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LG / Harris announce In-Band mobile DTV system
Ah, yet another technology that looks oh-so-promising from the onset, but quickly becomes dulled when wading through the technical jargon required to understand it. So is the case with digital television broadcasting, but Harris Corporation and LG Electronics don't seem to mind the complexities involved in establishing a new In-Band Mobile DTV service, as the duo has just announced the means to allow broadcasters to "create new markets and revenue streams" -- but besides all that -- give the end-user yet another option when it comes to TV on the go. Reportedly backwards compatible with A-VSB transmission and receiving equipment, the forthcoming Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld (MPH) applications should theoretically allow DTV broadcasters to beam signals to set-top-boxes in the home and mobile devices simultaneously via the same antenna. Additionally, this technology enables HD programming to hit the couch-dwelling customers, while bandwidth-starved cellphone users will still get vanilla SD content without relying on new (read: pricey) hardware on the broadcasting end. Unfortunately, we've no idea when mass deployment of this stuff is scheduled, but you can still look forward to "field testing results" as well as mysterious "extra details" to be divulged in a few short weeks.
Engadget Podcast 096 - 01.08.07
While the show floor is just about to open, we've already had a few days chock full of content. Ryan and Peter sat down with some other members of the Engadget family to talk about some HD announcements, first looks at at new cameras and the big two keynotes of Sony and Microsoft. No enhanced show today, but we've got three more Engadget podcasts on tap while we're in lovely Las Vegas. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [RSS OGG] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in OGG) to your RSS aggregator. Hosts: Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer: Randall Bennett Music: Solvent - Instructograph (Ghostly International) Program: 02:26 - Live from the Sony Keynote 05:40 - Sony's new camcorders, including four new consumer HD cams 05:56 - Sony's wireless boombox, the WA1 06:52 - Sony Vaio VGX-TP1 announced, loaded up with HDMI out, DVD burner 09:10 - Sony announces "BRAVIA Internet Video Link" for HD content 12:30 - Xbox 360 IPTV interface gallery 17:52 - Windows Home Server, everything you need: features rundown, screens, hands-on 20:44 - Wireless HDMI over UWB? Heck yes! 21:33 - Microsoft announces the HP TouchSmart PC 22:12 - Live from the Bill Gates keynote 26:10 - A lunchtime chat with Bill Gates at CES 29:20 - Sharp trumpets 108-inch LCD TV, world wonders why 32:15 - LG's BH100 hybrid Blu-ray & HD DVD player: $1,199 34:41 - Samsung builds on ATSC, develops A-VSB for mobile broadcasting 39:00 - Live coverage of Verizon's press conference 43:25 - Hands-on with the Samsung SCH-U620 for Verizon 44:10 - Hands on with the LG VX9400 for Verizon 44:57 - Nokia puts Nseries on a diet: the N76 47:38 - Hands on with the Treo 750 LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
Samsung builds on ATSC, develops A-VSB for mobile broadcasting
While Argentina tries to figure out if ISDB or DVB is the way to go, Samsung is giving us North American folk something (else) to cheer about, and it's dubbed A-VSB. Yes, that unfortunately means that you'll have to learn yet another acronym in the world of digital television broadcasting, but if the benefits turn out to be as sweet as they sound, it'll be worth it. Quite simply, Advanced-VSB technology "builds on the current ATSC transmission standard to enhance the ability of receivers to get television broadcasts in motion both indoors and out," and also "eases synchronization of broadcast signal timing of different towers in a Single Frequency Network (SFN)." SFNs are most certainly your friend, as they can improve the signal strength throughout an entire service area, allowing even remote and heavily walled locations to fetch their favorite shows. Possibly the best news about this newfangled development is its backwards compatibility with current digital TV receivers, meaning that potential implementers can't use that excuse when approached by Samsung. Currently, A-VSB is being "standardized in ATSC," and field tests are planned for "early 2007," but here's what you really want to know: implementation should happen shortly after "the first half of the year."
