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Forget snail mail, text Santa your wishlist this year

November 21st, 2009, 8:03 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Track Santa Claus this Christmas Eve.Noted: With this week’s earlier hubbub about the North Pole not accepting “Dear Santa” letters this year (apparently, this just got cleared up), AT&T customers offers another method: Texting.

If children, um, parents text SANTA to 1224 between now and Dec. 24, they will get an invite from the jolly man himself to send their wish lists. Thanks to a “special agreement” between AT&T and the North Pole, the texts will be free. More details HERE.

Those AT&T customers who also subscribe to AT&T U-verse TV service can track Santa’s movements on Christmas Eve with the Santa Tracker service on Channel 98. The channel should have enough arts and crafts ideas, music sing-alongs and holiday games to keep the kids occupied.

More stories on mobile service:

Posted in: Cell phones • Video & TV • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

11 things a DVR should do

November 19th, 2009, 3:25 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

DVR with Broadcom inside can do 12 things that others can't.Not all digital video recorders are created equal. But there’s no question these DVRs, or TiVo’s, or new fangled VCRs or whatever you want to call them have changed the way many of us watch TV.  If you have such a device, do you even remember what it was like when you couldn’t pause and rewind live TV?

But being consumers, we want more. More storage space, more content, more options. Thing is, more is out there but many of us have no access to these DVRs. But what is more?

I posed the question to Broadcom Corp., the Irvine designer of DVR silicon chips. What should a DVR be able to do these days? Plenty, the company tells me. Here’s a list of what Broadcom DVR chips can do. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean that DVRs with Broadcom chips have all these features enabled. But this is just a list of what is available today.

11 things a Broadcom DVR can do:

Number 1 stock artUse home Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth or MoCA to connect to other devices in the house. You probably know what wireless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and wired Ethernet are. The newcomer is MoCA, which uses existing coaxial cable running through the house to send high-definition video signals between devices. It’s one way to avoid ripping up walls and installing fiber-optic cables.

Number 2 stock art Enable a Multi-room DVR so households can skip a second DVR at home. All shows are stored on one box, which can be accessed from any room with TV and receiver (i.e., a standard set-top box for most users). Multiple people can watch the same show at the same time on different TVs and pause or rewind without affecting anyone else’s playback. Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse offer one and Cox Communications plans to offer one before the end of the year.

Number 3 stock art Stream content from your cell phone. Record a video on your phone that you want to watch on the big-screen TV? It’s been possible for a few years. Thanks to Digital Living Network Alliance technology, such DLNA-enabled cell phones or computers can stream digital content from one device to another. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

Vizio confirms Black Friday prices: $99 Blu-ray player, more

November 18th, 2009, 3:33 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Black Friday 2009Most consumers will agree that Vizio Inc. makes a decent HDTV that usually cost less than the competition. While the quality is debatable (let me reword this) not everyone is gaga for the brand, Vizio’s big pricing extravaganza begins right … around… NOW!

Just got a list of Vizio’s Black Friday 2009 prices starting with a $99 BLU-RAY PLAYER! But we all knew Blu-ray was going to hit $99 this Christmas, right?

Noticeably absent: Vizio’s VIA TV, the Internet TV I’ve been waiting for. Ah well. I hate shopping on Black Friday anyway.

But for everyone else who needs a new TV, here is Vizio holiday price lineup: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • | 9 Comments »

Sales of big energy-guzzling TVs banned in California

November 18th, 2009, 12:13 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

California TV EnergyUPDATE, 11/20: Added details about Sharp Electronic TVs. See below.

The California Energy Commission today unanimously voted to force TV manufacturers to build more energy-efficient big TVs by 2011, reports the Associated Press.

The move affects new TVs up to 58 inches. The change would reduce TV energy consumption by around 33 percent by Jan. 1, 2011, and then 49 percent by 2013. Currently, only a quarter of the TVs on the market today meet this standard, reports AP.

Here is a chart of the new standards: CLICK HERE.

TVs larger than 58 inches will be allowed to use more power.

“This is a really big deal, because once standards are in effect it will cut California’s power bill by $1 billion a year and avoid the need to build a large, 500 megawatt power plant,” said Noah Horowitz, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council in the AP story. “We hope in the long term, every TV sold in America will be just as efficient as those sold in California.”

UPDATE, 2:45 p.m.: Here’s an image Associated Press just released to graphically describe the new energy savings mandate: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • | 73 Comments »

Vizio knocked to second by Samsung for top HDTV sales

November 18th, 2009, 9:04 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Vizio Inc., an Irvine HDTV sellerVizio and Samsung continue to compete neck and neck in vying for consumer love when it comes to LCD TVs. This quarter, Samsung sold more TVs in the U.S. than the Irvine HDTV firm.

According to market research firm iSuppli Corp, the battle for first was a close one. Samsung was just 1.1 percent ahead of Vizio based on market share percentage points (added 3:01 p.m.). See the chart below. Samsung had 1.3  million vs. 1.2 million HDTVs sold. Vizio’s second-place finish also meant a drop in market share, the biggest decline of the TV companies in the top 5.

