[opendtv] 060707 Free Friday Fragments (Mark's Monday Memo)
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 17:44:44 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Here are some very efficient (low-administrative-cost) relief
organizations (all have four-star ratings from CharityNavigator.org):
<http://www.americares.org/>
<http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html>
<http://www.directrelief.org/index.html>
<http://www.hopeww.org/>
<http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/>
Americans may also call the Red Cross at 800 HELP NOW (800 435-7669).
- Follow-ups:
- CableCARD -
- Less than 3% of digital-cable-ready (DCR) TVs reportedly have
CableCARDs. Perhaps as a result, there are reportedly 80% fewer DCR TV models
this year than in 2005:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/03/technology/03cable.html>
- Here's more on the cable and consumer-electronics industries
blaming each other for compatibility problems:
<http://www.cabledigitalnews.com/weekly_analysis/07062006_01.html>
- Motorola recently joined Scientific-Atlanta in getting a
multi-stream CableCARD approved by CableLabs. The multi-stream cards
reportedly support video on demand, picture-in-picture, and "other interactive
services and applications":
<http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6350049.html>
- In a related story, the Association of Public Television Stations
and cable competitor RCN have joined Comcast in asking the FCC to allow
low-cost digital cable boxes integrating security and navigation functions
after next July 1. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and Microsoft
question the need for a waiver:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6349710.html>
- Unlicensed devices - Here's a story on the Association for Maximum
Service Television's letter to the leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee
about "unintended consequences" of the planned deployment of more wireless
broadband systems:
<http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/MSTV-congress-act-20060706/>
- July 1 - I'm getting a little closer on catching up on the ads, but not
yet.
- May 1 - Neither the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) nor the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated their lists of U.S. DTT
stations for quite some time.
- So there are high-definition churches and a high-definition life. Why not
high-definition fireworks? Here's a story on pleasing the stay-at-home crowd:
<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13688199/>
- International news:
- There were at least 321,393 subscribers to HD cable or satellite in
Canada as of this spring. That includes only companies with at least 20,000
subscribers. That represents less than 3% of households:
<http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/content/view/1367/51/>
- Warren Communications News reported Monday that France has set a 2011
analog cut-off date. The story is no longer on their site:
<http://www.warren-news.com/>
- The first country to drop analog, however, may be the Netherlands:
<http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1779>
- According to the UK Energy Saving Trust, the switch to DTT there will be
the main reason for doubled electricity use by 2010:
<http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060703-125628-5903r>
- I have not yet received sales data from CEA for anything past the 23rd week
of 2006.
- I am sad to report the untimely deaths of two fine gentlemen with whom I had
the pleasure to work:
- Christian Tremblay, president of Algolith, a founder of Miranda, and
formerly of CDL, died in a road accident on June 29:
<http://www.algolith.com/index.php?id=63&no_cache=1>
Here are details of his memorial service this Sunday:
<http://www.algolith.com/christian/index.html>
- John Luff provided the following: "Marty Skoff, Manager of Installation
Services for AZCAR USA, died suddenly on June 26th. He was employed by TPC
Communications as a colorist, and later by STI (later AZCAR) as the manager of
all installation crews. His positive approach to problem solving was always
appreciated by customers. He was an avid sportsman who seldom missed a chance
to be in the outdoors. He is survived by his wife Jan and son Dan."
- Upcoming Dates (DTV and non-DTV):
- September 27-29, Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C., IEEE Broadcast
Symposium <http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/sympo.html>.
- October 3-5, Hotel Fort Des Moines, Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa DTV Symposium
<http://www.iptv.org/dtv/2005/>.
- October 4-6, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, Jackson Hole Tech
Symposium <http://www.jhfestival.org/symposium2006/>.
- October 18-21, Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, SMPTE convention
<http://www.smpte.org/conferences/148cfp.cfm>.
- ***January 31-February 2, The Westin at Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage
(Palm Springs area), California, ***HPA Technology Retreat***
<http://www.hpaonline.com>.
- April 14-19, Las Vegas Convention Center, NAB convention
<http://www.nabshow.com/>.
- April 18-21, Atlanta Convention Center, Satellite Expo 2007 with C-band
Pioneers Reunion <http://www.bobcooper.tv/c-band-reunion.htm>.
* - new or revised listing
TTFN,
Mark
PS Permission is granted to forward this or any other Monday Memo. Next
week's memo might be late.
Have a question about the memo? Before contacting me, please try the FAQs and
glossary in the second postscript to the January 5 memo:
<http://www.digitaltelevision.com/mondaymemo/mlist/frm02213.html>
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