North Carolina
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First picture of the Greensboro, NC Apple Store under construction
North Carolinians can start to polish up their credit cards, as the long-awaited Greensboro Apple Store (to be located at The Shops at Friendly Center, a heck of a nice place to spend your money) is now underway. The Iconfactory's Ged Maheux was kind enough to send us this parking-lot snapshot of the site -- looks like a big one.ifoAppleStore had a mid-summer target for the Greensboro store to open, which seems optimistic bordering on impossible at this point. A commenter on Ged's blog hinted that the delay in construction may have been the result of a proximity dispute; Apple is a bit picky about which stores can cohabit with the glass wonderlands, and now that the neighborhood is up to snuff the project is underway.By the way, if you've ever wondered what the offices (and the denizens) of the Iconfactory really look like, you can catch a glimpse via this local news report on the company.
Raleigh, NC's WRAL testing MPH mobile DTV system
Although Raleigh, North Carolina is set to become one of the first DVB-SH test markets in America, WRAL is already testing out yet another standard. The station known nationwide for taking its local newscasts to the world of HD while everyone else sat and moped in their SD control rooms is currently teaming with CBC in order to test out the ATSC-compatible MPH mobile television transmission system. As we've seen before, the system enables "local broadcasters to deliver digital television to mobile devices including cellphones, laptops and personal media players," all while moving quickly in vehicles, hoverboards, rocket-powered scooters -- you name it. There's no word on what exactly will happen once the trials conclude, but we'll be keeping an ear to the ground just in case it's something big.[Via BroadcastingCable]
Charter cops to 5 new HD channels in Asheville, NC
Those mysterious new high-def channels we mentioned for Asheville, NC residents last week? Yeah, we now know exactly what you can expect. As of August 13th, Charter will make room for The Weather Channel HD (712), Discovery HD (713), TLC HD (714), Animal Planet HD (715) and TBS HD (716). A few SD channels will be re-situated in the change, but it's not like you're too at all concerned about those.[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]
ATMC Cable throws in CNBC HD / Bravo HD, makes the big guys look bad
Seriously, this is out of control. If a local telco serving just a (comparative) handful of residents in North Carolina can deliver thirty-flippin'-four high-def channels, why are the big name cable carriers having such difficulty? With the addition of CNBC HD and Bravo HD, the grand total on said provider sits at 34, and considering the frequency in which it has been adding newcomers, we wouldn't be surprised to see that figure grow to 50 in the next year. Comcast, Charter, Cablevision, TWC, et al. -- take note, please.
Charter shows signs of life, aims to add some HD in Asheville, NC
While the DTV transition is in full swing on the eastern part of North Carolina, things have been stuck in park on the west side. Asheville, NC hasn't seen an HD addition from Charter since October of 2007, which is patently absurd in our view. Nevertheless, a short message recently popped up on set-top-boxes in the area informing users that Reelz Channel will be relocated to slot 173 on August 13st, while "new HD channels" will be arriving sometime during the same month. There's no mention of what stations will be arriving, but they'd better be good (and plentiful).[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]
ATMC Cable acquires Tele-Media, 1,100 subscribers to be switched over
North Carolina-based ATMC Cable has just acquired another local cable company, Tele-Media. The agreement will see "the majority of Tele-Media's cable television assets in Brunswick County" becomes ATMC's, and all areas currently served by Tele-Media (save for Bald Head Island) will soon be served by a new master. That means that just over 1,100 customers in the Bricklanding, Shell Point, Holden Beach / Seashore Road and Sunset Harbor / River Run areas will be affected, but judging by the way ATMC has been rolling high-def options out of late, we don't suspect anyone will complain. As it stands, the deal should close in early July, with another 75 - 90 days before the conversion is complete.
TWC adds three more HD channels in Winston-Salem / Greensboro, NC
Hey, Time Warner Cable. We've been holding back on asking this for awhile, but we just can't button our lips anymore: Ever heard of a little place called Raleigh? You know, that huge, sprawling area also referred to as the Triangle? Evidently not, as the past two updates in North Carolina have been aimed directly at the Greensboro region without nary a pat on the bottom for us folks parked just an hour so down I-40. Nevertheless, we can begrudgingly say that we're very excited that our pals up in Winston-Salem / Forsyth County (and the greater Triad area, from what we can tell) have gained a succulent trio of HD channels: ESPNews HD (565), Disney HD (566) and ABC Family HD (567). No, TWC isn't saying when (if ever) these will filter down to the Triangle, but seriously, our patience is growing exceptionally thin. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Prime]
Insomniac's Dezern and McCabe talk new North Carolina digs
Insomniac's push eastward was one of last week's most intriguing items of interest, despite a lack of details concerning what exactly the Ratchet & Clank developer has in store for its new Raleigh, NC studio. However, while we don't know exactly what the Burbank, California-based developer has up its sleeves, we figured if anyone had the scoop it would be current Insomniac art director Chad Dezern and gameplay guru Shaun McCabe, both of whom will be given reigns over the company's eastern arm once it opens in January.We recently spoke with both execs about the new studio, and we couldn't help but kick off the interview by asking the one nagging question on our mind: Why North Carolina?"We wanted to expand Insomniac's capabilities while retaining the small team culture in Burbank. Opening up an office in The Triangle lets us do that while also offering an alternative for talented people who want to stay on the East Coast," Dezern answered. "Plus, Shaun and I are from the South and we missed the distant strumming of the banjo."
