Recent Comments:
Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow {Engadget HD}
Oct 29th 2009 7:33PM I've had an Apple TV since Father's Day when I got it as a gift. The first update came when I plugged it in. Today, after reading this item on Engadgethd I tried to get this update.
Notice the word tried.
The log in screen states you need to log in with either you Apple ID or your iTunes account ID. I submitted my Apple ID and got back a screen telling me this was an in invalid ID. I should contact iTunes and fix things.
I'll leave out a lot of details here where I look all over Apple's web site trying to find a way to actually contact anyone. Called Apple and was told I should contact iTunes and see if they could fix the problem or, just maybe, my Apple TV is broken.
Used Apple's Call and Expert feature and was told Apple sees this download as a kind of "purchase" from the iTunes store even through it is being done at no charge. To get the download the customer MUST have an iTunes account.
When I protested that this was, after all, a software update the response was that I should create an account including submitting my credit card info, do the download, then log back in and delete the account.
Hmmmmm.
Disney Keychest to make buy-once view-anywhere movies a reality with Apple's help? {Engadget HD}
Oct 22nd 2009 7:24PM I'm 68 years old which certainly colors my reaction to this scheme. While I was growing up, going to the local theater often, the studios had an absolute lock on films. There was no videotape and no DVD. You saw a movie when and If a studio cared to release it. If you really liked the film and wanted to see it again a few years later - tough. The studios had the physical prints and they decided if a film would go into re-release and when.
When videotape came along it seemed like the stranglehold was over. Studios were discovering there was money to be made selling copies of films to collectors. DVD continued this. HDTV and blu ray allows consumers to experience something quite similar to the theater experience. But all this "freedom" could be about to vanish.
What Disney is describing is not a purchase. The consumer has not acquired any rights to the film. The studio can still decided a particular title is not generating enough revenue and pull it out of the cloud. See how far you get trying to make a case that this in some way infringes on your rights as a viewer.
This Keychest nonsense will only, truly, be a purchase if and only if Disney also includes the right for the "owner/consumer" to burn their own blu ray copy.
Oh and by the way, wasn't it that group of blood thirsty, cutthroats known as pirates who first introduced us the idea of a keychest?
Akamai HD network launches, streaming Flash and Silverlight HD to the incredibly bored masses {Engadget HD}
Sep 29th 2009 5:32PM OK. I took the bait and viewed the broadcast. While there were no special effects explosions or gyrating performers in skimpy outfits, I found the presentation riveting.
The information they delivered presented data that I could understand and analyze. This folks seem to be on the right path.
Thanks for making this rebroadcast available.
Engadget HD's recession antidote: win an MyVu Crystal! {Engadget HD}
Jul 17th 2009 3:40PM I'd like to win this thing to find out what it is and what it does.
Poll: Is the lack of Blu-ray playback keeping you from buying a Mac? {Engadget HD}
Apr 11th 2009 8:36PM I chose not to vote since there were not enough options. Option 2 looked good except for the qualifier tacked onto the end. But just to add my opinion to this discussion I chose to add this comment:
Nothing is keeping me from buying a Mac. I purchased a new Mac Pro last week and am quite pleased with it. Right now I have a 23 inch computer monitor and a 65 inch HDTV in my home theater. And, yes, there's a blu ray player in the home theater along with a 7.1 surround sound system.
Which one would you expect me to want to use to watch a blu ray disk.
Engadget HD giveaway: win a 5x1 HDMI switch and Copperhead HDMI cables! {Engadget HD}
Apr 10th 2009 1:06PM I'm in because I'd really like to win that prize but I'm also in because by entering I am raising the odds of someone else winning. You see I'm the guy who always enters contests and always looses.
Keep up the good work engadget. Your web site provides lots of insight into this ever developing world of HiDef while also providing chances for comment. And you give away things every once in while. What could be better?
Poll: Have you talked anyone into going Blu? {Engadget HD}
Mar 29th 2009 2:58PM I'm probably an atypical bluray consumer as I'm turning 68 in a few weeks. I bought into bluray because I wanted the best video quality possible and also because I'm sure that in a season or two we'll see the phase out of SD DVD titles. But I've been very disappointed with the titles made available on bluray.
I've had the player since November of 2008 and my library consists of 300 SD DVD titles and 3 bluray titles. At this time it seems as if the studios are pushing only the latest special effects laden new releases as bluray offerings. When the bluray catalog grows to be as diversified as the catalog available on SD DVD then I'll start doing some arm twisting.
Meantime I'm inviting friends and family over as frequently as possible to see my 56in HDTV (running FIOS) and to see both (upconverted) SD DVD titles as well as my 3 real bluray titles.
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 14, 2009 {Engadget HD}
Mar 14th 2009 8:23PM This will probably be my last comment submitted to the FIOS update EngadgetHD kindly provides on a regular basis because...
My community is now connected!
After having the contractor visit our community last spring to place underground conduit throughout the community Verizon just lit up our community during the last week in February. I signed on for all three services - phone, internet and television.
The tech who came to the house was knew how to handle all three technologies and throughout the almost 5 hour installation kept his cool while also being a very polite representative for Verizon.
After running the service for several weeks now I am even more pleased with the decision to switch to this service - all three services are first rate.
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: February 14, 2009 {Engadget HD}
Feb 14th 2009 6:46PM On thursday (that's yesterday) I got a call from Verizon letting me know that I could now subscribe. I did. Signed up for Extreme HD, 20/5 internet, and phone service. Was told my install date was to be the 23rd. I assumed this meant March but it was actually February. Late yesterday afternoon the sub contractor was on my property staking out the potential placement for the fiber to the premises. Now that's quick.
The sub left me a two page note explaining what to expect next - visits by all the utility companies to be sure no one's lines get damaged during the install. Line will be placed on Friday the 20th.
My community has had its underground conduit in place for about 9 months so it's great to finally be able to subscribe.
Where am I? In tiny Delaware. I live in a community named Whitehall that is near New Castle. Verizon has had its fleet of trucks and installers working all over this state so you may be hearing from other Delawareans who also can now subscribe.
I'll post again in the next roundup after the installation has happened to report on how that went.
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: January 31, 2009 {Engadget HD}
Jan 31st 2009 8:29PM Verizon is not a fault here. The company made a good faith effort negotiating with the City of Wilmington. Curiously the terms that Wilmington City Council found not to their liking were fine with the Philadelphia City Council. As noted a few days back Mayor Nutter and his council have agreed to the same terms being offered to Wilmington. With Wilmington being quite a bit smaller that Philadelphia one would think that these terms would be acceptable. Here's hoping that Mayor Baker of Wilmington does some checking with Mayor Nutter so that he can see what a good deal he and his council are passing up.
Meanwhile Verizon is very active throughout the state of Delaware installing lines and lighting up service. My community was visited a week or so ago by the crews who placed the cable in underground conduit. Despite a snow/ice storm Verizon splicers and inspectors were here this week and certified the cable. I even got a phone call from Verizon letting me know service was about to be turned on. I should be able to subscribe something before the end of next week.
With Wilmington's strange action they may find themselves being one of the few areas of the First State where Verizon is absent from the television offerings even though Verizon does supply telephone and internet service to the city.
Stay tuned.
