The Gadgetress blog launched five years ago as a spot to post my high-tech musings. It evolved into a gadget-review column, then a how-tech-saves-money site and finally a blog dedicated to reporting the latest on local TV and mobile services.

But all good things must come to an end and the Gadgetress blog is retiring. That’s because after nearly 10 years at the Orange County Register, I’m leaving this great gig — and Orange County — for that mysterious “to pursue other opportunities.”

It’s really a mystery to me what I’ll be doing next. I’m taking a break for a few months. Seriously. I may return to the world of tech journalism. If you want to keep track of what’s next for me, just head to my personal site at tamara.net.

I enjoyed every minute, especially the interaction with readers. Thank you readers, fans, critics, the companies and even Time Warner Cable. I’ve learned a lot from all of you and hopefully vice versa. I’ve updated the story archives so if you’re looking for an old post on TV service, here’s where to go:

• Time Warner Cable
• Cox Communications
• Verizon FiOS
• AT&T U-verse

For all other tech-related stories and questions, here are a few people who may be able to help you:

• The PC Club Q&A will continue. Readers can still submit questions to gadgetress@ocregister.com with “Help Me” in the subject head.
• John Dunphy, OC Register editor who oversees technology coverage: jdunphy@ocregister.com
• Ian Hamilton, OC Register reporter who covers tech in Irvine and has a soft spot for all-things Apple: ihamilton@ocregister.com

Farewell good readers. I’ll be on Twitter, Facebook and who knows where else? May we meet again!

Signing out,

Tamara “The Gadgetress” Chuang

	Read more:

My prediction: This is going to be a big year for TV. But not because the last episode of “Lost”  airs next month. Or because yet another season of “American Idol” is one of this year’s highest rated shows.

What’s changing is how we watch TV. Hulu.com, which offers a ton of recently aired TV shows, is a mainstream hit. There are trials by Time Warner Cable offering subscribers access to some cable TV shows on the Web. Dish announced something similar (read: “Coming soon: Dish to let users watch TV online“).

Cable TV companies are losing subscribers. Online video sites, which allow users to pick and choose what they want to watch, are gaining viewers. And for the first time last fall, a major cable provider took its fight against the ever-increasing fees paid to networks to rebroadcast shows public. Something has got to give!

While the state of paid TV is undergoing a monumental change, several services are already available to help consumers pay for only what they want to watch. Now, there’s probably more than 10 suggestions on how to watch web TV on a TV, but you get the picture.

While you can hook up a computer to your PC (a la Windows Media Center or some other DIY software), I’ve tracked down some newer alternatives to pipe TV shows from the Web to your big screen TV.  I’ve listed some below, but I’m sure every reader has his or her own favorites. Please share with the rest of us in the comments and if I’m able, I’ll elevate them to the list below.

How else can you watch TV?