Insomniac opens second studio in North Carolina
As if Insomniac Games didn't love Sony enough, they're opening up another studio in North Carolina to continue developing games for Sony hardware. This is the first time in the company's history that it has expanded beyond its original Burbank offices. The North Carolina team will start off small, with about 30 people, but that will be enough for game development. "Traditionally, we've had more than 30 people working on a title, but over the past few years we've learned a lot about product management and how to create more effective and more efficient pipelines," Insomniac's Ted Price told GameDaily BIZ. "We have a good handle on the PlayStation 3 technology. The tools and technology we've developed over the last couple of years have enabled us to develop AAA games with smaller teams."It's unclear what the teams will work on after the completion of Resistance 2, but we're certain Ratchet & Clank will want to return in another PS3 game. Best of luck to the Insomniacs.[Thanks, Kyle!]
Wilmington, NC to become first test market for 2009 analog shutoff
Although a Las Vegas station just wrapped a simple analog shutoff drill, the FCC is planning to use Wilmington, North Carolina as the official test bed for the 2009 digital TV transition. Starting on September 8th, all four of the major networks in the greater Wilmington area (around 400,000 residents) will turn off their analog signals and broadcast digital only. As expected, a flurry of advertising will go down beforehand to get residents prepared, but given that they'll be out on the beaches all summer, who knows how many folks will actually pay attention. Interestingly, this trial is just as much about testing to see how many folks get prepared as it is about the technological changes, but broadcasters may still use the trial to move their antennas based on the need for coverage. So yeah, if the world implodes on September 8th, you'll know something went awry on the coast of NC.[Image courtesy of usdol, thanks Robert]
TWC gets official with Navigator rollout in Raleigh, NC: hands-on
Our hopes fears are true: Time Warner Cable is indeed initiating a rollout of its new Navigator interface -- at least in the greater Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina region, anyway. According to a note sent out to select subscribers in the area, it's only a matter of time before their set-top-box also becomes overcome with the Navigator. As beautiful as it may look, however, the UI is quite dreadful in actual use. Screen changes are noticeably slower, unmodifiable fade effects are utterly annoying and the black flash that occurs each time you activate / deactivate the menu screen could certainly stand to be omitted. Of course, there are a few additional Parental Control features, but really, we're finding a lot more negatives than positives in the upgrade. How do you see things, dear TWC customers? Are you digging the new Navigator? Do you despise it? Chime in below! [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, krithren] %Gallery-21917%
TWC adds Caller ID on TV in Eastern North Carolina
While Microsoft and the gang are out wondering if folks really want Caller ID on their TV screens, Time Warner Cable is out delivering. Effective immediately, select customers in Eastern North Carolina (from Wilmington to Raleigh) can now see who's calling 'em right on their television screen, but of course, one must be subscribed to digital cable and digital phone to receive the free service. More specifically, Caller ID on TV logs the last ten incoming calls (including the caller's name, number, date, call time and whether he / she enjoys long walks on the beach) and can be turned off if you so choose. The offering is being made as part of a $50 million upgrade in the region, and by this summer, every TWC subscriber in the East Carolina footprint will have access. Personally, we're interested to see what else is bound to come from such a substantial cash investment (more HD, please?). [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Raleigh's ABC11 Eyewitness News goes HD... eight years too late
Seeing a couple of news stations make the leap to HD within one week was pretty cute at first, but this is becoming downright scary. The Triangle's own ABC11 has become the fifth network within the past seven days to transition its local newscasts to high-def. Comically enough, the station is diving in extraordinarily late, as cross-town rival WRAL-TV has been airing its news in HD since 2000 -- yeah, eight years ago. Raleigh residents won't hesitate to boast of having the nation's first HD news station, and at this point, we're wondering if ABC11 can pry the critical eyes of residents away from the station they've been viewing for so long. But hey, we won't kvetch about added competition.
