Since they unleashed their High Def, the sound on the Standard Def broadcasts is really distorted on my Grande-fed system. (I think someone tried to point this out earlier but I can't find the comment now.)
How about you Suddenlink customers... is KPEJ-HD on yet? Do you have the sound problem with the HD shows?
And what about CableOne subscribers? I don't think I've seen a single comment here about CableOne.
[Update: 02/01/07] I believe CableOne just started carrying KPEJ-HD in the past day or two. Maybe one of their viewers will report in. Also, I hear from the KPEJ engineer that they've been working to fix the sound problem and it seems much better now. Still just a tad of clipping at the higher levels but much better.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Super Bowl in High Def
CBS plans to use 47 high definition cameras in its coverage of the Super Bowl next Sunday. And there's no telling how many HDTV purchases were prompted by the Big Game but I sure wish I had a nickel for each.
Manufacturers must be pleased with Super Bowl related sales on the heels of good numbers from Christmas but prices are still falling and that's something they are not pleased about. Over-production has made profit margins thin and it's being estimated that 32" HDTVs will be routinely selling for $300 before the end of Q1 2007.
I saw a 42" Philips LCD HDTV priced at $1200-something at Sam's Club the other day but the content being displayed was pretty bad. I have yet to see a nice HD picture on a store display.
Manufacturers must be pleased with Super Bowl related sales on the heels of good numbers from Christmas but prices are still falling and that's something they are not pleased about. Over-production has made profit margins thin and it's being estimated that 32" HDTVs will be routinely selling for $300 before the end of Q1 2007.
I saw a 42" Philips LCD HDTV priced at $1200-something at Sam's Club the other day but the content being displayed was pretty bad. I have yet to see a nice HD picture on a store display.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Sleepless VCRs in Midland
I don't know if it's proper blogging etiquette but this entry will take the bold step of psychoanalyzing a fellow West Texas (It's a sub-state, Eric, and I prefer to recognize that with a capital W.) blogger.
Why does the thought of losing your VCRs to digital television concern you, Geo?
If it's because you are just too comfortable with the VCR technology we will try hypnosis. Find a comfortable chair in a quiet room and think of a beautiful garden spot. See the clear blue sky? Hear the gentle rustle of the leaves from the soft breeze? Feel the lush, soft grass beneath your bare feet? Now slowly begin to count backward from 100. Visualize each number as you count. You're getting sleepy. Your eyelids are so heavy. You feel so very good but you just can't keep your eyes open. You are asleep now but you are having a dream and watching all the other boys and girls enjoy the benefits of their Digital Video Recorders. Notice how they don't have to program the date and time of their favorite TV shows. The just select their show from an on-screen guide by pressing the Record button. Those shows can be recorded automatically anytime they air - new or repeats, their choice - without any more programming. But what if they want to record two shows which are scheduled for the same time? No problem. Most DVRs have two tuners and can record both shows at the same time. While they watch a third show previously recorded. Now, notice that stack of recording media in the oak cabinet next to the TV? Of course you don't - there is no media to be stacked. All the shows are listed on the DVR for you to view anytime without getting off the couch. I'm going to count to 3 now and when I do, you will wake up feeling rested and well. You will no longer feel the false sense of dependence on rusty, vinyl streams of Scotch tape.
Maybe you think you'll need a DVR for every television in the house. The next generation of DVRs will send programming wirelessly to any set in the house so you only need one DVR. Take two aspirin, wait two years and call me the next morning. Or Google "SlingBox" now.
Or, are you just disgusted with the high price of DVRs compared to the cost of those antiquated VCRs. No problem. Here's Jimmy Patterson's Viza Card# 432523432111.
Why does the thought of losing your VCRs to digital television concern you, Geo?
