There are so many events this month, you can't attend them all. Please click here for details. But if you choose only one, make it our main event will be on October 27, 2004 - Digital Television: I Want My DTV (NYC) at CUNY on 5th @34th in NYC.
This Tuesday evening (10/19/04) we will be Drinking & Schmoozing from 6:30-8:30 at Shelly's New York. (104 West 57th Street, just of 6th). This is a weekly gabfest where you can meet others of your kind a regale them with tales of technology ... don't miss it!
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Time Warner Cable HDTV, well almost
I am now the proud owner of two, highly anticipated, much desired SA8000HD High Definition, DVR-enabled cable boxes from Time Warner Cable in Manhattan. It is hard to describe how much I wanted these boxes. HD DVR, yum, yum! Only a wirehead like me could actually care about having such a thing.
I learned that they were available after being on hold for 25 minutes (BTW, if you wondered what happened to all of the elevator music - it's found a new home on telephone hold) the customer service person told me that I didn't need to wait six days for an appointment, I could pick up the box myself at the "self serve" Time Warner Cable store on 23rd street. Excited beyond my dreams of avarice I rushed down to pick up my prize. Upon arrival I received a "bakery number" and, after a short 45 minute wait was told that I could not have an HD box because I didn't already have an HD box.
Five minutes later I left with two SA8000HD's in hand. (We'll save the part about how I convinced the TW clerk to give them to me for another column) and hurried home to set them up.
Now, here's the fun part. The SA8000HD ships with a DVI, S-Video, RGB and RF output. It has a optical digital audio out, an RCA digital audio out, a stereo analog audio input and a composite video and additional analog audio input. Sounds great. Most HD ready monitors have DVI inputs - including mine.
Let's cut to the chase. Time Warner has disabled the DVI output, the RF output and the S-Video output on the box. The only way to get HD cable is with a component video pigtail cable. This is not a huge problem unless your monitor takes BNC or D-sub 15 component inputs like most professional monitors. Those cables can not be found at Radio Shack or Best Buy or anywhere else that normal humans travel. It's CablesToGo.com or make them yourself.
Keeping my reputation as an ubergeek, I just happened to have an RCA to D-sub 15 cable lying around (don't ask). And of course, I had an optical digital audio cable. OK-CABLE, I was hooked up and ready to go. Glorious HD was only seconds away.
What! No volume control? Nope, the digital audio output is not controllable from the cable remote. Sorry, if you want to control the volume, you'll have to settle for the analog audio outputs. Well, I didn't really want digital audio anyway ... so, a quick switch and ...
What the @#$%^? This can not be an HD set top box. No way! What's all of that digital noise, why does the picture stop and start? What are all of those artifacts? Why does the box use gray letterboxing for 4:3? Why is my 1080i picture so blurry? How could 480p SD look this bad? If I thought that switching a digital cable channel was painful, just add the aspect radio adjustment for an extra two seconds to make the channel switch weigh in at an impressive 3.5 seconds per. How is this experience worth the $10,000+ I spent to achieve it?
Undaunted, I made the assumption that all of this was Sony's fault. After all, this is a brand new 50" Sony FWD-50PX1 which is just a monitor, perhaps the experience will be better on the 42" Viewsonic VPW425 LCD monitor in my bedroom? Nope!
$6,000 for the Sony monitor, $3,500 for the Bose Lifestyle Audio System, $1,000 for custom installations, cables, etc. $135/month for the "all you can eat" TW cable television service and the picture is about 1/2 as good as the $2,000 36" Sony WEGA SD set it replaced. Yes, DiscoveryHD and ThirteenHD look like HDTV, but the other 300 channels are practically worthless.
The reason for this rant is pretty simple - HDTV is not ready for prime time and it is certainly not something you need to rush out to buy. In fairness, I have seen other HD installs that look "right." But, TW cable does not fully control its bandwidth. The quality of your service depends on where you are and how many people share your feed. Remember, DVD's are not HD, most television is not HD. Without a true source of HD content shot in HD for HD, the viewer experience is truly sub-optimal.