TWC adds Discovery suite to Piedmont Triad region of NC
In a move sure to make those in the neighboring Triangle exceedingly envious, Time Warner Cable has seen fit to add in the Discovery suite to its HD lineup just down I-40 in Greensboro / High Point / Winston-Salem. As of today, subscribers in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina can turn their attention to TLC HD (546), Animal Planet HD (547), Science Channel HD (548) and Discovery Channel HD (549). Here in Raleigh, we're still doing without, but hopefully TWC will string the newcomers down sooner rather than later. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Prime and Mike]
SuddenLink makes investment in Eastern NC, plans for more HD channels
Details are admittedly scant on this at the moment, but what is clear is that SuddenLink Communications is writing a check for $16 million in order to improve services in and around Eastern North Carolina. According to Phil Ahlschlager, SuddenLink's North Carolina Regional Vice President, the capital improvements "will enhance the overall quality and reliability of the company's services." Additionally, the 95,000 or so homes in the area currently using SuddenLink can reportedly expect "faster internet connections, better phone service and more HD channels," though we're not told when the improvements will start nor what high-def channels are slated to get added. Looks like it's wait-and-see from here, sadly.
Arbitrator orders Time Warner Cable to carry MASN
It's been a nasty battle between Time Warner Cable and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, with the latter even going so far as to buy airtime on local North Carolina radio stations pleading for consumers to prod the carrier until MASN appeared on its lineup. Thankfully for fans of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals (among other squads), an FCC-appointed arbitrator has finally ordered TWC to carry the network after finding that it "deliberately discriminated" against the station. What has yet to be determined from the decision, however, is whether or not customers will be forced to pay extra to receive it, and more importantly, whether or not this presumably lucrative outcome will push MASN to finally make the leap to HD (if TWC doesn't appeal and win, that is). As it stands, the O's and Nats are two of only a few MLB teams with a home channel that doesn't air any of its games in high-definition, but if you're impetuously determined to see your Birds in HD, you could always find an empty seat (or ten) at Camden Yards. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Via The Wolf Web, image courtesy of Nasty Nats]
Time Warner Cable adds trio of new HD channels in Raleigh area
Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) has historically been a bit slow to add channels in the Raleigh area, but those situated in the Triangle area of North Carolina now have three additional HD options to enjoy over the break. As of now, TWC customers in and around Raleigh have access to National Geographic HD, HGTV HD and Food Network HD, which can be located on channels 279, 277 and 278, respectively. Also of note, the trifecta is broadcasting now to Wilmington customers as well on channels 968, 966 and 967.
Study to equip cars with tracking hardware, send testers faux bills
We've been hearing about these highway use tax trials for years now, but apparently, a new $16.5 million Road User Charge Study will be looking for 2,700 mettlesome individuals that won't mind driving around with a tracking unit riding shotgun. The absurdly expensive initiative is purportedly seeking to figure out whether Americans "would accept the idea of paying by the mile, instead of by the gallon." North Carolina-based Innovation Management -- which will "oversee the study" in the Triangle region of NC -- proclaimed that folks who volunteer to take part in it would have their vehicle fitted with "GPS and computer hardware to track the miles they travel through each state and local government jurisdiction." Best of all, however, is the tidbit noting that these very guinea pigs will also receive "make-believe bills" each month displaying what taxes they would owe if they were indeed being taxed per mile. Anyone want to guess how much revenue they could rake in from accidental payments?[Via The Wolf Web, image courtesy of WRAL]
Next Safety developing nicotine-delivery device to curb smoking
Nah, Next Safety's approach to curbing smoking isn't nearly as fun as puffing on Golden Dragon's Ruyan e-cigarettes, but it just might do the trick. Reportedly, this North Carolina-based startup plans to bring a "nicotine-delivery product" to market which would actually "deliver nicotine to the brain faster and safer than cigarettes," all while protecting children and nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. Interestingly, the pulmonary drug-deliverer (which works similarly to a medical inhaler) is said to provide "a stronger kick" than smoking, but actually administers a smaller amount of nicotine to the body than your average Marlboro. Currently, the firm is hoping to release it into less restricted overseas markets by the year's end, but analysts here in America are questioning its ability to pass through all the red tape required for it to hit our shelves.[Via MedGadget]Read - New nicotine-delivery device is safer than smoking, NC company saysRead - Next Safety's Pulmonary Drug Delivery System
World of Warcraft relationship ends in arrest
And here's to you Mrs. Broome, Jesus loves you more than you will know, but the US has has laws against seducing 17-year-old boys. Tamara Broome, a 31-year-old Australian woman has been arrested by US authorities for attempting to "abduct" her 17-year-old male friend whom she met while playing the "medieval-themed" World of Warcraft. The couple had allegedly planned to marry and the sting was set up by the boy's parents who apparently lured Broome to North Carolina where she planned to meet her betrothed and bring him back to Australia. And before it gets all technical about the age of consent, North Carolina law states an underage minor is 17 and below.Ms. Broome is being held on $2.35 million bond and could face two years in jail if found guilty. Could be worse, she could have sold an M rated game in the state of New York to a minor. Broome will appear in court July 11. And to think all she had to do was wait one more year. On the bright side she'll have plenty of rested XP bonus when she gets out.[Via GuardianBlog]