What is it: One of the easiest ways to watch Hulu.com on a TV. It allows a game console (Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii) to access Hulu.com and other online video on a TV.Investment: $40 for the software (search deal sites to get it for less), plus a compatible game console or DLNA device, a home computer and home network. Monthly fees: Need high-speed Internet service subscription. No additional Playon fees at the moment What you get: One of the easier ways for a TV to access Hulu, Netflix, Youtube, podcast videos and other online video. On-demand content includes TV shows from CBS.com, ESPN.com, plus plugins (thanks to 3rd-party sites) Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, Food Network, Fox News, HGT, MTV, NBC, NFL, Nickelodeon, SyFy and Spike TV. Cons: The game console isn’t the one going online to fetch the TV shows. It relies on a home computer to do so. The computer with PlayOn software must be left on. There’s some DIY involved, but this is by far, much easier — and more aesthetically pleasing — than hooking up a laptop to the TV. How to get it on TV: Besides the game consoles, PlayOn works with the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live EVA2000, Moxi HD DVR, VuNow VN1000SD/HD and HP MediaSmart TV. Check the latest devices HERE. On this same user guide is a list of other devices like DirecTV and D-Link boxes that work but are not officially supported.			Read about PlayOn user Jeremy Baker’s experience: “Ditching cable for Xbox saves Seal Beach man $70/month.” Got a PC and fast Internet? You have the basic tools to access dozens of web sites offering free or cheap access to TV shows. Here are a few: ► Hulu.com — This joint venture includes owners from NBC Universal, News Corp. and The Walt Disney Company. It’s become one of the most popular sites online to view regular TV shows. ► LocateTV (locatetv.com) — Offers a directory of what’s on TV offline and online. If the show is online, users can watch immediately on a PC. ► Fancast.com, brought to viewers by Comcast Interactive Media, offers free TV shows on demand. ► AT&T Entertainment (link: entertainment.att.net/tv) from AT&T of course, offers similar selection to Hulu.
What is it: Watch Instantly is an extension of Netflix’s popular video rental service but you don’t have to leave your house to pick up or return movies. Moves are streamed to your TV from the Internet. Investment: A Netflix-friendly device, which include game consoles, connected TVs and others (see list below). Monthly fees: Minimum plan of $8.99 gets user unlimited access to Netflix streaming library of thousands of movies and TV shows. User will also need high-speed Internet service subscription. The minimum plan includes one DVD rental at a time, which is returned by snail mail. What you get: Watch entire seasons of TV shows, including “The Office,” “Weeds” and “Lost” for one price, albeit a season later than everyone else. Netflix’s online library continues to expand. New releases, as of April 6, include “Julie & Julia,” “Angels & Demons” and season 5 of “Weeds.” Cons: This won’t help if you need to know what happened last night on “Lost.” Available episodes are dependent on the last DVD release. For example, the first 5 seasons of “The Office,” now in season 6, are the latest available. Selection is limited and not as vast as Netflix’s DVD library. But the library continues to grow. Also, there’s still a subscription fee though new customers qualify for a free month. One inconvenience: If viewing Netflix service on a Wii or PlayStation 3, a special disc needs to be inserted. Xbox 360 users must subscribe to Xbox Gold Live for an additional fee. How to get it on TV: Numerous Internet devices pipe Netflix videos to the big screen including the 3 major game consoles, the Roku digital player, plus several HDTVs and Blu-ray players. Here’s a complete list: LINK.			A la carte TV? On a PC, you can pick and choose which full episodes you really want to watch for free. ► CBS at cbs.com/video ► NBC at nbc.com/video ► ABC at abc.go.com/watch ► FOX at fox.com/fod ► PBS at video.pbs.org ► Discovery Channel dsc.discovery.com/videos/ ► Disney Channel home.disney.go.com/tv ► Lifetime (full episodes of ‘Project Runway’), mylifetime.com/video ► ComedyCentral.com ► ESPN at espn.go.com/video ► MLB.tv offers full out-of-market games 90 minutes after they air. Or watch all games online at MLB.tv for a minimum of $20/month or $120/year. ► Got another? Comment below. Thanks!
What is is: The first hardware built to put the Boxee online TV service on a TV. D-Link Systems, based in Fountain Valley, happens to be the first company to build a device for Boxee. Investment: Price TBD. Users will need the box in order to pipe the Boxee video service to the TV. Alternatively, users can hook up a PC to the TV and access the free Boxee service. Monthly fees: Besides high-speed Internet, there should be none. What you get: Boxee connects viewers to several sources of Web videos online, including Netflix, Youtube, Cons: It’s not out yet. How to get it on TV: Because D-Link is building the box, this will plug into a TV and Internet with the usual cables. No need to add a PC to the home entertainment center anymore.			From readers (thanks all!): ► Irvine’s www.koldcast.tv Have another? Comment below What’s coming:► Redbox, which has DVD vending machines, wants to get into “low-cost video streaming,” says PC Magazine. More AltTV on TV: ► Vudu - On-demand HD movie rental site available as a feature on several TVs and the Vudu box. ► WDTV Media Player — Western Digital’s TV-in-a-box that attaches to a big TV and Internet. It offers viewers access to PlayOn software, which in turn can access Hulu.com.
What is it: Sezmi.com is a new TV service that mixes over-the-air broadcasts with select cable TV channels for a monthly fee of $5 to $20. Price: The key is the $299 1-terabyte DVR that fetches shows online and over the air and feeds it to users based on preferences. Monthly fees: Monthly fee of $4.99 offers access to over-the-air channels, Youtube and other web videos. For $19.99/month, around 15 cable TV channels are added. User provides own high-speed Internet service. What you get: Access to broadcast TV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS and other over-the-air channels available in your neighborhood. The premium plan includes access to Animal Planet, Bravo, Discovery Channel, TNT, TLC, MTV, CNN, TruTV, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, TruTV, SyFy, USA, TBS and VH1. Both plans offer access to YouTube, on-demand movies (which may include rental fee), and thousands of video podcasts. Cons: Service requires up-front investment with the $299 DVR, plus installation is DIY. Read the review, “Sezmi TV a deal at $20/month but not for everyone, says tester.” How to get it on TV: The box connects to the TV and home’s Internet using the usual cables.			REVIEW: Reader Josh Kaplan reviews Sezmi: “Sezmi TV a deal at $20/month but not for everyone“ What about broadcast TV?If you’ve got a good roof-top antenna, digital TV or digital converter box, you should be able to access most of the over-the-air TV channels for free. It’s a great alternative if you can actually get the channels to come in. Some tips: ► Visit AntennaWeb.org to get a general idea of how good reception will be at your house. ►Check TitanTV.com to see what digital channels you should already be receiving.
What is it: They look like regular HDTVs or Blu-ray Disc players, but they’ve also got an Internet connection. That gives these connected devices access to dozens of video sources online. TV makers are creating their own library of video services, which includes companies like Vudu (rent or buy HD movies), Amazon on Demand (rent or buy), Netflix and more. Price: These connected TVs start around $1,000 while Blu-ray players are around $200 and up. Monthly fees: Depends on what “app” you use. For example, there’s no subscription fee to Vudu, but you pay $3.99 or more to rent or buy the movie. What you get: Access to  nearly every movie or streaming video available online but usually for a small fee. Cons: You’ll need one of these devices. And these don’t give you free access to the Internet, so you likely won’t be watching Hulu.com TV shows on TV. Also, each manufacturer is working on agreements with the various video sites so offerings will differ from company to company.
► There are many more options out there but I can’t list them all (Apple TV, Windows Media Center…) For all the experts out there, other readers would appreciate your suggestions so please comment below. Thanks!

For more on TV services, see the following links:

					* Time Warner Cable * Cox Cable * Verizon FiOS * AT&T U-verse		* DirecTV * Dish Network * Web TV * All TV

AT&T has added new 3G wireless cell sites in Irvine and Orange. The company could not provide details on the locations.

The 3G cell sites includes the recent upgrade to High-Speed Packet Access 7.2 technology, which should speed up Internet browsing and data transmission on the cellular network.

The company also announced new sites in San Bernardino and Chino and one in Kern County’s Shafter.

AT&T plans to add 200 cell sites in California, which should be good news to local iPhone users.

Latest news on cell sites:

This is part of a series of stories. See links below for more.

	Read more:

In his quest to find an alternative to cable TV, Josh Kaplan signed up last fall to test a brand new TV service called Sezmi. This hybrid online, over-the-air broadcast would ultimately cost $4.99 to $19.99 a month when it launched in February 2010. But as a tester, the Long Beach resident got it all for free.

