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Super Bowl XLV Media Day: Packers split on iOS / Android, Cowboys CIO talks mobility
We woke up this morning in Dallas to 20 degree temperatures and a parking lot covered in ice. Not exactly the kind of weather the NFL was hoping for when it selected the new Cowboys Stadium to host Super Bowl XLV, but it didn't stop both teams and media from making their way -- however slowly -- to Arlington for Super Bowl Media Day. Naturally, the likes of ESPN were there in full force, but rather than picking apart defensive schemes and seeing who could outgun Troy Polamalu for the longest mane in North Texas, we spent our time asking about mobile OS preferences and soaking up knowledge from Cowboys CIO Pete Walsh. With a price tag well north of $1 billion on the new Cowboys Stadium, the home to the world's largest HD display is certainly one of the most technologically advanced in the world. It's packing 884 wireless access points throughout (not to mention an internal network operations center that constantly monitors activity on each one), 260 miles of fiber optic cabling, capacity to handle over 100,000 simultaneous wireless connections, over 3,100 IPTVs and micro cell towers for each major carrier within -- you know, so that kickoff video that just can't wait actually sees its way onto YouTube prior to the start of the second half. Head on past the break to catch of a video of us talking smartphone platforms with Green Bay Packers center Scott Wells, as well as a lengthy (and insightful) interview with the Chief Information Officer of the Dallas Cowboys. Everything from the Cowboys' rejection of FanVision to their hopes to blanket the stadium with gratis WiFi is covered, and we're even given a hint that contactless payments and mobile food ordering systems could be just a season or so away. %Gallery-115523%
TWC adding more HD to Wisconsin's lineup
The weather's getting pretty extreme up in Northeast Wisconsin right about now, so it's a perfect time for a new batch of HD stations to keep you cozy inside the house. As of this moment, users in the region should see USA HD (536), SciFi HD (562) and Travel HD (570), while Golf HD (525) and Versus HD (526) are expected to split into two stations come Monday. Also of note, Fox Cities TV has dug up a legal notice that hints at a number of other high-def stations coming soon; among them are: FX HD, LMN HD, Weather HD, Cinemax HD, Starz HD, Bravo HD, CNBC HD, Speed HD and Planet Green HD. Needless to say, it'd be a very merry holiday 'round these parts should that load show up in the near future. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Via Fox Cities TV]Update: We've also been informed that these channels have been delivered to Southeast Wisconsin. Thanks, Don!
AT&T Total Home DVR rollout reaches final ten markets, it's really over
Got U-Verse? Then you should have the Total Home DVR record on one box / stream to all functionality now that AT&T's rollout has finished ahead of schedule. Up in all 69 markets where the IPTV service has a foothold, the final ten markets launched today were: Bakersfield, Dayton, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Little Rock, Miami, South Bend, Tulsa, West Palm Beach and Wichita. Honestly, we're not sure what AT&T (or us for that matter) will do now that it's over, the leading candidates are a "Remember the Rollout" reunion tour in early '09, or the somewhat less likely possibility that confused AT&T techs start adding the functionality to random areas without U-Verse service.
