http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/links Latest links, updated every five minutes http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/news/173924 Verizon pushes the familiar "triple-play-bundle-for-TV" concept to the next level, adding wireless calling to its triple-play plans. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:41:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20781 Just how much is DVR functionality worth? For EchoStar and corporate parent Dish Network, the answer may be more than $400 million: A U.S. District Court has awarded TiVO another $200 million in damages in the company's long-running patent infringement suit with EchoStar, bringing the total damages assessed against the satellite TV operator to around $400 million—and that's not counting lawyers' fees. The amount works out to about $2.25 per month per EchoStar DVR subscriber—although maybe EchoStar is counting itself lucky, since TiVo was seeking $1 billion in penalties.EchoStar and Dish Networks are appealing the patent infringement decision, and are looking to have TiVo's patent declared invalid. The companiRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20574 What do Britons love? On the basis of a new study by government watchdog Ofcom, it’s definitely communication technology – mobile phones and broadband.Ofcom’s annual report reveals that while food remains the biggest priority, it’s closely followed by spending on mobile phone, the Internet, and TV. While 40% of respondents said they’d be willing to cut back on dining out and vacations, only 19% would cut back on mobile phone spending, 16% on cable or satellite television subscriptions, and 10% on broadband services.Ofcom's Peter Phillips told the BBC:"Despite the recession, people arRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/168175 The right connections can make all the difference to your picture, but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank for really expensive cables. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/168169 If you were planning to mount your new set over the fireplace, stop right now. Our tips will make sure you get the best possible view of your new set. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/168174 Even the best TV can look lousy if it's not getting a great HD signal. These tips will help you make sure that you're getting the best possible picture, whatever your signal source or service. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/168878 Between the Internet and over-the-air broadcasts, you can save big bucks on TV entertainment. Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/news/168407 Comcast's trial to bring cable video channel content to its customers expands to include CBS, HBO, Cinemax, TBS, TNT and Starz. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:53:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20182 Tomorrow is June 12—do you know what that means? If you still receive television using traditional analog over-the-air broadcasts, your television will pick up nothing but snow starting tomorrow. Although stations are staggering their shutoffs a little bit, by mid-day on June 12 virtually all analog television transmission in the United States should be shut down, in favor of all-digital broadcasting.Television viewers who receive cable or satellite service are unaffected by the transition; similarly, consumers who have TVs with digital tuners or who have purchased a DTV converter box for an older analog TV will be able to receive digital television broadcasts.The United States was originally dueRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/news/165545 As cable companies move toward their own digital transition, your tricked-out home theater setup could lose favorite TV channels and functionality. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/news/164381 From their automated phone-support systems to their missed service appointments to their penchant for nickeling and diming us to death, service providers seem have an inexhaustable supply of habits that get our blood pressure up. Mon, 11 May 2009 21:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1035_3-10237403-94.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Even with a drop in the number of subscribers, the satellite TV provider sees a rise in sales and earnings for first quarter. Customer and equipment sales help boost results. Mon, 11 May 2009 12:53:26 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/ah/reviews/digital-media-servers/dish-network-vip-722-dvr-1 DISH Network brings an interesting take on the DVR with the ViP 722 satellite receiver. This DVR is a dual-tuner, two-TV receiver that allows 55 minutes of high definition record time, or 350 minutes of standard definition (or a combination of both). What's helpful about this receiver is that it comes with an RF remote control that enables non-line-of-sight control of the unit from other rooms. This means that while the HD tuner is used in one room, the system can be controlled elsewhere - like in a bedroom. Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:20:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10162393-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet A deal between the satellite radio giant and the satellite-TV provider could help Sirius XM fend off bankruptcy and an unsolicited takeover attempt by EchoStar. Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:23:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/video/n/3607185 Experts say you should compare prices and plans when selecting TV service, and satellite and cable are not the only players in the game. Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:35:24 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/18888 AT&T, in association with RaySat Broadcasting Corp., has taken the wraps off CruiseCast, a new in-vehicle system that promises to bring subscribers both satellite radio and satellite television while they're on the go…all using a low-profile "breakthrough" antenna that can be mounted on the roof of a car, truck, or SUV. The announcement came at the auto trade show SEMA, rather than at this week's CES extravaganza—but they're both in Las Vegas."AT&T CruiseCast is a significant advancement froRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/news/156769 AT&T Cruisecast, due this spring, will deliver 22 channels of satellite TV to screens in your car. But be prepared to pay plasma TV prices for the hardware alone. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:40:00 -0500 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1035_3-10125962-94.html?part=ecoustics-cnet An Oakland, Calif., family knew they had to trim monthly expenses. So they took a novel, Internet-savvy approach to cutting costs while still watching their favorite programs. Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/18225 Market analysis firm iSuppli has released its forecasts for the growth of the high-definition television market through 2012, and the report contains one interesting tidbit: in 2008, shipments of high-definition televisions have already overtaken shipments of standard-definition televisions."The technology is everywhere these days—on broadcast television, on cable, on satellite, and on the Internet," said iSuppli senior analyst Sheri Greenspan, in a release. "You can't escape hearing about something being broadcast in HD or getting the most out of your HD receiver or the most HD channels available."OvRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:40:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/18066 In 2003 the satellite TV market was pretty cutthroat, and retailers would do almost anything to have an edge on the competition. In the case of Web retailers Miami-based Rapid Satellite and Weaknees in LA, that anything included a denial of service hack attack that took their sites offline.Now the FBI is looking for a Brit, Graham Walker, and a German, Axel Gembe, in connection with the attack. If convicted, they’re looking at 15 years in jail, the BBC reports. Two others, Jay Echouafni and Paul Ashley, have already been charged wRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/517682.html Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:23:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17934 General Electric has announced the formation of a new joint partenship with consumer electronics maker Tatung called General Displays & Technologies. The new company will produce, market, and service a new line of GE-branded high-definition televisions. However, these won't be your ordinary HDTVS: they'll support IPTV via cable, satellite, and fiber right out of the bos, and the company will partner with NBC Universal (in which GE owns an 80 percent stake) to create an "open platform" for delivery of digital content directly to the televisions via the Internet."We are developing advanced, Internet capabilities for content delivery toRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:45:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13512_3-10031753-23.html?part=ecoustics-cnet DirecTV and TiVo have agreed to develop and sell a new TiVo DVR for DirecTV's satellite TV service. This announcement is long overdue, but very welcome. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17744 Satellite television provider DirecTV and DVR pioneer TiVo used to have a very cozy relationship. The companies got together back in 2000, and shortly DirecTV was moving the majority of TiVo DVR devices and creating oodles of TiVo subscriptions. However, the relationship between the two companies began to go downhill, and in 2005 DirecTV announced it was going to develop its own DVRs, developed by NDS Group, rather than stick with the TiVo units. The news was almost a death knell for TiVo, which for a while struggled to put boxes in living rooms and work out deals with other service providers, while trying to convince the industry it really did have a future.Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:20:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17355 BSkyB – or Sky, as it’s generally known – rules the satellite TV market in the UK, and has begun to wade into broadband. Now it’s planning to start a subscription Internet music service this year, using tracks from the massive Universal catalogue.Although neither date nor pricing have been set yet, according to the BBC, the tracks, which will be streamed for a flat fee that also allows for a certain number of monthly downloads, will be DRM-free, and so can be played on any device.Sky had also said that other music business partners might join."Sky already has Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0400