2009 Looks set to become the year of Freeview
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By Graeme McMillan on February 18, 2011
It's like the Justice League of Technology: Google, Sony, TiVo, Mitsubishi, Best Buy and two lesser-known companies (NagraVision and SageTV - Think of them as the Martian Manhunter and Aquaman of the team) have joined together to support the Federal Communication Commission's AllVid proposal, calling themselves the AllVid Tech Company Alliance.
AllVid is a proposed device that would act as a "gateway" adapter allowing all types of pay TV content - whether it's cable or satellite TV, internet TV or IPTV - to be viewable on the same device, without new technology forcing consumers to have to upgrade their equipment. Initially proposed almost a year ago, the subject was greeted with less than enthusiasm from cable companies and content creators, with the Motion Picture Association of America criticizing it as potential promoter of pirated material.
Read more at techland.time.comWill the FCC rise to the occasion? Will content creation companies cry foul, and point out this is another front in the ongoing war over platform consolidation? And most importantly, will the AllVid Tech Company Alliance really turn out to be a Justice League, or a Legion of Doom for consumers?
Sony Bravia Televisions Set To Come With 500 Gig Hard Drives
the new lineup of Sony Bravia televisions packing a 500 gig hard drive.
It’s not just the storage, either–it’s the sheer utility that makes this set of Sony Bravias worth looking at. You’ll not only have the internal 500 gig drive, but you’ll also be able to transfer data both to and from external hard drives, extending your storage capacity to theoretical infinity…or the limits of your wallet, at any rate. That 500 gig, meanwhile, is set to give you fully 65 hours of high-definition recording.
Read more at nexus404.comIt’s a pretty solid idea, mounting internal DVR technology to a television, and chances are we’ll likely see more televisions capable of storing their own programming the farther we get down the trail. Though I don’t look for too many early adopters at those prices, especially given what DVRs and external hard drives are currently selling for.