The Power of the Internet and Blogging
Since I was vacationing over the weekend, I wrote a rant about my TW HDTV Cable experience for my Monday blog. Even if it wasn't going to be a slow news day, I didn't want to deal with my normal daily reading. I had golf on my mind and even 41 degree Stratton, VT weather was not going to be a deterrent!
Advanced Media Committee member, Tim Halle (our resident anarchist) took it upon himself to post my missive on slashdot.org which headlines itself as "News for nerds. Stuff that matters." Tim is usually too smart for the room and this little prank was no exception.
Wow! By 9pm there were over 24,000 visitors from slashdot. Impressive, since we usually only have about 4,000 readers each day. But, here's the interesting part. About 50 readers left very, very detailed comments. Some positive, some negative, some in agreement, some not. Overwhelmingly, the comments were written in ways that no one in their right mind would ever speak out loud. Many were rude, pedantic, assumptive, self-proclaimed experts and, for the most part, the more expert they said they were, the less accurately they read the story.
There is a very interesting sociology lesson here. Strange as it may seem, the most vocal, most self-assured, and, in fact, the nastiest comments were all left by nameless people without valid email addresses. Why would people feel the need to express their views so strongly (and in many cases wrongly) and remain anonymous? More importantly, why would anyone take the time to write a 500 word response to something that didn't need a response? I wasn't asking for advice and, as a practical matter, I didn't include enough technical info for anyone to offer an informed opinion.
These are the questions community builders and marketing research groups should try to answer. If our business is communication - the concept of many-to-one may be evolving into a new art form.
A short message to the zillion polite people who offered their expert advice via email: I do have the right cable(s), my system is set up exactly according to TW specs, the Sony Monitor in the article is the newest offering from Sony and takes a D-sub 15 component cable. The SA8000HD outputs it’s component signal through three RCA jacks hence the RCA to D-sub 15 cable I reference. I have read the manual and understand it perfectly. I stand by my thesis that TW Cable's HDTV offering is sub-optimal and that anyone who was not schooled-in-the-art would have a terrible time and be quite frustrated with the outcome. I was wrong when I wrote that TW had disabled the DVI connector, I was told by their customer service rep that they would not troubleshoot DVI or S-Video questions for their customers as the functionality was not supported by TW, so I should have written that the features were unsupported, not disabled, my bad!
The point of my story was not to seek your advice (although it is appreciated), the point was to inform members of my committee that our industry has a lot of work to do before we can expect consumers to jump on the HDTV bandwagon. Three second channel changes, bad HD quality, digital artifacts and random audio sync problem are a function of TW’s system, not my particular set up - there is much room for them to improve.
Vaio VGX-X90P it's more than a big TiVo
Yahoo Reports - CHIBA, JAPAN-- Sony will begin selling in Japan in November a combination personal computer and video server that can record up to seven channels of television simultaneously, it said at the Ceatec 2004 exhibition here.
The pundits are harping on the six analog tv tuners in this powerful media center PC. In practice, they won't matter much here. Over 80% of the television households in the US have cable or satellite so a bunch of analog tv tuners on board will go wanting for input signals.
What is important is Sony's commitment to the concept of a media center and the industry's fast march toward a more PC-centric (whether the PC is visible or not) view of the family room. Intel, Sony, HP and Microsoft, to name a few, are all spending a lot of time working on how you will consume your media. This is going to make for a very interesting race.
Will the new world be IPTV-based, cable-based, free-over-the-air-based, WiMax or something else. How will the pipline impact distribution, ad models and consumption? Let's hear your views ...
Virgin iPod Killer
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The consumer electronics arm of the Virgin Group is introducing a new 5-gigabyte hard-disk portable music player, bringing a powerful brand name in music to the increasingly crowded product space. Virgin Electronics hopes its slim Virgin Player, which debuts Tuesday and is smaller than a deck of cards, will rise as a lead competitor to Apple Computer Inc.'s wildly popular iPod players.
At $249, this 5GB player is slightly larger than an iPod Mini and has 20% more storage. The marketing plan pits it directly against the iPod family of music players. Will it succeed?
