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That Was The Week That Was 11.11.05

November 11, 2005

Don’t know how many of you remember the great TV show “That Was The Week That Was” (also known as “TW3”).�  Born on the BBC more than 40 years ago on November 24, 1962 (see www.bbc.co.uk for the whole story), the U.S. version ran from January 10, 1964, to May 1965.�  David Frost arrived from England as host in late 1964, and the regular cast included such other not-yet-famous people as Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Phyllis Newman and Henry Morgan.

I Want My TV

What does this have to do with this blog?�  Well, while TV viewing options have changed since then, a flock of business deals announced this week promise to offer viewers even more options for watching their favorite shows – all based on the pay model.�  This week CBS and NBC announced that many of their prime time shows will be available for anytime viewing, such as “Lost,” for 99 cents each.�  Last week, Sprint Nextel, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications announced their own deal that would enable viewers to access unique content like streaming television programming, music, video clips, games and pre-recorded DVR programs on their wireless phones.�  And earlier this month, Apple and Walt Disney announced that Apple’s new video iPod would be able to download episodes of such popular shows as “Desperate Housewives” and “That’s So Raven,” for $1.99 each.

TiVo Says Yahoo! Is Anybody Watching?

November 7, 2005

In the latest attempt to merge the two great entertainment spheres -- TV and the Internet� --TiVo and Yahoo announced earlier today a new service that enables TiVo users to remotely program their digital video recorders using Yahoo's TV information web sites.�  (We hope this does better than other previous ideas, like Microsoft's WebTV (now MSNTV) and America Online's AOLTV).

The service would also offer� other Yahoo! services like photos, traffic and weather.�  TiVo is hoping it can keep new subscribers and win over more by increasing its offerings and making the service more convenient for users.� 

Starting today, subscribers with a TiVo Series2 box and a standard Yahoo ID� can log onto any�  computer and use the Yahoo site to set TiVo to record TV programs and events.�  Yahoo TV offers� show times, program descriptions and cast photographs as well as exclusive content like information from the Entertainment Tonight TV program and Mark Burnett Productions, which produces The Apprentice.

Is the Telephone 'The Single Gadget'?

This deal is� the� latest development as companies increasing see the telephone as the key gadget that consumers favor to manage their digital lifestyle (see early "The Single Gadget" blog entry).�  However, most people have no desire to watch TV on mobile phones, according to� a survey of 1,500 British consumers� by Entertainment Media Research.�  Although 65% of those surveyed named the mobile phone their most desired gadget, 70% said they did not want to watch TV on their phones.

Bang & Olufsen innovations

September 15, 2005

Linksys Media Center Extender (MCX) Review

November 29, 2004

Sony VAIO RA920G on top of right speaker

Ratings Score Installation Documentation Features Usability Performance Overall Last week I received a Sony VAIO RA920G Desktop PC running Microsoft Media Center 2005 (MCE) as well as the new Linksys Media Center Extender (MCX). The Sony VAIO RA920G has some cool features including an advanced liquid cooling system and enhanced acoustic technologies that make it virtually silent. This is perfect for my family room home theater setup -- after all you don't want the sound of the PC's fan spoiling the DVD movie watching experience!


Of course, I also have a Linksys Media Center Extender (MCX) which "wirelessly" extends the PC to allow me to have the PC and the TV located in different rooms in my home, thus negating the concern about noise from the PC.


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