Michael's Insight

Google unveiling television OS next month

Google TV to be Unveiled Next Month [Mashable]

I wrote earlier this week about Samsung's plans to implement a version of Google's Android operating system on their televisions. Now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google plans to introduce its Android-based OS for televisions and set-tops to the world next month. The Google I/O Conference, the company's gathering for 3,000 developers, is expected to be the venue where Google TV is unveiled.

The Journal indicates that Sony, Intel and Logitech are all partnering with Google for the introduction of the new OS. It's expected that developers will have an opportunity to design applications for the new OS that will run on the various broadband-connected televisions and set-tops that will run Google TV.

But while companies like Sony and Samsung look to try out Google's new product, they haven't taken the plunge in the way that Motorola did with mobile phones - converting the company's entire product line to the Google OS.

Jobs writes about Apple's decision to forgo Flash

Apple has taken some heat for refusing to implement Adobe's Flash on its iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Right now, no Flash means that users of those devices miss out on quite a bit rich web content. However, if the iPad’s historic sales are any indication, the refusal to implement Flash didn't stop customers from buying the devices. Nonetheless, Steve Jobs recently posted an open letter discussing Flash and what he considers to be its faults.

Jobs says Flash is a significant drain on mobile devices' battery power (a subject about which I recently witnessed Jobs' passionate concern in a discussion about another software battery drainer) due to the extra processing power needed to display its content. Another significant problem with Flash unique to Apple is that Jobs indicates it does not function well with multi-touch operations. Jobs also cites problems with Flash security, many of which have been well documented by malware that take advantage of security flaws.

Not leaving Jobs' claims unanswered, Adobe CEO, Shantanu Narayen responded in a Wall Street Journal interview, which I read this morning on my iPad, asserting that Jobs' position is a "smoke screen" to protect Apple's desire to keep a lock over software development for its devices.

As the alternative to Flash, Apple is implementing HTML5 in its products, which can provide rich web content and is based on an open source standard. It’s ironic that Apple would go this route because its own mobile operating system is proprietary and its Apps Store is a walled garden, but the decision to go with HTML5 is consistent with Apple’s reluctance to work with third-party software developers.

In closing, Jobs writes that Flash is a relic that is no longer relevant in the mobile era. Regardless of whether users or other mobile manufacturers agree that statement.  Looks like Flash does not have much of a future with Apple.

Nielsen reports growth in television ownership

One Third of U.S. Households Have a DVR [NewTeeVee]

Nielsen's latest Television Audience Report has been released, and reveals several interesting details about Americans' television ownership and viewing habits. In 2010, television ownership is at an all time high. Ninety-eight percent of all U.S. households have at least one television set - a percentage that's been consistent since 1990. However, the number of households with three or more sets has continued to grow - up from 41 percent in 2000 to 55 percent in 2010. The average household owns 2.93 sets, up from 2.86 sets in 2009.

 

DVR ownership is also up in 2010, with one-third of households now owning a device to time-shift television viewing. Forty-six percent of homes now have at least one television capable of displaying HD content, doubling 2009's 23 percent of HD-ready homes.

With more televisions, Americans are watching more cable television programming, according to Nielsen. In 2002-03, cable television viewing represented 56 percent of all television viewing. In 2008-09 (the latest years of data in Nielsen's report), fully two-thirds of all television viewing happens on a cable channel. Cable programming's popularity during prime time has demonstrated a similar rate of growth from 2002 to 2009.

Toshiba Mobile Display working toward 3D without glasses

Toshiba Mobile Display touts 21-inch glasses-free 3D HDTV, raises a few eyebrows [EngadgetHD]

Is a quality 3D image possible on a screen without the use of 3D glasses? Toshiba Mobile Display is aiming to find out whether a 3D image comparable to screens that use glasses can be created without them. The company is using a technique called "multi-parallax" for glasses-less 3D, and it claims that the screen causes less eye fatigue than those that employ glasses.

The multi-parallax process creates a number of images that can change relative to where a viewer is standing in relation to the television screen.

