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Zatz gets cozy with Moxi's forthcoming DVRs
Unfortunately, we can't fill you in on hard pricing or availability information on Moxi's impending DVR lineup just yet, but Mr. Dave Zatz was able to get a feel for what they'll be like when that time finally comes. Swinging through Digeo's office, he was able to spend a little time with the firm's Home Cinema HD DMR -- which sports both ATSC and NTSC tuners, an integrated 5.1 audio amplifier, and strangely lacks CableCARD support -- and the Multi-Room HD DMR (read: the impressive one). The latter unit is CableCARD-friendly, comes bundled with a Moxi Mate extender for multi-room viewing, and will support HD streaming via 1394 over coax. Both devices include a built-in CD / DVD drive (no high-definition options?), can interface with networked PCs, and even feature eSATA expansion ports for upping the storage. Of course, nothing official has been leaked, but Zatz got the impression that a "fall release" was in the realm of possibility. Tag the read link for more of the hands-on goodness.
Sharp intros teeny, tiny digital TV tuner
Everyone wants digital OTA TV on their cell phones, right? We sure do and are glad to see Sharp making that dream come true for at least part of the world. Their latest creation crams all the goods into a tiny 1.3x1.3x1.25 mm chip which only uses 85mW of power. Unfortunately, this little guy isn't headed to the States though, thanks to our ATSC digital standard - the VA3A5JZ912 only works with Japanese "Wansegu broadcasts." In other words, this OneSeg or ISDB-T tuner simply will not work over here due to our type of digital broadcasts. ATSC tuners are getting smaller by the press release, so hopefully sometime soon we too can watch TV on our cell phones without paying a provider. Just because you can watch TV on your cell phone though, doesn't mean anything good is going to be on.[Via I4U]
Pinnacle kicks out $100 PCTV HD Stick USB tuner
The Pinnacle PCTV USB Stick that you may have grown quite fond of over the past year has finally decided to get with the times, as the newest iteration throws HD capability into the minuscule tuner while still ringing up a penny under a Benjamin. The Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick steps it down a notch from its Professional sibling, but still allows users to "view live television on their PC with pause, rewind, and fast-forward timeshifting functionality." Pinnacle's latest USB 2.0 tuner is "about the size of a key," gets all the necessary juice right from the USB port, supports NTSC and ATSC broadcasts, and comes bundled with the firm's TVCenter Pro software. Best of all, this no frills portable TV tuner can get live programming on your laptop or desktop right now for a mere $99.99.
Life|ware's Life|media HTPC gets spec'd
Exceptional Innovation's endeavor into the media center PC realm was apparently about more than just fitting in, as the Life|ware Life|media machines pack some seriously potent hardware with matching pricetags to go along. The high-end machines will be packing hardware such an Intel's 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo or 2.4GHz quad-core CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, 4.5TB of hard drive space in a RAID 5 array, CableCARD, NTSC / ATSC tuner options, forthcoming HD DVD and Blu-ray drive choices, optical audio out with Dolby Master Studio decoding, a 28-in-1 multicard reader, NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 GTS, and a host of ports including HDMI, DVI, S-Video, composite, serial, USB 2.0, FireWire, IR controller, and 12V trigger relays and contact closure devices "for screens, shades, contacts, relays, etc." Of course, all of the units (LMS-300, 400, 500, 600, and 700) will run Windows Vista, and while these Life|media servers start at around $4,500, there's honestly no telling what the top-end configuration will set you back when it lands this summer.
NAB to the CEA: Where are the converter boxes?
The members of the National Association of Broadcasters have spend some big bucks -- mostly against their will -- to upgrade their transmission equipment in preparation for the analog shutoff, and now that we are getting closer to the wire, the lack of ATSC-to-analog converter boxes available is starting to make them nervous. David Rehr of the NAB is concerned that if the tuners are not widely available on January 1st 2008, (when consumers can begin applying for those federal rebates) it will cause "significant consumer confusion" and "negatively impact the overall success of the transition." Even the above pictured tuner seems less available today then a few months ago, either way we agree it's about time LG and the rest start delivering on their promise.
