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Broadcom plus Microsoft means better AT&T U-verse TV

September 11th, 2009, 12:00 pm by

Microsoft Mediaroom

Correction, added Oct. 8, 2009: Since this was an interview conducted over e-mail, some quotes were attributed incorrectly. Corrected story is below.
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News that Irvine chipmaker Broadcom Corp. unleashed a new chip – the Broadcom 7405 – may make your eyes glaze. But if you’re totally into TV, Broadcom’s contribution could help you get more out of your paid TV service.

The new chip powers second-generation Microsoft Mediaroom set-top boxes. In Orange County, AT&T U-verse is the only company offering Microsoft’s software to power its set-top boxes.

If AT&T integrates the chip into the second  generation boxes, subscribers can look forward to “substantial increase in performance,” according to Broadcom (this statement was previously attributed to Microsoft).

“The Broadcom 7405 is the first second generation (system on a chip, or SoCs) being deployed…,” said Steve Koepp, Microsoft’s senior manager, business development of TV, video and music business, in an e-mail. “As mentioned in the releases, this is important as it is enabling choice … which drives competition.”

Here’s a more technical take on Microsoft and Broadcom’s chip from EETimes Europe: “Broadcom touts MS Mediaroom certification at IBC”

The new chip also improves integration of Internet services so we may see Facebook, Twitter and other Internet applications show up on Mediaroom-friendly boxes.

I’m not a U-verse TV customer because it’s not available in my city and I’m unfamiliar with the specific features on the system. Existing U-verse customers can help verify what is already available. According to Microsoft, these are some features offered with the current Microsoft Mediaroom technology:

  • Microsoft Mediaroom offers six-screen TV viewing.Anytime Recording: Rewind or restart a show currently airing that you didn’t record. Also, you can scroll backwards in the Guide to watch a previously aired show through the video on demand library.
  • Anywhere Recording: Extends DVR capabilities to all TVs in the house so every show recorded can be accessed by connected TVs. (U-verse currently offers this multi-room DVR.)
  • Remote recording: Set your DVR to record from any PC or mobile phone (currently offered by U-verse).
  • Multiview: Watch up to six different channels at one time (see image on right).
  • Media Sharing: Built-in ability to access photos, music from computers or other devices on the home network.

More TV news:


Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services

Posted in: Internet • Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • • | 3 Comments »

SleeSpot: Stuck on Microsoft? Its Fix It site has fast help

August 28th, 2009, 4:00 pm by

SLEEspot: Gadgetress intern Sandra Lee spots a tech deal daily.This month, Gadgetress’ summer intern Sandra Lee has been posting a tech bargain, tip or fun fact every day at 4 p.m. Short, sweet and simple: It’s the SleeSpot! But today’s her last day. Sandra hints that SleeSpot may continue if she can handle her high-school workload as an incoming junior. Stay tuned…

Having a difficult PC problem? Microsoft’s Fix It may have a solution to solve your technical problems in the click of a button. From “Uninstalling Microsoft Internet Explorer 8” to “Fix Windows Update error 0x8000FFFF,” the help page has hundreds of answers. Best part: It’s free! Visit support.microsoft.com/fixit for instant help (Fix It also has a Facebook and Twitter page). No more waiting for those long phone calls that never seemed to help much anyway! ~ Sandra Lee

Got a tip for the SLEEspot? Tell me about it at slee@ocregister.com or Tweet me @sleespot.

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Posted in: Computers • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

SleeSpot: 91% off Microsoft Office for students

August 19th, 2009, 4:00 pm by

SLEEspot: Gadgetress intern Sandra Lee spots a tech deal daily.This month, Gadgetress’ summer intern Sandra Lee is posting a tech bargain, tip or fun fact every day at 4 p.m. Short, sweet and simple: It’s the SleeSpot!

Being a student myself, I’m always on the lookout for discounts I can get with a student ID. Microsoft offers the ‘Ultimate Steal,” which is the full Microsoft Office Suite (that’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, etc) for $59.95. That’s 91% off the retail price, not to mention nearly half the price of the basic regular student version! Of course, you must show proof of being an active college student and have an .edu e-mail address, which unfortunately leaves me out. I’m still in high school! ~ Sandra Lee

Got a tip for the SLEEspot? Tell me about it at slee@ocregister.com or Tweet me @sleespot.
Past SleeSpots:

Posted in: news • • • • • | 3 Comments »

How to convert PowerPoint shows to videos

August 4th, 2009, 4:32 pm by

Stump the PC Club is a free tech-advice column written by members of the North Orange County Computer Club, which has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. And don’t forget to stop by the Gadgetress’ home for the PC Club, at ocregister.com/link/pcclub, to find out how to ask a question and read past answers.

QUESTION: I have included music in my PowerPoint presentations, but the music doesn’t play when I make a CD or e-mail them. Can you recommend a program that converts a PowerPoint file to a video and would that solve my problem?

