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Hynix develops triple-level-cell NAND flash: 30 percent cheaper than MLC
The more cells you can pack onto a NAND chip, the cheaper the storage, so we're excited about Hynix's recent announcement of triple-level-cell NAND flash. You might have noticed that MLC-based SSDs are cheaper than SLC units, and TLC keeps the trend alive -- Hynix says the cost of TLC production is some 30 percent lower than current chips. On top of that, the 32GB chips themselves are 30 percent smaller than current NAND chips, meaning device manufacturers will be able to cram more storage into our PMPs and phones. We'll have to wait a little while though: production is going to ramp up in October, and Hynix hasn't committed to using the new chips in SSDs quite yet.
Star Choice adds Encore Avenue HD / TLC HD in Canada
A couple of months after Star Choice picked up Speed HD, the satcaster has now acquired a new duo for those up in the Great North. Encore Avenue HD, which will only be available to customers west of Ontario, will be situated on 273 and include commercial-free airings of films from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Additionally, TLC HD will be broadcast across all of Canada on slot 272. Both stations will be in free preview mode until the end of May, though there's no word on what they'll cost after that.
Charter rolls TLC HD and Discovery HD to Northeast Wisconsin
Just a month after Charter Communications served up TLC HD and Discovery HD to its subscribers in Madison, Wisconsin, said carrier has pushed these two jewels Northeast. Including the new pair, which has arrived on slots 763 and 762, respectively, Charter has 18 high-definition channels in the area -- two more than Time Warner offers in the same region. At least you can look forward to catching the Brew-crew in HD, right?[Thanks, Mark]
Comcast beefs up HD lineup in DC Metro area
We could certainly get used to hearing all these HD expansion stories, but the ones most excited about Comcast's latest additions are housed all around our nation's capital. According to tipster Casey, customers in and around Baltimore, Maryland and Northern Virginia are just now receiving six new high-definition channels: Discovery Channel HD, CNN HD, TLC HD, USA HD, Animal Planet HD, and yes, Sci-Fi HD, too. Interestingly, it's said that subscribers in Washington, D.C. have yet to see the newcomers, but feel free to toss a comment in below if that status changes.[Thanks, Casey B.]
Charter adds four new HD channels in Yakima, Washington
Given that Seattle just received a few new HD options of its own, it's good to see Yakima getting some high-definition love, too. According to tipster Nicholas, Charter Communications has added HD flavors of The Weather Channel, TLC, FSN and Discovery Channel in the Yakima, WA region, which should give those parked in the area plenty to do if things get a bit too chilly in the coming days.[Thanks, Nicholas M.]
Cox adds four new HD channels in Kansas
The deal was done some time ago, but apparently, Cox is still getting around to doling out a few new HD additions to various markets. According to tipster Kevin, the cable provider has just now activated CNN HD, TBS HD, Discovery HD and TLC HD in Kansas, but Science Channel HD and Animal Planet HD were sadly missing from the bunch. Anyone else in the surrounding area also notice the newcomers?[Thanks, Kevin]
Cox adds five HD channels to Las Vegas lineup
The giving just keeps on spreading, and that's just the way we like it. Shortly after Northern Virginia got hooked up with 11 new high-definition options, it looks like Sin City has been blessed with five of its own. Reportedly, TLC HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, Discovery HD and CW HD landed in Cox's Las Vegas, Nevada region, and have been assigned to channels 722, 723, 724, 727 and 734, respectively. According to AVSForum members residing in Vegas, the channels were supposed to go live yesterday, so for those who've had a chance to check it out, did Cox deliver?[Thanks, D2point0]
Comcast gives Twin Cities 11 new HD options
It is the season to give, you know, and while we've heard that Comcast will be on the receiving end of things when it hikes rates in 2008, at least users across the nation are receiving a boost in their HD lineup before having the family over this holiday season. Up next on Comcast's list is St. Paul / Minneapolis, Minnesota (and western Wisconsin), which is receiving 11 new channels to complement the 22 already available. Among the newcomers are CNN HD, Animal Planet HD, Discovery HD, Food HD, Sci-Fi HD, TLC HD, Universal HD, USA HD, TBS HD, History HD and FSN North HD. Reportedly, customers in the area are already able to view USA, Sci-Fi, Universal and Food, and the rest of the gang is slated to go live on or before December 17th.[Thanks, Ed]
Insight cable customers get six new HD channels, NFL Network included
Over a year after Insight Communications launched its InsightDigital 2.0 service and threw in a trio of HD channels to boot, the cable company is now giving its loyal customers five more high-definition options along with the Digital 3.0 upgrade. Reportedly, users can now tune into Discovery, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel (TLC), TBS, National Geographic and yes, even the NFL Network in glorious HD. The Digital 3.0 package will automatically be available to digital subscribers at no extra cost, but it should be noted that Insight will raise prices in January. Additionally, the operator has nearly doubled its on-demand library and includes VOD channels for HOB, Starz, Showtime, Cinemax and The Movie Channel, but we're still left with no word on any HD VOD plans.
Dish Network launches 6 national HD stations
You know it's a great day when you wake up and find new HD stations. Dish Network subscribers should know how that feels as their HD lineup increased with six new stations; that makes 37 national HD stations for Dish. The day just gets better when four of said stations are national premiers: Discovery HD, TLC HD, Animal Planet HD and The Science Channel HD. The other two stations, MHD and GolfHD aren't new but still a great additions to the largest national high-def lineup. We should mention that Discovery HD is a separate station from Discovery HD Theater and just like the other three new national stations are simulcasts of the SD flavor. Since these launches are in line with Dish Network's CES announcement, we don't see why September 1st shouldn't also be a great day being The History Channel HD's scheduled launch day. [Via satelliteguys.us]
More new HD channels on the way from Discovery, CNBC and Chiller
You know times are good when we are surprised when it is more than a week between new HD channel announcements. This week we have a few more channels for you, but not as many of details as we would like on any of them. Discovery will be launching what they are calling four new channels, but one of them is an HD simulcast of the Discovery channel. We're not sure if this will replace the Discovery HD Theater that we have all come to love, or just add even more HD content, but they will also be launching HD simulcast versions of TLC, Animal Planet and The Science Channel. These new channels from Discovery will be carried at launch by at least DirecTV this September. Also mentioned in the press release as coming this year is CNBC and Chiller (who?). While it is still questionable if DirecTV will carry 100 HD National channel this year, -- at least without counting sports packages -- this will certainly be remember as a big year in the transition of cable TV channels to HD. A full list of the channels announced to date after the break.
American Chopper leaving Discovery Channel
American Chopper has been in HDTV for...well...it seems like forever and now it might not be. Discovery Communication is moving the show from The Discovery Channel to TLC with the goal of returning their flagship station to its roots science and nature. There hasn't been any announcements if this will affect Discovery HD Theater but we aren't worried. Many of the mainstay shows on HD Theater, like Trading Spaces and Rides, comes right from TLC's lineup. But we are hoping that Discovery's soul seeking will bring the birth of TLC HD. That's not saying that we don't like Discovery HD Theater but rather the opposite as we love it. We just want to see more "science and nature" programs on it. Move the lifestyle shows to a station that is about life and bring back the nature stuff Discovery![via TV Squad]
