It's easier than ever to watch TV as a "cord cutter." You can buy specific shows on iTunes, subscribe to Hulu to watch new episodes the day after they air, sign up for Netflix to binge watch entire seasons roughly a year after broadcast, or use some combination of services to ensure you always have something to watch. The only thing missing was live TV--and now a bunch of services are trying to fill that gap.

Perhaps the best known are DirecTV Now, Hulu with Live TV, PlayStation Vue, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. All have the same basic premise: letting you watch sporting events, news broadcasts, and other live videos. Almost everything else about the services, from where they are available to how much they cost, is different. Here's what you should know about each one before you decide to commit to any particular service.

DirecTV Now

DirecTV Now is AT&T's stab at a live TV service. It has two distinct advantages over the other members of this list: a recognizable brand, given the roughly 21 million people who subscribe to DirecTV's satellite offerings, and the option to bundle it with other AT&T services. DirecTV Now starts at $35 per month, but paying for it alongside an AT&T Plus Unlimited Data Plan (which actually offers 22GB of wireless data before the company starts to slow down your connection) knocks $25 per month off that price. That offer can be mighty tempting if you already pay for AT&T's wireless.

AT&T also doesn't count DirecTV Now against the data limits associated with other wireless service plans. Aside from raising questions about how this is fair to other services, this also means that if you plan to watch a lot of live TV on a mobile device, you don't have to worry about DirecTV Now using up all your data. But be warned: You can't even learn how much DirecTV Now costs or what channels are available in your area without creating an account with the service. This requires you to agree to its terms and conditions, privacy policy, and to receive promotional emails.

If you're interested in DirecTV Now anyway, you can sign up for a one-week free trial at its website. The service is said to offer access to more than 120 channels, depending on where you live, and you can add premium services like Cinemax, HBO, and Starz for an additional fee. It's compatible with Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast devices. You can also stream via modern versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Safari.

Hulu With Live TV

Just announced today, Hulu with Live TV is an expanded version of Hulu's existing service. Now, instead of being restricted to new episodes of specific shows the day after they air, you can use the service to watch live TV. It's a natural step for Hulu--the inability to watch live sports or news segments was one of the main things preventing the service from replacing traditional TV. Unfortunately, the service is a lesson in compromise.

Hulu with Live TV offers fewer channels--"more than 50," depending on your location--than many of its competitors. It also costs a bit more than competitive services, especially if you bundle DirecTV Now with the AT&T Plus Unlimited Data Plan, with its $40 per month price tag. You're also restricted to just two accounts with the basic plan; other services on this list offer anywhere between three (Sling TV) and six (YouTube TV). It has a DVR, unlike DirecTV Now, but its 50 hour capacity is smaller than the unlimited storage-slash-saving offered by YouTube TV and PlayStation Vue.

Hulu does have the advantage of supporting many devices, offering access to a limited commercials plan of its normal service, and allowing you to add more storage, support for more simultaneous devices, or Showtime access to your service. (No HBO, though, which means no Westworld.) We suspect Hulu with Live TV is more about convincing existing Hulu subscribers to upgrade than getting Sling TV or YouTube TV users to switch.

PlayStation Vue

One thing you'll notice with many of these services: They don't offer PlayStation 4 support. Perhaps that comes down to focusing on other platforms, but it might also have something to do with PlayStation Vue, which is Sony's take on live TV. Much like AT&T's decision not to count DirecTV Now usage against data limits, Sony's ability to offer PlayStation Vue as the PS4's only live TV service might be considered an unfair advantage, especially considering that more than 60 million units of the console have been sold. That's a lot of multimedia devices going to waste.

You'll also note that PlayStation Vue is by far the most expensive service available. Its basic "Access" plan starts at $40 per month--just like Hulu with Live TV--and the other "Core," "Elite," and "Ultra" plans cost $45, $55, or $75 per month, respectively. Each one adds more content: Access is billed as "popular live TV," Core adds sports, Elite adds movies, and Ultra bundles all of that with access to Showtime, HBO, and other premium channels. (Standalone channels, such as HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax, can also be purchased or bundled with each other for lower monthly fees.)

