplayer
@Artist701
I remember being in the Seoul subway and their mobile had the antennas in their styuses and only being as big. Weird that the M/H system is based on DMB in Korea yet you need antennas 4 times bigger.
WRAL in Raleigh has transmitted a mobile DTV signal since April last year.
kids, there was a time when cellphones had bigger antenna's yet didn't get TV
Gees . . . can't people be without their TV for five minutes!
Go outside a play kiddies.
@Robinator Hope you don't have a cell phone - or if you do, hope you aren't using it all the time when not at home. Otherwise, the same statement could be applied, but replace "TV" with "phone"
Touché!
Considering that Verizon is now heavily pushing their subscription based MediaFlo network and other US carriers are planning to do the same, Mobile TV will never see the light of day. Why provide something for free when you can charge for it?
TV delivered over the air is in it's last days. The Internet is where TV is headed (which can also be delivered over the airwaves and oh gee looky here.....already works on most smartphones.
is that a thumbnail on that dude holding the phone? I might vom.
Note to photographer - white balance.
Can they beam Android 2.1 via OTA Digital TV to my Moment?
This is actually the standard in korea. A lot of cell phone in korea have DMB receivers in them.. and they too have the detachable telescopic antenna.. when not in use it screws into a charm.. it actually looks like giant fat stylus or a wand hanging beside your phone.. a little awkward if you're not used to it, but a lot of phones are like this in Korea.