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Archive for the 'California' Tag

T-Mobile’s faster Internet coming to California, says report

February 10th, 2010, 3:50 pm by

T-Mobile logoNoted: T-Mobile is giving existing customers another reason to stay on with the company: 21 mbps download speeds, according to GigaOm’s .

While Higginbotham’s interview with T-Mobile’s vice president of engineering Dave Mayo didn’t confirm that California would be first to get the faster High Speed Packet Access technology, or HSPA+, Mayo said that T-Mobile is upgrading its HSPA software  ”major cities” along the California Coast, says the report.

Higginbotham theorizes that this could come as soon as the middle end of 2010 since T-Mobile is waiting for more devices that can handle the speeds. Currently, it has 10.

This isn’t quite 4G mobile wireless. It’s more of an advanced 3G network. AT&T has been upgrading its 3G network to HSPA software, which offers up to 7.2 Mbps. T-Mobile, meanwhile, has also been testing HSPA+ in Philadelphia.

More on faster mobile networks:

Time Warner makes room for 100 HD channels, kicks out others

November 10th, 2009, 4:53 pm by

Time Warner Cable photo, courtesy of AP.On Dec. 8,  Time Warner Cable will move eight channels to digital for those in Orange County and Los Angeles. That means customers who get cable TV service by plugging a TV into the wall or using an older analog cable box will need to upgrade to digital equipment.

The change will make room for several new HD channels, including AMC HD, The Weather Channel HD, History International HD, ESPNU HD and “many more,” according to a letter sent to subscribers this week. Next month starts the company’s kickoff to reach 100 HD channels.

The analog channels that are moving – KWHY, Shop NBC, AMC, The Weather Channel, ABC Family, Oxygen, TruTV and Style — will all still be exist on the same channel number, but only in a digital format. If you don’t have a digital set-top box, you won’t be able to access them.

For customers who don’t have a digital box, Time Warner will let you borrow one for free for one year. This offer only applies to households without a digital box. If you already lease digital boxes but have an extra TV plugged into the wall, you’ll need to pay for a digital box to get all the channels on that TV.

TWC changes Channel
KWHY 22
Shop NBC 96
AMC 55
The Weather Channel 47
ABC Family 46
Oxygen 68
TruTV 49
Style 130

“With more digital carriage space available, we will be able to free up bandwidth for future uses, such as launching new channels, providing more services and offering even more HD, not to mention, this will enhance picture quality and sound on existing services,” said Darryl Ryan, Time Warner Cable’s local director of media relations.

Lots of things are going on here including: Read the rest of this entry »

AT&T U-verse TV available to 3 million California homes

October 21st, 2009, 9:12 am by

AT&T U-verse

Thanks everyone who left a comment about AT&T U-verse availability in your neighborhood. I’m going to update my map. Stay tuned for a link… For everyone else, please continue to let me know by commenting below if you can order U-verse.
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Slowly but surely, AT&T’s TV service called U-verse is popping up in cities across the state. The company says the service, an alternative to cable TV, is now available to 3 million homes in California.

Service, however, is not available to everyone living in the 225 cities and counties where U-verse is offered statewide. This is because AT&T relies on local city governments to allow facility upgrades within neighborhoods and not all cities have obliged, saying they don’t want more ugly boxes decorating city streets.

In Orange County, U-verse is available in certain parts of  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.

Originally, AT&T had targeted more cities but dropped its pursuit after running into roadblocks with the cities. Those cities include Irvine, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente and Tustin. (See earlier coverage on the slowdown in Orange County on this page: “The AT&T U-verse impasse in O.C.

Question of the day: Can you order AT&T U-verse TV at your house? Help me track the service and tell me where you are by leaving a comment below. Leaving your zip code would be informative. Thanks!

But as part of this week’s announcement, the company says it invested nearly $7.9 billion in wireless and wireline (which includes U-verse) networks in the state between 2006 and 2008. It even quotes Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, who applauds AT&T’s move:

“I have always believed that choice and competition in the marketplace benefits consumers,” said Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. “AT&T’s commitment to deliver a choice for video and high-speed Internet to the residents of Anaheim, and to hundreds of other cities across the state, has only reinforced this belief. Consumers win when businesses compete.”

There’s no mention of how many of those 3 million potential customers actually subscribe. Those numbers could possibly come out Thursday during the company’s next earnings report.

At last count, AT&T U-verse’s TV service had 1.6 million subscribers nationwide in June (see earlier: “AT&T’s U-verse TV jumps to 1.6 million subscribers“). Comparably, Verizon FiOS, another new cable TV alternative, had 2.5 million customers. Both services continue to grow while cable TV companies reported a decline in subscribers.

Recent TV service news:


Ban big-screen TVs? California’s energy unit seeks efficiency

March 23rd, 2009, 12:37 pm by

I’ve been meaning to tackle the whole big-screen TV debate but reporter Brian Joseph beat me to it. I’m reposting to this blog even though I don’t really believe it will ever happen.

Joseph, our Sacramento reporter and a contributor to The OC Register’s Watchdog blog, is reporting latest stunt by the California Energy Commission to propose more energy efficient TVs. A potential result: TVs with screens larger than 40 inches could be banned. Read his update: “State considers ban on big screen TVs

He even includes an e-mail address to voice your support … or disgust: Title24@energy.state.ca.us

Chances of this becoming a reality? None, imho. Do you really think California will ban TVs that are larger than 40 inches? If anything, TV manufacturers will figure out how to make big screens use less energy. And some already have. See my earlier story, “A TV that uses less energy? Vizio unveils the EcoTV.

Earlier around the web:

More TV news: Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services. Latest TV services headlines:

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