Netflix lays out official response to bandwidth capping allegations
by Darren Murph 
posted Mar 23rd 2009 at 3:53PM
DSL posts
Ericsson demos 500Mbps vectorized VDSL2, HD streams get way excited
by Darren Murph posted Mar 17th 2009 at 2:42PM
[Via Total Telecom, image courtesy of VideoJug]
Is Netflix putting caps on computer-based Watch Instantly users?
by Tim Stevens posted Mar 16th 2009 at 7:10AM
Depending on your choice of computing platform, possession of dedicated streaming hardware, and love of otherwise forgettable '80s films, Netflix's Watch Instantly service is either a godsend or a gimmick. Regardless, nobody likes arbitrary bandwidth caps, and that's what Riyad Kalla at The "Break it Down" Blog claims to have spotted, finding that Watch streams on his Xbox take multiple minutes to buffer, but that those on his PC (using the same connection) can take hours -- if they work at all. Doing a little snooping he found he was being capped to about 50 KB/sec per download thread on his PC, but if he spawned ten such threads he was able to get over 700 KB/sec. Something, it seems, is issuing a per-thread cap, but is it really Netflix? Or, rather, is it his Qwest DSL line doing a ham-fisted job of managing bandwidth? We've seen similar issues intermittently, but nothing consistent, so we're not quite ready to call this an internet-wide conspiracy just yet, but would love to hear about your streaming experiences lately.
Update: Based on the volume of "It's working just fine for me" comments both here and elsewhere it seems safe to say that if there is a conspiracy at work here, it's not Netflix's.
[Via Slashdot]
Australia's iiNet hits 85Mbps in VDSL2 trials, could bring HDTV / internet to apartments
by Darren Murph posted Dec 18th 2008 at 9:20PM
iiNet, which is based in Western Australia, has reportedly achieved download speeds topping out at 85Mbps and upload rates of around 47Mbps in field trials held in Perth. The live VDSL2 trials are being used to determine the feasibility of eventually wiring up multi-dwelling units with an array of services. In theory, the service could bring high-speed internet, digital phone and HDTV to apartment complexes via a single wire, much like AT&T's U-verse and Verizon's FiOS suites in America. Regrettably, there's no mention of when this will move beyond the testing phase and into the for sale stage, but as always, here's hoping for the answer to be sooner rather than later.Cable penetration continues to slip as satellite, IPTV add customers
by Richard Lawler posted Aug 15th 2008 at 3:40PM
Even though DISH Network might be hustling backwards, the cable industry as a whole has hit an 18-year low, with the Television Bureau of Advertising finding wired cable penetration reaches just 60.9% of households. Alternative delivery systems (i.e. satellite, fiber, DSL, 2nd-day air) now grab 28.4% (28.2 of which is satellite), and nearly a third of all subscription subscribers. A few months ago when numbers hit mere 17-year lows, cable advertising execs found comfort in increased viewing time, but from here it looks like SDV and tru2way can't come soon enough.EarthLink pushes TiVo Series2 DVRs
by Richard Lawler posted Mar 8th 2007 at 3:32AM
EarthLink DSL subscribers will have a new option coming their way this spring, when the company partners up with TiVo to distribute TiVo Series2 DVRs and the TiVo service -- with a rebate on the cost of the DVR -- to new existing EarthLink customers. TiVo's been looking to branch out to new partners after its agreement with DirecTV ended, and its Comcast TiVo service won't launch until later this year. So far the services don't work together, but representatives indicated to CNET that a combination TiVo/DSL modem is a possibility, but there are "no specific plans at this time". We understand interoperable products might be a way off, but how about throwing in a newer Series3 TiVo and some additional HD features?ADSL2+ isn't up to the HD challenge
by Ben Drawbaugh posted Sep 16th 2006 at 3:20PM
Triple play is where it's at for telecommunications providers or at least where they want to be. Having one bill for all your telecommunications needs isn't only appealing to consumers, cable Cos want to get your phone business and Telcos want your TV business, but the question is how? Lucky for the Cable Co's they have used coax for their networks which is inherently better than the voice grade 
