Jonathan Takiff: Clearing the air on digital TV converters

THE GIZMO: More on the digital TV conversion.

Last week's column scooped the nation with the first hands-on review of low-cost, digital TV tuners/converters.

These set-top boxes will become essential to receive over-the-air TV on older, pre-digital television sets next year, after broadcasters are required (on Feb. 17, 2009) to shut off their analog signals.

Not surprisingly, I got a flood of reader comments and questions. Today, let's deal with some of them.

Q: I applied early to the government [www.dtv2009.gov and 888-388-2009] and already have my two $40 rebate coupons to help me buy these digital converter boxes. The models I've seen in stores are selling for around $60, so my real cost will be $20. But wasn't somebody going to offer a box at $40?

A: That would be Dish Network, planning to sell boxes at a "slight loss" as a good-will gesture (and to get you thinking about upgrading to their satellite TV service).


Read More

Suntronic Outdoor All-Weather LCD TVs

Summer is around the corner. You should start to think about moving your TV watching and video gaming outside. Suntronic offers a whole line of LCD HDTV sets that allow you to do just that.

The Suntronic GS product line features All-Weather and sunlight readable LCD technology.
Available LCD TVs include sizes between 46 and 102 inches (4 panels). These outdoor TVs operate in temperatures between -40 and 50 degrees Celsius, are IP65 water proof, have integrated heater and air conditioner and a high brightness LCD Panel.

Of course these All-Weather LCD TVs are intentend for professional use to display commercials or other information, but if you have the funds, why not place one in your garden.
The Suntronic LCD TVs are sold by iTech Company (site) in the United States.


Read More

Ultrafast Internet nearly up to speed

Three-dimensional high-definition TV is ready, and viewing it is breathtaking. But will people like the technology enough to pay extra? And can it pay off for network operators?

Phone and cable companies, including Verizon Communications, hope so as they prepare to launch ultrafast Internet service that can run at 100 megabits per second in some markets.

"There is a business case for ultrabroadband service in markets with a very dense population — New York, Chicago, Paris — but as a market's population gets thinner, the business case gets weaker," said Robert Atkinson, research policy director for the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, a Columbia University-based center in New York City.

Network operators need to earn more than the $100 a month they get now from customers for Internet, phone and video service to make the investment of billions of dollars for network upgrades worth their while, said Atkinson, who recently addressed Chicago's branch of the Federal Communications Bar Association.


Read More

TiVo, cable companies to offer digital adapters

PHILADELPHIA -- The cable industry said Monday that it's going to start offering adapters for TiVo Inc.'s high-definition digital video recorders with cable card slots so customers can resurrect channels that disappear when companies use new technology to save bandwidth.

Cable operators, especially Time Warner Cable Inc. and Cox Communications Inc., are aggressively rolling out switched-digital video technology.

Switched-digital technology frees up space for more channels by sending only those each customer selects, instead of streaming all channels to all customers.

.


Read More

News TV One to Launch HD Channel The simulcast channel will air in the fourth quarter.

Washington, D.C. (May 19, 2008) -- TV One, which targets African-American viewers, will launch a High-Definition channel in the fourth quarter of this year.

That's according to an article by Multichannel News.

The network said the new high-def channel will be a simulcast of its standard-def channel. TV One's lineup includes classic sitcoms and dramas, such as Martin and Good Times, and movies as well as some original programming.

TV One did not reveal if any TV providers have agreed to carry the new high-def channel. However, Comcast and DIRECTV both have an equity stake in the network.

The network said it's now in negotiations with cable and satellite operators.

"High-Definition programming is important for distributors and our audience, and we have long known we would launch an HD offering, but only after making sure our primary channel was well received and on firm footing," said TV One president Johnathan Rodgers in a statement, according to Multichannel News.


Read More

Many offer online movie rentals for TVs

Q: I know I can rent movies online and view them on my computer. However, it would be a lot better if I could watch them on my big-screen LCD television. Is there an easy way to do that?

A: Yes there is. But forget about downloading from movie-rental Web sites because most of them don't make it easy to transfer a movie from your computer to your TV.

In fact, you don't even need a computer. Instead, get yourself a "digital media receiver" - a device that connects directly to your TV and lets you rent movies and TV shows via your high-speed Internet connection (wired or wireless).

The leading products in this young market are the Apple TV (apple.com) and Vudu box (vudu.com). Other options include the TiVo DVR (tivo.com) and Microsoft's Xbox 360 video-game console, (xbox.com), both of which can double as digital media receivers.


Read More

A primer on the digital conversion

On Feb. 17, the U.S. government will flip a figurative switch, transforming television transmission from analog — in use since the beginning days of TV — to digital.</p><p>What does this monumental change mean for consumers? Don't procrastinate, or you may be left with nothing but a blank picture tube come next February.</p><p>Damon Porter of Time Warner Cable in Kansas City — which is teaming with KCPT-TV, Channel 19, on a public service campaign to help educate viewers in the area — warns that time is of the essence.</p><p>“We encourage people to plan ahead, to make sure they're ready,” Porter said. “What we've found from being out in the public, talking to people, is that there are varying degrees of knowledge and varying degrees of readiness.”</p><p>To help in the transition, here is a general primer:</p><p><strong>What do I need to get ready?</strong></p><p>It all depends on what types of televisions you have and whether you have pay TV service (cable or satellite).</p><p>-If you have cable or satellite, you should be good to go, but only for the televisions in your home that are hooked up to a pay service.</p><p>-If you have a newer television, generally one made in the past three years, almost all have a digital tuner, in which case it will be able to receive the digital signal.</p><p>-If you have one or more older TV sets and rely on an external antenna — generally rooftop or rabbit ears — you'll need a converter box.


Read More