But, as Engadget notes, the technology that Toshiba Mobile Display is working toward isn't ready for store shelves yet. With some more development, perhaps glasses-less 3D will hit the market in the near future.

Samsung considering using Google Android for television OS

Report: Samsung interested in Android-based TVs [CNET News]

Google may soon be coming to a television screen near you. CNET reports that Samsung is considering creating a television model running Google's Android operating system. Android was originally designed as an OS for mobile phones and other mobile devices, but is finding popularity as an OS for other electronics as well. Last month is was revealed that Sony and Intel are working to put Android on a television set-top box.

Android's main advantages for manufacturers are that it's interface is highly customizable and Google does not charge a license fee for the OS - meaning its costs less to create the software interface that allows viewers to interact with their television. Android has a developer base that has created over 30,000 applications that would likely be able to be downloaded and installed on a television running Android.

Next iPhone video chat feature may be limited to wi-fi

Shattered Dreams—iPhone Video Chat Might Be Wi-Fi Only [Gizmodo]

Gizmodo has unearthed a feature expected to be in the next version of the iPhone that will be limited by the AT&T wireless network. The blog has found code within the iPhone OS 4 SDK that references a video chat feature that may well debut in the next iPhone. Imagine a camera on the same side of the device as the screen, allowing a user to video chat with other mobile users. It would be a revolutionary feature for a mobile phone.

Unfortunately, Gizmodo's code find also reveals that the video chat feature will likely only be able to occur when the iPhone is connected to broadband on a wi-fi network, not AT&T's wireless network. Currently AT&T is the exclusive provider for Apple's iPhone.

iPhone users have experienced a number of problems with connectivity on AT&T's network, leading to half of iPhone users indicating that they would like to switch providers if it were an option with the popular smartphone. With the bandwidth demand on AT&T's already overstretched network, it's no surprise that the next iPhone's video chat feature would be disabled for use unless a user connects to a more reliable wi-fi connection.

Privacy concerns surround Google wi-fi MAC recording

UK data watchdog to quiz Google on Streetview Wi-Fi database [The Register]

Is Google using its Street View mapping technology to do more than simply take panoramic pictures of streets and roads? According to German data privacy officials, Google has used the vehicles it uses to take pictures for Street View maps to record the MAC addresses and GPS locations of wi-fi networks they pass. Even for a wi-fi network secured by encryption, specialized network forensic tools can determine the MAC address of a wi-fi network. German authorities have questioned Google's compilation of MAC addresses and locations as a potential breach of users' privacy. British data privacy officials are also planning to inquire into Google's Street View data gathering.

For its part, Google has indicated that the MAC address database allows its mobile mapping and location technology to more accurately determine the location of mobile devices connected to wi-fi networks. If Google has a wi-fi MAC address and location in its database, any mobile device connected to that wi-fi network can easily be referenced to a specific location. Google indicates that this location technology is more accurate than cell tower triangulation and that the company is not collecting any information other than what is being publicly broadcast by wi-fi routers.

Malware scheme targets iPad users

iPad users on Windows targeted with malware [CNET News]

It didn't take long.

Malware developers and spammers are already preying on the large numbers of iPad users to create vectors for malicious applications. CNET reports on the Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY malware, which spammers are disguising as an update to the iPad's software. Emails with a subject line of "iPad Software Update" arrive in a user's inbox. A link in the email appears to link to a legit iTunes site. 

But it's a clever ruse, which actually installs a backdoor onto the user's computer, allowing hackers to have unfettered access to the unsuspecting user's personal data. The malware also attempts to read keys and serial numbers of programs installed on a user's system. For now, only Windows-based computers are vulnerable to the Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY malware. 

If you are an iPad user, it's a sudden, rude awakening -- you're not exempt from bad things happening either.  Stay vigilant for this scam and, more importantly, be aware that malicious software already is being written for your brand new iPad.

