Industry

The Future of TV… is TV

As a follow up to the failure of CableCARD and customer service post, I’m back in business. Cox Communications reps continued to reach out yesterday, but I was frustrated and beat down – and not interested in providing any more explanations of the issue or facilitating additional troubleshooting. So they went about resolving the situation on their end. Not sure what was done, but my entire channel lineup is now available on the TiVo Premiere (with it’s own set of issues that we’ll get to). Which dovetails nicely with the question of cutting the cord…

As attractive as it may seem to dump the cable co, it’s not really an option in our household. We enjoy our premium TV. And we enjoy the (usual) simplicity of our setup. There’s no question that over-the-top video is now everywhere. And expanding. Yet, the selection remains unpredictable. As does the quality of content and delivery. (Low-res Alf reruns on Hulu entertain for all of ten minutes. OK, maybe 20, Mr. Shumway.) However, there are options… for tech enthusiasts like us. But for most folks, beyond STBs with integrated Netflix or YouTube streaming, Internet-sourced content in a lean-back environment is a mystery.

Read more

The Masters in 3D at Sony Style

With a Sony Style store around the corner, I headed out yesterday for a peek at the Masters Tournament in 3D. It was just me, one avid golf fan, and a Sony Style staffer. In other words, the viewing event clearly wasn’t a big draw for the store. Nonetheless, Sony sucked me in, and I … Read more

DISH VIP 922 Slingbox DVR Launches!

380 million dollars and 2.5 years in the making, the world’s first DVR containing Slingbox functionality has arrived. Of course, this is exactly the sort of hybrid product we expected when Echostar acquired Sling Media in 2007. Although it wasn’t actually until CES 2009 that our suspicions were confirmed. And DISH Network’s 2009 launch plans … Read more

What Would It Take To Get You Into This 2010 iPad?

I’ve read the reviews, played with several devices, fought off temptation, and concluded it’s not the right time for me to make an iPad purchase. My main sticking point is the lack of multitasking, something I hope to see addressed later this year with an iPhone 4.0 OS update. I want to listen to Slacker … Read more

Video on the iPad, Part Two

What a difference a day makes. Several outlets are reporting that Netflix (confirmed) and ABC are bringing custom iPad apps to market, while CBS has plans to make videos viewable on the iPad through the Safari browser. And, as Ryan Lawler points out, even NBC will have iPad-ready TV shows simply because it already uses … Read more

The iPad Review Roundup

Yeah, there will be a disproportionate amount of iPad coverage this week. However, we promise not to run a single April Fools Day post. Fair enough? The first round of reviews are in, and they’re not surprising given all we know. The tone is generally very positive, yet we’re cautioned to keep our expectations in … Read more

The iPad will need more mileage with MPG

Two of the most acute editorial minds in the business used this final week before the introduction of the iPad to weigh in on its impact. Lance Ulanoff says that the iPad, while successful, won’t be a game changer whereas Mike Elgan characterizes the iPad as a paradigm shift and the dawn of the era … Read more

Video on the iPad – What Works, What Doesn’t

Apple iPad mania is in full swing, and I thought I’d do my part to contribute to it with a note on video support for the tablet. Several companies have come out this week announcing their ability to deliver video to the iPad including Brightcove, Ooyala, Comcast’s thePlatform, Limelight Networks, and Kyte. But what does … Read more