Best Buy's Insignia launches first US portable ATSC LCD
We've been wondering when this was going to happen; in fact it's hard to believe that ATSC has been around as long as it has before the first portable popped up. Sure it is nearly impossible to enjoy HD on such a small screen (The NS-7HTV is 7-inches at 234 x 480), and ATSC is so notoriously bad for mobile use, but all of that aside, we're glad there's finally a way to enjoy digital programming on the go -- even if you have to stand still to get it. Now you can finally make that portable TV purchase you have wanted to, but were holding off because you knew it'd be obsolete when the analog signals go dark.
Samsung's 32-inch LN-T325H boasts ATSC tuner, 8000:1 contrast ratio
Samsung (among others) has certainly been on a contrasty trip of late, as just a month or so after hitting us up with a trio of Bordeaux LCDs that each sport a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, the firm's latest 32-incher musters a not-too-shabby 8,000:1 itself. The LN-T325H LCD HDTV offers up the token black bezel and rounded stand that we've come to expect from Sammy, and just in case that glossy finish isn't enough to lure you in, the set features a built-in ATSC TV tuner, 1,366 x 768 resolution, three HDMI ports, 500 nits brightness, dual component inputs, a PC input and headphone jack, eight-millisecond response time, and twin ten-watt speakers to cap things off. Unfortunately, there's no mention of price nor future availability, but we don't guess it'll be too long now before this sucka starts showing up on store shelves everywhere.[Thanks, Anthony P.]
Analog TV warning label becomes a reality
Two months after the trafficking of analog TVs became a crime, those retailers who stocked up on analog TV in anticipation of the deadline, are going to have to put warning labels on all those analog only TVs. While some retail locations are already clean out of analog only TVs, others are still holding onto quite a few for all those bargain shoppers. What these labels are supposed to do is to let consumers know that these TVs aren't a bargain after all, especially if you consider that the ATSC equipped 13 inch TV at Best Buy sells for about $20 more than one without. We think this is a good idea, but we agree with the FCC chairman Michael Copps: it would have been much better if it went into effect 14 months ago when congress passed the law that will cause NTSC transmissions to cease on Feb 19th 2009.
Motorola to demo cable STB with ATSC tuner
In what can only make us scream: about time! Motorola announces that they will demo a new cable STBs that also includes an ATSC tuner, you know like the ones Dish and DirecTV have offered for years. Just like the satellite providers boxes, the OTA channels will integrate into the guide seamlessly. The obvious reason for this is to provide HD channels to customers that the cable company doesn't currently have a carriage agreement for. This is a win-win scenario for everyone except the local affiliate who will lose bargaining power when trying to charge the cable company for the same thing you can get for free with an antenna.
ACOGITO's Roaming Machine handles placeshifting, DVR duties
Hot on the heels of two other placeshifting technologies comes ACOGITO's Roaming Machine, which reportedly does quite a bit more than similar alternatives that port your television shows to wherever you may roam. In addition to being a self-proclaimed "HD set-top-box" that pulls double duty as a DVR, this dashing thin device can channel your programs to your laptop or mobile through MPEG-4 / H.264 encoding, and relies on the firm's "patented Remote Control eXtensible Mark-up Language (RCXML) technology for a set of command protocols for remote viewing." Additionally, you'll find a trio of units to handle ATSC / NTSC, DVB-S / DVB-T / PAL, and of course, an IP rendition for the unbiased set. Notably, the company also brags about its LCD HDTV (affectionately dubbed the RoamingTV) which touts a built-in placeshifter, and while pricing and availability deets aren't available for either, you can purportedly catch both of these technologies at this year's NAB event.[Via MobileMag]
AVerMedia intros AVerTV Hybrid USB analog / digital HD tuner
AVerMedia's no stranger to taking brave new steps in the TV tuning arena, and this time around its delving into high-definition with the AVerTV Hybrid Ultra USB. This USB-based breakout tuner handles both analog (NTSC) and digital (ATSC) HD OTA broadcasts, is compatible with Windows XP, XP Media Center Edition 2005, and Windows Vista Premium, and touts its very own MPEG-2 hardware encoding solution to boot. Additionally, the device is bundled with an MCE-compatible remote to control the action from afar, and it also enables the obligatory PVR action whilst supporting resolutions up to 1080i and both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Furthermore, users can expect to pull in FM radio transmissions when not tuning into televised programming, and while we've certainly seen more compact ways to deliver a USB 2.0 tuner before, AVerMedia's latest is available nevertheless for $129.99.
