Broadband Wireless Access Starting February 2009 – Eight technology corporations joined together as the White Spaces Coalition plan to deliver wireless broadband Internet service at speeds of 10 Mbyte/s and above starting as soon as all full power analog TV stations are switched off in February to change to all-digital telecasting. The group includes Google, Dell, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Philips, Earthlink and Samsung.
The new service will make use of the so-called “white space” between the digital TV stations’ frequencies of 54-698 MHz, which separates stations much further than necessary to avoid interference. The FCC tested the technology but initially found it faulty. However, it turned out they had used a damaged scanner and failed to try an identical backup scanner that was provided them. (Typical of this misguided federal agency…) The Coalition submitted a second scanner and everything is now approved, although the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) still fears opening up the white spaces could lead to interference with TV signals (wouldn’t you know…). If the FCC is convinced the prototypes work as advertised, they would allow unlicensed use of the spectrum, and that would make it easier for wireless broadband providers to set up shop in different localities providing super-fast broadband without fiber or even wires. A former FCC chief engineer says “We’re absolutely certain it won’t interfere with television.” Those in metropolitan areas will enjoy the fastest broadband connections they have ever had, and the millions still forced to live with dialup in rural areas will have the option of switching to broadband. This will be a huge boon to video downloading and to online gamers. (Though I don’t do either one, I will be overjoyed to ramp up my present 1.5 Mbyte/s broadband service to 10!)
Naxos Launches World’s Largest Online Collection of Hi-quality, DRM-free Classical Music – Naxos’ leading online independent classical music store – www.classicsonline.com – has begun to offer nearly 22,000 copyright-protection-free albums at the near-maximum MP3 sampling rate of 320 kbps, for MP3 files which are close to standard CDs. Membership is free and includes three free downloads. ClassicsOnline was recently ranked by the San Francisco Examiner in the top three of 13 music download sites offering classical music. Prices are typically 99 cents for a track and $6.99 to $9.99 for albums. Users can download and burn CDs or DVDs for personal use and transfer them to nearly every MP3 player, including iPods. More than 500 new albums are added monthly. To celebrate the debut of the 320 kbps catalog, customers who previously downloaded MP3s at lower sample rates can upgrade all their tracks to 320 kbps free of charge. ClassicsOnline offers more than 100 different labels besides Naxos, including BIS, Capriccio, Chandos, Delos, CPO, Hungaroton, Ondine and Profil.
CEA Study Give Consumer Electronics Retailers High Marks – According to a study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), both consumers and retailers have benefited from changes in the CE shopping and buying process. Customers gave retailers a 90% satisfaction rating, an increase of 6% since 2005. 81% of large CE retailers received excellent or good marks. A CEA spokesman said “Despite tough economic times, consumers continue to flock to stores and the Internet to buy consumer electronic products.” Nearly 7 out of 10 consumers researched a CE product online before going to the store to make the purchase – an increase of roughly 20% in one year. Conversely, 31% of shoppers checked out a product in the store and then bought it online. Stores are making an effort to provide customers a seamless experience between the retail store and the Internet. Word of mouth has always been a critical component of selling, and now the Internet has increased its importance. 20% of users reported making CE purchase decisions based solely on user opinions or reviews.