Vizio, otherwise, has been in the lead all year (see earlier report on 2nd quarter and 1st quarter results). Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • | 19 Comments »

Movie coupons, caller ID, ESPN are latest U-verse TV apps

November 17th, 2009, 12:58 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

AT&T U-verse adds coupons on demandThere are three more things AT&T U-verse customers can do on their TV: See who’s calling on the phone, watch four ESPN channels at the same time (for ESPN Full Court customers only) and get instant discounts on movies on demand.

None of these “apps” are that new for the industry. But all are useful. This brings the U-verse TV apps count to 20.

To get an instant $2 discount, U-verse customers just turn to channel 200, get the code, and redeem the coupon instantly on channel 199. Customers can also go to U-verse’s customer Web site and get the discount code. The first coupon will be available on Monday, Nov. 23. If you’re also an AT&T Wireless customer, you can get coupon alerts send to your phone by texting “On Demand” to 9696.

The discount movie coupon is something I hope cable providers will soon add. Time Warner, for example, does offer local coupons on demand (they’re actually sent by snail mail), but to get discounts on its on-demand movie library, customers have to snail-mail back a paper coupon with their monthly bill.

AT&T U-verse adds caller ID for TV users.The onscreen Caller ID feature is, of course, only for customers who get home phone and TV service from AT&T. The feature also notifies TV viewers of new voicemails. The messages pop up in a small box on the TV screen for six seconds. This feature is coming soon and right now, only available in Austin, Tex. (AT&T, after all, is based in Texas.)

Lastly, ESPN Full Court package subscribers can watch four basketball games on the same screen on channels 4500 and 621. The package is priced at $105 through Nov. 28.

Here’s AT&T’s official video about how the new apps work: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • | 6 Comments »

SRS Labs heads to D.C. to tell politicos sound legislation unnecessary

November 17th, 2009, 5:26 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

SRS Labs giving away HDTVs, speakers.The folks at Santa Ana’s sound-technology company SRS Labs have discovered a way to soften loud commercials and plan to offer a device to consumers in upcoming months.  It works — I’ve experienced it at the company’s offices.

Now they’re hoping to have a chat with Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, D-Atherton, who is behind legislation to prevent loud TV ads.  The Commercial Advertisment Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM, was approved by another subcommittee last month.

“We hope to effectively communicate that audio fluctuation issues are better handled at the end of the chain (i.e. TV sets and/or Set-Top boxes, AV receivers and similar devices) where all variables can be taken into account,” said SRS spokesman Michael Bingham, who heads to Washington with company chief technology officer Alan Kraemer to talk to Eshoo.

SRS’s TruVolume technology is built into some TVs. They somehow have figured out the difference between TV commercial audio and audio from movies and TV shows. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • | 32 Comments »

What’s the angle of new O.C. wireless prepaid startup?

November 16th, 2009, 3:18 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Simple Mobile, a new wireless prepaid company launches Nov. 2009.New company alert: Startup Simple Mobile in Orange County officially launched its prepaid wireless service today claiming to “revolutionize the unlimited prepaid wireless market.”

It comes from Clay Berryhill, a former exec of defunct Amp’d Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless, according to a note I got with the press release announcing the company’s launch. Berryhill has been working on Simple for two years in Laguna Beach. The company’s privacy page alludes to Irvine as being the home base.

From Simple Mobile’s press release (I’m waiting for the company to respond to questions), the new company does several things differently:

  • Encourages customers to bring their own phone — over 180 are approved (MetroPCS also offers this service for $40)
  • Offers GSM service, which is the same technology used by AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile customers (Sprint and Verizon Wireless use CDMA)
  • Offers standard prepaid service that includes “no minimum term lengths in contracts, no credit checks, no hidden fees…”

So … is Simple really revolutionary? That’s quite a claim, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Cell phones • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

Time Warner expands its do-it-yourself service

November 16th, 2009, 8:23 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Time Warner Cable expands Easy Connect service to include DVRs.If you hate waiting all day for the cable guy to install service, Time Warner Cable will now let Orange County and Southern California customers tackle the project themselves — and save some money.

The cable TV provider is expanding its Easy Connect service, which was introduced in August for Internet equipment. The service saved customers around $20 if they installed their own cable modem.

Now customers can install their own cable box or DVR as well. If customers order new or upgraded digital cable boxes or Internet service over the Web or by phone, they’ll receive the equipment within 48 hours. No waiting on the cable guy. Plus, customers won’t have to pay the $19.95 for professional installation. The kit comes with a video showing the five installation steps.

Of course, you could also head to one of Time Warner’s local stores and get a box the same day (if they’re available) and install it yourself.

Time Warner’s spin is that it gives “customers control in ways that are simple and easy.” True, but keep in mind, this probably saves Time Warner a lot of money too. I don’t know what the going rate is but having a professional contractor stop by a customer’s house probably costs Time Warner more than $20.