ATSC developing its own mobile DTV broadcasting standard
Squarely falling into the "you've got to be kidding" category, the Advanced Television Systems Committee has just announced that it will be developing its very own standard to "enable broadcasters to deliver television content and data to mobile and handheld devices via their DTV broadcast signal." In case you weren't aware, the world is quickly becoming over-saturated with hordes of other mobile television protocols, and just like the other guys, the forthcoming ATSC-M/H standard will be backwards compatible, which will allow "operation of existing ATSC services in the same RF channel without an adverse impact on existing receiving equipment." Among the services it hopes to channel are ad-supported (free to the user) television broadcasts, elusive "real-time, interactive services," subscription-based TV, downloadable content for on-demand playback, and there's even the potential for "real-time navigation" niceties in the future. Still, we're sure the standard will find a way to operate just fine, but unless a bidding war breaks out and the cost for mobile TV plummets due to all this competition, we're not really sure all these like-minded options are entirely necessary.[Via MocoNews]
Long-distance TV broadcasts hit 80 year anniversary
We've already seen broadcast radio cross the century mark, and while 80-year anniversaries aren't exactly the most memorable under normal circumstances, television is certainly not in a normal predicament. Four score ago, the Indianapolis Star reported that "television, a scientific dream ever since the telephone was perfected, has at last been realized," as an image made its way some 200 miles from Washington, D.C. to Whippany, New Jersey, and then 22 miles by wireless to New York City. 80 years later, OTA broadcasts as we know them are at a turning point, as ATSC signals look to take over for the existing analog flavor, and companies are already chomping at the bit to get in while the getting is good. Furthermore, television as a whole has hastily garnered a newfangled medium in just the past few years, as the internet connected generation can now look to their browser to catch up on recent programming. The not-so-subtle revolutions that have occurred in the world of TV have happened at a breakneck pace, and considering all the luxuries we're starting to enjoy, we doubt things will slow down anytime soon. So here's to 80 years of keeping us pudgy, obliterating our motivation to socialize, and giving mega-corps a means to an end, and if you're interested in just how much has changed in just eight decades of the 'tube, be sure and hit the read link for a comprehensive report.
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.
LG readies $60 digital TV converters for 2008 release
You won't find a bunch of happier folks than us when bringing up the (slowly) forthcoming analog-to-digital cutover, but we aren't looking forward to picking up one of these newfangled converter boxes for the grandparent who refuses to swap out that cabinet-based CRT they've had for decades. It shouldn't come as any surprise that these things won't be handed out for free, and since the vast majority of analog TV owners are certainly looking to remedy the imminent issue a full year or so in advance (ahem), we've already got manufacturers lining up to hit the market early. Following in the footsteps of RCA's DTA800, LG is reportedly readying a digital converter of its own for a 2008 release, and while it didn't divulge many specifics, it did note that the selling price would hover around $60 -- or $20 if you manage to snag one of those $40 government issued coupons.
Sony's DVD recorders get ATSC treatment
While you've had the option to pick up a DVD recorder with a built-in ATSC tuner for some time now, it looks like Sony is helping the digital dream by refreshing its product line like its 2009. As a matter of fact, Sony's latest four recorders don't even offer an NTSC tuner, as you can only choose renditions with the ATSC variety or none at all. The tuner-less RDR-GXD355 has line-input recording and pass-through support, while the still-tuner-less RDR-VX555 adds a VCR for easy dubbing between VHS and DVD. The ATSC-lovin' RDR-GXD455 can record digital content to dual-layer DVD+Rs, while the RDR-VXD655 handles VCR duties for those stuck in last century. Additionally, each of the four will also boast HDMI output and 720p / 1080i upscaling, but we're still not sure of the pricing and availability of these forward-thinking recorders.
