SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS Available Now

I may have mentioned I’m down in Florida for CTIA… but I may have failed to disclose I am stationed in Palm’s booth. Showing off the new SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS! (In addition to our existing Windows Mobile client and a Slingbox or two.) Just a few hours ago we unleashed the Palm OS … Read more

Celebrity Shots

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Here in the geek world, we have an entirely different sort of celebrity. It’s the guy (or girl) who knows all the right geek and gadget stuff. I caught Dave Graveline in the middle of a radio broadcast yesterday at the CEA Washington Forum. Dave is the host of the consumer electronics show “Into Tomorrow”, and he graciously agreed to pose for photos between interviews. (I am shameless.)

More official blogging on DTV a little later today. One more photo with me and Graveline after the jump.

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Riding the Green Wave

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This morning’s first session at the CEA Washington Forum focused on electronics recycling – an interesting topic, but I’d guess not what a lot of the attendees are here for. The panel talked specifically about state recycling initiatives and the rather patchwork result of a state-by-state approach. A few interesting points from the discussion:

  • Some states put the burden of recycling solely on manufacturers (much to the CEA’s dismay), and some spread the responsibility across manufacturers and retailers.
  • Sometimes responsibility falls on the actual manufacturer and sometimes it’s on the brand company that uses a manufacturer’s products. Disney, for example, is responsible for recycling in some states because its brand is on electronics, even though the company doesn’t have anything to do with making those products.
  • California has the most mature recycling program, yet its collection of recycled electronics in 2006 amounted to only 3.4 lbs per capita, much less than the theoretically available 10 lbs of recyclable electronics per capita.
  • In a consumer survey, three out of four consumers had no idea how to recycle their electronic products, yet most of them would if they knew how to do so.

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On Site at CEA Washington Forum

Other people may think the CTIA show is the sexiest place to be right now, but they don’t know what they’re missing at the CEA Washington Forum. Senator Ron Wyden is on stage starting the day out by talking about protectionism vs. innovation. He’s already referenced the Internet tax debate and net neutrality. Wow. More … Read more

TiVo v Echostar: Movement in Georgia

One stockholder’s take…

In the ongoing legal maneuvering over the disclosure of documents relating to the Merchant & Gould “Opinion Letter” (of non-infringement), Judge William Duffey of the U.S. Circuit Court in northern Georgia issued the following order on 3/22:

ORDER DIRECTING that Echostar and Homer Knearl SHOW CAUSE by 3/30/07, why the following documents should not be produced: MG PRIV 16, 27, 32-35, 37, 55, 68, 69, 72, 73, 75, 85, 88, 95, 105, 177, 179, 180, 271, 274, 276, 287, 291, and 305. Echostar or Knearl must state in detail for each document the privilege asserted, and the grounds for that privilege, including a description of the identity and role of each author, recipient, cc recipient, or bcc recipient of the document. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if any portion of the above documents was submitted to the Court in redacted form, unredacted copies be provided for in camera review by 3/30/07. These documents shall be marked in such a way as to allow the Court to discern easily which portions were previously redacted. Signed by Judge William S. Duffey Jr. on 3/22/07. (kt) (Entered: 03/22/2007)

The clarified rules of discovery issued by a U.S. Court of Appeals last year for this situation require documents to be produced to TiVo only if they were communicated by the law firm to the client (i.e., Echostar), or if they reference a communication with the client.

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Apple TV in its Native Environment

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Sure you can see Apple TV “unboxing” photos all over the place. But where else can you find photos of Apple TV in its native environment, i.e. the Apple Store at the local mall? (King of Prussia Mall in this case)

I must admit to some skepticism about Apple TV, but the Apple fanaticism is real, and many analysts have positive things to say. Ross Rubin compares and contrasts Apple TV (pretty favorably) against TiVo in his recent Engadget column. Steve Wildstrom on the other hand is a bit more ambiguous on Apple TV’s future. Then of course there’s Dave Z.’s opinion

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The RIAA – No More Cuddly Puppies

Brian Biggs has an “article” up over on BBspot on the RIAA’s new mission statement and innovative communications strategies. Instead of fostering a supportive climate, Brian suggests the RIAA is codifying a different, less cuddly approach: Our mission is to maximize hatred for the music industry by using creative legal and innovative technological methods which … Read more