yes
Latest
YouTube TV to drop Fox regional sports channels following Sinclair dispute
If you subscribe to YouTube TV to get live sports without a pricey cable or league package, you might be in for a disappointment. YouTube TV is dropping Fox Regional Sports Networks (including the New York City-oriented YES Network) on February 29th after it was "unable to reach an agreement" with Sinclair to continue carrying the channels. While the company didn't say just what the points of contention were when asked by Engadget, it pointed to its attempt to balance the climbing costs of sports broadcasting with its desire to deliver a good value to subscribers. You can read its full on-the-record statement below.
Malaysia's Yes 4G adds WiMAX to Samsung Chromebook, aims to transform local education
Samsung's Exynos 5-based Chromebook may have been available since last October, but how about one equipped with WiMAX radio? Graced with the presence of Google and Samsung reps in Kuala Lumpur (including a video message from Google SVP Sundar Pichai), today Malaysian carrier Yes 4G unveiled this rather special laptop for the local consumers. In fact, we should have seen this coming as Google's official blog did hint this last month, but we failed to catch that blurred "Yes 4G" logo on the laptop in the blog's photo. As Google mentioned, the ultimate goal here is to help transform Malaysia's education using the Chromebook. And now we know that this ambition will be backed by Yes 4G's rapidly growing WiMAX network -- from the initial 1,200 base stations in 2010 to today's 4,000, covering 85 percent of the peninsula; and the carrier will expand into the eastern side with 700 more sites by the end of this year. This is especially important for the rural areas, where many schools still lack access to water and electricity. As a partner of the Malaysian Ministry of Education's 1BestariNet project, Yes 4G's parent company YTL Communications has so far ensured that 7,000 local state schools are covered by its WiMAX network, with the remaining 3,000 to be connected over the next six months. %Gallery-189082%
Malaysia's Ministry of Education goes gaga for Google, adopts Chromebooks and Apps for Education
In the past, "going Google" was something only cities or state and federal governments did -- transitioning entire systems to the tech giant's cloud. But now, entire countries are making the leap and to do it, they're getting a giant Mountain View-assist. Following in the footsteps of the Philippines, Malaysia's Ministry of Education is embracing Google's Apps for Education nationwide, while also doling out Chromebooks to its entire school system. The initiative, part of the government's Education Blueprint, should go a long way towards reducing the barrier to the web in developing countries, while simultaneously reinforcing its use as a crucial learning tool. It's a smart move for a cash-strapped country like Malaysia, since Chromebooks are simple to use (there's no real OS), boot instantly and are relatively low-cost -- not to mention, GApps are free. And for Google, it's a really great way to bolster adoption.
Proton and Yes team up to offer Malaysia's first 4G-connected car, promise more to come
The first one may only amount to a MiFi housed in the dash (although that does come standard), but automaker Proton and Malaysian carrier Yes seem to have some fairly grand designs on 4G-connected cars. In addition to providing a WiFi hotpot for passengers, they eventually hope to use the 4G connectivity for a range of automotive-related applications, including vehicle diagnostics, security, and other location-based services. Notably for potential buyers, Yes's 4G coverage of Malyasia is fairly widespread, encompassing over 65 percent of the country's populated areas and the full 960 kilometer stretch of the country's North-South Expressway, as well as a "large portion" of its East-Coast Expressway. While details on those promised services or any future cars remain a bit light, that first one (the P3-21A sedan) will apparently soon be available.
Rock Band Weekly: Yes 5-pack
Listen up, maggots! Next week's Rock Band DLC is a five-pack of Yes. You'll have to work as a cohesive unit of musical precision to get through songs like "Starship Trooper". Do you get me? Now, head on past the break if you would like to know more.
Four out of ten IT professionals would buy a tablet, but would you?
