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Samsung develops first chip for US mobile digital TV transmission, provides no release date

by Darren Murph posted Oct 19th 2009 at 9:33AM

Mmm, nothing like a pinch of predictability to wake us in the morning. Just days after the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) finally announced that a North American mobile DTV standard was struck, Samsung has jumped in with what it's calling the planet's first single chip solution designed to handle those very transmissions. All we're told is that the solution combines RF and "digital chip components" into one 65 nanometer chip, making it ideal for smaller devices such as smartphones, car-mounted televisions and portable media players. Of course, Sammy doesn't even bother to mention a mass production date, so we're guessing we all just rise awkwardly and start a roaring slow clap to celebrate the accomplishment.

FCC to propose new net neutrality rules disallowing data discrimination

by Darren Murph posted Sep 18th 2009 at 4:42PM


Based on what we're hearing, a slate of soon-to-be-proposed FCC rules may stop the likes of Comcast from discriminating against P2P applications on their networks, and AT&T sure will have a tougher time justifying why it won't let the iPhone's version of SlingPlayer run on 3G while giving WinMo and BlackBerry users all the bandwidth they can handle. Julius Genachowski, the new chairman of the entity, is slated to discuss the new rules on Monday, though he isn't expected to dig too deep into the minutiae. Essentially, the guidelines will "prevent wireless companies from blocking internet applications and prevent them from discriminating (or acting as gatekeepers) [against] web content and services." We know what you're thinking: "Huzzah!" And in general, that's probably the right reaction to have as a consumer, but one has to wonder how network quality for all will be affected if everyone is cut loose to, well, cut loose. Oh, and if this forces telecoms to deploy more cell sites to handle the influx in traffic, you can rest assured that the bill will be passed on to you. Ain't nuthin' free, kids.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Onkyo keeps the SACD fires burning

by Steven Kim posted Jul 27th 2009 at 3:51PM

Onkyo C-S5VL SACD player, A-5VL integrated amplifier
Sure, Blu-ray has its Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA formats to satisfy the audiophiles, but Onkyo has apparently decided that there are still enough US audiophiles to warrant the release of gear previously labeled "Japan-only." With Wolfson DACs and a thermally regulated data clock circuit (you know, to tame those nasty jitters), the $599 C-S5VL SACD deck is ready to tackle your small but irreplaceable library of discs. Pair it up with the $699 A-5VL integrated amp and transport yourself back to a time when you didn't worry about specs -- 40-Watts across two channels, Burr-Brown DACs, and a low-noise preamplifier section should make for a killer small room/office system; and if you're anything close to mainstream, a small room or office is exactly where music listening has been pushed to. Grab the "sweet spot" chair and indulge!

Sensio secures key US patent for its 3D technology

by Darren Murph posted Mar 1st 2009 at 5:54PM


Sensio sure is racking up the support of late, first being deemed an official (albeit optional) 3D standard by the DVD Forum, and now nabbing a crucial US patent on its way to three-dee domination. The patent reportedly covers the distribution and formatting technology of stereoscopic contents on different 2D or 3D screens, which is a method that the company has developed and marketed for years. Nicholas Routhier, the company's president and CEO, proudly noted that "with this patent in hand and the recently announced developments, we believe that we have significantly increased our chances to become the 3D distribution standard for the consumer market." Of course, Panasonic would likely love to argue that very point, so we'd go ahead and get prepared for yet another format war just in case these two really do drop the gloves.

"Significant gap" found between US HDTV ownership and HD programming usage

by Darren Murph posted Jan 26th 2009 at 4:02PM


Research firm In-Stat is back with updated numbers on the amount of HDTV owners / HD programming consumers there are in the US, and needless to say, there's still quite the gap. The most recent report points out that the "number of US HDTV households, defined as households having both an installed HD-capable TV set and also receiving and watching HD programming, increased by almost 40% in 2008." That said, the growth rate could have been much, much larger. In America, there are over 39 million homes with an installed HDTV, yet just 22 million of those are tuning into HD programming. From a worldwide perspective, we are glad to see that HDTV households rose from 29 million at year-end 2007 to 36 million at year-end 2008, though In-Stat does note that it'll likely be 2011 before Europe hits the magical 10 million mark in HDTV households. Per usual, even more figures are waiting in the read link.

Europe to see HD broadcast of Obama's inauguration

by Darren Murph posted Jan 13th 2009 at 1:19AM


For the first time in history, a US presidential inauguration will be broadcast in Europe in high-definition. Thanks to Eurovision, European broadcasters will have access to "full HDTV coverage of the ceremony, Obama's speech and motorcade produced from a battery of cameras on location in Washington." According to Eurovision Americas president Bill Dunlop: "All over Europe, networks are planning special programming to bring this historic day to their viewers live." Now, about keeping the snow at bay...

Samsung opens up lead on Sony in US TV market

by Steven Kim posted Jan 5th 2009 at 9:24PM

Samsung fights Sony
Sure, this week's CES could net Samsung some bragging rights over Sony if rumors of a 6.5-mm thin LED-backlit LCD display come true, but that's just about corporate pride (and Sony's XEL-1 is a shipping product to boot). The real hurt comes in the form of new numbers from DisplaySearch that show Samsung widening its lead in US sales, moving up to 26.7-percent of the US market compared to Sony's 14.8-percent. Those figures are through November, and it's pretty amazing that more than one in four digital TVs sold in the US were Samsung.

