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TiVo HD update
It's been just over a week since the launch of TiVo's HD DVR for the rest of us; and it hasn't been all peaches and cream. Initial shipments of pre-upgraded models from Weakness and the like were delayed because TiVo modified the MFS file system and it wasn't until recently that a crafty hacker released a new tool that supports the format. But that's not even the worst of it, as many early adopters with Scientific Atlantic CableCARDs were reporting pixelation problems on the second tuner. Well, TiVo was quick to respond and the TiVo HD got it's first software update yesterday which addresses the problem. So if you don't have it already, force a call and make sure you're running version 8.1.7b1-01-2-652. Read -- Expanding the TiVo HDRead -- TiVo HD updateUpdate: According to TiVo Lovers Blog, 8.1.7b1-01-2-652 just isn't doing all that much, especially for Scientific Atlanta CableCARD and S-Card users. Still having issues? Shout it out!
Verizon gets greedy, asks for three year waiver from FCC
Not even a month after the FCC caved to Verizon's requests for a CableCARD waiver, the telco is now shamelessly petitioning for an additional two-years so that it is not forced to comply with the integration ban until 2010. In the appeal, Verizon reportedly "noted that a common standard for software-downloadable set-top security is not expected to be available by July 2008," and also whined that it would have to "expend enormous resources" for an interim solution as it doesn't have "the existing, off-the-shelf option for complying with the integration ban that traditional cable companies possess." Of course, it remains to be seen whether the pleading will work this go 'round, but who knows if CableCARD-equipped STBs will even be necessary by the time Verizon is ready to comply.
Discovery HD Theater gears up for Shark Weekend
We're pretty certain shark lovers (or HD aficionados in general) have been taking notice of Discovery HD Theater's Shark Week programming already, and just in case you thought the beasts would take some time off this weekend, you'd be sorely mistaken. As the 20th anniversary of "cable's longest-running programming event" continues, you'll see more close encounters and stunning underwater camera work, but on Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5, Discovery HD Theater will premiere "Shark Weekend," which will showcase the five most amazing shark attack survival stories as well as take a look at a "countdown of shark species according to their skills and level of development." So if you're a little late to the scene, be sure and hit the read link for the full rundown of upcoming shark-infested programming.[Via 1080eyes]
Is HDTV finally ready for the mainstream?
It seems that this question gets posed by one mainstream media outlet or another every year or so, and what better time to ask again than following estimates that 50 million American homes will be HDTV-equipped by the end of next year? It's no secret that carriers are pushing HD more frequently in their advertising, and now that select basic cable channels are finally making the move to HD, we wonder if the currently satisfied viewers will get curious and follow along? Numerous analysts have suggested that consumers won't make the jump en masse to demand HD programming until a noticeable amount of non-network content becomes available in HD, and while CNN, Food Network, TBS, and A&E (for instance) are all going (or have gone) HD, there's still hundreds of channels out there that have yet to purchase the first piece of HD recording equipment. Is HDTV ready for mainstream? Our gut says not quite, but we're a lot closer today than we've been.[Image courtesy of PSBSpeakers]
Verizon begins rollout of FiOS Interactive Media Guide
Remember that Interactive Media Guide that Verizon was promising other markets this summer? Even if not, FiOS subscribers located in Indiana, Rhode Island, parts of New Jersey and beyond will soon get acquainted with Verizon's new method of searching for and finding content. Right on schedule, the firm is rolling out the guide to an undisclosed amount of its FiOS markets, and hopes to "erase the lines between TV, internet, and personal media." Best of all, users won't even have to lift a finger in order to experience the upgrade, and it's slated to be delivered via a network download at no additional cost. So, for those fortunate enough to be included in the first wave of updates, give us some impressions, will ya?
Australian physicists develop teleportation scheme for atoms
Although the idea of teleporting individuals from one place to another in order to sidestep the headache of rush hour traffic has been around for quite some time, a team of Australian physicists are busy making it work (on a smaller scale, of course). Granted, they don't fully expect their teleportation scheme to be used on humans in the near future, but there's always hope, right? Anyway, the team has developed a so-called "simple way to transport atoms," which involves bringing the atoms to almost absolute zero, beaming them with two lasers, and using fiber optics to transport them to any other place at the speed of light where they "enter a second condensate" and reconstruct. We'll keep you posted on when human trialing (hopefully) begins.
TiVo Series3 vs Motorola DCT6412 image gallery
There are very few people who would argue that a Motorola DVR is better than a TiVo Series3, but let's face it, the price of your cable company's DVR is right. This doesn't stop people from comparing them, and this is one of the best interface galleries we've seen. It shows just about every user interface screen from both boxes side by side so you can really see what all that money is for -- assuming all the great features and reliability weren't enough to get you to pony up the cash.
