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Verizon adds 4G LTE to nine more cities, expands coverage in Chicago, Philadelphia
Verizon Wireless customers will be able to jet on to the LTE network in nine new cities, taking advantage of lightening-fast speeds on their HTC Thunderbolts and 4G mobile hotspots. The expansion includes Mobile and Montgomery (AL); Greater Fairfield and New Haven (CT); Gainesville, Pensacola, and Tallahassee (FL); Fayetteville-Lumberton (NC); and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen (TX). We also have access in Albany, though VZW has yet to confirm launching LTE in New York's capital city. The carrier has also expanded coverage in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, so if you haven't been able to connect in the past, dust off that enable-4G button and give it another shot. This week's additions bring the list of LTE cities to 55, so we're just over the 35 percent mark towards the carrier's goal of 147 cities by year's end.
The Game Archaeologist and the Ultima Prize: My journey
The Game Archaeologist is your spunky Tuesday column devoted to exploring the MMORPGs of yesterday. Enough is enough! No more looking back at history, talking to the players who have been there, or even chatting up the creator of the game -- it was time for the Game Archaeologist to man up and play Ultima Online himself. And so it was with trembling fingers and steely eyes that I downloaded the trial client and entered the game for the very first time. I will be honest and admit to a degree of nervousness. It's one thing to talk about a great MMO legend; it's another entirely to experience it first-hand. I didn't really know what to expect -- would it be so hardcore that I'd die before I finished? Would it be so ancient, so creaky that I wouldn't be able to figure it out without a degree in assembly code? Would it... be fun? Fortunately, I was not alone in this journey, as Tipa from West Karana graciously agreed to accompany me for an evening full of Ultimas and Onlines. Oh, the spellchecker simply did not like that one. Tough noogies. Ultima Online has a nice 14-day unlimited trial that doesn't even require a credit card to access, so after a few minutes of patching (UO is tiny compared to many modern MMOs), we were in. And completely, utterly lost.
Comcast plans HD additions for Connecticut markets
Comcast has been on fire of late, adding in high-def stations in more markets than we care to count. The next dot on its warpath is Connecticut, and starting today, it's planning a whole heap of HD channels for a variety of areas. In Middletown, viewers will see CNN HD (196), SciFi HD (217) and AMC HD (222) added within the next 24 hours, while Bravo HD (243), CNBC HD (244), Hallmark Movie Channel HD (252), QVC HD (281), E! HD (284) and Cartoon Network HD (287) will land in Hartford on Wednesday. Plainville, Vernon, New Haven, Norwich and Old Lyme all have HD newcomers of their own to deal with soon, so hop on past the break for the full list.[Thanks, Erik]
Two LIN TV stations to trial Backchannelmedia's TV-to-Internet ad platform
While LIN TV and Time Warner Cable remain embroiled in all sorts of disagreements, two of the company's stations in the Hartford-New Haven, Connecticut area are gearing up to trial Backchannelmedia's TV-to-Internet click through technology. If you'll recall, we first heard of this worrisome interactive advertising platform back in May when MGM Grand at Foxwoods signed on. Now, WTNH (ABC) and WCTX (MyNetworkTV) have also agreed to participate in the company's market trial, which is set to start next month. In essence, it will give viewers the ability to click on "non-intrusive icons at the bottom of the their TV screen" in order to bookmark offers for online viewing; obviously, all of the response data is forwarded on for use in soliciting more cash from advertisers. Why does the idea of having to engage with ads sound so dreadful from here?
AT&T adds The CW / MyNetworkTV to U-verse in Connecticut
Unfortunately for folks hoping to see U-verse spreading to another area, that's not the case today -- however, subscribers in select parts of Connecticut are being gifted with a couple of new HD channels sure to bring a smile to their faces. As of today, AT&T is adding WCTX HD (MyNetworkTV), WNET HD (PBS) and WTXX HD (The CW) to the U-verse lineup in the New Haven and Hartford areas. Additionally, WPIX HD (CW-NYC) and WWOR HD (MyNetworkTV-NYC) are said to be hitting other areas of Fairfield County. Oh, and for those considering the switch, picking up the nearly 50 HD channels on U-verse still costs just $10 a month.Read - AT&T U-verse TV Expands Local HD Channel Lineup in New Haven, HartfordRead - AT&T U-verse TV Expands Local HD Channel Lineup in Fairfield County