CableLabs investigating post-DOCSIS 3.0 protocol

CableLabs Next-Gen Broadband Project Envisions Multigigabit Speeds [Multichannel News]

Even before the next generation of cable Broadband, DOCSIS 3.0, is rolled out to most cable customers, CableLabs, the research and development consortium for the cable industry, is actively working to create the next big step forward.  The DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) platform has been at the center of transforming the modern Broadband experience from the old dial-up days.  But looking forward, the next broadband protocol might abandon DOCSIS entirely.

Multichannel News reports that CableLabs is investigating a new data transfer protocol that might abandon traditional 6 MHz channel divisions used in cable architecture today. Such an approach could potentially yield broadband speeds of 5 Gbps or more.

To be clear, DOCSIS 3.0 will likely be the protocol of choice for a number of years to come, as it has the ability to deliver up to 300 Mbps on today's cable networks -- way more than any residential application needs at this time. But the cable industry is not waiting to begin development of new ways to deliver the ultra-fast speeds of tomorrow, and it will be interesting to follow developments in the potential creation of a new cable broadband protocol.

I recently wrote on this blog that we are beginning the transition to an all-digital video platform in Lexington. I also explained that this is the first step at delivering many more HD channels and new ultra high Broadband speeds, starting with a 50 Mbps service using DOCSIS 3.0.  This is one more confirmation of the, flexibility, competitive high capacity and cost effectiveness of cable's hybrid-fiber-coax networks. 

NCAA men's basketball championship coming to cable

NCAA seals new deal with CBS, Turner for 68-team tournament [USA Today]

If you were a concerned college basketball fan because the NCAA was considering expanding its men’s tournament field to 96 teams, you can breathe a little easier. The NCAA recently announced that it will only expand the tournament to 68 teams, up from the current 65 team field. Rumors had been flying that the NCAA would opt for the larger expansion. However, the NCAA apparently decided to take another route.

The biggest news in this announcement is that the tournament will now be shown on three Turner Broadcasting stations (TBS, TNT, and TruTV), in addition to CBS. This means that every game of the 2011 tournament will be on regular television networks. Currently CBS only has the ability to broadcast two games at a time, which can be problematic during the madness of the first two rounds. CBS will continue to air the regional finals, Final Four, and Championship game through 2015. After that time, the regional finals coverage will be split between CBS and Turner and the Final Four and Championship game will alternate between the two.

This means that in the not-too-distant future, there will be a national college basketball championship game exclusive to a cable network. This is a development that even a few years ago would have been difficult to imagine. 

By the way, Turner Broadcasting is on a roll -- it now covers Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and professional golf, has rights to the NBA Playoffs and the NCAA tournament, and recently signed Conan O’Brien to host their late night show.

Insight customers in Lexington receiving digital upgrade

I have some exciting news for you today.

Many readers of this site are probably familiar with other cable providers that are transitioning their customers to an all-digital network. To date, more than 5 million homes have made the switch in order to pave the way for those companies to begin delivering DOCSIS 3.0 broadband speeds, many more HD channels and the technology of the future.

We’re announcing today that you can now add Insight to that list.

In early May, we will begin an all-digital upgrade for all our customers in Lexington, called Digital 5.10. Channels that are currently transmitted in analog will be provided in digital after this conversion. What this means is that every TV set in Lexington will need either a digital tuner or a mini digital transport adapter (DTA) in order to continue seeing your favorite channels after the digital cable upgrade.  The DTA's are similar to those that were offered to customers who wanted to continue to receive their over-the-air broadcast signals after that industry transitioned to all-digital.
 
We’re committed to making this conversion as seamless as possible, and if you are an Insight customer in the Lexington area, keep an eye out for your mail as you’ll begin receiving information about how to determine which televisions in your home will need a DTA and how to order DTAs.  

If you are an Insight customer in Lexington and your television already has a digital set-top box, that television is already prepared for the digital upgrade. However, if your television plugs directly into a coaxial cable, you likely will need to get a DTA. These are simple, easy-to-use, small set-top boxes that will be sent to customers along with very clear instructions about hooking them up. The boxes will allow you to continue to watch the same great channel lineup you have now, delivered in superior digital picture and sound quality. Plus, the adapter will return access to up to ten channels that have previously been upgraded to digital only.  