His verdict? Not ready for prime time.

“I really want them to be successful,” said Kaplan, who lives in Long Beach. “I love to hear of an upstart that’s challenging the status quo. I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by the quality because I wasn’t expecting much.”

Sezmi launched in the Orange County market in February 2010 offering a different kind of TV service. Besides the usual free over-the-air channels like CBS and Fox, the Sezmi box also offers around 15 cable channels, including CNN, Nickelodeon and Discovery. The Belmont, Ca. company has contracts with Turner Broadcasting, Discovery, Viacom and NBC Universal.

The $4.99 price includes the over-the-air channels and Youtube access; the $19.99 price includes everything else. That’s a steal compared to Kaplan’s current TV bill of $175 for Verizon FiOS TV and Internet service, which continues to creep up.

But set up was off putting to Kaplan. He had difficulty connecting the box to his home network so Sezmi sent him a Homeplug kit that routes Internet service over the home’s electrical system. Still there were issues but after “about 4 to 5 days, I happened to get it to work,” he said.

Also, the system’s antenna has to be positioned just right to get the best picture quality. The screen shows users the signal strength of the TV channel, but he ultimately did not get every channel.

“I don’t think it’s ready for prime time because the installation is not as smooth as they’d like you to believe it is. I really had to go through a series of challenges to get it set up. Not that it was difficult but most people are used to Verizon, DirecTV or Dish. Whey they leave the house, everything’s working.”

He had to get used to the idea that there were no channel numbers, but there was a really nice channel guide. You have to page through channels to get to the one you want. If there’s an easier way, it’s not intuitive. “I’m from the school that if I have to read the manual, it’s not for me,” Kaplan said.

But there were features he really liked about Sezmi. The software creates user profiles and if you tell it what you like to watch, it’ll start grabbing other stuff you may like. There are no sports channels but Kaplan doesn’t watch a lot of sports. He’s been watching the Discovery Channel and USA with his kids. The Sezmi service also comes offers pay movies-on-demand library, which feeds his occasional desire to watch a movie. And he’s impressed with the video quality, though he’s not a videophile who wants to see every blade of grass.

“And it’s kind of  and it is kind of cool to flip over and have access to Youtube,” he said.

When his test is over, however, he probably won’t keep the service even though he can purchase the DVR for half its $299 price. The good thing is that the monthly service fee is good for all boxes in his house, but with 5 TVS, he’ll have to cough up around $1,350 if he wants every TV connected.

“I don’t think I want to spend $1,200 to buy 4 boxes from them,” Kaplan concluded. “I’ll probably go back to Dish Network because it’s inexpensive.”

For more on TV services, see the following links:

					* Time Warner Cable * Cox Cable * Verizon FiOS * AT&T U-verse		* DirecTV * Dish Network * Web TV * All TV

This is the first in a short series about alternatives to TV service. More coming on Friday.

	DITCHING CABLE: Jeremy Baker gave up cable after he lost his job. But he still watches the latest shows thanks to services like PlayOn, Netflix and others. Photo by CINDY YAMANAKA

Everything changed when Jeremy Baker lost his job in November 2008 — including how he watched TV.

The Seal Beach resident  didn’t watch a ton of TV but his cable bill had crept up to $130 a month. Scrambling to cut costs, he canceled cable and bought a Microsoft Xbox 360 game console.

	Read more:

“I know it doesn’t make sense but I did the math. After 6 months, the Xbox was paid for,” Baker said.

It’s what he did with the Xbox that helped him save money. By changing the source of his TV service, Baker was able to watch most of his favorite shows on his TV for half of what he had paid the cable company.

He purchased PlayOn software for $30 and got a subscription to Netflix. For $8.99/month, Netflix offers unlimited access to its online video library, which includes thousands of movies and TV shows, plus one DVD rental at a time. PlayOn gave him access to several TV shows plucked from sites like the popular Hulu.com, ComedyCentral.com (including ”The Daily Show with Jon Stewart“) plus an assortment of on-demand shows from MTV, Food Networks, HGTV, SyFy and Discovery Channel.

The best part? He can still watch it all on his regular TV, thanks to the Xbox.

“I got really into watching the old ‘Law & Orders’ and every ‘SVU’ and ‘Criminal Intent,’”  Baker said. “I’m probably paying $60 a month.”

Of that, about $50 is still going to Time Warner Cable for high-speed Internet, the rest to Netflix. PlayOn was a one-time investment. Occasionally, he’ll visit a RedBox vending machine if he can’t find a new movie online or on Netflix. He also pays $35/year for Xbox Live, which allows him to stream Netflix videos. (PlayOn also works with the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii for no additional cost.)

“About a year ago, a Time Warner guy was going door to door and asking, ‘What can I do to get you to pay for TV?’ I was like, ‘Wow, you’re desperate,’” Baker said.

Of course, he doesn’t get the same access to TV shows he used to when he paid $130 a month. He misses live news, but not sports. He was never a big sports fan. And his girlfriend is a big fan of “Project Runway,” which can’t be found without a paid-TV subscription. She has her mother TiVo the series.

“There are some HBO shows that we miss, but if it comes around on demand, like Dexter on Showtime, we can get all that for free. We just have to kind of wait,” he said.

Other than that, he has few regrets about canceling cable.

“We have more free time. Before I got laid off, I was commuting 3 hours a day. We’d get home and sit on the couch and watch TV. Now, it’s off most of the day because I work from home now,” he said, estimating that he now spends about 8 to 10 hours in front of the TV a week.

“We go to other peoples houses and it’s like wow, commercials! What are those?  And everyone’s like maybe we should just get cable. But do we really want to spend that extra $1,000 a year or do we want to do something fun?”