Sharp to unveil 32- / 42-inch Blu-ray-equipped LCD HDTVs at CES 2009

by Darren Murph posted Dec 26th 2008 at 3:17AM


You already knew that Sharp would be gearing up to bring a pair of Blu-ray-infused LCD HDTVs to the United States next month, but did you have any idea that they would be showing their faces first in Las Vegas? Yep, according to Wired, the BD-packin' 32- / 42-inch AQUOS DX HDTVs will be shown off first at CES 2009, after which they'll quickly multiply and separate out to various retail outlets across the land. Also, we fully expect to get pricing details for the couple at the show, but that's obviously not guaranteed.

[Via CDFreaks]

Nielsen reports: 23% of US households have an HDTV

by Darren Murph posted Dec 11th 2008 at 11:29AM


Ruh roh, we've got some conflicting evidence to deal with. Just last month, the Leichtman Research Group reported that some 34% of American households were HDTV-equipped, and now the highly respected Nielsen has stepped forward with a figure much, much lower. In fact, its latest numbers show that just 23.3% of all US homes have an HDTV, noting that it has more than doubled since a 10% penetration rating was found in July 2007. As for specific regions, the nation's capital was found to be most aware, with 31.1% of homes having a high-def set. Following DC were Boston and New York at 30.5% and 30.2%, respectively, while Detroit had the lowest percentage for a major market at 20.9%. Hmm... who to believe?

[Via AdWeek]

Nearly half of American households to have a DVR by 2014

by Darren Murph posted Dec 9th 2008 at 11:23PM


So, what? 2012 is too close now, so we're moving the target date for all consumer electronics-related estimates to 2014? All jesting aside, a new study from Magna asserts that by the end of 2014, some 44% of US households will have a DVR of some kind. Also by that time, the DVR will be responsible for a 4% erosion in total viewing impressions across all dayparts, but those primetime spots will become that much less important when users can simply make anytime their own personal primetime. The report also expects around 68.8 million homes to receive video-on-demand (up from 40.4 million in Q3 2008), while the number of US domiciles with broadband internet access will rise to 86.2 million from 68.3 million now. Ah, the beautiful scent of progress.

[Image courtesy of AT&T]

Sharp to ship 32- / 42-inch Blu-ray-infused AQUOS HDTVs to US in January

by Darren Murph posted Dec 5th 2008 at 5:01PM


You know those AQUOS DX panels that are likely already filtering out in Japan? Word on the street has it that two of the crew will be shipping to American soil in January. More specifically, TWICE is reporting that a 32- and 42-inch Blu-ray-infused AQUOS HDTV will be arriving in just a month, both of which will tout 1080p panels, 120Hz processing technology and a slot-loading optical drive. No prices have been set just yet, but a nice round $2,000 figure is being floated around for the big daddy.

Denon prices DVD-A1UDCI universal Blu-ray player for US market: $3,800

by Darren Murph posted Dec 5th 2008 at 3:11PM


So, there's good news and bad news. The good? Denon's US version of the DVD-A1UD (coined the DVD-A1UDCI) is priced considerably lower than the yen-to-dollar conversion led us to believe. The bad news? It's still $3,800. For those that that missed it, Denon's calling this the world's first universal Blu-ray player, and folks looking for a premiere unit to handle Blu-ray, DVD, SACD and DVD-Audio can satisfy their every desire in February 2009. Better hope that Christmas bonus comes through.

Survey finds over half of football fans would take an HDTV over vacation

by Darren Murph posted Dec 1st 2008 at 9:14AM


My, my -- no wonder the rest of the world says Americans toil too often and play too little. A recent survey, which was commissioned by Samsung, found that over half (54%) of the football fanatics polled would "most likely purchase a new HDTV for the start of football season if their budget allowed." Moreover, 51% of pigskin fans would "forego a one week vacation and put that money towards an HDTV purchase," which also means that a decent chunk of committed pigskin fans would willingly accept a beating from their SO. Other expected results include: 61% felt that "HDTV is required for a successful football-viewing party, more than surround sound or alcohol," and that 62% of fans believe watching the game in HDTV "allows them to make better calls than the referees in the game." That last one explains a lot about your friend Jim, now doesn't it?

Cox provides HD programming, internet at US Naval Base in San Diego

by Darren Murph posted Nov 26th 2008 at 3:01AM


The proud men and women of the United States Navy have to get their HD fix somehow, right? Being that the answer to that is undoubtedly "yes," we're happy to see that Cox Communications has signed on to provide HD programming, high-speed internet and digital phone services to the Pacific Beacon residences at the US Naval Base in San Diego, California. Currently, services are being installed in 512 units at Palmer Hall, while all of the buildings in the complex should be complete (and completely wired) by March 1st of next year.

SAFER bill keeping PSAs alive on analog until March 2009

by Darren Murph posted Nov 25th 2008 at 8:28PM


Not that we're excusing the act of procrastination, but regardless of how much we or any governmental agency does to inform the general public of the impending digital TV transition, you can bank on the fact that some folks will act utterly stunned when their analog set stops receiving signal on February 17, 2009. Being sure that said scenario will become a reality in due time, the US Senate last week passed the Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness (SAFER) Act, which would allow "public safety announcements and information about the DTV transition to continue being broadcast for a month after the official cut-off." The House has yet to give its official stamp of approval, but with both FCC chairman Kevin Martin and the Bush administration at large backing it, we don't foresee any snags in passage. On that note, get yourself a voucher and get prepared!




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