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Software upgrade for Dish 811

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 8th 2005 at 3:14PM

Dish 811
I think it's great that Dish Network provides software updates for their receivers, really I do. The delivery mechanism is simple also; just power off your receiver every few weeks or so and you're guaranteed to be kept up to date. My beef is that they never seem to tell us what's IN the software update!

In any case, if you have a Dish 811 High Definition receiver, the latest software version became available yesterday. Check your System Information screens for the version, as the newest one is P2.89. Oh, and if you figure out what's actually in the upgrade, share with the group and leave a comment. Thanks!

New Sony Grand Wega LCD's

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 8th 2005 at 1:47PM

Sony Grand Wega LCD
A few weeks back, Sony began to offer their newest Grand Wega line of LCD's. Already hitting the streets are the larger models, the 50-, 55-, and 60-inch flat screens in the KDF line. The 42-inch little brother, affectionately known as KDF-E42A10, is slated to hit the store shelves by the end of July.

Design of this series is likely to be the key success factor as the larger screens can fit in smaller spaces than ever before. According to Sony, "the new 50-inch model can be stored in a cabinet that previously held a 42-inch television." Sony cut down on the television depth and also created "invisible speakers" at the set bottom. Hey, you don't need to see the speakers; you only need to hear the sound from them, right?

The 42- and 50-inch versions of the Grand Wega utilize 3LCD technology that provides the ability to project three times the images in red, green and blue; this allows for brighter and sharper color displays. All of these LCD models are capable of 720p native resolution. Watch for the new 42-inch model later this month with an M.S.R.P of $2,300.

July 8: What's on HDTV today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 8th 2005 at 8:52AM


Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

ABC: 8 Simple Rules, Hope & Faith (two episodes), Less Than Perfect
HDTV Today
CBS: JAG, NUMB3RS

Fox: Joy Ride

NBC: Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien

UPN: Rock Star

WB: What I Like About You, Reba, Living With Fran

July 7: What's on HDTV today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 7th 2005 at 9:52AM

HDTV Today
Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

ABC: Reign of Fire

CBS: CSI, Without a Trace

Fox: The O.C.

NBC: Joey (two episodes), Will & Grace, E.R.

TNT-HD: Judging Amy, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Angel

Best of WIN this week

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 6th 2005 at 5:47PM


The Weblogs, Inc. network features over 100 independent, unfiltered bloggers producing over 1,000 blog posts a week across over 75 industry-leading blogs. Each week we ask our bloggers to choose their top posts, which we bring to you in one easy-to-read weekly post. You’ll find links to the hottest posts from the first week of July after the jump. Enjoy!

best4_downloadThe Download Squad’s Victor Agreda, Jr. tells you why PSP + VNC = fun. Marc Perton asks what you want to see on Download Squad; there’s still time to respond to this poll. Jordan Running suggests MediaPortal as a free alternative to Tivo, MCE or MythTV for Windows users.

best4_engadget.jpgEngadget’s Peter Rojas anticipates the upcoming debut of the Disney Mobile cellphone service. Barb Dybwad digs some Japanese-flavored iPod accessories. Marc Perton finds a gadget for watching flicks in your rear view mirror while you drive (!), and gives credit to Siemens for its limited edition wooden cellphone.

Continue reading Best of WIN this week

Verizon to offer HDTV via Fios

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 6th 2005 at 3:14PM

Verizon logo
Verizon is not only throwing their hat into the TV over IP ring, but they're doing it in high-definition. Today, Verizon announced that they just closed a deal with TBS, Inc. that will allow them to carry broadcasts from TBS.

Verizon gains rebroadcast rights to several channels, such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Headline News and TBS. Even better; the deal includes a TBS high-def channel as well. Verizon will provide TNT-HD over their Fios TV network which is expected to launch in limited areas later this year. Fios TV will deliver televison content via Verizon's FTTP, or Fiber to the Premises network, providing an alternative to cable and satellite providers.