Here's the good news ... it doesn't matter. Once again the winner of this contest is going to be the industry. Now, almost everyone of a certain size has a music distribution play and we're seeing lots of new hardware, from lots of new sources. This is a continuing trend to validate downloaded content as a meaningful distribution channel.
The fact that it costs the distributors between $.87 and $1.14 to sell you a song online does not seem to be a deterrent just yet. This is good for consumers and great for the industry at large. Once consumers fully embrace this new legit channel, pricing will stabilize and quality of service will improve. Next stop ... video!
Gates Predicts the End of TV as we know it
Reuters reporter Chris Marlowe wrote a short summary of a Hollywood Reporter article, Gates: Broadcast TV Model Faces Irrelevancy "LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Bill Gates predicts a future for the entertainment industry in which traditional broadcast television is rendered irrelevant. It's a positive vision, however, because new and better business models made possible by technology are emerging.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Microsoft Corp. chairman and chief software architect, recalled a conversation in 1991 during which Larry Tisch was having buyer's remorse over his investment in CBS, noting that the impending changes were evident even then.
"Broadcast TV is under a challenge. That's news to no one," Gates said. "You know, ABC was more valuable for its (ESPN) sports franchise than its broadcast franchise even years ago. That was recognized. The networks have a still super-interesting position, but it won't be like it is today."
Mr. Gates goes on to opine about the possibility of personally relevant advertising using IPTV. Obviously he is not aware of Visible World - the very visible leader in dynamically addressable advertising. On a happier note, Mr. Gates does recognize ABC's Enhanced TV's Emmy-awarding winning one screen enhanced television production of Celebrity Mole Yucatan for his XP Media Center Edition PC. (Advanced Media Committee Rick Mandler, VP/GM ABC's Enhanced TV and I worked on this project along with J.R. Grant and ZeeTools - one of the best practices advanced media production companies)
Sometimes, Bill misses the point and puts technology ahead of content. And, Microsoft has not traditionally demonstrated an understanding of the television or entertainment businesses. Although they have a long roe to hoe, the addition of executives like media veteran, Blair Westlake, signal a renewed commitment to "get it right."
FCC Clears the Way for BPL and more
Broadband over Power Lines, BPL, is one of those science fiction technologies that make you think about the 1964 World's Fair. Just plug your computer into an AC power outlet and a special BPL modem brings you a 3 MB broadband connection. In practice it will be a year or more away and it definitely has some technological issue to overcome. That being said, the news is very exciting. The New York Times has an article that gives some details and also speaks about fiber-to-the-home service that is on the way from the Telcos.
So here's an interesting thought. What happens when you add WiMax into this mix? A fiber connection to a WiMax device may be able to cover a several square mile area at several times the bandwidth and speed of a current DSL or Cable modem. Why wire to the household, when you can wire to the area and achieve better coverage? Who are the players that will most benefit from this arms race? Now, pretty much everybody has entered: Telcos, Cablers, Power Companies and Public Utilities. One thing is certain, the consumers are going to be extremely confused by the offerings. Telcos will offer Quadruple Threats - broadband, television, telephone and mobile. Cablers will offer the Triple Threats - broadband, cable and Voice Over IP (Internet Telephony). Power Companies will offer Double Threats - AC Power and Broadband and Public Utilities will offer WiMax. If you think mobile phone pricing is confusing, you ain't seen nothing yet!
http://www.slashdot.org - If you have way too much free time on your hands. Send your comments to shelly@palmer.net
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An important new benefit just added to
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Get full details on this special benefit of NATAS membership at:
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"Every profession is a conspiracy against the laity" - Oscar Wilde
The Red Button - The BBC calls it the "right button" it's the button on basically every cable television and satellite remote control that enables interactivity in the UK. Wish we had one here!
Have some technobable to add to our collection, email shelly@palmer.net I'll put it in next week's newsletter.
Become a sub-committee chair and help produce one of these events. Email: Colleen Shanahan or Jim Turner and get involved!
October 19-20, 2004 - The 12th Entertainment Technology Alliance Summit: The Hudson Hotel - ETA presents a conference in partnership with top creative talent, leading technologists and entertainment industry executives debating current issues surrounding the convergence of technology and the entertainment industry. NATAS Members Special Conference Rate just $295. You save over 50% on the full two day conference pass. Click here to see the full conference schedule.