For more on TV services, see the following links:

					* Time Warner Cable * Cox Cable * Verizon FiOS * AT&T U-verse		* DirecTV * Dish Network * Web TV * All TV

Time Warner Cable has put its foot in the 3-D TV ring and said Wednesday it will offer the upcoming Masters Tournament in 3-D. The golf event, which has the added publicity of Tiger Woods returning to the tournamnet,  starts April 8.

Time Warner, however, will only offer the coverage on demand, unlike other cable providers Cox Communications and Comcast Corp. (see “Cox getting into 3-D; ESPN 3-D starts in June“). Those companies are offering viewers a mix of live 3-D broadcasts and on-demand coverage.

Offering 3-D broadcasts is a big step for cable companies, which are maxed out when it comes to channel capacity on existing cable lines. Hence, they tend to be behind the competition for the number of HD channels offered. While Cox is using switched digital video technology to convert some channels into a type of on-demand channel so they’re not broadcasting 24/7, Time Warner has been moving the space-hogging analog channels to digital.

Time Warner’s 3-D coverage will be available until April 30 to customers with a cable HD box and HDMI cord. But to get the full 3-D experience, consumers must also have a 3-D HDTV.  (Read related story: “Should your next HDTV be 3-D?)

“We remain committed to bringing our customers not just the latest programming, but the most innovative ways to watch it. The Masters coverage and these viewing parties will provide a good test for the future rollout of 3-D TV in our footprint,” said Melinda Witmer, Executive Vice President of Programming for Time Warner Cable in a statement.

If you don’t have a special TV but were hoping to watch the game in 3D, Time Warner is hosting two private viewing parties. Looks like anyone can sneak in to the San Diego event. Here’s where to show up: The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo on Saturday, April, 10th, from  1:00 PM – 4:00 PST, at 12280 Greens East Rd, San Diego, CA 92128. More details at Time Warner’s site.

Previously on 3-D TVs:

Is the batter up? Who’s on first? Customers of Time Warner Cable and other paid-TV providers can find out for free this week as MLB Extra Innings channel offers a free preview through April 11.

Time Warner is the only one with an official announcement on the freebie. The baseball package, which will broadcast “well over 2,000 out-of market baseball games” this year is $179 for the whole season from Time Warner if you order by April 11. After that, it goes up to $199.

Some special features for this season include a way to watch the same game broadcast from the home team and the visiting team. You choose. Also, there will be a multi-screen mosaic so viewers can watch multiple games in the same TV frame.

In Orange County, Cox Communications also offers the MLB package. Consumers can check with their local TV service to see if the MLB free preview is available. More details at www.getbaseball.com or by calling 1-888-SPORTS-iN.

Previous TV coverage:

• Reasons why you can’t order Verizon FiOS TV
• Verizon FiOS plans 3-D TV broadcasts by 2010 holiday
• Verizon reveals where FiOS really is in Orange County (Drumroll please…)
• AT&T U-verse TV non-update update for Orange County
• Cox getting into 3D; ESPN 3D starts in June
• AT&T’s U-verse Internet speeds up 33%
• Forget Hulu, cable TV! ‘Daily Show,’ ‘Colbert’ heads to TV alternative
• Not another TV channel dispute! This time, it’s DirecTV
• What happened to Cox Cable’s mobile phone service?

Last week, Verizon gave Orange County the most detailed information to date on where its elusive FiOS TV and Internet is offered.

The company listed 19 zip codes in area cities that may qualify for the fiber-optic services that boasts Internet speeds of 50 megabits per second and a slate of the most HD channels nationwide. But as I mentioned in the original post, this doesn’t mean that EVERYONE who lives in those zip codes can order FiOS TV and Internet service. Jon Davies, with Verizon, offered the zip codes to help readers, not frustrate them.

“I was hoping it would help readers get a better sense of where we are — I didn’t mean to cause frustration! But, as you know, the biggest challenge we’ve always had with FiOS is making it available to everyone who wants it,” Davies said.

So, to help clarify availability in those zip codes, I’m listing reasons why you may not be able to order FiOS for your home.

1.  You live on the wrong side of the zip code. Zip codes don’t conform to the boundaries of Verizon’s footprint so some customers in these areas may be AT&T customers. Verizon is targeting its existing wired telephone base first before it expands outside its territory.

2. You’re part of the 52 percent in Verizon territory who can’t order service. Verizon hasn’t deployed fiber everywhere in its footprint, so that may be why some residents can’t get FiOS. In its last earnings report, Verizon said that 48 percent of people living within the Verizon service area (typically those who can order landline phone service from Verizon) — or 12.2 million premises — can now order FiOS capable. But of those, only 24.5 percent of potential customers do. That penetration rate, however, continues to grow. Last year, it was 20.8 percent. (Read the earlier story, “48% of people served by Verizon can order FiOS but most don’t.”) It’s also looking less likely that the remaining 52 percent will ever be able to order FiOS as the company has put expansion plans on hold in many cities nationwide. But we’ll have to wait for the company’s next update.

3. You live in an apartment or condo. Verizon is stepping up an effort to win over landlords and condo associations. Without them, there’s no way those residents can order FiOS. Here’s an older story about the topic, “Verizon FiOS TV heavily targeting apartments, condos in O.C. and more.”  If you are a tenant, you should check with the owners. My personal story? I rent and asked my condo’s owner to check with the board for FiOS. The next thing I know, I’m getting free Showtime and a digital box from Time Warner Cable. The cable provider is just as aggressive with keeping existing customers.

4. Verizon’s FiOS availability database is not up to date. Verizon hasn’t confirmed this but I’ve had complaints from readers who plugged in their phone number or address to check availability and were told they live in Menifee, Ca. Or were told it wasn’t available even though a neighbor just ordered it. I suggest calling Verizon and getting someone on the line to verify whether you can get FiOS or not. That number is 1-888-591-6076.