FCC caves to Verizon's CableCARD waiver request
The long-standing tilt between Verizon and the FCC over the integration ban has now been settled (for now, that is) -- thanks entirely to the FCC finally caving to Verizon's request for a waiver. Of course, we're sure the likes of Comcast (not to mention its customers) are quite the bitter bunch right about now, but apparently the "unique situation" of the FiOS TV business is good enough to excuse it from making the expensive transition to CableCARD-equipped set-top-boxes. Notably, a number of other mom 'n pop cable providers were also temporarily exempted under the assumption that they would fully comply with the 2009 analog shutoff (as if there was any other choice?). That sound you hear would be Verizon simultaneously releasing a heavy sigh and snickering in the faces of all those carriers who weren't so fortunate.[Via ConnectedHome2Go]
Who will be the dominant HD provider?
One of the most fascinating aspects of HD is the evolution of it as a medium. Back in the early days of HD, the combination of an antenna and DirecTV was king, and most cable companies didn't even try to compete. Here we are years later and while DirecTV chooses to concentrate all of its efforts on HD locals, cable has managed to catch up and pass DirecTV's HD offerings. Now DirecTV is ready to get back in the game, and in a few weeks will be launching the first new HD satellite dedicated to national HD channels and with it a torrent of new HD channels. Cable isn't standing by, they are testing out new ways to expand their capacity (SDV) and at the same time phone companies are also rolling out cable service in certain areas of the country. While the market will probably never be dominated by a single provider again, we are really looking forward to watching all of this play out in the months ahead.
Featherweight plastic rims roll closer to production
Granted, there are options out there if you're looking to buy rims not constructed from some type of metallic matter, but for the tamer crowd, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's plastic alternatives are probably more your style. The firm's research team has reportedly developed fiber-reinforced plastics that enabled trial wheels to last some 250,000 kilometers without falling apart, and they are hoping that designers will soon have "more latitude in their choice of material." The next challenge, however, is convincing regulators that non-metal rims have what it takes to be a safe addition to your next vehicle, but barring any major catastrophes in future test scenarios, you won't find us complaining about wheels that weigh (and cost) less.[Via Autoblog]
HBO to use MPEG-4 and mandate a minimum bit-rate
In a world where almost all HD channels are distributed with MPEG-2, HBO has just announced that all 26 of their new HD channels will be MPEG-4. The stream will be 8 Mbps, and HBO has mandated that the provider not reduce the bit-rate. What they didn't say is, what the minimum will be for all those MPEG-2 networks that will no doubt transcode the signal rather than upgrade their entire network (including all the STBs). This is an obvious advantage to satellite providers who are already planning on deploying their new HD channels with MPEG-4; and for HBO who won't have to spend as much cash on bandwidth to distribute their feeds.
CableCARD 2.0 is ready
In the past week we have been on a quest to make sense of this entire CableCARD mess. We started out by talking to Motorola which was great, but left us even more confused, so we decided to go straight to the source and give CableLabs a call. While we're not excited about the answers, we did learn that CableCARD 2.0 does exist and it's ready to go. Along the way we also learned what's preventing TiVo and Microsoft from adding our favorite features to their latest CableCARD host devices.
If FOX really got HD, the US GP would be in HD today
While some networks seem to lead the way in HD, -- like CBS producing the very first NFL game in HD almost 10 years ago -- other networks just can't stop dragging their feet. Sure FOX shows up sometimes, -- like producing 6 NFL games a week in HD, even if they don't look that great -- but they still confuse consumers with their "FOX Widescreen" and there are still many events that deserve the HD treatment, but don't get it. Sure F1 racing isn't very popular in the US, but it is just a kick in the head to every US F1 fan when FOX down-grades the signal here, because they aren't willing to pay a dime extra to F1 to upgrade the signal. So while the rest of the world at least gets widescreen coverage, US fans will have to settle for 4x3 SD. The economics of a single event aside, the overall image of the network is diminished when they fail to deliver on a major worldwide event like the US GP. **UPDATE** FOX did step up and at least present the race in EDTV, which we are grateful for, but it still isn't HD -- lucky for us, the US Open is.
Comcast promises 400 HD channels this year and 800 the next
Never before have we had so many options for getting HD content, but these marketing claims are getting out of control. DirecTV kicked it off at CES this year, claiming 100 national HD channels, then followed up with commercials just to make sure everyone got the word. The cable companies responded by suing, and now in what we can only call, if you can't beat 'em join 'em, a Comcast exec announced that they will have 400 HD channels this year, and 800 in 2008. Never-mind the fact that there are nowhere near that many HD channels of available content, but 800 quality HD channels would take up almost 11 Gbps of throughput (using today's technology). So in order to make this work, we presume they will need to deploy Switched Digital Video, which is great and all, but renders every CableCARD device made today obsolete.
Tasty AT&T U-Verse features seeing delays
Bad news for those sticking it out with AT&T's U-Verse. According to a slide presented at the company's investor relations webcast, it looks like a number of key features will be delayed -- some well into next year. Among the niceties that subscribers won't see until Q4 of this year are photo integration, consumer VoIP, U-Bar, Yellow Pages, etc. More importantly, however, is the note that the highly anticipated Whole Home DVR won't be ready until Q3 of next year, Caller ID will remain absent until Q4 of 2008, and two HD streams, pair bonding, and an "intelligent network interface device" won't be released until about 12 months from now. Hey, we're all for getting a product right before tossing it out to the masses, but we can imagine the patience of U-Verse customers wearing a tad thin by this point.
NC State researchers uncover muscle mimicking fibers
While some researchers over in Raleigh are having fun tinkering with PlayStation 3 farms and dodging the RIAA, NC State's Drs. Tushar Ghosh and John Muth are occupied building prototypes with fibers they say "resemble human muscle and can exhibit muscle-like capabilities when electrical currents are applied." The duo sees the development as paving the way for "advancements and potential applications in robotics, smart textiles, prosthetics, and biomedicines," as they have reportedly found that polyurethane and silicone tube structures shaped like human muscle strands can be manipulated with electricity. It was noted, however, that the current models are using strands "roughly the size of a pencil lead," but the next step is to scale down the fibers and integrate them into a robotic Mr. and Mrs. Wuf.
Verizon launching FiOS Interactive Media Guide
Verizon may be upping the prices for DVR usage, but now we get the chance to see what that extra fee buys you. According to Dave Zatz, Verizon is launching FiOS Interactive Media Guide -- also known as FiOS 2 -- in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with rollouts occurring nationwide via software upgrades this summer. There are plenty of features to bullet-point, including an all-new 32-bit interface with 8-bit transparency, tabbed interfaces with a better central focus, global content searches (that also include local Media Manager content like photos and music), trailers and poster art for On Demand content, and traffic and weather widgets. See our gallery below for more screencaps from the FiOS presentation.[Via Zatz Not Funny] Gallery: Verizon launches FiOS Interactive Media Guide
Verizon hikes up monthly FiOS DVR charge
Verizon is certainly no stranger to cranking up the fees on its number of services, and while it doesn't exactly have a vast footprint of FiOS subscribers just yet, the monthly charge for your DVR is going up nonetheless. Reportedly, current subscribers are getting notices now that show FiOS DVR pricing going from $12.99 to $15.99 per month "on new services added and orders places on or after July 13, 2007." It still seems ambiguous as to whether or not current customers will be grandfathered in at the lower rate, but we've got all ideas that everyone will end up footing the higher bill. Additionally, the cost of a full disconnect ($74.99) will now be charged to the departing user if "it requires a technician to visit," so we'd strongly suggest delivering your wares sans hired help if you decide to pull the plug.
TBN to go HD
As HD becomes more and more mainstream the variety of HD programming will be more diverse. The latest network to announce that they will add to the HD lineup is the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which claims to be the most popular faith based network. When the network launches this fall it will be a 24/7 HD network and will feature such shows in HD as Hour of Power. There has yet to be an carriage announcement from anyone, but we wouldn't be surprised if this was one of the 100 we expect to see on DirecTV carry after they get their new satellites in operation.
Cornell designer concocts garb that prevents colds, shuns pollution
We've seen sensor-laden, iPod-friendly, and electroluminescent garb in years past, but a crafty design student over at Cornell University wasn't satisfied with stopping there. Olivia Ong is hoping to get her career in fashion off to a very safe start, as her functional clothing lines include "a garment that can prevent colds and flu and never needs washing," and if that wasn't fresh enough, she's also conjured up another that "destroys harmful gases and protects the wearer from smog and air pollution." The prototype Glitterati garb was showcased at the school's Design League fashion show, and both articles contained "cotton fabrics coated with nanoparticles" that give them the unique qualities. No word on whether or not we can expect such protective (albeit stylish) threads to hit the strip anytime soon, but considering that "one square yard of nano-treated cotton would run you about $10,000," we doubt us common folk would be selling off assets to take it home anyway. [Via MedLaunches]