Now, about how this upgrade paves the way for future technology...

After the Digital 5.10 project is complete, we will be working on our biggest upgrade ever – Digital 10.0. That upgrade will deliver around 100 HD channels, a 50 Mbps broadband service, and multi-room DVR. Those improvements will become a reality due to the bandwidth savings that an all-digital cable system creates. We’re constantly working to build a better Insight and provide our customers with the fastest broadband Internet speeds and best television viewing experience. As I have information I can share with readers about Digital 10.0, you will find it here first.

For those of you in other Insight markets, stay tuned. The Lexington digital conversion will take a number of months to complete.  With our experience there under our belt, we plan to convert all other districts.  That does not mean it will happen all at once, but methodically, commencing later this year and into 2011.   Rest assured that we are committed to providing you with the world-class technology and, as soon as I have more details, I will be sure to let you know right here on this blog. 

Hulu planning monthly subscription service

Hulu Plans $9.95 Subscription Service [Broadband Reports]

As expected, the popular long-form streaming site Hulu continues to refine its revenue model as it plans to implement a paid, subscription service. For $9.95 each month, the site plans to offer additional episodes of several popular shows beyond the five latest episodes that will remain free for viewers. Called Hulu Plus, the subscription price would give customers access to an as-yet unspecified number of additional episodes of programs.

Currently, Hulu's content is ad-supported, though with a smaller number of commercials than traditional television. Reports about Hulu Plus do not indicate whether the subscription service will include commercials. 

Whether or not many Hulu users decide to convert to paying customers is a matter of conjecture at this point. Is it worth $10 each month to watch content online that could simply be recorded via DVR and replayed? The answer may come next month, as May 24th appears to be the date that Hulu plans to begin testing Hulu Plus.

Microsoft making third attempt to fix Internet Explorer 8 vulnerability

Microsoft to fix IE8 cross-site scripting problem, again [CNET News]

Hopefully the third time's the charm for Microsoft engineers working feverishly to fix a security flaw in the Internet Explorer 8 browser. Called a hole in the cross-site scripting (XSS) filter, whatever that means, the company has tried two previous fixes but the flaw persisted. The problem could allow the injection of malicious code onto web sites like Google, Bing and Twitter.

This version of the fix is expected for release in June. The previous attempts at plugging the hole occurred during regular security updates in January and March. Researchers at a computer security conference in Europe last week demonstrated that the problem still existed after the two prior attempted patches. Microsoft has responded by announcing a third attempt.

McAfee update attacks legitimate Windows component

McAfee glitch shuts down computers across country [Louisville Courier-Journal]

McAfee antivirus users ran into difficulties after the company pushed out an update on Wednesday. McAfee's antivirus update created significant chaos for Windows XP users due to the program incorrectly targeting a legitimate Windows component. The antivirus decided that the Windows component was malware, resulting in computers crashing and rebooting.

Users across the nation were affected - including the police departments in Louisville and Lexington, who had to resort to writing paper reports because their in-cruiser computers were impacted by the McAfee instability. Schools were also affected requiring computers to be shut down and updated with a fix that McAfee provided later in the day. CNET has a rundown of problems encountered by users nationwide. Users are being directed to McAfee's web page for the issue to get the fix.

Due to the widespread usage of the McAfee antivirus, estimates range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of PCs affected by the buggy update, even though it was only available during a four hour window.

Efforts underway to create universal 3D glasses

One pair of 3D glasses to rule them all [CNN]

3D television has started to take off as several manufacturers have sets on store shelves and 3D cable programming is working its way toward reality. In order to produce the 3D images, each manufacturer produces glasses with built-in electronics that are designed to work with only that manufacturer's 3D televisions. Unfortunately, today that means that there's no cross compatibility between 3D television sets made by different companies.

So, for now, there's no sharing 3D glasses with a friend, unless they have the same brand of 3D TV. 