October 19, 2004 - "Digital Storytelling - Creating Compelling Content for Interactive Media" meet author, Carolyn Handler Miller – New Media Writer, Designer, Consultant. Carolyn will discuss the process of developing
new kinds of deeply immersive and interactive experiences that harness digital technologies, with a special emphasis on interactive TV. The focus here will be on the creative side of things, rather than on the technical end. Time: 6pm-7:30 pm Location: NY Chapter Office - 111 W. 57th Street, Suite 1020, NYC For reservations please call 212-459-3630 ext. 204 This Early Evening Seminar - Produced by Ellen MuirOctober 19, 2004 -
PGA East is sponsoring a PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL FORUM on the recently passed New York Tax Incentive Legislation for Film Production. Please join us for this forum to discuss the battle against runaway production, the value of our community coming together and how these new incentives can help your productions. Hand-outs on the new guidelines and application procedures will be available. FORUM SPEAKERS include: Pat Swinney Kaufman, Executive Director of the Governors Office for Motion Picture & TV, Julianne Cho, Asst. Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, Joe Morelle, New York Assemblyman, James Cella, Steiner Studios, John Amman, Business Representative of IATSE Local 600, Co-Chair of the NY Film, Television & Commercial Initiative, Tuesday, October 19, 2004 at 6:30 pm. New York University Cantor Film Center Room 102. 36 East 8th St. (bet University Place & Greene St.). RSVP to PGA-NY@producersguild.orgOctober 27, 2004 - Digital Television: I Want My DTV - 6:30 to 8:00pm - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Advanced Media Committee, New York presents "The Art & Science of Digital Television." All HDTV sets are digital, but all digital television is not HD. Learn how digital television is changing everything about the way we watch television. IPTV, PVR's, DVR's, VOD, Broadband, Addressable Advertising, Dynamic Programming - it's all part of the new world of digital TV. Moderated by Shelly Palmer, President/CEO of Palmer Advanced Media and Chairman of the Advanced Media Committee. Invited guests include: Rick Mandler, VP/GM ABC's Enhanced TV; Channing Dawson, Scripps Networks SVP of Emerging Media, Alan Schulman, Partner BrandNewWorld; Gunnar Waldman, Senior Producer Voom and Lydia Loizides, Senior Analyst, Paphion, Inc. register on-line CUNY Graduate Center, Proshansky Auditorium (lower level), 365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street, directions
November 15, 2004 - National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards Ceremony featuring the 2004 Advanced Media Technology Emmy Awards - Marriott Marquis 1535 Broadway at Cocktails 6pm, Dinner 7:00pm Tickets: $450/ ticket (nominees must purchase a ticket) Table (10) $4,250 RSVP Deadline is November 1, 2004 - Black Tie - To reserve tickets, please contact Katharine Ordway at events@natasonline.com or call (212) 484-9440 for further information.
November 17, 2004 - Annual General Membership Meeting - Please join us as we elect our officers, select our sub-committee chairs, get our volunteer corps revved up and plan our seminars and meeting topics for 2005. All are welcome - bring friends and guests. Location: New New York Chapter Offices 1375 Broadway Suite 2103, New York, NY 10018 from 6:30pm-8:30pm
December 15, 2004 - Holiday Party
Join the Academy Right Now!!!
Are you an NTA member? If not, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences wants you! The process is very simple, just click here - http://www.nyemmys.org/membership.home.asp and fill in the form. Your sponsors are, Shelly Palmer, member number 5971 and Jerry Romano, member number 2437. If you live outside of the New York Metro, please contact me and I'll forward you information about your local chapter.
It is very important for everyone in the Advanced Media Community to join the organization. Your membership entitles you to vote in the upcoming Emmy process, run for office (governor and trustee), chair committees, attend seminars and drop-in lunches, enjoy screenings and, more importantly, it helps the Academy grow - we are a membership organization. BTW, if you are already a member, it's time to renew for 2004 - http://www.nyemmys.org/membershiprenewal.asp
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