Hasta La Gadget!

FLO TV said that it would be refunding the eight folks who actually bought into its services once it made the tough decision to shut things down on March 27, 2011, and lo and behold, it’s a promise kept. What we weren’t expecting, however, was any sort of monetary compensation for hardware, but it looks as if FLO TV will be providing some sort of rebate amount to those who purchased a FLO TV Personal Television, Audiovox Portable DVD Player with FLO TV or FLO TV Auto Entertainment center. It’s unclear how much you’ll be getting back — you’ll need to go through the entire rebate process to find out — but you will be reimbursed for any prepaid FLO TV services that you’re no longer interested in using (or won’t be able to use due to the March 2011 cutoff). Hit the source link to file your claim, but be aware that your service will be cut within 72 hours of submitting it. Beyond the break, you’ll find the full email that FLO TV is sending to its customers.

[Thanks, T.J.]

Continue reading FLO TV rebates for devices and service are now live

FLO TV rebates for devices and service are now live originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let’s be frank. The Vizio brand doesn’t exactly connote… greatness. You might think it’s a bargain-bin TV, or one for your dorm, or one you get because you simply can’t afford something better. But this econo-panel apparently kicks ass. More »

Two acquisitions in as many days? Say it ain’t so! Prior to even unboxing Phonetic Arts, Google has now snapped up Seattle-based Widevine. Truth be told, you’re probably taking advantage of the company’s technology without even being aware of it — it’s used in over 250 million web connected HDTVs and streamers around the globe, and it’s primarily designed to thwart piracy attempts while enabling consumers to enjoy content on a wider array of devices. As these things tend to do, neither outfit is talking prices, but it’s fairly obvious why El Goog would want a firm like this in its portfolio. Moreover, it’s borderline comical that Viacom’s pushing an appeal in order to pit Google as an anti-studio, pro-piracy monster while it’s spending hard-earned cash on a DRM layer. At any rate, Google’s not getting into specific plans just yet, only stating its intentions to maintain Widevine’s agreements, provide support for existing and future clients as well as “building upon [the technology] to enhance both Widevine’s products and its own.”

Google spends a few more million, picks up Widevine DRM software firm originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don’t you hate it when you are lying on the couch lazily watching a TV show, and then BOOM it turns to a commercial and kicks the volume up to an ear blasting level, which leaves you fumbling for the remote to turn it down. Then, you have to readjust the sound when your show comes back on and again for all the commercial breaks that follow. What a pain!

Well, it looks like Congress agrees that it’s a pain in the butt, as well is very painful and harmful to viewers hearing, because they passed a bill this week to control the volume level of TV advertisements. The bill entitled the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or very appropriately the CALM Act is currently waiting to approved by President Obama. But, really, why wouldn’t he approve it? Nobody wants to get their ears blown off every time a commercial comes on.

Once the bill is passed, the Federal Communications Commission would be required to adopt industry standards that coordinate ad decibel levels to those of the regular program within one year and the regulation would go into full effect a year after that. This bill would affect all broadcast providers, including cable and satellite. So here’s to hoping that one day soon our lazy TV Sundays will be full “CALM” commercials.  

Via msnbc

We did say it’d take an Act of Congress to lower the volume on televisual commercials and, shockingly enough, that’s exactly what we’ve got now. The House of Representatives has given its nod of approval to the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which, having already cleared the Senate, is now on its way to President Obama’s desk for final validation. Once signed into effect, the new legislation will require that all advertisers modulate their volume down so it’s no higher than that of the program you’re watching, and it’ll be the FCC‘s duty to ensure that they all adhere to the new rule. A year’s leniency will be allowed for all those who struggle with figuring out how to turn it down from 11, but after that we should all be able to watch the dying medium that is live television without dreading the commercial breaks.

CALM Act approved by Congress, should make TV commercials slightly less obnoxious originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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