Recent Comments:
TWC San Antonio to offer free Tuning Adapters, pre-orders now open {Engadget HD}
Dec 8th 2008 6:12PM I cannot believe the song and dance Oceanic Cablevision (Time Warner) has been giving the people of Hawaii who dared to purchase a TV with a Cablecard slot. I will speak just to Oceanic's latest implacable position: The Cisco Tuning Adapter TW will "willingly" provide to their CableCard Customers does not work unless you don't need it. That is, the SDV Adapter will only work on the very latest TV's and TIVOs that already have a two-way cablecard system built-in!
It sickens me that the FCC takes such an impotent position in their alleged support of the consumer that TW feels free to make such ridiculous arguments. The $10,000 fines the FCC levies against TW and Oceanic are meaningless - which gives you an idea of the kind of money TW is fighting tooth and nail to protect.
Without proper regulation, TW will continue to raise one meaningless issue after another in hopes of wearing their customers into submission. They place absolutely no value at all on customer relations and will go the way of all such corporations.
Take a look at TW's stock. The writing is on the wall, but the cable companies completely lack the foresight to see it. Netflix offers true value and true choice. As Netflix continues their upgrades to HD, TW and Comcast will be the ones left in the cold - where they belong.
Hanvon taps E Ink for Vizplex tech in N510 e-book reader {Engadget}
Nov 23rd 2008 7:06PM If I am going to pay $295 for an ebook reader, I want one with a built-in Dictionary. I understand the difficulty of a Dictionary on an e-ink device. But I'm still holding out until that problem is overcome. (Which may never come as no one else seems the least bit concerned about this issue.)
Cablevision / Optimum coaxing CableCARD users back to HD STB {Engadget HD}
Apr 16th 2008 9:17PM Why does the FCC swallows every rationale fed to them by cable companies without question? The latest sham? Citing a lack of bandwidth, the cable companies have successfully sabotaged the use of cablecards by moving HD stations to SDV.
Was there really no alternative? What about the bandwith dedicated to providing 6-10 versions of Premium stations? As cable customers now record programs for viewing at their convenience, having the exact same programing on 10 stations only appears to provide more choice.
For decades, the cable companies have fought and delayed implementing every FCC regulation designed to improve cable services and lower the costs to consumers. The use of a cablecard not only freed cable customers from the necessity of having a set-top box, it would have freed customers from the necessity of renting a set-top box from their cable provider.
Clearly competition in this area would have been beneficial for consumers.
Most CableCARD enabled HDTVs won't ever support SDV {Engadget HD}
Apr 16th 2008 9:13PM Why does the FCC swallows every rationale fed to them by cable companies without question? The latest sham? Citing a lack of bandwidth, the cable companies have successfully sabotaged the use of cablecards by moving HD stations to SDV.
Was there really no alternative? What about the bandwith dedicated to providing 6-10 versions of Premium stations? As cable customers now record programs for viewing at their convenience, having the exact same programing on 10 stations only appears to provide more choice.
For decades, the cable companies have fought and delayed implementing every FCC regulation designed to improve cable services and lower the costs to consumers. The use of a cablecard not only freed cable customers from the necessity of having a set-top box, it would have freed customers from the necessity of renting a set-top box from their cable provider.
Clearly competition in this area would have been beneficial for consumers.
TWC brings four new HD channels to Syracuse, New York {Engadget HD}
Mar 7th 2008 5:25AM They are getting around the FCC regulations by claiming that placiing the new HD stations on SVD is ultimately best for the consumer. It seems that SVD channels use less bandwith.
Sounds like its best for the cable companies doesn't it? Their position is that ultimately they will be able to offer consumers more HD stations.
Still sounds like what it is - a chance for the cable companies to circumvent the FCC regulations you mentioned - and to make even more money off the consumer.
