HDTV News
December 27, 2006
The clear, crisp life like quality of HDTV is enough to make most people cringe, but add to it the jumbo sized pictures that many of the HDTV sets carry, and ever wrinkle, line, or blemish will be blazing to the world. Not exactly the “top model” images most television personalities are always trying to attain. The technology has proven ...
HDTV – too much detail?
by Brian TurnerThe clear, crisp life like quality of HDTV is enough to make most people cringe, but add to it the jumbo sized pictures that many of the HDTV sets carry, and ever wrinkle, line, or blemish will be blazing to the world. Not exactly the “top model” images most television personalities are always trying to attain. The technology has proven ...
December 26, 2006
It’s time to buy your first high definition television – but it’s all so confusing, especially with retailers and manufacturers offering consumers HD-ready, HD monitor, EDTV, and HDTV sets. Trouble is, get any of these wrong, and you could find yourself paying extra - but with no HDTV. EDTV EDTV stands for Enhanced Definition Television – and it is just what it ...
HDTV pitfall terms
by Brian TurnerIt’s time to buy your first high definition television – but it’s all so confusing, especially with retailers and manufacturers offering consumers HD-ready, HD monitor, EDTV, and HDTV sets. Trouble is, get any of these wrong, and you could find yourself paying extra - but with no HDTV. EDTV EDTV stands for Enhanced Definition Television – and it is just what it ...
Digital programming hots up
by Brian TurnerCable operators are gearing up to offer consumers more bang for their buck. The wave of the future seems to be focused mainly in the directions of Internet and IPTV. The tuner systems, referred to as set top boxes, are also on the radar of those companies intent on breaking into the new technology markets. With digitalization, these ...
December 23, 2006
Seasons greetings to all our members and guests! May your holiday period be happy and safe.Why not check out the January 2007 issue of What Satellite and Digital TV magazine to see our forum feature in the Sat Ch@t section?The Satellite Help forum has just celebrated its first birthday, and we have had a fantastic inaugural year. If you've not yet signed up to our forum, why not give it a try? We're a very friendly bunch, and between us we have a lot of experience in the field of home satellite installations and forum-based support etc.We're particularly interested in getting complete beginners involved, and can offer some simple 'getting started' advice - so no need to worry about being flamed!Regards, Satellite Help
Happy Christmas from Satellite Help!
bySeasons greetings to all our members and guests! May your holiday period be happy and safe.Why not check out the January 2007 issue of What Satellite and Digital TV magazine to see our forum feature in the Sat Ch@t section?The Satellite Help forum has just celebrated its first birthday, and we have had a fantastic inaugural year. If you've not yet signed up to our forum, why not give it a try? We're a very friendly bunch, and between us we have a lot of experience in the field of home satellite installations and forum-based support etc.We're particularly interested in getting complete beginners involved, and can offer some simple 'getting started' advice - so no need to worry about being flamed!Regards, Satellite Help
Milwaukee sues over IPTV
by Brian TurnerIn the United States it seems that someone is always suing someone else. Usually it is the governments that are being sued by the citizens. Now it’s the government suing the citizens – or at least the corporations. The City of Milwaukee has filed a federal lawsuit that seeks to require telephony giant AT&T to negotiate a cable franchise ...
Ericsson enters IPTV market
by Brian TurnerEricsson is about to step into the IPTV market. It has stated in the past its desire to be a player in the telco video world, but it has gotten off to a slow start. Ericsson has been setting the stage for its IPTV move by purchasing other tech companies. Last year it was Marconi. This year ...
KyLinTV boosts IPTV for Chinese Americans
by Brian TurnerIt’s all new – and it’s here just in time for the holiday season. KyLinTV has announced a special winter gift for its North American subscribers in the form of all new programming for the holidays. Subscribers will be treated to a collections of December Blockbusters, Christmas and New Year’s Specials, as well as New Year’s Blockbusters. Its ...
FCC allows new HDTV services stateside
by Brian TurnerTelcos have been itching to get into the HDTV market. Past regulations have hindered their launch into the new services, but that may all be about to change. The FCC has just approved new regulations that will make it easier for telcos to launch new TV services. One of the aspects of the new regulations is that it ...