Macworld is reporting that their partner Network World recently did a poll and came up with the figure of four out of ten Network World readers willing to buy a tablet on day one sight unseen. That's an interesting result (and it's not the only one seen along those lines), but I want to know what you TUAW readers think. We've got a pretty good group of professionals, "pro-sumers" (ugh, sorry, I'll never use that word again), and just plain Mac fans in the audience here, and I think we represent a pretty good cross-section of Apple's core audience. Jump in on our poll below, and let us know, if the impossible became possible, if you'd plunk down the rumored $1000 for a tablet even before Steve's demo, or if you'd rather wait and see (or maybe not even buy a tablet at all, no matter what it does). %Poll-40508% Personally, I'm more of a "maybe," though I can totally understand the belief that this is already a revolutionary project (we've certainly been waiting long enough for it). Or perhaps those of us who already have an iPhone and a MacBook aren't really as interested in the in-between as Apple might think.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 in development for PSP
Sega's critically praised Valkyria Chronicles is getting a second chance -- this time reborn as a PSP game. The innovative SRPG combined real-time third person shooting with turn-based tactical strategy, and presented everything in a gorgeous cel-shaded package. The sequel looks to do more of the same, as revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu. Scans show the return of the original's behind-the-back viewpoint and introduce characters new to the handheld iteration.At E3 2008, Sony mistakenly showcased Valkyria Chronicles in a PSP highlight reel -- but that visual might've inspired Sega's Valkyria team. Regardless of the platform, we're glad to see Sega isn't giving up on the franchise. Let's hope that this time around, you gamers will actually buy the game.[Thanks, Marius!]
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: April 18, 2009
This week Verizon announced it was including the YES Network in its package nationally (sans-Yankees games) in addition to all the VOD from last week. Expect those expansion announcements to start picking back up now that the Allentown, PA city council's approved FiOS TV for the area, however with an eight year window to become available, who knows when that could hit, and finally, a few reminders of how to stay Green on Earth Day.Read - Allentown, Pa., Residents Major Step Closer to Verizon FiOS TV -- a Better Choice for Cable TV ServiceRead - 10 Simple Tips on How Technology Can Help Everyone Be Green on Earth Day - and Every DayRead - Verizon to Distribute the YES Network Nationally in High Definition to FiOS 'Extreme HD' Subscribers, Under Multiyear Agreement
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: April 11, 2009
This week Verizon's taken some time off from its expansionist FiOS TV policies, instead highlighting the upcoming UEFA Champions League playoffs subscribers can catch on ESPN 360, and a new multiyear deal making it the first distributor to offer Yankees games on-demand from the YES Network. Otherwise, we've got the obligatory response to the FCC's national broadband plans, we'll be back next week to see if there's any new rollouts to speak of. Read - Verizon and ESPN360.com Bring High-Powered European Soccer League Playoffs to American Online Audience Read - Verizon Statement on FCC Broadband Plan Read - YES Network and Verizon Reach Multiyear Video-on-Demand Agreement
Blackthorn Hare receives Masters for Second Life sculpture
It's hard enough to create art in the world of Second Life, but what if your degree depended upon it? Doug "Blackthorn Hare" Anderson undertook exactly that challenge, and received the first-ever Master of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design for sculpture done in Second Life.His work, "Yes", shows an aircraft about to plunge to the ground in the middle of the main street of an anonymous small town. Below it, two avatars may stand, embracing, not knowing the doom about to come crashing down upon them. It's a scene the artist hopes will show how love defies some uncomfortable truths about the world. Though constructed in Second Life, Anderson devised a method using 3D glasses to bring the installation into the real world, where he exhibited it at the college's Arnheim Gallery. Not Possible IRL talks to Blackthorn Hare about his work, his thesis, and his plans for the future.
YES HD's, um, quirky ad campaign
File this one under... unique. As we've noted before, Israeli satellite provider YES is rolling out its HDTV offerings. Of course, there's got to be a advertising campaign to go along with the effort. The ad they're running with is hilarious -- picture 100 Hasidic Jews dancing through city streets. Now picture the hijinks are choreographed and set to the Village People's "YMCA." Of course, it's in Yiddish Hebrew, so we can't make out what they are singing. But we were able to pick out a phrase in English that we certainly identify with: "HD, oh yes!" Click through the link and enjoy.EDIT: Got the language straight. Thanks, Avi!
YES beats HOT in Israel's HDTV race
In the battle of interestingly-acronymed Israeli networks, satellite provider YES has announced plans to launch its HDTV service December 23rd. It beat its competition, Hot Cable Systems which is expected to begin providing HD signals in the next few months. Already being trialed with with "dozens" of employees, YES expects around 10,000 subscribers to the 39.90 NIS/month service by the end of next year when it completes its first launch wave. We're not sure what channels they plan on providing, but a look at the website shows at least one familiar program.