More reasons? Comment below. I’ll add to the list. Thanks!

More on Verizon FiOS:

• Verizon says FiOS now available to 1.2 million in SoCal March 6, 2010
• Time Warner toys with raising Internet pricesMarch 2, 2010
• New soccer channel debuts on Dish, DirecTV and FiOS March 1, 2010
• 2 Verizon phones can now turn on the TVFebruary 19, 2010
• National Geographic Wild starts in March, replaces Fox Reality February 15, 2010
• Verizon FiOS gets high-def MSNBC TV February 11, 2010
• How to get Google’s new 1 Gbps Internet service to launch in your cityFebruary 10, 2010
• Verizon adds paperless coupons for phone, FiOS TV users February 4, 2010
• 48% of people served by Verizon can order FiOS but most don’t January 26, 2010
• Verizon FiOS Internet upload speed hits 35 Mbps! January 19, 2010

It’s been a big week for 3-D TV news, as DirecTV gave the new ESPN 3-D channel a June launch date while several cable providers said they will air the upcoming Masters Tournament in 3-D (Time Warner Cable is joining the effort too, announcement is coming).

Today, Verizon chimes in. The company however, isn’t joining the 3-D trend just yet. It’s too early, says Shawn Strickland, vice president of FiOS product management for Verizon.

Currently, consumers need a 3-D HDTV and special glasses to view 3-D broadcasts. But beyond a handful of Blu-ray Disc movies, there is very little 3-D content available.

“The market for 3-D TV is very, very early in its development. We’re monitoring the early sales of 3-D TVs with interest and expect to announce a 3-D offering well in advance of the holiday TV shopping season, when 3-D television sales will expand,” Strickland said.

But don’t count out Verizon. Strickland goes on to say that its FiOS TV service has become the leader in HD channels and offers the most to consumers who can order the TV service. “Ultimately we expect to provide the same industry leadership with 3-D,” he added.

So, it sounds like Verizon FiOS will offer 3-D broadcasts before the end of the year.  And not just one channel but “our commitment will be to bring the broadest range of 3-D programming,” Strickland said. He adds that Verizon is actively negotiating with “a number of companies in the emerging 3-D value chain.”

Now if only more consumers could order FiOS…

More on 3-D TVs and 3-D viewing:

It sounded like a unique marketing gimmick — get Boingo Wireless’  logo tattooed permanently on your body and you’ll get 1 million credits to get Internet service at any of the company’s 125,000 hotspots worldwide.

But of course, this being April Fool’s Day, it was all a big joke.

Or was it?

I asked the company what if someone did it anyway? Will they get the 1 million credits? The company’s response: “Yes, they will if somebody actually gets a permanent Boingo logo tattoo,” said Cheryl Cink, with Boingo.

Wait a minute! 1 million credits? One credit gives a user one hour of wireless Internet access. Each credit costs $1.99. If you were to buy 1 million credits, you’ll pay $1,990,000 or nearly $2 million! As my editor John Dunphy points out, 2 million hours of internet access is equivalent to more than 228 years.

That makes a tattoo seem like a good investment.

The credit program launched Monday and gives iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch users Wi-Fi Internet access at any of the company’s wireless hotspots.

Recent Gadgetress stories:

This is not an April Fool’s Day joke. After pestering Verizon for months, I finally got more details today about the availability of Verizon’s FiOS TV and Internet service in Orange County. Apparently, 70,000 households and businesses here can order the alternative TV service powered by fiber-optic lines.

The company offered a zipcode breakdown, which doesn’t necessarily mean you can order service if you live in that zip code. Apartment or condo dwellers need permission from the landlords or homeowner associations before FiOS can offer service.

So, where is Verizon FiOS in Orange County? Drumroll please…

• La Palma (90623)
• La Habra (90631, 92821)
• Stanton (90680, 92804)
• Los Alamitos (90720)
• Seal Beach (90740)
• Huntington Beach (90742, 90743, 92646, 92647, 92648, 92649)
• Westminster (92655, 92683)
• Fountain Valley (92708)
• Garden Grove (92841, 92844, 92845)

You can check on your own address at verizonfios.com or by calling 1-888-GET-FIOS.

If you live in one of these zip codes and can’t order FiOS, check again today and then share your experience as a comment (thanks!)

This is the second specific announcement Verizon has made this week about FiOS availability.  Earlier this week, the company updated everyone on activity in Long Beach. (Those zip codes include Downey (90241), Norwalk (90650),Pico Rivera (90660), Santa Fe Springs (90670), Artesia (90701), Cerritos (90703), Bellflower (90706),Lakewood (90712, 90713, 90715), Hawaiian Gardens (90716), Signal Hill (90755), Long Beach (90802, 90803., 90805, 90804, 90806, 90807, 90808, 90810, 90813, 90814, 90815.

Verizon FiOS has been in the news recently because it appeared to be ending its rollout of FiOS on the East Coast. The company said nearly the same thing last year for Orange County residents. Instead of expanding to new cities, Verizon planned to focus its efforts on neighborhoods that it had already built the technology (read: “Verizon’s FiOS TV rollout slows in So Cal“).

The company faced tough competition as cable companies and other competitors offered residents better deals. After nearly three years since launching, approximately 24.5 percent of households who can order FiOS actually do, according to Verizon’s last earnings report. Verizon has previously said that penetration rate is about the same in Southern California.

It’s tough for any geek not to want FiOS service. Its Internet speeds top 50 megabits-per second with upstream speeds of up to 35 Mbps. And the TV channels? FiOS has more HD channels than any other TV provider in Orange County. Still, the service comes with a higher price than the competition.