HDTV for Freeview?
by Brian TurnerIt?s round one of the HDTV fight, and broadcasters intend to fight to the death. Broadcasters are set to lobby the government and the media regulator Ofcom to provide spectrum to carry HDTV on Freeview. Ofcom did not earmark the spectrum for this use. It is hoping to auction the coveted radio spectrum which will be released by the switchover from ...
December 22, 2006
Sky Sports will broadcast one of the world's most spectacular sports events - the Super Bowl - in high definition for the first time next February. Super Bowl XLI will be the first US sports event and the sixth sport to be screened in HD by Sky Sports with the first Super League match in HD also on 4th February 2007. Super ...
Sky Sports to show Super Bowl in HD
by BGonaSTICKSky Sports will broadcast one of the world's most spectacular sports events - the Super Bowl - in high definition for the first time next February. Super Bowl XLI will be the first US sports event and the sixth sport to be screened in HD by Sky Sports with the first Super League match in HD also on 4th February 2007. Super ...
December 21, 2006
Nokia introduced several new models at the Nokia World conference, all of which are scheduled to be available in the first quarter of next year. The Nokia N95 will include a GPS (global positioning system), which provides accurate maps for any city in the world. The HSDPA-capable phone has 160MB built-in storage that can be expanded by up to 2GB more ...
New Phones Launched At Nokia World Conference
by Brian TurnerNokia introduced several new models at the Nokia World conference, all of which are scheduled to be available in the first quarter of next year. The Nokia N95 will include a GPS (global positioning system), which provides accurate maps for any city in the world. The HSDPA-capable phone has 160MB built-in storage that can be expanded by up to 2GB more ...
December 20, 2006
Samsung is launching the first handset to include an optical joystick. The SCH-V960 handset is a slider cell phone with a joystick above the number pad. A user can control the joystick with their finger, activating the phone's onscreen cursor. This could make it easier to operate the cell phone menus and reduce erroneous button-pushing while trying to open applications. The ...
Samsung Phone Features Optical Joystick
by Brian TurnerSamsung is launching the first handset to include an optical joystick. The SCH-V960 handset is a slider cell phone with a joystick above the number pad. A user can control the joystick with their finger, activating the phone's onscreen cursor. This could make it easier to operate the cell phone menus and reduce erroneous button-pushing while trying to open applications. The ...
December 17, 2006
Apple Computer's iPod cell phone, which will include a 2.0-megapixel digital camera, is expected to arrive in the late first quarter or early second quarter of 2007. According to a report in The China Times, the design of the device has been finalised and released for manufacturing. The iPhone will incorporate traditional cellular capabilities with Apple's iPod digital music player ...
iPhone with 2MP Camera Available in New Year
by Brian TurnerApple Computer's iPod cell phone, which will include a 2.0-megapixel digital camera, is expected to arrive in the late first quarter or early second quarter of 2007. According to a report in The China Times, the design of the device has been finalised and released for manufacturing. The iPhone will incorporate traditional cellular capabilities with Apple's iPod digital music player ...
December 16, 2006
Creative Sensors is increasing production of variable focus liquid lenses for zoom-enable camera phones, from 100,000 liquid lenses per month at the end of 2006, to 1 million units per month by the end of 2007. The lenses are being manufactured in Wuxi, China. The developer of the liquid lens, French company Varioptic, agreed a production deal with Creative Sensor ...
Varioptic’s Liquid Lenses For Camera Phones Ready For Market
by Brian TurnerCreative Sensors is increasing production of variable focus liquid lenses for zoom-enable camera phones, from 100,000 liquid lenses per month at the end of 2006, to 1 million units per month by the end of 2007. The lenses are being manufactured in Wuxi, China. The developer of the liquid lens, French company Varioptic, agreed a production deal with Creative Sensor ...
