Game Changer: FCC report endorses use of White Spaces

FCC Report: Unlicensed Devices Meet "Proof of Concept" Threshold
In the FCC's just-released report on its testing of unlicensed mobile devices, the commission concluded that they had met the "proof of concept" threshold it said was its benchmark for proceeding with authorizing the devices under certain technical constraints. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Wednesday he was scheduling a vote Nov. 4 on an item allowing the devices to share the spectrum band used by digital TV stations and wireless microphones.The report's conclusion came despite findings that all the devices tested had problems sensing stations operating in adjacent channels, problems that could "impact significantly the ability of the devices to reliably detect TV signals within stations’ service areas."


Comcast tru2way goes live in Chicago
Comcast, with the help of Plasma high-definition television manufacturer Panasonic, today kicked off its tru2way cable television service in the Chicago area, starting at the massive ABT appliance store here. Designed to simplify the living room by eliminating set-top boxes and additional remote controls, the service will be available first in the Chicago and Denver metro areas and to all Comcast markets by April 2009.
The tru2way technology enables an equipped TV set to be connected to a cable service without a set-top box. The technology is a Java-based middleware layer serving as a single platform on which software companies and developers can create innovative applications and services.


Adobe and BBC in iPlayer deal
Mac and Linux users should soon be able to download TV programmes with the BBC’s iPlayer. PC users have been able to do this for some time, and now a platform-neutral download client is being launched to extend the service to other platforms.

Google’s Profit Rises 26% on Slower Growth
Third-quarter profit increased 26 percent to $1.35 billion, a strong showing that might be enough to reassure jittery investors.

Expected Dip in HD Sales Could Hit Satellite Hardest
Flagging HDTV set sales in recent months could be a sign of a dire Christmas sales season, which could have a ripple effect that hits the pay television industry, a Bernstein Research survey reports. While sales have increased year-over-year for HDTV sets through August, the survey said several indicators are pointing toward a rapid decline in sales through November. According to the research, MasterCard’s SpendingPulse data, which tracks MasterCard usage, reported a steep decline in electronics purchases in the month of September versus last year, dipping 13.8%.

Big Brother Is Watching (And Using Deep Packet Inspection)
Deep packet inspection has many legitimate uses on an ISP network, but has gained notoriety in recent years for its use in delivering behavioral ads, injecting ISP javascript banners into websites, and identifying (and ultimately filtering or throttling) P2P traffic. Evolution in DPI technology has companies not only buying and selling your online habits, but pushing the technology as a new Internet policing solution, placing the onus on ISPs to compare every packet a user sends to a master database of what's legal or illegal.

Sharp Releases Built-In Blu-ray TVs; Philips Posts 3Q Loss
Sharp Releases TVs With Built-In Blu-ray Recorder Sharp has released the Aquos DX, a flat-screen LCD TV that comes with a Blu-ray recorder/player built in, technology blog Gizmodo reported. The recorder allows a user to record television directly onto a Blu-ray disc. Ranging from 26-inch to 52-inch models, the television will cost between $1,600 and $4,900.

Cisco powers Italian IPTV Service
Cisco announced today that it has signed an agreement with Tiscali, the Italian alternative telecommunications operator, to supply Cisco® Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture and Cisco IP television (IPTV) headend equipment and technology for the Tiscali.tv IPTV service.

DMCA Catches McCain On YouTube
YouTube has pulled ads for John McCain that appear to violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, using copyrighted material from Fox News.

Back in 1998, Senator John McCain voted for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. 10 years later he’s a victim of it.
YouTube has pulled ads for the McCain Presidential campaign after Fox News has claimed they illegally use copyrighted material. And that’s sparked a flurry of letters between the McCain campaign and YouTube.

The campaign has asked YouTube to keep the clips online while it’s determined whether the Fox clips constitute fair use – and courts have said that fair use has to be considered by copyright holders. McCain’s people have also suggested that political campaigns should have special protections. Fox has filed a DMCA claim for the clips to be removed.


Apple adds to HD line-up
Apple today announced that all four major broadcast networks are now offering primetime series in HD through iTunes. "We've got an incredible Fall 2008 TV lineup with over 70 primetime comedies and dramas, including many of the most popular shows on TV in stunning HD," Apple VP of Internet Services Eddy Cue said in a statement. "With over 200 million episodes sold, iTunes customers have proven they love watching television on their computer, iPod, iPhone and TV with Apple TV."

Google Partners with Harris, COREMedia for TV Ads
Google today announced two deals that give its Google TV Ads users access to a pool of ad inventory and integrates the service into data reporting for direct response marketers.
The first deal is with Harris Corp., which provides advertising inventory management tools like traffic, scheduling and billing systems to media companies. The partnership with Harris will allow companies with ad inventory to make that ad inventory available through Google TV Ads, where advertisers can bid on it. Once a buy is secured the ad will be handed off from Google to Harris for fulfillment.
The other deal is with COREMedia, which provides direct response advertising services and technology for planning, purchasing and analysis of direct response commercials


One in 12 U.S. Homes Unprepared for Switchover
About one out of 12 U.S. households remains unprepared for the switchover to all-digital television broadcasts next February because those households do not own either a digital television or a set-top box that converts digital signals to analog for older TV sets, Nielsen Co. said today.

McCain/YouTube Dustup Indicates Importance of Political Web Video
YouTube isn't about to change its policy on removing videos for John McCain or anyone else. In a letter sent to the Google-owned site Monday, the Senator's presidential campaign contends YouTube is "chilling political speech" by taking down some of its videos based on "meritless copyright claims." YouTube's answer, in so many words: "tough luck."