More on FiOS:

If you’ve been curious about one of the new Sprint wireless phones now on the market, Sprint is launching a new policy Thursday (April 1) with a money back guarantee if you’re not “completely satisfied” within 30 days.

This could come in handy when Sprint finally launches its 4G wireless Internet service here in Orange County later this year. Users will be able to see if the new wireless service is really as fast as it’s touted. The offer is available to all new customers and existing customers who are adding a new line of service. If you’re unhappy with your Sprint service today, you’re out of luck on this one.

Sprint isn’t alone in offering a 30-day money back guarantee. All the wireless companies have a similar return policy here in California (see earlier story, “How any consumer can ‘test’ a cell phone“).

But Sprint’s new guarantee goes  further. It will reimburse customers for the device, activation fee, monthly plan and all associated taxes and surcharges. Other companies’ 30-day return policies still try to get the customer to pay for calls made, taxes and surcharges. Plus there may be a restocking fee.

The fine print of the Sprint Free Guarantee? Customers must pay upfront so you’d better have some cash available. And while there’s no restocking fee for new customers who cancel, existing customers may get charged a $35 restocking fee unless you exchange it for a new device. Customers who return the phone will have to pay for any usage that wasn’t part of their monthly service plan, such as song purchases and digital downloads. You’re also responsible for any international charges and associated taxes, plus third-party billing.

Don’t forget to save the box and all packaging. And, of course, the phone must still work.  Sprint will return your money anywhere from the same day to up to three billing cycles, depending on how you paid for it. If you don’t cancel within 30 days, your contract kicks in and canceling it before it expires could cost you $200.

While these fees sound reasonable, definitely read the fine print before committing to any new contract. Here’s the fine print for the new policy.

Previously on Sprint:

Readers searching for an alternative TV service have been asking for months: Any updates on the AT&T U-verse roll out?

It’s been 8 months since last summer’s series detailing the company’s decision to stop pursuing 7 Orange County cities, including Cypress, Dana Point, Irvine, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, San Clemente and Tustin. AT&T ran into roadblocks with the city governments to install large utility boxes above ground. The cities wanted underground structures. AT&T decided it wasn’t worth the time or money.

So, what’s happened since? AT&T just got back to me with an answer and you’re probably not going to like it.

“No updates to report on the OC cities,” said Katie Keating, with AT&T.

Keep in mind, U-verse has expanded tremendously in the past year. According to the company’s 2009 earnings report, it doubled the number of U-verse customers to 2.1 million and it still plans to make the service available to 30 million by the end of next year.

AT&T continues to market to new customers in Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Stanton, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

But like the other newish TV service, Verizon FiOS, there have been no expansions into new cities. This week, the Associated Press reported Verizon is winding down FiOS expansion. We already knew this was happening in Orange County last year and the company confirmed as much just a few months ago.  If you can’t get FiOS today, you probably won’t be getting it for a very, very long time. Sounds like the same is true with U-verse, at least for the 7 cities previously mentioned.

There is still some hope that Orange County cities will get fiber Internet, if not TV service. Google’s recent pitch to help out cities build fiber networks did attract some local attention. Fullerton, Mission Viejo and Anaheim all made a bid (read earlier story: “Orange County doesn’t go crazy for Google’s 1 gbps fiber Internet“).

More on U-verse:

Take a day off, miss some big 3D news. DirecTV offered us an update yesterday on one of its upcoming 3D TV channels. We knew ESPN 3D was coming, but now we know when: June 11. More notably, Cox Communications plans to air the upcoming Masters Tournament for all customers who have an HD receiver. That makes Cox the first cable TV provider in Orange County to make some sort of commitment to 3D.

Let’s start with Cox. The cable company will air the Masters Tournament next week from Augusta National Golf Club beginning Wednesday, April 7 (yes, that’s the event where we will all see Tiger Wood’s return to the sport). There will be two hours a day of live coverage, starting at 1 or 2 p.m, our time. The same coverage will also be available on demand (go to channel 1). If you’re not an eligible Cox subscriber, you can also view the 3D coverage at Masters.com if you have a 3D-compatible computer.

What will you see? “Viewers will be better able to depict the many subtleties and elevation changes of the course’s grounds,” says Cox.

The interesting note is that Cox is a cable company. And cable companies have complained about not having enough space to air more HD channels. Companies are tweaking the technology and playing with available bandwidth in order to squeeze more HD into a customer’s house. Cox, for example, has turned some regular TV channels into on-demand only so that they are not broadcasting 24/7. When a customer wants to view the channel, it starts airing as if it were broadcasting 24/7.

Comcast, the nation’s largest cable provider, is also airing the Masters Tournament in 3D. Here’s a good explanation about how Comcast is doing 3D by Engadget, “Comcast’s 3D Masters broadcast explained.”

Time Warner Cable and other TV companies have said very little about their 3D plans. The TV company leading the effort is DirecTV, which announced in January that it will offer three 3D channels this year (see earlier story,”Who’s bringing 3D content to 3D HDTVs“).

(Update: Time Warner will also air the Masters Tournament in 3D. More to come later.)

The big one is ESPN 3D, which plans to broadcast sporting events filmed with 3D cameras. It goes live June 11. The new channel kicks off with the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches. In its first year, ESPN 3D plans to offer a minimum of 85 live events in 3D, including X Games 16, 2010 college football ACC Championship, 2011 BCS National Championship game, college basketball and NBA games.

DirecTV HD customers who subscribe to ESPN will get the new channel at no extra cost. A software update will be pushed out to all DirecTV HD customers just before the launch. The company’s other two  3D channels — an on-demand channel and a pay per view channel — will also launch in June.