New Photo Sharing and Synchronization Feature
by Brian TurnerAlltel Wireless is developing a photo sharing and synchronization feature that will enable PC and Web photo collections to be viewed on mobile phones. It will also send camera phone pictures automatically to a PC and the Web, and allow users to share PC and Web photos from anywhere. Alltel is launching the service with its partner Sharpcast Inc. The ...
Free HDTV network?
by Brian TurnerWould you like to get free high definition television? All you have to be willing to do is just move to Canada. A Canadian businessman has applied for a license to launch a free high definition television network. Most Canadian viewers pay extra for any programming in HD. With the country inevitably heading towards the HD digital ...
Cisco VGE reinvents IPTV
by Brian TurnerTalk about reinventing the wheel. Cisco has virtually reinvented IPTV. It is dropping key elements of the IPTV experience (VoD, network DVR, fast channel change, and packet re-transmission) down to the network layer. These elements will now set on Cisco routers and servers in the network. Cisco is calling this vision Visual Quality Experience (VGE). One of the ...
December 14, 2006
The low guys on the technology totem pole are finally getting their day – if all goes well that is. Eagle Broadband Inc., Falcon Communications Inc., and SES Americom are each aiming to win what is being called the “race for the rural†by being the first and best to offer IPTV packages to the rural and lower tier telcos. All ...
Race for rural IPTV
by Brian TurnerThe low guys on the technology totem pole are finally getting their day – if all goes well that is. Eagle Broadband Inc., Falcon Communications Inc., and SES Americom are each aiming to win what is being called the “race for the rural†by being the first and best to offer IPTV packages to the rural and lower tier telcos. All ...
December 13, 2006
Neo Products Ltd is preparing to launch a new generation of distinctively designed mobile camera phones, that are both fashionable and technologically advanced. The company will launch the 808i handset in the Middle East in March 2007, then a month later in Europe. The handset, one of the smallest and lightest in the marketplace, weighs 90g and measures a diminutive ...
Neo Set to Launch Micro Phone
by Brian TurnerNeo Products Ltd is preparing to launch a new generation of distinctively designed mobile camera phones, that are both fashionable and technologically advanced. The company will launch the 808i handset in the Middle East in March 2007, then a month later in Europe. The handset, one of the smallest and lightest in the marketplace, weighs 90g and measures a diminutive ...
Holland: HDTV or nothing
by Brian TurnerNo more free TV for the Dutch people. The Netherlands is the first county to end all “free to air” analog television broadcasts and to completely switch over to digital signals. Most of the country’s population did not even feel the switch. The large majority of viewers already purchase cable. In a country of over 16 million, only about ...
HDTV ramps up costs
by Brian Turner“They” are out to get you at every turn of the high definition journey. Not only are consumers paying out the nose for the latest HDTV sets, but they soon find they have to pay additional money to be able to watch television in high definition. The few broadcasts that are offered to consumers are not part of traditional ...
Alcatel faces off with Microsoft over IPTV
by Brian TurnerCompetition is good – especially for consumers interested in IPTV. And the market just got more competitive. It seems that Microsoft, which had hoped to become the industry standard for the emerging Internet Protocol television (IPTV) market is going to have more competition than it expected. Not only are the likes of Cisco Systems Inc, and other industry ...
December 12, 2006
Motorola, Inc. has launched its new flagship entertainment PDA - MOTOROKR E6. The device is an entertainment handset which is designed to enhance the lifestyles of professionals on the go with its simple and easy to use multimedia feature.
The E6 has been specifically designed to make it easy ...
Flagship Entertainment PDA From Motorola – MOTOROKR E6
by Brian Turner
Motorola, Inc. has launched its new flagship entertainment PDA - MOTOROKR E6. The device is an entertainment handset which is designed to enhance the lifestyles of professionals on the go with its simple and easy to use multimedia feature.
The E6 has been specifically designed to make it easy ...Sony Ericsson Launches W710i Mobile Phone in Middle East
by Brian TurnerSony Ericsson's W710i phone is designed to support an active, sporty lifestyle. It includes a motion sensor and fitness applications to measure running speed, distance and time, or count steps when walking. The phone features a Walkman® player, easy-to-use interface and is available in Performance Graphite and Hatha Violet. It also includes a 2 Megapixel camera with digital zoom ...