If it's because you are just too comfortable with the VCR technology we will try hypnosis. Find a comfortable chair in a quiet room and think of a beautiful garden spot. See the clear blue sky? Hear the gentle rustle of the leaves from the soft breeze? Feel the lush, soft grass beneath your bare feet? Now slowly begin to count backward from 100. Visualize each number as you count. You're getting sleepy. Your eyelids are so heavy. You feel so very good but you just can't keep your eyes open. You are asleep now but you are having a dream and watching all the other boys and girls enjoy the benefits of their Digital Video Recorders. Notice how they don't have to program the date and time of their favorite TV shows. The just select their show from an on-screen guide by pressing the Record button. Those shows can be recorded automatically anytime they air - new or repeats, their choice - without any more programming. But what if they want to record two shows which are scheduled for the same time? No problem. Most DVRs have two tuners and can record both shows at the same time. While they watch a third show previously recorded. Now, notice that stack of recording media in the oak cabinet next to the TV? Of course you don't - there is no media to be stacked. All the shows are listed on the DVR for you to view anytime without getting off the couch. I'm going to count to 3 now and when I do, you will wake up feeling rested and well. You will no longer feel the false sense of dependence on rusty, vinyl streams of Scotch tape.
Maybe you think you'll need a DVR for every television in the house. The next generation of DVRs will send programming wirelessly to any set in the house so you only need one DVR. Take two aspirin, wait two years and call me the next morning. Or Google "SlingBox" now.
Or, are you just disgusted with the high price of DVRs compared to the cost of those antiquated VCRs. No problem. Here's Jimmy Patterson's Viza Card# 432523432111.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
The End Is Near (for the Set Top Box)
As things stand at the moment, beginning July 1st this year, cable companies will no longer be allowed to hand out Set Top Boxes (STBs) without CableCard. That would seem to indicate we consumers will then be able to purchase our own box/DVR and use a cable company supplied CableCard to enable it regardless of the cable company.
Of course off-the-shelf devices like the Series 3 Tivo will not be cheap but surely the competition will result in more user-friendly DVRs. Anyone who's ever used a TiVo knows how friendly such devices can be. (There are good reviews of the Series 3 TiVo but it's expensive - about $800 - and still requires a monthly subscription.)
In any case, it will be interesting to see if the traditional, proprietary STB really dies this year. The new requirement was supposed to go in effect back in 2000, was delayed until 2005 and further postponement is now being lobbied again by the cable companies. However, Comcast was recently denied a petition for exemption so maybe the FCC is trying really hard to enact the July 1st deadline.
Please follow the links in this entry for details of CableCard and the FCC mandate.
Of course off-the-shelf devices like the Series 3 Tivo will not be cheap but surely the competition will result in more user-friendly DVRs. Anyone who's ever used a TiVo knows how friendly such devices can be. (There are good reviews of the Series 3 TiVo but it's expensive - about $800 - and still requires a monthly subscription.)
In any case, it will be interesting to see if the traditional, proprietary STB really dies this year. The new requirement was supposed to go in effect back in 2000, was delayed until 2005 and further postponement is now being lobbied again by the cable companies. However, Comcast was recently denied a petition for exemption so maybe the FCC is trying really hard to enact the July 1st deadline.
Please follow the links in this entry for details of CableCard and the FCC mandate.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
National Geographic HD Coming to Grande Soon
The program listings from Zap2It for Grande digital cable show NGCHD on Channel 430. It hasn't appeared on the channel guide yet and I cannot tune it via CableCard but I hope the high definition version of National Geographic shows up soon. The channel does not appear in CableOne or SuddenLink listings.
I've never noticed not-yet-available channels in the Zap2It listing before. As a matter of fact, it seems to generally take 2-4 weeks for new channels to show up at Zap2It after they're available.
[Update Jan 19th] It has arrived. The National Geographic HD channel is showing today on Grande.
I've never noticed not-yet-available channels in the Zap2It listing before. As a matter of fact, it seems to generally take 2-4 weeks for new channels to show up at Zap2It after they're available.
[Update Jan 19th] It has arrived. The National Geographic HD channel is showing today on Grande.
