Gizmodo Australia » dtv

America Finally Has A Mobile DTV Standard

Chris Jacob — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:23:00 +0000

After plenty of half-hearted attempts at mobile video from wireless carriers and Qualcomm, the ATSC has defined a standard that should, at long last, bring live streaming video to our phones. About time we got a DMB equivalent.

Keep in mind we’re not talking about the likes of VCast or the like. This is the real deal, live streaming TV straight from the networks to mobile devices. That could mean live sports, live sitcoms, live whatever-you-can-think-of TV on your phone.

Hopefully the mobile DVR apps will follow. [Press Release via Crunchgear]

This Man Is Extremely Dedicated To Live Network Television

Dan Nosowitz — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:30:00 +0000

This intriguing dude is watching a black-and-white TV, with a DTV converter box, in a Starbucks. Hey, it’s not his fault Hulu doesn’t carry Jeopardy!, right? [Kansas City Blog via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Famous Old Person Helps Other Old People Understand This Digital Television Contraption

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 09 May 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Is there anything Official DTV Spokesperson Carol Brady can’t do?

Hard as it may be to believe for nerds like you and me, there are some people who just can’t wrap their heads around this whole DTV mess. Those people…are old. And they need someone nonthreatening and of comparable age to explain the process in plain, large-print words. Preferably with pretty colours. Florence Henderson, better known as Carol Brady, has stepped up to what we’re sure is a thankless job. You can download the explanatory PDF here if you’re so inclined. [Consumer Reports]

The Price is Right Will Lose 3.5M Viewers Come DTV Switch

Andi Wang — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Out of the 300 million Americans in the United states, 3.5 million are still not ready for the DTV switch come June 12. Is that 3.5 million people or households? Either way, 3.5 million is quite a lot, considering my non-english speaking nanny is already all over her digital converter. Get with it, people. [Switched]

The Government is NOT Spying on You Through Your DTV Converter Box

Adrian Covert — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:20:00 +0000

Last week, Spokane-based engineer Adam Chronister posted a Youtube video, where he cracked open a government-subsidised DTV converter box, only to find a hidden camera. Turns out, the whole thing was a hoax.

Threat Level says that conspiracy theorists jumped all over the video, which racked up 200,000 views since going up. However, Chronister simply used old mobile phone parts and a hot glue gun to push the paranoid and mentally unstable into a state of crisis. However, these tin foil heads aren’t resting any easier: they believe pranks like this only create a smoke screen for the government to carry on with their clandestine activity. Who am I to say they’re wrong? (Original video below) [Threat Level via BBG]

70-Year Old Man Shoots TV, Engages in Standoff With Police Over DTV Transition

Sean Fallon — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:28:08 +0000

Angered and distraught over the analogue TV shutdown, a 70-year old Missouri man blew away his TV and engaged in a brief standoff with police when he could not get his converter box to work.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Violence like this was inevitable. All it takes is mixing one part old man with one part technology, one part handgun and two parts alcohol. Then shake vigorously with an absence of Wheel of Fortune. [KSDK and Kare 11 via Fark]

First Wave of the Digital TV Switch Hits Today

John Herrman — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:58:25 +0000

By the end of today—the original, pre-delay shutoff deadline—641 TV (mostly small-market) stations across the country will cease analogue broadcast. Panic! [Yahoo]

DTV Reception Maps Conveniently Show Colour-Coded Signal Quality

Gizmodo US Edition — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:50:00 +0000

If you’ve been wondering whether you’ll be able to receive strong DTV signals on your old TV, the FCC has thoughtfully created a site to help you out.

You enter in your address, and the site gives a list of the digital signals that you should be able to pull in, helpfully color-coded in green (green means good!), yellow (yellow is like a crappier version of green!), orange (orange isn’t on streetlights so who knows!), and red (booooooo red!). Since I probably live out in the furthest fringes of civilization of the entire Giz staff, I entered in my own Southeast Pennsylvania address, and was pretty impressed with the results.

The channels in green, the strongest signals, are the only channels I can remember being able to pick up with those old rabbit ears. I didn’t even know there was a possibility to get all that other stuff. So it’s looking like DTV might be a good idea after all, provided the chart is accurate. [FCC]

Channel 9 Not Launching Second SD Channel Until July

Nick Broughall — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:30:55 +0000

I just don’t get it. For years and years, the free-to-air networks argued that it wasn’t free EPG information or decent programming that would drive people to digital TV, it was the ability to multi-channel. Yet here we are in February 2009, the networks have been legally able to launch a second digital channel since January 1, and Channel 9 announces that they won’t be joining the multi-channel party until July because they need to upgrade their digital equipment.Considering we’ve known for a good long while that multi-channeling would be possible from January 1, it’s hard to understand why all the hardware wasn’t sorted out last year. Plus, the other victim of this announcement is sure to be Freeview, who’s claims of 15 channels are looking shakier by the day.

And to think, we actually applauded Channel 9 this morning for actually doing something positive for its audience. Looks like we spoke a bit too soon (like five months too soon)…

[Lifehacker AU]

Screw June 12: 40 Percent of TV Stations Will Abandon Analogue Next Week Anyway

Gizmodo US Edition — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Even though the mandatory switchover date from analogue to digital will be June 12 soon, about 681 (or 40 percent of) television stations will stop broadcasting analogue by the end of next week.

Yup, everything’s going to plan. [Reuters]