99¢ TV show rentals pulled from Apple TV
It looks like Apple has pulled the 99¢ TV show rentals from Apple TV. This news follows a few days after the latest Apple TV software update which adds the feature to stream any previously purchased TV episode from iTunes in the cloud without the need to download them, and might point towards a change in rentals on Apple TV.
TechCrunch also suspects that Apple might be working on a new rental policy which will allow users to stream rented TV shows on iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch) in addition to Apple TV. We should know in a few days time.
[via TechCrunch]
Dish TV Launches India’s First Conditional Access Module (CAM) Device To Enable Consumers To Switch DTH Operator Without Changing Their Hardware
Have you ever wondered why there is a big slot just above your subscriber card slot on your DTH set top box? Most of us might not have noticed the slot, but it is very well there on all set top boxes. The slot is meant to be used with a Customer Access Module (CAM) device, a PCMCIA type card which goes into your set top box and can enable it to be used with any DTH operator of your choice. According to TRAI‘s regulations, all set-top boxes sold by DTH service providers should be CAM-compliant.
Think of it as similar to mobile number portability. Only in this case, you switch your DTH operator. Here is how the system works:
Zee TV planning to launch 4 HD channels on 15th August 2011
After Star’s foray into the High Definition space with their AsliHD channels, Zee TV is going to enter the HD game by launchig 4 of their most famous channels – Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Studio, Ten Sports in HD in India on 15th August 2011.
The recent logo rebranding was probably part of this initiative as well. Zee hasn’t announced which platforms will carry these channels, but logic dictates that it will surely be available on Dish TV’s HD DTH service. Other likely candidates might include Reliance & Videocon. Unfortunately, TataSky will not be able to carry them as it has maxed out on its capacity oh HD channels.
Pretty good news for cunsumers in India. I think we can safely say that the HD revolution in India has been kicked off.
[via Save On Dish & World of DTH]
TataSky is maxed out on its capacity to beam HD channels
It looks like TataSky’s HD subscribers are in for a big dissapointment in the near future. As TataSky launched in the initial stages of the DTH revolution in india, it uses old compression technology (MPEG2) as opposed to new compression technology (MPEG4) used by its competitors like Airtel and Reliance which entered the market pretty late. Since the MPEG2 compression is not as efficient as MPEG4, channels occupy much more space on TataSky’s platform as compared to those which use MPEG4. Therefore, TataSky has a limitation on the number of channels it can beam on its platform. This number is much lesser than its competitors.
Even though the HD channels on TataSky’s platform use the newer and efficient MPEG4 compression, they do not have enough transponders to add any more HD channels than the 7 they currently show. This is the reason why they are only showing Star Cricket HD out of the ESPN & Star Cricket HD bouquet even when both these channels launched on the same day and belong to the same company. In order to show more HD channels, they will either have to reduce their SD channels or, shift entirely on MPEG4 and replace STBs of all those subscribers who have old MPEG2 compatible boxes. Analysts estimate around 5 million of TataSky’s subscribers are on MPEG2 only boxes.
TataSky updates its iPhone app to a social programming guide with a universal remote control
We told you about the TataSky’s iPhone app which lets you to record programs on your TataSky+ DVR on the go. TataSky today updated the app to transform it to a social TV program guide and a universal remote control using an optional accessory. We have been able to test only the guide part without the accessory for now. We have placed the order for the accessory and will write a detailed review once it is delivered to us. For now, here is the list of features of the new app followed by a first look:
- Universal Remote Functionality
- Share what your are watching on TV with your friends on twitter & facebook
- Tweet about your favourite shows
- View a list of the top 10 programmes being watched by Tata Sky subscribers
- Rate programmes
- Set reminders for your favourite programmes
- Read extensive information about your chosen show, through IMDB and Wikipedia
- See what your Facebook friends are watching
- Browse the Programme Guide in English or Hindi, and make a list of your favorite channels
Airtel & Videocon DTH add Star’s AsliHD channels to their HD offering
Good news for all the subscribers of Airtel & Videocon HD DTH services. Star India’s HD channels are now available as part of the HD packs on both of them. Previously, these channels were only available to subscribers of TataSky & Reliance HD DTH. The channels will be available as part of Airtel’s True HD pack for INR 65 per month. Not sure about the price on Videocon as they haven’t updated their website yet.
With these new channels, it looks like we are in for stiff competition in HD space. TataSky has already announced it plan to add 24×7 HD sports channels ESPN HD & Star Cricket HD to its bouquet. As always, competition is good for consumers 
.
[via airtel.in & AsliHD's FB page]
Star World HD showing Friends in High Definition
This is super awesome news for fans of the incredibly popular TV series Friends. Star Wold HD is airing the True High Definition version of the show in India starting right from Season 1. Since the show started well before there were HD cameras, it looks like the studio went back to the original raw video tapes and edited them back in HD. Pretty awesome effort I must say. And the results are beautiful as you can see in the SD version and HD version of the same frame.
Star World HD is currently available on TataSky HD & HD+ and will soon be available on other DTH platforms.
TataSky says the HDMI Dolby issue on their HD STBs will be fixed soon
By now, almost all TataSky HD & HD+ users with a home theater system know that the last software update that happened in April 2011 introduced a major bug in their set top boxes. The bug stopped sending Dolby 5.1 surround sound audio signals over the HDMI cable. If the subscribers had connected the HDMI cable to their home theater systems, they could no longer enjoy the Dolby 5.1 (or 7.1) audio as advertised in the media. Instead, the users get a scaled down 2 channel stereo audio experience.
The only way to experience Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is to connect the TataSky set top box to your home theater using the optical or coaxial cable. But that is a hassle and increases the cable clutter. Moreover, a coaxial connection is susceptible to electrical noise.
However, TataSky has confirmed to us in a tweet that this issue will be fixed in the next software update scheduled to go live “soon”. We do not know what “soon” means here, but my guess would be a few weeks. All we can hope for is that this update does not introduce any more bugs.
LG launches BD670 WiFi enabled 3D Blu Ray player in India
LG has launched BD670 – a WiFi enabled 3D Blu Ray player in India at a price of INR 16000. In addition to being able to play 3D Blu Ray discs when coupled with a 3D TV, the player is also DLNA certified – meaning that it can detect DLNA libraries exposed on your home’s WiFi network and play content off them. So, if you have TVersity or any other similar software, you can browse you computer’s media library on your TV via this player and play any file you want. Also, if you have an Android smartphone, you can download an app from LG to control the player!
[via BGR India]
Things I Hate About Tata Sky [Rants]
I must tell you I don’t watch TV so often. It’s just a filler during lunch/dinner/other free time. But even in this little period of time, certain things about Tata Sky have managed to irritate me enough to write this rant.
Lack of a Programmable Remote
The first Satellite TV service I got was Airtel. The bundled remote is programmable to control the basic functionality of your TV including Power, Volume, Mute and Input source. Having multiple remotes for operating your TV just feels primitive.
Default Advertisements Channel on Boot
Every time I turn off Tata Sky box it forgets what channel I was watching. It shows the irritating advertisements channel. Aren’t we already paying them enough monthly?I know it’s not necessary to turn it off every time but I do it really often. I blame it on the separate remote.Buggy Schedule and Info
Even in my minimal usage I see the schedule screwed up quite often. Many a times I see wrong program info showing up. Maybe not everyone notices it but it definitely is a problem.
I’m not trying to convey that Tata Sky is bad. I actually like the quality and the user interface is much better compared to every other service I’ve used. The channel switching speed is pretty fast too. But I would love to know that they are working on fixing this annoyances.