July 6: What's on HDTV today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 6th 2005 at 9:29AM

HDTV Today
Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

ABC: Lost

CBS: King of Queens, Yes Dear, CSI: NY

Fox: The Inside (two episodes)

NBC: Law and Order (two episodes), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

WB: Smallville

July 5: What's on HDTV Today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 5th 2005 at 8:44AM

HDTV Today
Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

ABC: My Wife and Kids, George Lopez, According to Jim, Rodney, Empire

Fox: House

NBC: Law & Order: SVU, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

WB: Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill

DISC-HD: Great White Shark: Uncaged, Road Trip

Why 2006 will be the year of HDTV

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 4th 2005 at 7:24PM

Elder Scrolls: Xbox 360
It's a simple answer really: next generation gaming consoles. Now that we know the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 will both support full HDTV gaming, you can expect that HDTV sales will soar as we near the introduction of these consoles. If you think I'm off base, just take a look at the Elder Scrolls screen shot, courtesy of Paul Thurott's SuperSite for Windows. How could you pass up this scenery in high-def?

Of course, there are other reasons 2006 will be a highly succesful year for HDTV as well. Content providers continue to add high-def programming to their line-ups and that doesn't hurt either. Add in the regulatory pressures by the F.C.C. to provide digital programming signals and built-in HD tuners and you can see that HDTV is about to hit critical mass in 2006.

July 4: What's on HDTV Today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 4th 2005 at 10:12AM

HDTV Today
Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

CBS:  Everybody Loves Raymond, Two and a Half Men, CSI: Miami

NBC:  Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, Medium, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

UPN:  One on One, All of Us, Girlfriends, Half and Half

WB:  Summerland

ESPN-HD:  Baseball: Cubs at Braves

July 3: Weekly HDTV program highlights

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 3rd 2005 at 12:34AM

HD Week Ahead
Here's our weekly round-up of "must-see" HDTV programming for the next seven days. Some of these selections are available over the air (OTA), while others are available from your cable or satellite television provider, so check your local listings for the details.

TIP: Do you want this weekly list as well as other great HDTV stories delivered directly to you? Just add our RSS feed to your favorite RSS aggregator.

Listing information gathered via TitanTV.

Continue reading July 3: Weekly HDTV program highlights

July 2: What's on HDTV Today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 2nd 2005 at 10:29AM

HDTV Today
Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

CBS:  NCIS

NBC:  NASCAR Pepsi 400

ESPN-HD:  SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight

DISC-HD:  HD Getaway: Nature Beaches, Welcomed Flood, Chasing Lance

HBO-HD:  WBC Boxing Championship: Gatti vs. Mayweather

Don't miss our Live8 coverage

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 2nd 2005 at 8:04AM

Live8
Keep in mind that some of our crack staff is covering today's Live8 event in Philadelphia. The Weblogs, Inc. crew has been resting their fingers in order to quickly bang out the best blogging coverage of this historic extravaganza. I met with the roving reporters last night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Philly. These folks are loaded with laptops, cell phones, EVDO modems and more, so expect awesome coverage.

You can find all of the musical memories and more over at the Live8Insider event blog. Jason & co: don't forget that I offered cash money for a Toby Keith or Keith Urban autograph!

BBC to carry Live8 in HDTV

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 1st 2005 at 1:23PM

BBC logo
We've got a Weblogs, Inc. crew in Philadelphia for real-time Live8 coverage, but the BBC might have one over on us. Well, not really, but their coverage of Live8 at Hyde Park might look a little better.

The BBC will provide a satellite feed to various locations across the London area. One particular location, Cooper's Field in Bute Park, will carry the feed in High Definition on a 17-foot wide screen. The Cooper's Field location is the only venue out of twelve where the crowd can enjoy the live performances in HDTV.

This effort is the BBC's first trial of HDTV delivery via satellite. Over 15,000 lucky viewers will experience this first attempt. Catch all of our Live8 coverage at Live8Insider.com. OK, it won't be in HD, but we're working on that!

July 1: What's on HDTV Today

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jul 1st 2005 at 10:50AM

HDTV Today
Here are today's HDTV listings for selected networks:

ABC:  8 Simple Rules, Hope & Faith, Less than Perfect

CBS:  JAG, Numbers, Young and the Restless

Fox:  Cats & Dogs

NBC:  Conan O'Brien, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

ESPN-HD:  Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter

DISC-HD:  Sunrise Earth, Uganda: The Presidential Tour, Canada's Castle in the Rockies, Chasing Lance, National Parks: Massachusetts





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Joystiq
Download Squad
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
BloggingStocks
Joystiq Xbox
Autoblog
Big Download
Fanhouse NFL Blog