Hasta La Gadget!

Anyone on a slower broadband connection like I am, or heaven forbid on a dial-up connection, knows that modern websites assume you have a decent amount of bandwidth. Downloading all those photos and videos can take ages on a slow connection and Facebook knows the lack of bandwidth is one of the reasons people in some parts the world don’t join the network. Facebook has a plan to fix that, at least in the Asia-Pacific Gateway area.

Facebook has announced it will be investing in a project that will cost a total of $450 million to run an undersea fiber-optic cable. The cable will run from Malaysia to South Korea and Japan with branches splitting off for other countries. The new undersea cable will reduce the number of hops data has to take making downloads and uploads faster.

Facebook won’t say exactly how much money it invested in the undersea cable project. The project is also backed by major Chinese Internet providers and a number of other companies. “Our investment in this cable will help support our growth in South Asia, making it possible for us to provide a better user experience for a greater number of Facebook users in countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore,” a Facebook spokesman said.

[via BBC]

Comcast and Boxee are collaborating on a new system that could eventually replace CableCARD and allow third-party set-top boxes like the Boxee Box to access encrypted all-digital cable broadcasts. The two companies detailed the proposed approach in a joint FCC filing, initially using an external cable box that would hook up to STBs via ethernet, but eventually migrating to a licensed integrated digital transport adapter (Integrated DTA) that would provide a more streamlined solution.

Boxee and the cable companies have been at each others’ throats in recent months over proposals for encrypting basic cable channels. Such a move, the company argued, would unnecessarily prevent third-party media devices from accessing basic tier channels, forcing viewers into buying STBs directly from cable companies.

Those companies, of course, want to shift to full digital encryption as soon as possible, hence the proposed  two-stage solution to Boxee’s complaints. “The initial solution involves the development as soon as possible of a high-definition digital transport adapter with an ethernet connector (“E-DTA”)” the letter to the FCC says. “This solution would enable a customer with a third-party device to access basic tier channels directly through an ethernet input on such third-party device or via the home network, and to change channels remotely in the E-DTA via a DLNA protocol.”

Although swift, the external adapter could introduce issues around integration with other features in third-party hardware. So, a more longer-term system is also planned, around “the creation of a licensing path for integrating DTA technology into third-party devices (“Integrated DTA”). Such a device could access encrypted basic tier channels without the need for a cable operator-supplied DTA or set-top box.”

Both companies believe the solution is the best way to ensure cable channels are protected but not limited in their availability. In a key difference from current authentication systems, meanwhile, there’s no mention of CableCARD-based technology, with hints that this could eventually be the all-digital replacement to that system.

[via Zatz Not Funny]

Boxee and Comcast reveal cable encryption workaround is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Congratulations Bright House Networks customers, your off-brand Time Warner Cable experience now includes live TV streaming on your iPad. The Bright House TV tablet app has hit iTunes and is, unsurprisingly, a direct clone of the TWCable TV app, although it’s not the latest version as it doesn’t have parental controls yet. Otherwise it’s basically the same experience, complete with the restriction to using it at home on your own WiFi network and its initial unfriendliness towards jailbroken iPads. there’s no word on which channels are available, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they also mirror the Time Warner list. If you’re jailbroken, check the MacRumors link below for a workaround, otherwise you can just head to iTunes and download the app directly.

[Thanks, EvilSpock]

Bright House TV app brings rebranded Time Warner Cable TV to the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sick of paying for cable TV channels you don’t watch? Reportedly some operators are looking for a way — through negotiation or regulation — to end channel bundling, where to get certain channels (like MTV) they’re compelled to pack others (like TV Land) owned by the same company into their basic lineups. According to Reuters, smaller operators like Suddenlink and Mediacom are leading the charge, while even bigger companies like Comcast, Time Warner and DirecTV are feeling squeezed in retransmission fee disputes. However, as the LA Times points out, it’s still doubtful you’ll be able to pick and choose specific channels for a cheaper bill. What may be available however are cheaper packages of smaller bundles, like the lineup shown above that Comcast is testing in certain areas. What’s stopping true a la carte programming choices? Hybrid cable and content companies, like Comcast with NBC Universal and Time Warner, and sports — someone has to pay for that billion dollar ESPN Monday Night Football deal.

Some cable companies are pushing for unbundled channels — but not for you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A while back, you probably splurged for that insert–iPod–sound–system–here thinking you’d get some pretty good mileage out of it. If you also jumped ship at some point along the way (read: switched to Android), CableJive can help keep your bookshelf system cranking for a little while longer. The dockBoss+ adapter features micro-USB and audio plugs opposite a 30-pin connector, the latter of which fits nicely in one of the eight quadrillion iOS-compatible sound systems currently on the market. Now, you can port that valuable charging action to your existing handset — plus, the accessory also features a built-in charge converter for FireWire-enabled cables and docking stations, if needed. Not only that, but the dockBoss+ will also work in tandem with your iOS-centric car or home stereo — unless you’re still clinging to the factory head unit in your VW Beetle… bummer. Those looking to pick one up can do so starting September 28th for $30; a handful of Lincolns is much easier on the ol’ wallet than a brand new one of these, that’s for sure.

*Assuming, of course, that you’re cool with a few cables hanging out, and that your handset actually uses micro-USB.

[Thanks, Gregor]

dockBoss+ adapter brings iOS speaker dock compatibility to Android, BlackBerry and WP7 handsets* originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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