Either way, DirecTV and Cox customers will need a few things to get the 3D experience. Consumers must have a 3D HDTV, which are today available from several brands (see list below. Most of today’s 3D TVs also require 3D glasses.

More 3D TV news:

AT&T has expanded its faster Max Turbo Internet to all U-verse customers. The Internet plan offers 24 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream speed.

That’s well above cable Internet speeds in Orange County but below the maximum of Verizon FiOS, another telecom offering an alternative TV and Internet service. FiOS offers download speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps.

Max Turbo, which launched in Texas and Missouri in December, is $65 month if bundled with U-verse TV service. It’s $95/month for eligible small business customers. Existing plans, including the previously top speed Max Plus at 18 Mbps, are still available (see chart below).

AT&T is available in limited parts of Orange County. Cities include Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Stanton, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

See the U-verse page at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/uverse
Recent AT&T U-verse stories:

Today’s the last day for cities to make a bid to get Google behind them in building a city-wide  fiber-Internet service delivering up to 1 gigabit-per-second download speeds.

As of this 10 a.m., Google said it received 600 community responses and 190,000 responses from individuals by way of cities renaming themselves, great YouTube videos, public rallies and hundreds of grassroots Facebook groups. Funny stuff.

Quite a handful hail from Orange County. An updated count will be available later today.

The 1 Gbps speed is up to 100 times faster than what many consumers get. One gigabit is 1,024 megabits, so compare it with your own service. Most cable and DSL users get about 3 megabits per second for about $20 to $30 a month.

This is also no small investment because it requires city permits and digging up the streets to lay fiber-optic cables and all the way up to a customer’s house. No wonder the company got 600 bids from cities.

“We’re thrilled to see this kind of excitement, and we want to humbly thank each and every community and individual for taking the time to participate. This enthusiasm is much bigger than Google and our experimental network. If one message has come through loud and clear, it’s this: people across the country are hungry for better and faster Internet access,” James Kelly, the product’s manager wrote on the official Google Blog.

Google now plans to review the requests and consult with city officials. The winning communities should know by the end of the year.

Here’s my unofficial list of area cities that want Google fiber:

• Fullerton, (Read the Register story: Fullerton wants Google’s super-fast Web experiment)
• Mission Viejo, (Read the Register story, “Google broadband could come to Mission Viejo”)
• Anaheim, see the city’s official Facebook page
• Orange County, via one person’s attempt to get something going.
• Nearby Rancho Cucamonga (corrected) is calling itself Rancho Googlemonga, which not only caught the attention of PC Magazine but Google itself, which linked to the city’s page on its blog today. Here’s Rancho Googlemonga’s Facebook page.
• And the city of Long Beach penned a letter-writing campaign.

If I left anyone out, let me know or comment below.

I didn’t spot anything from some usual suspects, like Irvine, Huntington Beach or Santa Ana. But there was one Orange County city that is definitely not interested. Laguna Beach voted against pursuing Google (read the Register story: Laguna Beach won’t apply for Google broadband).

Previously on Google:

If you’re still mourning the loss of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on Hulu.com, there’s a new cheap source in town.

MediaMall Technologies, which sells PlayOn software to TVs to web videos, announced today that it added a link to ComedyCentral.com shows, including “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report.” The feature is in beta and available for free to existing and new PlayOn users.

The software  is installed on a home computer, which accesses online videos and TV shows from Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Video, Netflix and several other online video sources. Then, on a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and certain other networked devices compliant with the Digital Living Network Alliance, users can view the videos on their big TV — no extra cables or wiring necessary. Third-party developers also created plugins to grab on-demand videos from Food Networks, NFL, MTV and many other TV networks.

But PlayOn has really won converts because it is one of the rare ways to view Hulu videos on a regular TV. (Hulu, of course, currently offers free access to several TV shows that typically require a cable TV or paid subscription.) Earlier this month, Hulu said that the two Comedy Central shows were being pulled from its site after Hulu failed to get the rights from Viacom to continue airing the shows online.

But PlayOn isn’t free. The software is $40, though you can usually find it cheaper online and there’s a free 14-day trial. Users also need broadband Internet service plus a home network and a DLNA device, such as the game consoles. After all that is in place, there are no further charges.

However, for this new product, MediaMall says it may charge a one-time $5 to $10 fee after the Comedy Central feature graduates out of beta status, scheduled for June 2010.

“It isn’t 100% decided yet- we are still doing some research, but it is likely to be $5 to existing customers for a limited time after the release and then go up to the standard $10 price going forward,” said Tracy Burman, with MediaMall. “…There is no official agreement between ComedyCentral and PlayOn.”

Burman said that the PlayOn software operates like a Web browser. It searches sites like ComedyCentral.com and Hulu and “beams” the show from the PC to the TV. All the user knows is that he must select the PlayOn service on the PlayStation or other device and then just hit ‘play’ to view any of the videos.

Adding more access to content is a new goal of MediaMall. Last week, it added baseball and college basketball via MLB.tv and NCAA March Madness.

In a statement, MediaMall’s Chief Executive, Jeff Lawrence, said, “We feel like the platform is very stable and mature now, so we can begin to turn our efforts toward expanding our entertainment offering.”

More on Web TV:

For more on TV services, see the following links:

					* Time Warner Cable * Cox Cable * Verizon FiOS * AT&T U-verse		* DirecTV * Dish Network * Web TV * All TV

FYI: For Orange County AT&T mobile users who had unusually spotty service today, it’s all been fixed, the company said.

“Due to an equipment issue earlier this afternoon, some area AT&T customers may have experienced wireless service disruption. AT&T technicians resolved the issue at approximately 3:45 p.m. PT. We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers,” said the company.

I’m not an iPhone or AT&T customer, but I heard that some people had major issues with 3G Internet today. If issues continue, let me know.

