TV's fuzzy future

A round up

http://news.com.com/Week+in+review+TVs+fuzzy+future/2100-1083_3-6063542.html?tag=nefd.top
from WinCustomize Forums

Most people into customizing their PCs are also gadget freaks. Okay, maybe not you but I am.

CNET has a story about the way TV is changing now that HD DVDs are starting to come out, BluRay is on the horizon and PVRs are taking over.

With Tuesday's launch of two HD DVD players from Toshiba, the public got its chance to decide whether that format or its rival, Blu-ray, is the rightful heir to the DVD. In the public-relations battle between the warring technologies, HD DVD scored a victory by getting to market first. Toshiba's HD-A1 ($500) and higher-end HD-XA1 ($800) players hit store shelves this week, two months before the first Blu-ray player is scheduled to go on sale.

Meanwhile, to combat the rise of PVRs, Philips has patented a technology that would allow TV stations to prevent remote controls from working during a commercial. I'm serious. When a commercial runs, your fast forward or channel changing buttons would be disabled during the duration of the commercial.

And you thought banner ads were bad.

6,321 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If I must watch commercials, I won't watch TV at all then. Surely this isn't legal? Big Brother? maybe not, but little sister??? Just my opinion, but if we have to watch all commercials, cable/satellite/etc will have to be FREE!
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Slashdot's got an excellent discussion of the mandatory-commercial story. In the end, it sort of comes down to a hardware/software issue. If your tv, remote, etc are hardware, then you buy 'em and use 'em as you see fit. But if what you're really buying is the programming, then there could be some sort of EULA which would require you to use the system in a presecribed manner, such as not being allowed to skip commercials.

But as you said, if things ever get to the point that my tv is telling me what I have to watch, that will be the end. And no, I will not pay for the privilege of watching the tv in the way I choose.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It won't happen, another to the extreme idea that once put into effect will find major issues. Just another scare tactic...
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if things ever get to the point that my tv is telling me what I have to watch
.....

I will hire a chopper, go to the highest possible altitude and take great pleasure in throwing the TV out.

Like we're not governed/controlled enough already! It is one thing to protect ones rights to intellectual property, but when you view Sony's rootkit debacle, it becomes increasingly apparent that manufacturers/designers are viewing consumers as captive markets and therefore treating them with greater contempt.

Geez, it's getting to the point where consumers have no rights, and if we allow it, it'll get to the point when you can't add a spoonful of cocoa to your coffee to make a mocha chocolate.....and it's an infringement of the EULA to use condoms in any way other than missionary
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Philips will NEVER be able to sell a product with that "feature."
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hire a chopper, go to the highest possible altitude and take great pleasure in throwing the TV out.


Lemme know...I wanna go too!! Needs to be done over The nearest (Philips) assy. plant...
We've got Red Baron Aviation here at the airport, Confederate Air Force, and Helicopter School
edit: Uh Oh... I may have just faux-paux-ed my way into trouble with Homeland Security
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What's next?

"Don't you want to protect your kids? Get the new wall-sized television set with new enhanced NSA supervision that will allow law enforcement to monitor your kids behavior to make sure that no predators jump out of the computer or tv screen to harm them. We promise to use the technology only to stop evil-doers from doing evil. Act now, there is a low introductory price of only $1984. Buy now at your local Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Wal-Mart Express, or Sam's Club."
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Umm does this mean it would prevent you from changing channels as well during a commercial? Since that would mean not seeing that commercial.
I think this is one idea that just won't see the light of day. I could see perhaps having a way when recorded that it would prevent you from skipping it, but even that I'm not too keen on. Its bad enough some pre-recorded DVD's require you to watch certain things.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Umm does this mean it would prevent you from changing channels as well during a commercial?


Yes, essentially the technology would lock you in to the station/program you are watching....and to escape it you'd have to pay extra for the privelege.

Talk about creating captive markets.....what with DRM telling us what we can play our purchased media on, etc, etc. Next we'll have the xxxxx coffee maker manufacturer regulating the temperature cos the CEO doesn't like piping hot coffee .....and 4WD manufacturers installing credit card facilities to engage the 4WD when going off road.

What's next? A chip in TV's that relays back to the producers whether you're laughing appropriately at a comedy, or scared sh!tless by a horror flick (and if not your service is suspended until you cough up the extra bucks)....too bad about your privacy if you're watching a bit of porn