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The Gadgetress ~ TV, mobile and Internet: Covering technology's monthly bill

Archive for the 'U-Verse' Tag

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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 • • • • • • • | 3 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 »

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

October 21st, 2009, 9:12 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

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:


Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • | 54 Comments »

Cable scores lowest in paid TV customer satisfaction survey

October 7th, 2009, 6:00 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

J.D. Power and AssociatesIn a report out this morning, traditional TV service providers continued to get pounded by consumers. Ratings company J.D. Power and Associates ranked cable companies the lowest out of all available TV services in the company’s 2009 TV Service Satisfaction report.

Here in the West, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications scored the lowest out of the six TV services available in Orange County. Newer TV alternatives AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS took the lead, with satellite TV services  DirecTV and Dish Networks tied for third place.

The annual report said overall scores improved from 2008, indicating that TV providers really are paying attention to their customers, said Frank Perazzini, director of telecommunications at J.D. Power.

Consumers said they didn’t have to wait on hold for as long as last year — falling 13 percent to 9 minutes, 5 seconds. Customers also experienced fewer outages — 11 percent this year, compared to 15 percent last year.

Overall scores were at 632 on a 1,000-point scale, up 23 points from last year. This year’s study was based on 28,118 U.S. households who were surveyed in January, March and July 2009.

Still, 632 out of 1,000 doesn’t sound too hot. Here’s where the local companies landed:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 44 Comments »

Free preview of NFL RedZone this Sunday for almost everyone

October 1st, 2009, 11:29 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

New NFL RedZone channel coming Sept. 13, 2009.Looks like Verizon FiOS TV subscribers aren’t the only ones who will get access to the new NFL Channel RedZone  Sunday.

Apparently all TV providers that offer the new football channel will lift the paid barrier for three hours Sunday, Oct. 4, between 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., Pacific Time.

In Orange County, those TV providers are:

DISH Network: Channel 155. Dish typically charges $5.99 per month or $49.99 per year for access to the channel.

AT&T U-verse: Channel 1629. AT&T typically charges $5 a month.

Verizon FiOS: Channel 835 for HD,  channel 335 for standard definition. Verizon charges $49.99 for the entire season

Neither Cox nor Time Warner Cable offer the channel.

Recent stories on NFL RedZone:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Free showing of new Spinal Tap movie for U-verse TV

September 14th, 2009, 3:10 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

"Stonehenge, 'tis a magic place," is a short film by legendary fake band Spinal Tap.AT&T is lifting the fee associated with its new ShortsHD channel and offering access this weekend to an exclusive HD showing of ”Stonehenge: ‘Tis a Magic Place,” a movie by legendary made-up band Spinal Tap.

The short film is currently offered on iTunes for $1.99. (I guess this means the band will have to change this video on its web site.)

The film debuts for U-verse TV customers on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. Pacific time on channel 300. ShortsHD is typically $5 a month, as part of U-verse’s HD Premium Tier.

U-verse TV is available in limited areas of Orange County. Cities offering service 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.

For the latest updates on U-verse TV service, check past coverage at: gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/uverse

Recent U-verse stories:

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

4 screens of football, photo sharing, more heads to U-verse TV

September 14th, 2009, 12:53 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

AT&T U-verseToday, AT&T unleashed new features for its U-verse TV customers who live in various parts of Orange County and the nation. These include some I mentioned last week as part of a story on Microsoft Mediaroom, which is the software used by AT&T U-verse in its set-top boxes.

New U-verse TV features announced today are:

  • Multiview: The ability to watch four channels at the same time using U-verse TV Multiview. AT&T allows 4 simultaneous channels, although Microsoft’s feature allows six. There are specific multiviews available: Sports, (Channel 601) Kids  (Channel 301) and News (Channel 201).  Subscribers to ESPN GamePlan package can get a special ESPN GamePlan Multiview, channel 4400, at no extra charge. You can also record programs while in multiview.

AT&T U-verse gets ability to view up to 4 channels at the same time.

  • Media Share: View photos and listen to music stored on home PCs on the big-screen TV. Any U-verse-connected TV can now access  those files.
  • AT&T offers U-verse TV channel showcasing Hollywood entertainment awards, also available as an iPhone app.And then there’s Channel 95, geared to iPhone users. If you want to check out who’s been nominated for an Emmy, Teen Choice or other award, there’s an app for that. All the entertainment award news you want, apparently.