More on cell phone service:

Another blog interruptus: The all-things-Blizzard-Entertainment game fest BlizzCon returns this fall to the Anaheim Convention Center.

BlizzCon, which will be the Irvine game company’s fifth fan convention, is set for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22 and 23, 2010.

The convention usually sells out within minutes because it’s one of the rare chances for fans of the company’s games — World of Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft — to get sneak peeks at coming games, meet the developers and snag some rare merchandise. Worldwide, some 11 million gamers play just World of Warcraft. The Blizzard franchise has been around since the early 1990s so it has a large and loyal fan base.

More details will be posted at blizzcon.com.

Here are stories from last year’s BlizzCon:

• Blizzard Entertainment in pictures and video
• “Diablo III” game director talks customization August 26, 2009
• Want a chance at a BlizzCon goody bag? Post soon, time’s running out August 26, 2009
• What Blizzard gets out of BlizzCon August 24, 2009
• Photo gallery: Noobz, noobz, noobz! August 24, 2009
• Cataclysm interview: Tom Chilton August 23, 2009
• The good and bad of being an official Blizzard fan site August 23, 2009
• Photos from Day 2 of BlizzCon 2009 August 23, 2009
• Hello Kitty spotted at BlizzCon August 22, 2009
• It ain’t a fan convention unless someone dresses up August 22, 2009
• BlizzCon cute couple alert August 22, 2009
• Details on WoW expansion: Cataclysm August 21, 2009
• Keynote: Azeroth to be reformed August 21, 2009
• Keynote: New “Diablo III” class unveiled August 21, 2009
• First scenes from the floor August 21, 2009
• Waiting for BlizzCon to open August 21, 2009
• First photos from BlizzCon 2009 August 21, 2009

Despite a marketing campaign to promote the March launch of a new mobile phone service, consumers in the only city where Cox Communications actually launched service probably have no clue it exists.

That’s because in Omaha, Nebraska, only paying Cox employees there can get the service, said Jill Ullman, with Cox’s public affairs department. She declined to share prices, features or any other useful information.

Orange County was supposed to join Omaha this month as one of three areas nationwide that would get Cox’s “unbelievably fair” service first. But as we learned earlier this week, Cox nixed that launch in Orange County  in order to put “the final touches on the Cox Wireless,” said a spokesperson (see earlier story: What happened to Cox Cable’s mobile phone service?).

Around the Web, other news sites are reporting that Cox is gearing up to launch mobile service for business customers. Multichannel News says phone service is available in the three communities but only for “friendly” customers and testers.

If there are any “friendly” readers out there who are testing Cox’s mobile service in Orange County, please share your experience.

Earlier on Cox’s mobile phone service:

Spotted: A small number of DirecTV customers could lose ABC and CBS if the companies don’t sign a new contract by March 31.

While this only affects DirecTV customers in Des Moines and Davenport, Iowa, publicizing such disputes is becoming more common and could impact paid-TV service nationwide, including in Orange County.

Local ABC and CBS affiliates apparently could yank the broadcasts if an agreement isn’t reached. Says Derek Chang, executive vice president of Programming for DIRECTV:

“DIRECTV’s contract with the Citadel-owned ABC station in Des Moines, Iowa, and the CBS station in Davenport, Iowa, is expiring on March 31. We have been negotiating in good faith to try and reach a resolution and will continue to do so. If an agreement is not reached by the deadline, we intend to continue to provide the stations as we have for many years, unless Citadel demands that we take them away from our customers. If the stations come down after the deadline, make no mistake, it will be solely and completely the station owner’s (Citadel’s) decision to take the channels away from our customers.”

While this doesn’t affect Orange County customers directly, it is a trend reverberating throughout the paid-TV industry. Channels that cable and satellite companies didn’t pay for previously are now asking for a per-subscriber fee.

TV viewers also wind up in the middle as each side attempts to win their sympathy by saying the other side wants to pull the channels. This happened here in Orange County over New Years Eve, when Time Warner Cable customers thought they would lose Fox and its collection of TV shows and sporting events. We never lost Fox but on the East Coast, Cablevision customers temporarily lost access to the Oscars when ABC and the cable provider failed to come to an agreement.

While the final agreements are never made public, the possibility that ABC and Fox are now collecting money from previously nonpaying customers is just too tempting a revenue source for other broadcast channels to overlook.

I suspect we’ll continue to see more public disputes, including several that will impact channels here in Orange County.

If you’re tired of waiting for AT&T to build a new cell tower in your neighborhood, you will soon be able to buy your own mini tower to improve cellular coverage at home.

The AT&T 3G MicroCell, which launched last fall in test markets like San Diego, is now ready for its national roll out. The product goes on sale in mid-April. No cities were announced, but the company plans an aggressive launch.

These MicroCell devices, generically called femtocells, still require separate broadband Internet service. Wireless calls are routed over the home’s broadband connection to produce a stronger signal for a clearer conversation. If your calls are scratchy due to concrete walls, nearby mountains and other terrain, this is something to consider.

The AT&T’ MicroCell also supports 3G data and was developed with Cisco. More details: www.att.com/3gmicrocell.

The device will be $149.99, which may seem high considering you’re already paying a monthly bill. But that’s about the going rate for MicroCells. Verizon Wireless charges $249.99 for its “network extender.” Sprint’s Airave is $99.99. T-Mobile no longer offers its HotSpot @Home service, at least to new customers.

AT&T is offering mail-in-rebates to get the cost down to nothing. If you add a MicroCell monthly plan of $19.99, you’ll get unlimited calls when using the MicroCell to connect. That also qualifies for a $100 rebate. Add in AT&T DSL or U-verse Internet service and there’s an additional $50 rebate.

Related: