GeekGirl1
The Medium IS the Message
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join:2007-01-28
Morrisville, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Verizon Online DSL
edit:
May 7th, @10:35PM
| I am so confused...Yet Another Box. C/NET Buzz Out Loud podcast ran this story. They were screaming vaporware - let's hold off and see.
Maybe the vaporware comments have a bit of truth. Follow the engadget link to PC Magazine: »www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2289653,00.asp Check this out:The set-top box was designed by Sezmi, and contains the most powerful over-the-air HDTV antenna ever created, according to the company's founders. This means that the box will contain its own modular antenna, which can be placed somewhere nearby. It does not mean that users will have to install or own a standard aerial antenna, such as those installed on older houses...
Unlike TiVo, Sezmi has to sign lease agreements with content providers, much like a cable or satellite TV provider. Right now, Sezmi executives aren't saying what channels they'll have available at launch. But Wiser said that a basic subscription will offer between 30 to 40 channels, comparable in number and the quality of brands that a basic cable subscription would offer. Although Sezmi executives didn't explicitly mention tiered service packages, niche offerings will also be included as a premium, such as the IFC channel. That could be an avenue for so-called a la carte programming, where individual channels are purchased by the user...
How much of it will be in high definition? Beside the large amount of OTA high-def content, "the honest answer is, I'm not sure yet," Wiser said....
Even ads are somewhat interactive; each menu screen typically includes a small ad in the bottom left-hand corner. An ad for a movie trailer displayed the date, time, and location of the nearest showing while the trailer played. [rant]IMHO, The statements about the antenna just threw away the credibility of the rest of the article. All I can think of is you gotta be kidding. How about I put the antenna "nearby" up on the roof? Is it waterproof? How can it "contain" a modular antenna that is put "nearby", but that doesn't meant that you don't need one  ? Not to mention that the tuners normally used in PC cards typically have less sensitivity than those used on TVs. Let's hope they used a real tuner.
Sounds like HD content is minimal at best. They are depending on OTA for that much. I need some real pricing to make comparisons. The article mentioned (not quoted here) that pricing will be "roughly comparable" to cable or satellite. This is done for availability / convenience, not cost. Let's see some real pricing above the "basic" level. Wonder if Comcast Sportsnet HD or Versus HD will sign on (!).
Ads?? I'm forced to watch ads?? I had enough when Comcast pushed that garbage on their IMG. No ads. Remember that "personalization" of viewing services means targeted revenue generation.
[/rant] |
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