If there's one thing a fledgling technology needs, it's good marketing. That aside, the next most vital thing is industry support. Today, an even dozen broadcast groups have banded together in order to back the soon-to-launch
Mobile DTV format (ATSC-M/H), with Belo, Cox, E.W. Scripps, Fox, Gannett, Hearst, ION, Media General, Meredith, NBC, Post-Newsweek and Raycom forming a joint venture to develop a "new national mobile content service." The service will utilize the broadcast spectrum already set aside in order to allow member companies to "provide content to mobile devices, including live and on-demand video, local and national news from print and electronic sources, as well as sports and entertainment programming." That's pretty big news for a tech that's been
struggling to gain acceptance in America, and if all goes to plan, Washington, DCers will get a chance to indulge first when it goes live in the nation's capitol on May 3rd. A showcase on that date will demonstration a Mobile DTV-capable Samsung Moment and Dell Mini 10 (amongst others), though we're still having a tough time digging up firm pricing for any of those. Get ready, folks -- Pimp My Ride is about to get a huge second wind.
posted April 14th 2010 1:52AM
As long as it doesn't require one of those weird antennas, I'm game.
How does this differ to normal dtv broadcasts? In Australia we have dvb-t and dvb-m but the concepts are similar.
It's not too early...
This doesn't pass the smell test with me. It sounds like a way for cable companies to market their own 3G/4G network that only sends you TV stuff... that way they can lock down internet sites and sell you an alternative.
I want to see more 3G/4G type data solutions, not this crappy specific content-type service served up by the cable companies. Its a step away from what customers really want, which is an all encompassing mobile data service!
@Bhima
This is a broadcasting type service which is nothing like 3G/4G there is no reverse channel of communications its like terrestrial TV. Not sure how they will handle on-demand... And content specific services do not lock down internet sites if anything they just bring in more compitition into the market.
However i totally agree this should be handled by next generation wireless communication and this is a obsolete servcie. Bring on 4G and beyond.
This is where Wimax comes in, Wimax was/is designed for this very reason. Wimax is more like an internet connect as opposed to a wireless cell phone signal like LTE. There's a reason people refer to Wimax as, "WiFi on steroids."
Not to go off topic but as a Washington DC'er it erks my nerves when people misspell capital. The Capitol with an O is the building, not the district. Get it right people.
@nkemp15 you know what chaps my tush? When someone misspells something when correcting someone else. Its "irk".....LMAO!!!!
@texaspi Pardon me Mr. Perfect but I should have said "improperly use" rather than "misspell."
@nkemp15
Oh! Well, pardon me, Mr. PERFECT!!! (nervously laughs) I guess I forgot that you never, ever make a mistake!
@H264 Seriously? That is what's called an appositive, I was mocking the person replying to my original comment, saying that he believes that he is "Mr. Perfect." not myself. I really shouldn't have to explain myself to people who didn't pay attention in English.
@nkemp15 While we're on the subject of bad editing, vital is an absolute. Something is vital or it isn't. The line "... the next most vital thing is industry support" sets my teeth on edge.
Mobile device capability? Count me in! Mobile device capability while mounted on your windshield, one hand on the steering wheel, the other changing channels while clearly not looking where you're going (guy in the bottom left of the diagram)? Not a good idea I'm afraid.
pimp my ride needs a first wind to get a second one
That'll be great in Washington DC. I doubt it will be worth much anywhere else.
Maybe New York, but it won't work in the subways.
Seriously? Do we really need ANOTHER media standard that's different from the rest of the world? DVB in Europe and many, many other places, ISDB, proprietary MediaFLO, and now ATSC-M/H? Along with that, we could have used the DVB standard for standard over-the-air and terrestrial ClearQAM digital television. Not to mention the different digital audio standards like DAB in Europe, Canada, and many other places, FMeXtra (no proprietary licensing), CAM-D, and now HD Radio (iBiquity proprietary) as well. Doesn't make any sense to me (kinda like the NTSC, PAL, and SECAM broadcast standards). Why do we need so many different standards for everything?
Great. What happened to the last 10 years of improving the quality of TV with HD? They just expect us to throw it out the window and watch it on some tiny little screen while we are on the go? I just listen to podcasts and vodcasts while I'm on the go, and save my TV viewing for a nice big screen.
well nothing says that after a few months or even maybe years of testing they cant expand to be an in home service as well, if this does catch on it could improve the television experience for people like me who live where cable can't reach, if it goes far enough they might be able to use it for more than just television, this could also save on company expenses like wiring your house with cable and all of the labor it takes to do so, just hook it up, turn it on and if it finds a signal your done, simple as that