ColoradoSprings
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Daily Update for May 6, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Comcast grows in Q4, buys the rest of NBCUniversal and rolls out more new DVRs
It's been a busy day for Comcast, so we'll catch you up on the key points. First, it announced today that it's buying the 49 percent of NBCUniversal that it didn't already own from General Electric in a deal worth about $16.7 billion, plus 30 Rockefeller Plaza and CNBC's New Jersey headquarters for an additional $1.4 billion. That's an acceleration of the original schedule, which gave Comcast the option to expand its ownership starting in 2014. In other news, Comcast reported its Q4 earnings, noting that while it still lost around 7,000 cable TV customers in Q4, the total number of video, internet and phone subscribers rose by 503,000 to a total of 51.3 million, up 3 percent from last year. In other news, Comcast announced expansions in its rollout of the new X1 DVR platform. Already live in areas of Georgia, New Jersey, Boston, Tennessee, San Francisco and Philadelphia, it's recently launched in Colorado Springs, CO with more promised in the coming months. It also locked down a deal with Fox that covers local broadcasts, cable TV networks and brings a number of the network's shows to Xfinity streaming apps and services on other platforms. That deal also reveals that Fox will soon add TV Everywhere authenticated streaming to its Fox Now apps, which Comcast customers will be able to access. There's an earnings call tomorrow where we may find out more details, for now you can look after the break and at the links below for the full press releases.
Westone lab tour: how in-ear monitors are made, from impressions to impressing (video)
You probably don't think "top-tier audio" when you ponder the wonders of Colorado Springs, but sure enough, one of music's best kept secrets is headquartered there, camped out slyly in quite the nondescript building. A few months back, we were granted unprecedented access to Westone's lair (just a year and change after visiting Klipsch's HQ), and they even let a film crew in for good measure. The goal? To show you, the budding audiophile, exactly how a set of custom in-ear monitors are crafted, and what kind of work goes into creating one of the planet's most diminutive speaker arrangements. We've whipped up the entire experience there in the video above, but if you're looking for a more textual perspective, head on past the break. %Gallery-126952%
DirecTV drops in HD locals for Colorado Springs-Pueblo, CO / Dayton, OH
DirecTV customers that have been surviving with an SD feed of KOAA (NBC), KKTV (CBS) and KXRM (FOX) in Colorado Springs-Pueblo can finally rejoice. We're here to inform you that you won't have to spend yet another long, lonely winter without 30 Rock in high-def. As of today, the satcaster has delivered those three locals in high-def to the aforesaid DMA, which brings the grand total to 103 cities across the United States. You've still got 18 to go before the year's out to meet that goal of 121 locales this year, DirecTV -- the clock's ticking!Update: Looks like DirecTV delivered all four of the broadcast networks today in Dayton, Ohio. 'Grats!
Apple Store Colorado Springs: photos from opening day
Apple junkies who live in Colorado Springs, CO used to have to drive about 75 miles north to Denver to visit either the Park Meadows or Aspen Grove Apple Stores. Now they finally have an Apple Store of their own at the Promenade Shops at Briargate, which opened on Saturday, September 20th.Reader Denny noted "Firefighter Memorial Ride happened to be the same day and organized from the parking lot. At first, I thought Apple had a new market in Firefighters and Harley riders." Denny moved to Colorado Springs just three weeks ago from Orlando, FL, where he had his pick of three Apple Stores. Denny's Flickr slide show can be viewed here.TUAW reader Marc mentioned that "Colorado Springs being a smaller market, the turnout wasn't as great as for some other openings -- there were about 40 people in line when I arrived about 8:30 am and another 40 or so filled out the line by the 9:00 am opening time." They may have T-shirts available for a while at that store... Marc's Flickr slide show is here.Thanks to Denny, Marc, and Randy for their coverage of the event.
Five new Apple retail stores open Saturday
Apple is opening its fifth retail location in San Diego county at Westfield North County Fair in Escondido this Saturday at 10 a.m. The Apple Store is centrally located in the mall on the middle level across from Nordstrom. Opening the same day at 9 a.m. is an Apple Store for Lancaster, PA at the Park City Center. There, the Apple Store is located next to The Bonton and The Gap. Colorado Springs, CO is also getting an Apple Store at The Promenade Shops at Briargate. It opens at 10 a.m., and is located next to Pier 1 Imports on the west side of the mall. (Bonus typo on the map page.) The bay area gets another location in San Mateo, at the Hillsdale Shopping Center. It also opens at 10, and is located next to Guess and the Lego Store. And to top it all off, the first Apple Store in Northern Ireland -- at Victoria Square in Belfast -- will be throwing open its doors at 9 a.m. The Apple Store is located on the Upper Ground Floor. All times are local. All five grand openings will feature t-shirts for the first thousand customers, and probably lots of high-fives and yelling. Thanks, Toby, Ross, and Jonathan!
Colorado Springs gets a half dozen new HD stations from Comcast
It's been far too long since the courteous residents of Colorado Springs, CO received a decent helping of HD channels from resident cable carrier Comcast, so we're delighted to announce that six newcomers have waltzed into the EPG just this week. Disney HD (763), ABC Family HD (764), TLC HD (765), Food HD (766), HGTV HD (767) and Science HD (768) have just recently gone live, but we're left to wonder whether those incoming Longmont stations will filter their way south. Here's to hoping that eventually gets answered with a resounding "yes."[Thanks, Peter]
Comcast hands out six more HD channels in Colorado Springs
As Comcast continues to rollout more digital / HD channels around the nation, Colorado Springs has become the latest city to be blessed with an increase in HD options. Reportedly, the operator has launched six HD channels in its Colorado Springs market -- Cinemax HD, Versus / Golf Channel HD, Universal-HD, MHD, National Geographic HD and A&E HD -- bringing the area's total to 19. Best of all, the half dozen new choices come at an oh-so-bearable cost of nada if you're already a digital cable subscriber with an HD-enabled set-top-box.