December 11, 2006
LG Electronics has partnered with Germany's Schneider-Kreuznach, a supplier of quality camera lenses, to incorporate the German company's lenses in LG's camera phones. It is the first time that Schneider-Kreuznach has partnered with a mobile phone company. LG’s upcoming handset, Shine, will be the first camera phone equipped with a certified Schneider-Kreuznach lens. It will be launched in South Africa ...
LG Electronics and Schneider-Kreuznach Partner For Camera Phone Development
by Brian TurnerLG Electronics has partnered with Germany's Schneider-Kreuznach, a supplier of quality camera lenses, to incorporate the German company's lenses in LG's camera phones. It is the first time that Schneider-Kreuznach has partnered with a mobile phone company. LG’s upcoming handset, Shine, will be the first camera phone equipped with a certified Schneider-Kreuznach lens. It will be launched in South Africa ...
Cingular Wireless Introduces 3G Phone With PTT Technology
by Brian TurnerCingular Wireless, the largest wireless company in the United States, has launched the LG CU400, its first 3G phone to feature Push-to-Talk (PTT) technology. PTT allows a user to discover if the intended recipient of the call is available to talk before the call is placed. The technology provides instant connection and allows users to talk to one person or ...
December 7, 2006
It’s time to get the party started, and it’s happening right in front of the HDTV. Research is showing that more Americans are choosing to stay at home and enjoy their entertainment options than just two years ago. Most of those staying at home have upgraded their traditional sets to the new technology of high definition. The purchase ...
More Americans watching TV – but is it HDTV?
by Brian TurnerIt’s time to get the party started, and it’s happening right in front of the HDTV. Research is showing that more Americans are choosing to stay at home and enjoy their entertainment options than just two years ago. Most of those staying at home have upgraded their traditional sets to the new technology of high definition. The purchase ...
Foxtel leads Aussie IPTV
by Brian TurnerYou can now get your broadcasts on demand via the internet courtesy of Foxtel. The Australian based company, which is that country’s largest subscription television provider, is set to launch a trial of downloadable, on demand television services over the internet. The Foxtel-by-broadband trial is set to launch this month and will be offered to a limited number of ...
Hong Kong leads in IPTV
by Brian TurnerHong Kong is leading the world in the acceptance and usage of IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) technology. PCCW Ltd, Hong Kong’s former fixed line monopoly but currently the world’s largest provider of TV over the internet, boasts over 700,000 subscribers to date. The IPTV service allows subscribers to view sports, financial news, or other pay per channel choices, over their IPTV ...
When will HDTV hit big?
by Brian TurnerWhen it comes to timing, THIS is the “the year” for finally getting into the HDTV (high definition television) market for consumers – which ever “this year” you might be talking about, that is. In 2005, market experts were predicting that it was the best year for new purchases because of technological improvements and lowering prices. They are repeating ...
Samsung Launches World’s Thinnest Cell Phones
by Brian TurnerSamsung Electronics has released to market the Ultra Edition 6.9 (X820 bar design) and Ultra Edition 9.9 (D830 clamshell design) cell phones - the thinnest cell phones ever made. The phones incorporate Agere Systems' innovative chip packaging design. The technique is called package-on-package (stacking). A packaged memory chip is stacked on top of the baseband chip package, which reduces the ...
December 6, 2006
Telcos could finally have an edge in the IPTV market. Cisco Systems, the world’s leader in networking for the internet, is just the company to provide them with that edge. The San Jose, California based company has developed technology that will allow the telcos to speed their channel changing. It will also enhance the telcos ability to spot and fix problems on ...
Cisco powers telco IPTV
by Brian TurnerTelcos could finally have an edge in the IPTV market. Cisco Systems, the world’s leader in networking for the internet, is just the company to provide them with that edge. The San Jose, California based company has developed technology that will allow the telcos to speed their channel changing. It will also enhance the telcos ability to spot and fix problems on ...
