Internet-enabled TVs: Fast track to the Web

As you peruse the latest TV ads, you might notice phrases like “Internet enabled” or “Yahoo widgets,” or even more-cryptic names like Samsung Media@2.0 and Panasonic Viera Cast, and wonder what it's all about.

In a word: connectivity. Over the past year, TV makers including Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and LG have started building Ethernet ports into their TV so you can view online content on the TV screen, using your remote control to navigate. All you need is an Internet connection, generally wired, but in some cases wireless. You don’t have to use a computer or any external device.

Your TV can only access specific online content, so don’t expect to browse freely around the Web. When this capability first arrived, about a year ago, all you could get was pretty basic stuff, like RSS feeds with news, stock updates, and weather info. But now you can get to YouTube, eBay, photo sites such as Flickr, and—possibly the killer app—movie services such as Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Blockbuster OnDemand, and Vudu. Content varies by brand and even by model. In our TV Ratings (available to subscribers), we note the level of access each set provides on the detailed model page.

Many of the TVs we’ve seen use Yahoo’s "TV Widgets"—small, colorful onscreen icons--to accomplish this. As Yahoo explains: Press one button on your remote to bring up the TV Widget Dock, select a TV Widget, and view content. With each TV Widget you can also create a Snippet or shortcut for quick access to the content you want. By pressing a button on your remote, you can connect directly to your friends' photos on Flickr.

We’re trying out sets from the various TV brands to see how their offerings and usability compare and will be reporting on the experience soon. —Eileen McCooey

Blog on free DVDs at library saves me money

We don’t rent that many DVDs in my house, so I’ve never gotten around to signing up with Netflix. I can usually find something to watch at the DVDXpress kiosk in my local supermarket, which rents recent releases for just $1 a day. If there’s a specific movie I can’t get there, I can generally find it on my cable company’s on demand service. But at $4.95 a pop, I try to use that as little as possible.

What I can’t get from the kiosk or cable on demand are compilations of TV series, like Showtime’s Dexter and The Tudors. I toyed with the idea of subscribing to Showtime, but that would run me $16 a month with the on demand option, which I’d need to catch up on previous seasons. I could also rent those series from Netflix, but that would cost at least $8.99 a month  I kept dragging my feet, reluctant to take on another recurring entertainment expense--I’m already paying about $125 a month for my cable TV with DVR, plus phone and Internet triple play.

Then the light bulb went off. I remembered that we ran a blog on borrowing DVDs from the public library. I reread it and noticed that one reader said his library carried TV series. I checked, and so did mine. In fact, it had both of the series I wanted to watch. 

Better late than never. Now I’m looking forward to enjoying many hours of mayhem with Dexter’s sympathetic serial killer and the randy royals in the Tudors.

The moral of my story: If you haven’t checked out your local library’s video section in a while, give it a once-over. You might be happily surprised by what you find. Some libraries are even starting to carry Blu-ray discs, noted one reader of our previous blog. We've also seen some with video games for the Wii and Xbox 360. Others are likely to follow suit, so dust off your library card and hit the stacks! —Eileen McCooey

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bchai/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

DTV coupons: It’s now or never

On Friday, July 31, when the clock chimes midnight, the DTV coupon program will no longer accept new applications, so act fast if you haven’t already asked Uncle Sam to kick in $40 toward the purchase of a digital converter box.

Applications sent via snail mail must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2009, and online, phone, and fax applications must be made by 12 midnight Eastern Time. You should expect your coupon (one or two per household) via first-class mail about nine business days after your application is received. You’ll then have 90 days to use the coupon before it expires.

To order a coupon, you can call the toll-free, 24-hour automated system 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). You can download an application and mail it to PO BOX 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000, or fax it to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632). Remember, you have to do it within the next 24 hours or so.

Tip of the Week: Be on the lookout for new HD channels

[ Photo courtesy of Sanja Gjenero ]

If you’re like me, you’re thrilled when a new high-def channel is added to your lineup. TV providers have been beefing up their HD offerings regularly over the last year or two, and many now offer dozens of stations. I get about 60 channels in HD, and if I subscribed to the premium channels, I’d get many more.

My cable provider, Cablevision, recently added HD versions of USA and FX, so I can watch shows like Psych, Burn Notice, and Damages in all their high-def splendor. Sometimes I’ve stumbled across these new offerings by accident, while idly surfing with the channel up/down button on the remote. Though the discovery gladdens my heart, I can’t help but wonder how long I’ve been missing out, unknowingly settling for their standard-def counterparts.