But at least two companies - Gunnar Optiks and XpanD - are working on brand agnostic 3D glasses. XpanD is the vendor for Panasonic and Vizio 3D glasses, and they are looking to leverage their reputation as the top manufacturer of theater 3D glasses in Asia and Europe toward the development of cross-platform 3D glasses. The company has a pair of 3D glasses that it hopes will gain universality which go on sale this summer. In order for that to happen, the television manufacturing industry will have to adopt universal standards for 3D glasses, a process that's already underway via their trade association - the Consumer Electronics Association.

I had the opportunity to see a great demonstration of Pace set-top box solutions yesterday at our central operations center in Louisville.  One of the setups was a 46 inch LEC television with a regular HD box and a 3D picture on the TV.  The point was that their HD set-top boxes are ready for 3D.  But, having nothing to do with the cable equipment, a replay of the Masters looked okay but I can't say I'm running out just yet to buy a 3D TV.  I think there is still real work to do on the new technology.  The double images seen on the screen without the glasses didn't always come together when you put the glasses on and, although there was a real sense of three dimensional viewing, the actual people and objects appeared flat and two dimensional -- like cardboard cutouts. 

For now, we're keeping a close eye on 3D developments in our lab and will consider the opportunities as the technology develops.

iPad overloading wi-fi at some universities

iPad Struggles at Some Colleges [Wall Street Journal]

It comes as no surprise.  Early adopters of the Apple iPad are able to enjoy broadband on the go with the device's built in wi-fi connectivity. Unfortunately, several universities suddenly are realizing that, as iPad usage increases on campus, their wi-fi network's bandwidth is being stretched by increased usage by iPad users. In fact, both Princeton University and George Washington University have started to prevent iPads from accessing each respective university's wi-fi network.

So far, 20 percent of iPads have been blocked from the networks at these two schools.  Other schools, like Cornell University, are trying to manage the effects of iPads on their networks without having to resort to banning the devices.  As amazing as it was how Apple managed to sell so many iPads during its first few weeks on the market, it is becoming clear that some places aren’t quite ready for the demand on wi-fi networks resulting from large numbers of users in concentrated areas.

While some universities may have network growing pains due to the iPad, here at Insight we're all-systems-go for the iPad and other wi-fi devices that users wish to connect to broadband.  I spent the day in meetings at our central operations center in Louisville yesterday and my new iPad worked like a charm using our internal wi-fi system. 

Best app?  Email, for sure.  Opening a PDF or Word attachment and being able to read it comfortably on the big screen was a great experience without having to lug around my laptop.  And responding to emails, using the large virtual keyboard, gave my Blackberry/iPhone-weary thumbs a real break. 

On another note, I suspect we'll find that the iPad (and other like devices yet to be announced) will be the savior of 21st Century newspapers and magazines.  They all show up on the display elegantly with a navigation experience to match.  Check out the Time Magazine app and don't miss the cover story.  Of course, it's all about Apple.

College football conferences upgrading to HD instant replay

Big Ten, MAC football get HD instant replay for the refs, but the SEC was faster [EngadgetHD]

It's hard to believe, but while fans have been enjoying many college football games in high definition, most referees only get a standard def set to watch potentially game-changing instant replay reviews. Up till now, many college athletic conferences that had implemented instant replay rules for their football games only supplied referees SD replays. Unfortunately for the referees, fans had an opportunity to second-guess their judgement calls with replays in far superior resolution. Even football powerhouse conferences like the Big Ten and SEC required their referees to make the call using SD video.

But, that's changing for the SEC, Big Ten and Mid American Conference among others. Last month the SEC announced an upgrade to HD video replays and the Big Ten and MAC announced similar plans last week. When referees in those conferences go "under the hood" next season, they'll have the same video resolution as fans watching on television.

For the record, the NFL upgraded their instant replay systems to HD back in 2007.

