Recent Comments:
KCTS 9 (PBS) moves for all-digital conversion, leaves quality HD shows behind {Engadget HD}
Sep 16th 2008 4:24PM This is happening nationwide. The "PBS HD Channel" feed is being dropped by more and more stations and replaced with an HD simulcast of the regular PBS feed (so, HD if they have a particular show in HD, SD if they don't, just like the other networks. It happened to WGBH (Boston) a few months ago.
According to current.org (back in February):
http://www.current.org/dtv/dtv0802hd.shtml
"The PBS Board endorsed the plan last week, reallocating satellite capacity for the fall and discontinuing the original HD Channel, a loop of eye-candy video used to demonstrate the great looks of high-def."
which sounds as though the PBS HD Channel is not long for this world in any case. The same article does indicate that more and more shows will be produced in HD going forward, so stations will probably be able to weather the storms of viewer outrage.
Wilmington, NC plans one minute analog TV shutoff next week {Engadget HD}
Aug 16th 2008 4:46PM A similar test by station KING in Seattle was deemed inconclusive because all the cable/satellite viewers who were watching the analog channel also got the "take action now" message, when they didn't actually have to (take action, that is). Hope the last directive to get cable/satellite service will clue those people in to the fact that they're actually set (for now).
Comcast lighting up 15 HD channels in Chicago, Illinois {Engadget HD}
Aug 15th 2008 6:54PM Comcast in The City of Boston proper (and neighboring Brookline) , but NOT the rest of the Boston area, added many of these channels Wednesday (Fuse, Bravo, CNBC,ESPN News,Bio,IFC,WE,FX,Fox News).
The large (and widening) gap between these two cities (acquired from AT&T Broadband as one system) and the rest of the Boston area is due to the formers' requirement (several years old) for a box to get Expanded Basic - those channels appear to have gone digital recently. Across the Charles here in Watertown, we may have to wait a couple of months to get a few of those. We did get seven adds in July, 'tho (a few analogs were migrated).
Comcast bolstering HD lineup in Pittsburgh, PA {Engadget HD}
Jul 4th 2008 8:04PM The same kind of thing is happening in the Boston area (*except* for the City of Boston proper and Brookline, which already have less analog) on the same day (7/15). So the "rest of us" should get the new channels that Boston/Brookline got last month (Disney/ABC Fam/Science/AMC/TLC) not too long after. B&B also have had Weather Channel for awhile, so maybe we'll get that one too.
Comcast delivers 5 new HD channels to Boston {Engadget HD}
Jun 19th 2008 3:46PM For "Boston" read "City of Boston and Brookline only". They have more bandwidth due to the digital-only status of Extended Basic in those two communities. Best guess for when the rest of the Boston area will get them - soon after 7/15, when some analogs are scheduled to move to digital-only.
Hands-on with DirecTV's new HD channels {Engadget HD}
Oct 8th 2007 12:14PM Great gallery, but you should know that I had to switch from Firefox (Mac) to Safari to see more than the first few shots. No idea what the issue might be.
Comcast rolls out new HD channels too {Engadget HD}
Sep 26th 2007 5:14PM Good to see some areas are catching up to some channels that have been around for awhile in some other areas (like mine). More exciting is the fact that Comcast is pushing ahead, adding TBS, CNN, USA and History Channel in my area in the next month.
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/09/26/high_definition_tbs_feed_should_please_red_sox_fans/
Uniden intros digital tuner-less 1080p LCD TVs {Engadget HD}
Jun 15th 2007 8:53PM Hmmm, seems like they're saying they're going to sell these directly through their website. So when an individual American orders one, possibly they're thinking that's somehow not "importing" them into the USA, thus avoiding the mandate?
Are there any analog TVs left at the store? {Engadget HD}
Mar 16th 2007 7:05PM Mr. aplogies to Mr. Satyre for mispelling his handle (twice!) as Satyr - totally unintentional and no implications involved.
Are there any analog TVs left at the store? {Engadget HD}
Mar 16th 2007 6:51PM Ben, I'm guessing that Mr. Satyr is basing his incorrect info on this (incorrect) article by George Leopold at EE Times:
http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=50W2ROB145HZKQSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=197009202
(He's the only one who talked about pulling things from shelves.) Mr. Leopold simply misread the FCC mandate, which only mentions importation and interstate shipping, not retail. Mr Satyr, I am looking *right now* at the Best Buy, Circuit City and Target Sunday circulars for MARCH ELEVENTH - all of them feature at least one "illegal" TV on sale. Go to their dotcoms and you'll see many more (the vast majority of sets listed under 25" still lack ATSC tuners, and will until most of those older models sell out).
If I'm wrong, there's a lot of very open criminality out there!