Are there any analog TVs left at the store?
Wow that was fast, we didn't think it would happen that fast, but we stopped by a big box retailer to find that they didn't have any analog TVs on the shelves. In fact they only had three CRT TVs under 20-inches and they all included ATSC tuners. Did the manufacturers really just stop making these things before the deadline or did the store just not expect the old sets to sell through so fast and failed to order ATSC equipped replacements? We're pretty sure this isn't the end of CRT TVs as LCD models under 20 inches are still pretty pricey. Either way there is no doubt that we are moving in the right direction; towards the end of analog TV.
The beginning of the end for analog TV
Certain days in history are remembered generations later: July 4th, 1776; February 3rd, 1959; May 20th, 1993. Well you can add March 1st, 2007 to that list, because that is the day future gadgetheads will look back upon as the beginning of the end for analog TV. Couch potatoes have been enjoying over-the-air analog broadcasts since 1946 -- whiling away the hours with Jack Benny, Roy Rogers, and Howdy Doody -- and will continue doing so until February 17th, 2009 (717 days, 11 hours, 13 minutes, and 49 seconds from the time of this writing, according to a handy countdown timer on the new DTV Transition site). So while you'll be able to catch analog CSI for a few more years, it's going to be harder and harder to find a new set that actually supports the NTSC standard: that's where March 1st comes in. As of yesterday, federal law mandates that all 13-inch-and-above TVs sold in the US must sport a fancy new ATSC digital tuner -- although according to the Washington Post, many retailers haven't exactly been quick to ensure compliance. Just go into any of the big box stores and see if they're all stocked up on new sets; chances are most of the employees haven't even heard about this changeover, or even possess the knowledge to direct you to the proper equipment. Still, nothing's gonna stop the analog signals from going dark in February 2009, so despite the slow start, we're pretty confident that most stores / websites will get their game together eventually. And if not, there's always the small chance that analog will make a comeback -- hey, you never know.[Thanks Steve M.]
Toshiba produces two new HD DVRs
Sure, it maybe hard to find HD DVRs here in the states that are not made by a company with the word letters "T" or "V" in the name, but that isn't the case over in Asia. Oh no. The way we see it is that they have a good amount of choices and don't have to pay a monthly fee to use 'em. Plus, TiVoToGo (or their version of it) probably works over there. Anyways, Toshiba has produced two new high-def capable DVRs for the Japanese market that makes us green with envy. The RD-S600 and RD-S300 lacks HD DVD playback/recording capabilities but do sport a DVD burner, HDMI port, 720p/1080i upcaler, digital tuner, and 600/300 GB hard drives respectively. The big brother, S600, is going to MSRP at 130,000 Yen ($1,075) while the little bro is going to rock out at 100,000 ($827) when they hit Japanese shelves later this month. We highly doubt seeing these stateside anytime soon, if ever, but if the HD gods happen to smile upon us, we'll let you know. [High-res pics after the jump]
Miglia TVMini HD+ delivers HDTV DVR functionality to Macs
Sure, there's more than a few ways to get HDTV and PVR technology over on the Mac side of life, but Miglia is giving us one more alternative by updating its MiniHD to deliver tuning / PVR functions to your Mac over USB 2.0. Apparently the company isn't worried about the ole Apple TV stealing all the thunder, and most notably due to its missing tuner, we don't think it will either. The MiniHD+ doesn't seem to outdo its predecessor in most areas, as it still tunes into ATSC, ClearQAM, and OTA broadcasts, and pumps the data to your Mac via USB 2.0. This portable gizmo provides the usual pause, rewind, and scheduling functions you'd expect on a PVR, but it also reportedly allows you to "consult an integrated electronic programming guide to locate shows and edit recorded clips to remove advertisements." Aside from supporting DVD burning, it also features "exclusive 10-bit video and stereo sound," a wireless remote, composite / S-Video outputs, stereo inputs, EyeTV 2 software. So if you're more interested in watching television than downloaded content and movie trailers, you can pick this up for your Mac next month for a currently undisclosed price.