AT&T's U-verse Total Home DVR arrives in Green Bay, WI
Just as it did in nearby Milwaukee, AT&T has activated its Total Home DVR software in Green Bay, Wisconsin without even telling a soul. As of now, fanatics gearing up for tomorrow's showdown in Minnesota can check out the spoils of watching any recorded SD / HD material on any connected TV anywhere in the house. Give it a go on your box and see just how magical network streaming can be.[Thanks, Matthew]
Time Warner Cable, LIN TV bicker over retransmission fees
While we singled out TWC's spat with Dayton's own WDTN, the issue spreads much, much further. As of now, 15 LIN TV-owned stations are at risk of falling off of Time Warner Cable if the two can't reach an agreement before October 2nd. Since July of this year, LIN TV has attempted to extract a presumably large amount of cash from the carrier in order to seal the deal on a long-term agreement for both analog and high-def signals. As of now, local stations in Austin, Buffalo, Columbus, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Mobile, Springfield (MA), Terre Haute and Toledo are at risk, but we have a pretty good feeling that the two will eventually work it out. 'Course, TWC won't enjoy paying through the nose in order to do so, but hey, that's life. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Time Warner Cable goes live with 4 more HD channels in Northeast Wisconsin
Ever since AT&T decided it would take its U-verse service to the chilly region of Northeast Wisconsin, Time Warner Cable has been pushing out a somewhat steady stream of high-definition channels (big surprise, right?). Now that a few weeks have passed since residents in Green Bay / Appleton received their last batch of newcomers, the carrier has lit up four more: CNN HD (731), Fox News Channel HD (745), Science HD (772) and Hallmark Movie Channel HD (774). Now, if only this whole Brett Favre thing would go away, you could actually turn away from ESPN HD long enough to enjoy 'em. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Time Warner Cable adds a trio of HD channels in Northeast Wisconsin
Appleton and Green Bay residents who have chosen Time Warner Cable as their programming provider can get ready for a new trio this Thursday. Yeah, you folks already got a new half dozen just under a month ago, but we see no harm in TLC HD (742), Animal Planet HD (743) and Golf / Versus HD (714) joining the fray. Feeling the heat of competition, are you TWC? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Mark]
AT&T's U-verse expanding to Northeast Wisconsin
Not even two full months after AT&T announced its intentions to spread U-verse to more of Southeastern Wisconsin, Fox Cities TV has confirmed that the carrier will be launching the services in the Northeast portion of the state as well. According to AT&T Wisconsin's Jon Hayden, the region-wide launch will occur on June 30th and cover areas of Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond Du Lac. Reportedly, the operator will start taking orders for service in these locales today, and best of all, you can look forward to having 2 HD / 2SD activated when the service flips on. Not a bad way to start the summer, huh?
Time Warner Cable brings 6 more HD channels to Northeast Wisconsin
National Geographic HD and History HD were fantastic additions back in March, but we can imagine that Time Warner Cable subscribers in Northeast Wisconsin are already thirsting for more. Thankfully, said carrier will be adding a new half dozen on Thursday: Discovery HD (732), Food Network HD (751), ABC Family HD (755), MHD (767), Disney HD (769) and ESPNews HD (776). Not too shabby at all, especially with the inclusion of that last channel. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Via Fox Cities HD]
DISH Network brings HD locals to three more cities
While a few Baltimore, MD and Columbia, SC residents were lamenting the fact that May-bound launches such as Richmond, VA occurred before they got their own taste of HD locals, hopefully we can now put aside all that angst. Announced today, Baltimore and Columbia are joining Green Bay, WI in the HD locals parade, and seeing that there is no mention of any networks being left out, we're going to hesitantly assume that the trio of markets all have access to their respective ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. Fire up the HD DVR and let us know how it goes, would you?
TWC brings National Geographic HD, History Channel HD to Green Bay, WI
With Time Warner Cable blasting out quite a few new HD channels of late, folks in Green Bay / Appleton, Wisconsin are probably feeling a bit left out. After today, we have all ideas they'll still feel slighted, but at least they can frown and grumble while watching one of two new HD channels. Effective immediately, subscribers in the area can tune into National Geographic HD and History Channel HD on slots 723 and 724, respectively. Here's to hoping for a few more up your way, eh? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Mark]
Green Bay FOX affiliate refusing to give HD to TWC
In Green Bay, Wisconsin, there's Packers football, and then there's Packers football. 'Course, if you can't make it out to the stadium, the next best option is kicking back and watching Favre lead the Pack to victory in beautiful high-definition. Unfortunately for Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) customers in the area, you won't be indulging without an antenna. As we've seen in so many other cases, WLUK FOX 11 is refusing to hand over its HD content to local cable / satellite providers gratis, and is currently seeking "around $0.02 per day for each digital household." To make matters worse, it's the only remaining network of The Big 4 not available in HD with TWC, and unfortunately, it doesn't even seem like an agreement is within sight. Just another excuse to make it out to Lambeau Field, right?[Thanks David S., image courtesy of Flickr]