The new features are available to all Orange County U-verse customers at no extra charge. To see the new features in action, watch the official AT&T video posted on YouTube.

Recent U-verse news:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

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

September 11th, 2009, 12:00 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

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 »

NFL gets AT&T U-verse love

September 11th, 2009, 11:31 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

New NFL RedZone channel coming Sept. 13, 2009.AT&T U-verse is the third local TV provider to add the NFL RedZone channel, a premium sports channel featuring  in-depth football content.

The channel launches this Sunday (Sept. 13), the National Football League’s season opening. It counts Verizon FiOS, Dish Network and Comcast as customers. DirecTV customers already can subscribe to exclusive NFL coverage.

Apparently, Time Warner Cable is sitting out on this one, according to Sports Business Daily and commentator Phillip Swann over at TVPredictions.com. (I’m double checking with O.C.’s two cable providers. UPDATE, 9/12: Cox says no to new NFL channel, but offers alternatives)

The channel for AT&T U-verse customers will cost $5 a month and is part of the HD Premium Tier. It will broadcast on channel 1629.

By comparison, Verizon charges $49.99 for the entire season. Dish customers can order it for $5.99 per month as part of the multi-sport package.

Recent sports TV news:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

AT&T mystery site offers free movies, TV shows online

September 4th, 2009, 7:55 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

AT&T sneaks AT&T Entertainment into homes, a new place online to view full TV episdoes.Noted: As spotted on DSL Reports this morning, AT&T Entertainment appears to be a new Web site offering full episodes of popular TV shows, although available broadcasts don’t look much different from Hulu.com’s offering. And for now, the TV shows and movies are free.

Shows include “The Office,” “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” “90210.” There are 114 networks represented, including the big 3 networks, PBS and MTV, plus untraditional outlets like World Cyber Games, The Onion and Hulu.

But some of the shows are just clips so don’t get too excited.

The bonus for AT&T U-verse TV customers is that they will be able to view their U-verse guide and manage DVR recordings within the AT&T Entertainment service, according to the FAQ. Also interesting to note is most videos will be on the site “indefinitely.”

AT&T Entertainment offers TV shows online, with links to Hulu.

While this may be part of the cable industry’s TV Everywhere movement to bring TV shows online to paid TV users, many of the shows have a link to Hulu. I spotted a Hulu logo during a quick glimpse of the service. The “My Name Is Earl” episode provides a related link to the same show on Hulu (see image on right).

MultiChannel News reported last week that AT&T and DirecTV were venturing into TV Everywhere land, though no official comment has been made. The effort was launched by Time Warner and Comcast Corp. Verizon joined last week to provide the service for its FiOS TV customers.

Previous U-Verse news:


Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local TV services

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Free offers from TV providers have many limitations

September 3rd, 2009, 12:30 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

TV service dealsOne of the major benefits to ordering multiple utility services from the same company is a big fat discount, at least one would hope.

But some of the latest bundled deals I just took a look at offer limited-time savings on services you may not want.

AT&T just began offering a promising “Buy Two, Get One Free” deal to Orange County and Los Angeles customers.  The nifty part about this AT&T bundle is that it includes wireless phone service for customers living in Orange County and Los Angeles. Such a discount was missing from previous offers.

But if you read the fine print, the deal is not as straightforward as the marketing campaign.

One of the two paid items must be AT&T’s U-verse TV service, which is available in limited areas throughout Orange County. The other paid items must either be a wireless Nation 450 plan or above, or U-verse Voice Unlimited landline phone service. At that point, the U-verse Internet Pro service (3 Mbps) is free for six months. That saves $30 a month, or $180 total. After six months, Internet charges kick in. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Football freebies for AT&T U-verse customers

August 24th, 2009, 1:23 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

U-verse expands football offering.Anyone into college football?

AT&T U-verse TV has added an on-demand channel for fans to watch their favorite college football games and get way too much information about those school’s teams.

The  ”College Football Extras” on-demand channel includes 2008 season highlights and a 2009 season preview. More content will be added during the season.

Also, you can manage fantasy football teams right on TV using the U-bar. The content is from Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football application (set up your team via the Internet).

In addition, the TV service is adding an on-demand movie channel featuring just sports movies. Rental fees will range between $2 to $6.

Previous U-Verse news:

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