Dave Zatz, Author at Zatz Not Funny!

Cablevision Completes Television CallerID Rollout

As of tomorrow, all Cablevision triple-play (television, data, voice) customers will be capable of receiving CallerID through their Scientific Atlanta set-top boxes. The feature can be toggled on/off and is provided at no extra charge. CallerID has proven to be a very popular feature in luring and retaining triple-play customers – Cablevision is wise to … Read more

Service Providers Dangle HDTV Carrots

Following up on Mari’s HDTV holiday buying research, I’ve noticed an interesting strategy that television service providers are employing this fall to lure folks away from the CableCo: Verizon FiOS TV is offering new subscribers a free Sharp 19″ LCD HDTV and Dish Network is offering new or existing customers $800 off a variety of … Read more

Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs: The Motorola CableCARD Q&A: Connected Home 2 Go DivX Thrives, DVD Continues To Die: Davis Freeberg’s Digital Connection Netflix Watch Now Download Hack Surveillance: Brent Evans Geek Tonic FiOS TV Gets HD: Connected Home 2 Go Sage 6.3.1 Beta Released, HD Extender Support: Brent Evanas … Read more

TiVo and Roxio Acknowledge TiVoToGo Troubles

Both TiVo and Roxio have acknowledged what many of us have known for some time (PVRBlog, TiVo Community, Roxio Support Forums, several emails): TiVo’s fall software update (9.1/9.2) included some sort of change which impacts a percentage of TiVoToGo file conversions and DVD burning from Mac Roxio software. So I checked in with both TiVo … Read more

Pandora Lands on AT&T Handsets

Forgive me if I’m a little behind, but I’m not used to receiving two Pandora announcements in one week. In addition to beefing up their online web services, Pandora has announced a partnership with AT&T to stream personalized music selections to handsets. AT&T customers will need a supported phone, a data and to pony up $8.99/month… which makes Sprint’s $2.99/mo Pandora offering look like a bargain. It’s great to see online services expand beyond the browser, but is AT&T setting themselves up for failure?

Windows Home Server Arrives

After months of semi-public beta testing, Microsoft’s Windows Home Server is finally arriving in retail. HP’s MediaSmart Server is up first and the companies are offering live informational webcasts – including one today at 4PM EST: In addition to a live demonstration, consumer technology industry experts such as Rob Enderle/The Enderle Group, Rick Doherty/Envisioneering, Paul … Read more

Best Buy Delivers HD DVD

I slept in last Friday and missed out on Walmart’s $99 HD DVD player. However, John tipped me off to a similar online deal through Best Buy for Business and I pulled the trigger. Between the stagnant order status page (“In Process”) and seeing 90,000 HD DVD units move last weekend, I figured I’d be … Read more

TiVo Resurrects Lifetime Service (for a time)

Through February 2nd, TiVo is offering Lifetime Service subscriptions to existing customers at a cost of $399. Mathematically, only you can decide if this is a good deal. Adding a lifetime of standard definition service (TiVo DT, Series2) doesn’t make sense to me, but it could be entirely reasonable on a TiVo HD or Series3. … Read more