Cablevision does announce new HD offerings, but it’s usually in small type down the side of my monthly service bill, or in an occasional pamphlet listing the full channel line-up. But when I’m rushing to pay my bills, I don’t always read the fine print or flyers. Now, I make a point of doing so. I also check the onscreen program guide to see if any new channels have materialized in the high-def tier. And there's always the Web: Like most companies, Cablevision provides a full lineup of channels for my area on its Web site.

If you’re not regularly searching out new HD options, I recommend you start doing so. You might be happily surprised by what you find. – Eileen McCooey

Cablevision's "remote" DVR: Will it be a better option?

With the Supreme Court's decision, "Remote DVR" may be on the way, but when that will be and how much it will cost remain to be seen.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision not to hear a final appeal by broadcasters and movie studios seeking to block Cablevision’s proposed “remote DVR” technology opens the door for the company, and others, to offer such a service.

Unlike a conventional DVR, which stores programs on a hard drive in the cable box in your living room, Cablevision’s planned remote DVR service lets you store programs on the company’s servers. Because the technology resides within the cable system’s network, subscribers can use their existing cable boxes instead of renting new equipment. This would free consumers from the storage limits of their hard drive (often about 30 hours of HD video). It could also theoretically make the service cheaper, since the cable companies don’t have to deploy and service separate boxes.

So when will we be able to get this new service? Unfortunately, no time soon, since Cablevision says there’s no timetable in place for a rollout of its remote DVR service. Instead, Cablevision’s first application of the technology will be far more prosaic: Subscribers with standard cable boxes will be able to pause live TV when the phone rings—something I (and Cablevision subscribers with DVRs and cable-phone service) can already do with my DirecTV DVR service, which displays Caller-ID information on the TV screen.

As a result, many questions remain as to how the service will really work.

Tips for better DTV reception

[ Photo courtesy of Mykl Roventine ]

Evidently the DTV transition on June 12 didn’t disrupt life as we know it, judging by most reports we’ve seen. But two weeks into it, we’re still hearing from consumers who are having problems getting some of the digital channels available in their market. Here’s some advice from the FCC, which has been tracking problems presented to their experts at support centers or via the toll-free help line (1-888-CALL-FCC), which is still in operation.

Many stations changed their frequency on June 12, but the old frequency might still be stored in the memory of your digital converter box or digital TV—even if you rescanned after the transition. To clear the memory, you need to run a “double rescan,” in effect, rebooting the system to wipe the slate clean.

The problem could also lie with your antenna. You might need to relocate or adjust the one you have or get a different type. As the FCC points out, one of the most popular spots for indoor antennas–on top of the TV– may not be the best spot. A location higher up or near a window, and away from electronic equipment, may provide better reception. You’ll find many useful pointers in the FCC’s factsheets on antennas and reception. —Eileen McCooey

DTV converter-box coupons: Act now, program ends July 31, 2009

The digital converter box coupon program will end July 31.

If you received over-the-air TV broadcasts on an analog TV and would still like to apply for a coupon to offset the cost of getting a DTV converter, the deadline for requesting one—July 31, 2009— is fast approaching. A DTV converter will enable you to continue receiving TV broadcasts, now sent as digital signals, on an analog TV.

You can apply for a converter-box coupon on the Web, by mail at PO Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000, or by calling the coupon program's toll-free 24-hour automated system at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). You can also fax a coupon application to 1-877-388-4632. Applications can be downloaded via the DTV coupon website. (Note that those living in a licensed nursing home, intermediate care facility or assisted living facility, must mail in the Application Form for Nursing Home Residents).

As part of the DTV transition, all eligible U.S. households can request two $40 coupons, which can be used to buy eligible converter boxes at participating consumer electronics retailers. Applications will be accepted until midnight, July 31, and coupons must then be used within 90 days of being mailed.

If you need more information about the converter-box program, you can visit an online FAQ, or call the toll-free hotline: 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). And if you recently applied for a coupon and would like to check the status of your request and the expected mailing date, visit the NTIA's converter-box status Web site. There's also a troubleshooting Web site for handling problems.

We suggest not waiting until the last minute, as it's possible that supplies of digital converter boxes at retail could be more limited the closer we get to the coupon deadline. So apply for a coupon today! —James K. Willcox

DTV transition: Smooth going for most

The transition to digital TV has been relatively tranquil.
[ Photo courtesy of woodleywonderworks. ]

Despite some trepidation about how the shut-off of analog TV broadcasts would go, by most accounts the switch to all-digital over-the-air TV broadcasts went fairly smoothly, with no widespread outages reported.

There also appeared to be ample supplies of DTV converters for last-minute shoppers, although the FCC did report that there were some shortages of antennas. It’s recommended that you shop online if you can’t find a converter box or antenna at a local retailer.