AT&T has another significant iPhone-related network congestion event

AT&T's Network Crumbles At Coachella [Broadband Reports]

I love my iPhone, I really do but I can feel the pain as another large gathering of iPhone users resulted in yet another meltdown of AT&T's wireless data network - this time at the Coachella music festival in California. The music festival drew thousands of attendees and even featured its own iPhone application. But when it came to AT&T's network, festival attendees were less than impressed. Broadband Reports indicates AT&T users waited up to 6 hours for text messages to send and receive and wireless data was near non-existent.

AT&T is currently Apple's exclusive wireless provider for the iPhone in the U.S. The company has experienced a myriad of network issues, including another high-profile network congestion problem at last year's South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. These issues often result from a lack of bandwidth on AT&T's network to support the data needs of iPhone customers, who typically consume larger amounts of wireless data than other customers.

As a result of these problems, a recent study by CFI Group indicated that half of iPhone users expressed dissatisfaction with AT&T's wireless network and wished to switch providers.

Facebook reportedly entering behavioral based advertising

Facebook’s New Like Button Will Power A Behavioral Ad Network [All Facebook]

 Add the popular social networking site Facebook to the ad networks that use web user's surfing behavior to determine what type of online advertising to send their direction. According to the Financial Times, Facebook is expected to roll out a new "like" button this week with an additional feature beyond simply allowing users to mark items they like. The new like button would return data about specific users when they click on the button. The harvested data would then be resold by Facebook to advertisers wishing to target users with specific profiles via Facebook ads.

The new like button is also expected to take the place of the current "Become a Fan" button for pages on Facebook. Mashable reports that this is due to the higher response rate of Facebook users to the Like button versus the Become a Fan button.

Facebook is expected to announce these changes at the f8 conference this week in San Francisco.

U.S. Library of Congress is keeping all the tweets

Library of Congress: We’re archiving every tweet ever made

Now there’s another reason to be careful with what you post on Twitter.  Not only are your Twitter posts viewable by everyone on the internet today, but they will be viewable by all future generations as well. 

The Library of Congress recently announced that they will archive every single Tweet ever posted since the site was launched in 2006.  And how did they make this announcement?  Over Twitter, of course.

This archive will include several significant tweets including such tweets as the first one ever posted and President Obama’s victory tweet in 2008, but it will also include every single mundane tweet ever posted. The LoC is hoping that this archive will provide a glimpse (or, more likely, a complete image) into what was on people’s minds during the lifetime of Twitter. 

So the next time you tweet about what a rough day you’ve had, keep in mind that tweet may be read by your future son or daughter.

Apple may be planning new iPhone announcement

iPhone 4 May Be Announced June 22nd [Broadband Reports]

Just like clockwork, the rumors about the fourth incarnation of the iPhone are starting to rumble around the Internet. Gizmodo reports that Apple has booked June 22 as the date when the next version of the popular device will debut, even though the Apple event on that date may or may not involve a new iPhone.

Regardless of whether Apple rolls out the next iPhone model on that date, many observers are wondering when or if Apple plans to end its relationship with AT&T as the exclusive provider for the iPhone in the U.S. The arrangement has led to many dissatisfied iPhone customers due to AT&T's disappointing network connectivity for the device. One recent study indicated that while 90 percent of iPhone users love the device, half of iPhone users want to switch providers due to dissatisfaction with AT&T.

There is a real explosion of bandwidth-consuming smartphones in the market and carriers are all going to be challenged to deliver ample bandwidth in the next few years.  It will be one of the biggest challenges of the telecommunications revolution we all are watching unfold. 

Cable operators join together to offer free wi-fi roaming

Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable Strike Wi-Fi Pact [Broadband Reports]

Three of the nation's largest cable providers, each of whom own a part of the New York metropolitan area, are coming together on a service offering that will benefit customers of all three companies. Cablevision, Comcast and Time Warner Cable have announced that each company's customers will have access to the wireless network of all three companies, being able to shift from place to place within the all of their wi-fi footprints without any loss of signal. Think of it like free wi-fi roaming.

Right now, the announcement applies to cable customers in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, and it represents the first time cable providers have come together to offer this type of wi-fi roaming service.