 PC CLUB: There are several programs available commercially for converting a Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) presentation to a video. You can find quite a few of them by searching the Internet (search Google for “PPT to Video“). One of the more widely known ones is Wondershare PPT to Video, which is available for $49 at Wondershare’s Web site (link: bit.ly/905tg). There are other more expensive versions there if you want to create DVDs.

Or, create a video for free. Just follow these steps: Read the rest of this entry »

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Microsoft offers Windows 7 free for 1 year starting … now!

May 5th, 2009, 12:05 am by

Microsoft offers Windows 7 free for 1 year.Many consumers want to forget Windows Vista, Microsoft’s last major overhaul of its prolific operating system. Perhaps Microsoft does too?

Hence, today, it’s offering the brand-spanking new Windows 7 operating system FREE to anyone willing to download and install it on a computer. Try it, see if you like it, seems to be the thinking. This comes four months after opening the beta test to 2.5 million people.

The new  ”Release Candidate” version of Windows 7 will expire June 1, 2010, at which point you’ll need to install a paid version. (The official version should be available by January 2010, according to Microsoft.) The RC  is pretty much the final version of the software, minus any last-minute updates, fixes and patches. But as any computer user knows, software gets updated and patched long after the official launch. The RC is also the version that other hardware and software companies use to develop applications or make their products compatible.

Windows 7 is supposed to be a simpler, faster new operating system that is easier to figure out than Windows Vista. With Microsoft now allowing anyone to try before you buy, it’s definitely worth a look. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • • • • • | 11 Comments »

What 4 developers did with Windows 7 in 1 week

May 4th, 2009, 3:52 pm by

Windows 7 is here.Windows 7, the next operating system from Microsoft Corp., is touted as faster, more reliable and easier to use than its predecessor. Consumers will get a chance tomorrow to download a free version. But last week, four companies got to play with the upcoming system and build something cool in less than five days.

As part of its first Windows Incubation Week, Microsoft let four start-up companies set up shop at its Irvine office with this challenge: Create a new Windows 7-based application.  Two of the four honed in on a touch-screen feature that will make it easier to develop software products that rely on human touch. On-site advisers were there to help.

“We’re trying to encourage more participation,” said Lynn Langit, a Developer Evangelist at Microsoft. “We want to support startups.”

Windows 7 meets home-health care

The “Best Business” winner, as judged by venture capital companies, was IngeniumCare. The Denver, Colo. company  is developing a computer system that lets people check in on aging parents or the disabled from any location. The two-piece system — a touch-screen computer to make calls or get help, and a pendant with fall detection and GPS — can help two people communicate almost anything. 

Jim Wolf, president and chief engineer IngeniumCare, demonstrates a tool he developed in 1 week on Windows 7.

IngeniumCare creates 3D character that simulates the state of a home-bound user.“But we had the problem of visualizing the (physical) state the person is in,” said Jim Wolf, its president and chief engineer .  ”You could have a web cam to see them, but a web cam can turn off and they would be lying on the ground.”

So, using Windows 7, IngeniumCare built a 3D cartoon character to replicate the position the person is in, such as horizontal and face down, which the fall-detection sensor may have overlooked if movement wasn’t abrupt. When Wolf leaned backward vertically, so did the on-screen character. 

Judges called IngeniumCare’s product, a “solid business model, differentiated product, effective use of Win7 features (sensor and touch).” Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Computers • • • • • • | 7 Comments »

One PC, two operating systems? No problem

March 24th, 2009, 5:09 pm by

Stump the PC Club is a free tech-advice column written by members of the North Orange County Computer Club, which has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. And don’t forget to stop by the Gadgetress’ home for the PC Club, at ocregister.com/link/pcclub, to find out how to ask a question and read past answers.

QUESTION: I just bought a new Gateway quad with 64-bit Windows Vista. I tried running a Biblical software package called Gramcord on it that works well on my XP. It says it is incompatible. I went out to Microsoft and tried downloading its virtual pc software,  but that did not work.

I have heard I can have two operating systems on the same machine. How do I do that? Does this mean I could put up XP? Or is the problem the 64 bit? ~ Bill

PC CLUB: One of the reasons, Bill, that Vista sales have not met Microsoft’s expectations is Vista’s lack of backward compatibility with legacy software such as yours. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Stump the PC Club • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

UPDATE: Free Windows 7 beta now available

January 11th, 2009, 12:05 am by

After being unable to meet demand on Friday, Microsoft added more servers to handle the 2.5 million requests to join the Windows 7 beta. This limited-time trial for the future Windows operating system — it ends Aug. 1, 2009 — is available again.

If you want a first look at Windows 7, you can download it at microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx. If you are somewhat technical, this could be fun. The download will be an .iso file, which testers must burn to a DVD. Microsoft also advises that “It can be glitchy—so don’t use a PC you need every day.”

It’s a 2.4 GB download, so it’s not for slow Internet users. Microsoft recommends that testers have at least 16 GBs of available space on their PCs.

More information about Windows 7 is on Microsoft’s official site: microsoft.com/windows7

Posted in: news • • • • • | 3 Comments »

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