Make sure to rescan channels
The FCC, which monitored the DTV switch by 971 full-power stations last Friday, said it received more than 315,000 calls to its toll-free help lines. The most calls came from the Chicago area, followed by Dallas-Ft. Worth, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore markets.

Of those calls, almost 30 percent had to do with digital converter boxes; the FCC reported that most issues were resolved simply by having the callers re-scan their converter-box tuners to receive stations that had moved to new frequencies.

So if you’re still having any problems, try rescanning the channels; also, some stations will be upping the power of their broadcasts, so you might get a channel you previously couldn’t. If problems persist, you can still call the toll-free help line, 1-888-CALL-FCC, or visit the DTV website for more information.

Also, note that 118 stations have agreed to maintain analog “nightlight” broadcasts for up to 30 days after the transition. These stations will continue to broadcast emergency and DTV transition information via analog signals in the evening for those who haven’t been able to successfully make the jump to digital. Here's a list [PDF] of the nightlight stations.

Commentary: Goodbye, my old friend – Analog TV

The switch over from analog to digital TV signals on June 12, 2009 marks a definite end to the familiar, decades-old way television programs arrive into millions of American homes.
[ stock photo courtesy of: Kenn Kiser ]

June 12, 2009. The day analog television died. We all knew this day was coming, but that doesn't lessen the pain. Allow me to offer a eulogy for my dear old friend.

Given that I'm a Gen-Xer and a native son of New York City (media capital of the world), it's no surprise that TV was a big part of my life growing up. I spent a lot of time (maybe too much) in front of that glowing screen. Ask me my favorite happy childhood memories and I can immediately list: The Sesame Street gang teaching me my A-B-Cs (PBS, Channel 13); watching School House Rock on ABC Saturday mornings. (Who knew that catchy ad-like jingles could teach you stuff and be fun? "Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses..."); and watching movies at 4:30 weekday afternoons instead of doing homework. (Thanks, WABC Channel 7—especially for the many “Godzilla” weeks!)

Maybe I had a sheltered childhood, but over-the-air TV opened up a wonderful world of entertainment (and learning)—all for free... using just a simple antenna. It captivated millions of others, including the nearly 106 million Americans who watched the finale of M*A*S*H, the more than 90 million who discovered first-hand, who shot "J.R." on Dallas, and the nearly 53 million who watched Friends go for that one last cup of coffee at "Central Perk." Truly free TV was indeed powerful in its day.

DTV transition takes full effect today

Friday June 12, 2009 marks the end of all analog broadcasts from nearly all but a minority of television stations in the United States.
[ stock photo courtesy of: Doru Lupeanu ]

DTV day has finally arrived, after what seems like the longest ramp-up in history. Here’s what you can expect, and what you should do, as full-power TV stations pull the plug on analog broadcasts and go all-digital.

Watch the clock. Stations will be cutting off analog broadcasts at various times during the day. Some made the switch in the wee hours of the morning while we slept, as soon as the date rolled over to June 12. Most will be making the change sometime between noon and 11:59 p.m. tonight, according to the FCC. You can telephone your local stations to see when they'll be doing the deed.

Run a channel scan. This will pick up any new digital stations that just became available and stations that just increased their transmission strength. Because some stations might be changing over late in the day, rescan your channels again tomorrow, on June 13. For more help, check out our video guide to setting up and using a DTV converter box.

Check for new channels. You might find extra "side channels" with different programming from major networks. They should come up (as 2.1 or 2-1, for example) as you surf using the channel up/down button on the remote.

Get help. The FCC's toll-free help line, 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) is currently up and running 24 hours a day. The 4,000 agents on duty can answer a question or tell you whether free, in-home local assistance is available in your area from a source such as AmeriCorps or your local fire department. You can also get hands-on help at one of the 600-plus walk-in centers set up nationwide. The FCC's online DTV hub has all this information and much more.

Look for analog holdovers. You might find that some stations in your area are still sending analog signals. There are thousands of stations (technically called low-power stations, Class A stations, and TV translator stations) that did not have to discontinue analog broadcasts as of today. Many operate in more remote areas. If you have a DTV converter box connected to your TV, you'll need to use the box's analog pass-through feature to get those analog stations in addition to the digital broadcasts you can now get. If the box you bought does not have this feature, you can connect the equipment in a way that will allow you to pull in both types of broadcasts. A diagram in the brochure DTV Made Easy shows how to connect your gear. (If you have Adobe Acrobat, you can download a copy of DTV Made Easy here. —Eileen McCooey