January 2006

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Godzilla PVR

January 20, 2006 in Applications, Consumer devices by Administrator | No comments

The geeks at Snapstream have build another Monster PVR:
 
This system is an ultra high end HTPC showcasing Beyond TV 4 and capable of recording 11 shows, 4 high definition and 7 standard definition, at once. With Beyond TV 4’s HDTV support and with its unlimited tuners, you can create your own monster system.
 

links for 2006-01-19

January 19, 2006 in Uncategorized by delus | No comments

  • Blogs Are Dead
    According to this guy, the linearity of blogs is bad. He suggests that hte solution will lie between wikis and RSS
    (tags: blogging wiki rss)

Open source automation software for radio stations

January 19, 2006 in Infrastructures by Administrator | No comments

LiveSupport looks like a promising open platform for small public radio operators:
 
LiveSupport is the first free and open radio management software that provides live studio broadcast capabilities as well as remote automation in one integrated system.
 
2006_01_19_livesupport_logo_side_by_side.jpeg
 

MIPTV – MILIA digital pitching competition

January 19, 2006 in Applications, Media formats by Administrator | No comments

I was at the Milia conference for the first time in Cannes, France, in 1993. Back then it was very well attended and presented great speakers (Nocholas Negroponte and others). Over the years they kept their focus on “content”. I was there three years ago again and even tough it was much smaller, great stuff was discussed as they started to introduce “mobile content”.
 
Last year Milia merged with MIPTV, a much larger event. This year again will have its deal of great “content” sessions.
 
For those of you who have innovative ideas for multimedia content and applications, BBC and KBC (Korean Broadcsating Corporation) are organising a “pitching competion”. As you see here, they’ve got it all:
If you have concepts that push the boundaries for Interactive mobile content and formats, creative solutions for user-generated content, ideas that will help web users navigate the ‘long tail’ of a broadcaster’s rich archives, innovative content or applications for DMB Mobile TV, then you should enter Content 360 – Digital Pitching Competition at MIPTV featuring MILIA 2006.
 
A total of 75.000 Euros will be awarded to the best 5 pitches.
 
Good luck!
 

links for 2006-01-17

January 17, 2006 in Uncategorized by delus | No comments

Convergence at CRTC

January 17, 2006 in Legislation by Administrator | No comments

I had missed that one. CRTC makes a first move to adapt its structure to the convergence reality:
Effective immediately, broadcasting and telecommunications policy and operations will largely be grouped under a converged structure and leadership. A new integrated Industry Analysis, Economics and Technology section will be created as a resource for both broadcasting and telecommunications.
 
In my opinion, broadcasting is a particular application of the more general field of “telecommunications”. This being said, broadcasting requires specific caracteristics that are not always available in telecommunications systems today. That’s precisely the case with wireless networks. Also, applications exploiting the broadcast paradigm have specific properties. Currently, the wireless telecommunications industry shows a great interest in broadcasting technologies such DVB-H and DAB/DMB.
 
Convergence is a slow and difficult process in industries, organisations and especially governments. This here is good news.

Review of commercial radio policy in Canada

January 17, 2006 in Legislation, public broadcasting by Administrator | No comments

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will be holding a public hearing in May 2006. The notice underlines the fact that since the last policy review in 1998, we have seen many “dramatic” technological changes:
 
The seven years since the 1998 Policy came into effect have seen the advent of new digital technologies and methods of distribution that are having a profound effect on the way in which people, particularly young people, obtain and listen to music. This is presenting the radio industry with new opportunities, but also new challenges: in addition to the satellite radio services now available, file-sharing, podcasting, downloading, and audio streaming, all facilitated through the increasing ubiquity of the Internet, offer new and often more flexible alternatives to the traditional practices of purchasing recorded music and listening to radio broadcasting.
 
Radio has to be redifined. Even the term “radio” has no clear meaning within this new context. The former definition of radio is based on some specific networking technologies (AM, FM, …), value chains (advertising,…), formats (talk/music mix,…) and so on. A radio broadcaster today has three roles: operate the network, manage content and finaly sell advertizing time. In our new converging world, the radio ecosystem will be broader, richer and much more flexible. Everyone can be a braodcaster. Everyone can afford to be a braodcaster. To listeners, all this will bring more convenience and choice.
 
I have strong doubts that the new policy will address all the Broadcasting 2.0 challenges and opportunities but at least, CRTC seems to be willing to have look at them.

A NYT story about Internet media

January 16, 2006 in Industry, Infrastructures, Services by Administrator | No comments

A short review at the NYT about the new Internet content dissemination models:
 
“At one level it’s clear that the dam has broken,” said Paul Otellini, chief executive of Intel. “There’s an inevitable move to use the Internet as a distribution medium, and that’s not going to stop.”

Motorola iRadio

January 16, 2006 in Mobility, Services by Administrator | 1 comment

This Reuters.com story tells us a little bit about the new iRadio service by Motorola. After looking at the iRadio website , I would summarize the whole story with this:
 
iRadio = podcasting by Motorola
 
Althoug the name is not ideal (somewhat confusing because it is absolutely not radio) I prefer it to Podcasting. Podcasting is a direct reference to the iPod and I find it sad that we’re stuck with a product-based terminology for such an important innovation. Nevertheless, the iPod, in conjunction with iTunes, is probably the best platform for podcasting.
 
After launching the Rokr cellular phone last September with Apple, Motorola introduces the new Rokr E2 that will receive iRadio services.
 
2006_01_16_motorola-rokr_e2.gif
Here is a factsheet of the RoKr E2
 

links for 2006-01-16

January 16, 2006 in Uncategorized by delus | No comments

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