Of the three, Cablevision currently has the most extensive wi-fi network hotspots in the market but watch for cable operators to continue to roll out wi-fi as part of their future broadband plans. This announcement might just set the stage for a cable operators' national wi-fi roaming plan.

Digital music sales decline in final quarter of 2009

Music’s Digital Sales Boom Comes to an End [All Things Digital]

It has seemed as though digital music sales growth would never end. Since digital music became the alternative to CDs, the industry has continued to see unprecedented growth. That suddenly has changed, at least for now, as digital music sales have seen their first quarter of decline.  According to Nielsen SoundScan, digital music sales in the U.S. declined by around one percent in the last quarter of 2009. 

While this decrease was not huge and wouldn't seem to seriously impact the digital music business, it could be a sign that the medium is finally maturing.

There are many factors that could have played a part in this, most notably the price increases that have been seen in Apple’s iTunes store – by far the biggest marketplace for digital music. And while this news does not suggest a resurrection of the compact disc, it will be interesting to see whether iTunes, Amazon, and other key players in the digital music world decide to ride this out or start making changes like lowering prices.

Will viewers adapt to using 3D television glasses?

One of the biggest hurdles to the 3D television movement will be getting viewers to purchase 3D glasses and wear them in front of their TV. Changing the picture is one thing, but having viewers wear a piece of equipment means a significant change to the way people watch TV. Watching a movie in 3D may be easier for viewers to adapt to because it is more of an event, however it may be difficult for many to make that adaptation for everyday television watching.

That said, the 3D glasses on the market are not the flimsy paper products you used as a kid.  These are high-tech pieces of equipment - with the price tag to prove it. Most of the glasses have a digitally-controlled shutter in the lens, which actually enhances the experience instead of simply making the experience possible.

There are some companies out there that have concern that viewers want their 3D without the glasses, and they are working on other options.  Take Nintendo for instance, which recently announced the 3DS.  This device is a handheld gaming device which allows for 3D gaming without the use of glasses.

Sharp has gotten on board as well and announced plans for a mobile television product that claims to offer 3D programming to users without the need for 3D glasses. I’m not sure how clear of a 3D picture will be possible on a mobile handset, particularly considering the various angles with which the device will be held. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more glasses-free 3D technology come out.

I've seen a demonstration of a large screen plasma TV that had a special "lens" inserted in front of the glass.  It allowed you to watch a 3D program from a pretty wide angle without any glasses at all.  

I'm becoming a believer.  Watching Avatar in an I-Max theater in 3D convinced me that the new format was more than just a passing fad.  It was the first movie I had seen in 3D that wasn't about whimsical trickery like little gremlins jumping onto your lap.  The applications on a large screen, high def TV are as clear as 1080p to me.

Better get to work clearing some more bandwidth!

FCC chairman addresses retransmission consent with broadcasters

FCC Chief Worried Over Retrans Aftershocks [Multichannel News]

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski spoke to the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas this week. Among the topics he discussed with the broadcasters - the FCC's recent moves to reform retransmission consent, the process by which cable providers are required to negotiate with broadcasters for carriage of their over-the-air television signals on a cable system. Right now, the process is broken. Huge increases in fees are being demanded by broadcasters, forcing cable operators to pass along those fees to customers, even though the broadcaster is given public spectrum to distribute their signals for free. 

Every now and then, negotiations break down over the significant demands, resulting in broadcasters pulling their channels off of cable and cable customers not being able to watch many of their favorite shows and events. Just last month, Cablevision customers in the New York metropolitan area lost ABC for 20 hours, including the first 15 minutes of the Academy Awards

Genachowski explained to the audience of broadcasters that there are "legitimate questions" about the current regulations that govern the retransmission consent process - specifically concerns about the impact of broadcasters' retransmission demands on the price of cable subscriptions and the service interruptions that result when negotiations falter.

The FCC is currently conducting an inquiry into the issue, which could result in changes in the retransmission consent rules. While there are many options available to the FCC in making changes - including binding arbitration when negotiations fail - ultimately the Commission should make changes that best serve customers -- not broadcasters and not cable operators.