Friday, January 05, 2007
More Opinion on High Def DVD
It's still unclear to me (and to others apparently - see this Fox News story) whether or not Sony and the HD-DVD camp will bless dual format players.
And, like the author of the news article cited, I'm not sure people care what happens to High Definition DVD. Unless you are going to be viewing on a huge screen - say 60+ inches - you might be hard-pressed to see the difference. Sure, the videophiles will easily see and justify the difference but us average folks are less likely to pony up for the difference between 1080p and 480p equipment and movies.
If surveys reporting the number of people unknowingly watching SD on HD televisions is anywhere near accurate, I can't imagine those people paying for High Definition DVD. The difference between SD and HD should be easily noticeable by anyone with decent eyesight but apparently many people just don't care. I guess it's like those who held out from buying a color TV for years. I'm sure there are still some people watching black & white TV. And you know what? It doesn't matter. If they're happy with B&W, that's great. Retailers might not think it's so great but there are a few people left who buy what they think they need rather than what the advertisers tell them they need. I wonder what that's like.
And, like the author of the news article cited, I'm not sure people care what happens to High Definition DVD. Unless you are going to be viewing on a huge screen - say 60+ inches - you might be hard-pressed to see the difference. Sure, the videophiles will easily see and justify the difference but us average folks are less likely to pony up for the difference between 1080p and 480p equipment and movies.
If surveys reporting the number of people unknowingly watching SD on HD televisions is anywhere near accurate, I can't imagine those people paying for High Definition DVD. The difference between SD and HD should be easily noticeable by anyone with decent eyesight but apparently many people just don't care. I guess it's like those who held out from buying a color TV for years. I'm sure there are still some people watching black & white TV. And you know what? It doesn't matter. If they're happy with B&W, that's great. Retailers might not think it's so great but there are a few people left who buy what they think they need rather than what the advertisers tell them they need. I wonder what that's like.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
LG To Announce Dual HD-DVD/Blu-Ray HD Player
At the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, NV, LG Electronics is expected to announce they will begin selling a dual-format High Definition DVD player "early 2007". This is a major breakthrough.
We'll see what other significant announcements come from CES.
We'll see what other significant announcements come from CES.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Cheers to KPEJ and other new stuff...
FOX24-KPEJ has a beautiful picture tonight for the Orange Bowl. And in the few moments I've been able to watch tonight they're even properly showing 4:3 commercials in 4:3 so we don't have to look at a gawdawfulstretchedlo-res picture. (I know it'll happen from time to time but please, please try to stay on top of the switch.) My congratulations to engineer Doug and his crew out there.
Also I thought I'd mention that all three other stations have recently updated their web sites. My favorite source of local news, NewsWest9 has a very fine new look in the past month or so but I'd still like to see more timely local news there. I know it's a big job, and I do appreciate their work as it is. CBS7 has a an all new look (and new url). The look is very nice and clean but the site is sadly lacking for local news.
KMID-2 has a much improved look (and a new url), too, but updates to their local news is very sporadic. And until they show me the HD, they don't get much viewing on my set.
I'm very happy to see the new FOX24 in HD, but guys, the web site is truly sad. Out of respect, I won't even link. And don't you readers go Googling to find the site - it'll embarrass both you and the station.
Also I thought I'd mention that all three other stations have recently updated their web sites. My favorite source of local news, NewsWest9 has a very fine new look in the past month or so but I'd still like to see more timely local news there. I know it's a big job, and I do appreciate their work as it is. CBS7 has a an all new look (and new url). The look is very nice and clean but the site is sadly lacking for local news.
KMID-2 has a much improved look (and a new url), too, but updates to their local news is very sporadic. And until they show me the HD, they don't get much viewing on my set.
I'm very happy to see the new FOX24 in HD, but guys, the web site is truly sad. Out of respect, I won't even link. And don't you readers go Googling to find the site - it'll embarrass both you and the station.
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