HDTV sets smaller than traditional sets!
by Brian TurnerI’ve got a secret – and it’s a BIG one. The highly touted High Definition televisions are actually smaller than the traditional sets of the same size. A 50” HD set provides a mere 1063 square inches of viewing space, while the traditional set of the same size has 1200 square inches. How is this possible? It all comes ...
LG Brings Chocolate Folder Phone to UK
by Brian TurnerLG has finally released the Chocolate folder phone in the UK. The company has released the U830, which has a better feature set that the original Chocolate slider, but is of a similar design. Although the U830 is a 3G phone it is able to achieve HSDPA (3.5G) download speeds. It includes the same touch-sensitive controls within the folder, and ...
December 5, 2006
Yahoo and Reuters are launching a new service which could turn the millions of people with digital cameras and camera phones into photojournalists. Amateur photographers will be able to submit their digital news photos and videos to the service. These may then be placed throughout Reuters.com and Yahoo News. Reuters also plans to distribute some of the submissions to print, ...
Yahoo and Reuters Seek Camera Phone Images for News Service
by Brian TurnerYahoo and Reuters are launching a new service which could turn the millions of people with digital cameras and camera phones into photojournalists. Amateur photographers will be able to submit their digital news photos and videos to the service. These may then be placed throughout Reuters.com and Yahoo News. Reuters also plans to distribute some of the submissions to print, ...
02 Unveils XDA Orbit with Built-in GPS sat-nav
by Brian TurnerO2 has announced the launch of the O2 Xda Orbit - the first O2 Xda with built-in GPS sat-nav. The device includes a 2.0 mega pixel camera, MP3 player, radio and WiFi functionality and uses the latest Windows Mobile OS 5 software to provide mobile Internet, e-mail and the same easy-to-use format as Microsoft Office. The O2 Xda Orbit’s in-built ...
Asia embraces IPTV faster than UK
by Brian TurnerThe British AREN’T coming. Not into the telephony technological age – at least not now or with any urgency in the future. The Asian market is much quicker to embrace the emerging technology of IPTV and VOIP. China leads the way when it comes to consumers logging into the television using IPTV technology with Japan in second place. The ...
HDTV moving through Asia
by Brian TurnerThere will soon be more choices for HDTV viewers in the Singapore market. StarHub and MediaCorp have both announced that they will be launching additional English high definition broadcasting by May of next year. StarHub, Singapore’s second largest info-communications company and a cable provider will be adding two channels by May of next year. MediaCorp, Singapore’s national television broadcaster and ...
December 1, 2006
Bluestreak Network, Inc and Hansun Technologies have signed an agreement that will set the stage for enhanced IPTV and Digital Multimedia services in China. Hansun Technologies is based out of Beijing. It develops and produces software platforms for IPTV, along with several other products. It also provides IPTV system integration, operation service and total solutions for IP service ...
Bluestreak set of IPTV services in China
by Brian TurnerBluestreak Network, Inc and Hansun Technologies have signed an agreement that will set the stage for enhanced IPTV and Digital Multimedia services in China. Hansun Technologies is based out of Beijing. It develops and produces software platforms for IPTV, along with several other products. It also provides IPTV system integration, operation service and total solutions for IP service ...
HDTV costs shunned by advertisers
by Brian TurnerConsumers aren’t the only ones who are baulking at the prices involved with high definition technology. In Canada, advertisers aren’t willing to pay the roughly 25% higher fees to have their ads run on HDTV. Since the advertisers aren’t footing the bill for the new technology, broadcasters are paying. The CBC president, Robert Rabinovich, was painting a bleak future for ...
Nuance Communications’ Speech Technology Powers Pantech
by Brian TurnerNuance Communications, Inc., a supplier of speech and imaging solutions, has secured a contract to supply speech technology to Pantech Group, the second largest mobile phone company in South Korea and the seventh largest handset manufacturer in the world. Nuance Communications' speech solutions will power Pantech's PG-6200, PG-8000 and PG-3700 handsets in multiple languages, including Russian, English and Mandarin Chinese. ...