For the consumer, $20  to have a pro install service doesn’t seem too high but  for most readers, the time lost waiting for the cable guy to arrive is much more valuable.

Most recent stories on Gadgetress:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • | 7 Comments »

Interact with burgers, toilet paper and men’s body spray on TV

November 16th, 2009, 7:59 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Noted: Wall Street Journal wrote about the trend of interactive ads on TV, including one from Burger King, Axe Body Spray and Charmin. All three have TV commercials offering viewers a way to respond immediately and either ask for a coupon, watch related videos or get quizzed about the popular movie series “Twilight.”

It’s a lot more work for the advertiser. The ad agency behind the interactive Axe commercial (where freestyle motocross champ Adam Jones demonstrates the product by spraying his armpits while in the middle of a stunt) had to be sent to TiVo, coded, and then distributed to TV providers. All that work and only DirecTV customers could spot the “learn the move” overlay and go to another channel to watch the making-of video. Some 3.5 million people did go there, spending an average of 5 minutes playing with the ad.

Reminder, cable companies are also doing this. Time Warner rolled out its ads on demand, allowing viewers to turn to a channel, watch specially chosen TV commercials and then request a coupon. Read the earlier story: “TV ads on demand? Only from Time Warner.”

The WSJ’s conclusion? It’s worth the extra work and advertisers are plowing ahead. So, expect more ways for your TV to talk back to you.

Read: “Talking Back to the TV.”

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Cox adding 15 HD channels in December

November 13th, 2009, 3:18 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
Visit the Gadgetress Guide to Cox Cable services in Orange County at <a href=

View complete HD channel lineups:

View list of Cox Cable's HD channels
Time Warner Cable HD channel list
HD channels from Verizon FiOS.

Cox Communications just told me that Orange County customers will be getting 15 new HD channels by Dec. 15. Two others were added this week.

The Rancho Santa Margarita cable provider can do this because it is shifting some non-HD channels to the new technology and freeing up space. For more on how this technology works and why certain customers won’t be able to access the affected 100 channels, read the earlier story “Cox moving 100 channels to on-demand format.

Cox is set to end 2009 with 82 HD channels, ahead of Time Warner Cable, with 75, but behind local leader Verizon FiOS, which has 133. See the full list of Cox HD channels HERE.

Here are the newest HD channels:

Cox HD Ch. # Channel Name New
1 E! HD Added 11/11/09
2 Fox News HD Added 11/11/09
3 734 KMEX HD Added 12/15/09
4 735 KFTR HD Added 12/15/09
5 737 MLB Network HD Added 12/15/09
6 738 NBA TV HD Added 12/15/09
7 719 ABC Family HD Added 12/15/09
8 720 Disney HD Added 12/15/09
9 778 HBO2 HD Added 12/15/09
10 775 Hallmark Movie Channel HD Added 12/15/09
11 776 Lifetime Movie Network HD Added 12/15/09
12 743 MSNBC HD Added 12/15/09
13 726 MoreMAX HD Added 12/15/09
14 779 The Movie Channel HD Added 12/15/09
15 780 Encore HD Added 12/15/09
16 742 Fox Business HD Added 12/15/09
17 729 Biography HD Added 12/15/09

Most recent Cox Cable news:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 11 Comments »

Cox moving 100 channels to on-demand format

November 13th, 2009, 1:28 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Cox CableBeginning Nov. 25, Cox Communications in Orange County will roll out a new technology that will change how viewers watch 100 channels. Most won’t notice a difference but a small number — less than 1 percent — won’t be able to see the channels at all. (Thanks to reader TiVoGirl for the tip.)

In a letter mailed to customers this week,  Cox said it is migrating to the Switched Digital Video platform, which is one way cable companies can offer customers more channels. This opens up space for Cox to offer more HD channels. I’ll get to those new channels in my next post. UPDATE: And here’s that post: “Cox adding 15 HD channels in December.”

Cox, like other cable providers, is operating at maximum channel capacity. It can only air a certain number of channels 24 hours a day. But some channels take up more room than others — one analog channel occupies the same space as about 12 to 15 digital channels. Switching those analog channels to digital is one way for cable companies to free up space. This is what Time Warner is doing (see story: Time Warner makes room for 100 HD channels, kicks out others“).

The other method is by moving to switched digital video, which converts channels to a type of on-demand-only service. Customers still use their remotes as normal, turning to the channel they want. The majority of customers won’t notice the change — only, I’m told, a slight delay when they turn to a switched channel. But customers who don’t have a set-top box and rely on CableCARDs won’t be able to access the channels. Alternatives for these users are below.

“Switched Digital will allow us to maximize our network capacity, enable increased HD channels and entertainment options in the future. For example, now we have over 400 HD programming options [hours] and we continue to launch more HD channels,” said Cox spokeswoman Lana Ong. (Corrected at 4:45 p.m. Ong says she meant to say 400 HD hours of programming is available.)

Here are the affected channels — 100 in all: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • • | 17 Comments »

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