PlayStation Vue supports a variety of platforms. Besides the PS4 and PS3, it's also available on Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast devices. You can stream simultaneously on five devices--but note that you can only stream on one PS4 or PS3 at a time, so if you were hoping to use two consoles at once, you're out of luck. Using the mobile versions of the service also requires you to set up a "home location" with a non-mobile device. Don't sign up for PlayStation Vue while you're traveling; you're just going to end up with a bill and a lot of frustration.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the most configurable, and perhaps cheapest, of these services. You choose from one of two options when you sign up: Sling Orange, which offers access to 30 networks for $20 per month, and Sling Blue, which offers access to 45 networks for $25 per month. Then you choose from a variety of add-ons that cost between $5 and $10 per month and allow you to watch shows from more sports, comedy, news, or lifestyle channels or premium offerings like HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax. You can also add non-English channel packs for roughly the same price.

This means you have more control over exactly what channels you want. Are you a sports buff who also cares about what happens on the next season of Game of Thrones and likes to watch Italian shows? Then you just have to choose Sling Blue, add HBO and Italiano Mini, then install Sling TV on all your compatible devices. If none of that appeals to you, just go with Sling Orange and ignore the add-ons. Whereas other services push you towards plans with the option of a few extra features, Sling TV comes closest to living up to its promise of saving you from the TV bundles.

It's also compatible with a large number of devices, from smartphones and desktop computers to set-top boxes and the Xbox One console, so chances are good that you'll be able to watch Sling TV without having to worry about what hardware you own. In our experience, however, that breadth of focus can introduce its own problems. Local channels are frustratingly limited, you can't use the Cloud DVR service to record everything you want, and the PC app stopped working properly every time Nvidia released new drivers. One could perhaps characterize Sling TV as a jack of all trades and master of none.

YouTube TV

Finally we come to YouTube TV. The service debuted in April with 39 channels, support for up to six accounts, unlimited cloud DVR, and a bundled YouTube Red subscription to offer ad-free videos on the main YouTube platform, all for $35 per month. (You can, as has become a trend, add premium channels like Showtime for an extra $11 per month.) YouTube TV currently supports Android, iOS, and Chromecast devices, as well as the latest version of Chrome. The only rub: You can sign up for the service only if you live in the few U.S. metropolitan areas where it's available.

Those locations are Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area. If you live anywhere else in the U.S.--or in another country--the only thing you can do with YouTube TV is sign up to be notified when it expands to your area. All of this makes YouTube TV a quintessentially Google service: It offers free cloud storage, emphasizes Google's target platforms, and is currently restricted to a few locations with the promise to expand in the future. Here's to hoping this one doesn't get dropped like Google Fiber did back in August 2016.

If you live in one of those areas, however, YouTube TV might be enticing. The unlimited storage is welcome, support for up to six accounts makes it easy to keep everyone's taste in TV separate, and bundling YouTube Red can remove all those obnoxious ads from YouTube without making you feel guilty for using an ad-blocker. Yet the service is currently defined more by its limitations--from its relatively paltry list of supported devices to its limited availability to its meager channel access--more what it does right. Maybe that will change with the new, faster YouTube framework.

Comparing Them All

Unless the decision is made for you, whether it's because of the lack of services for the PS4 or geographic limitations, there's no clear winner here.

DirecTV Now can be the cheapest service, and it has the most channels, but it's also the hardest to experiment with and becomes significantly less appealing if you don't want to have anything to do with AT&T. Hulu with Live TV is currently in beta, so it might change as time goes on, but right now it feels more like an add-on to the core Hulu service than a compelling alternative to other services. PlayStation Vue is your only option if you have a PS4, and only DirecTV Now has more channels, but it's also expensive. Sling TV is expansive but can spread itself too thin. YouTube TV seems more like YouTube dipping its toe into the live TV waters than a bona fide service that's going to stick around for the long term.

Choosing from among these services depends on your priorities, but at least now you have a little more information to help with your decision.

AT&T has been in talks with DirecTV to purchase the competing telecommunications service provider for some time now. Today, the FCC approved the acquisition on the condition that the new company expand its fiber optic broadband Internet access service to 12.5 million new locations and agree to a few other items.

The most important of these obligations is that the resulting company must expand its fiber optic broadband Internet service to 12.5 million locations. This is one of the largest expansions of fiber optic Internet since fiber optic began to be used for individual end users. However, the announcement from the FCC is ambiguous as to what exactly is defined as a "location." It could refer to individual users, entire towns, or anything in between; but even 12.5 million individual users will still represent a strong growth of fiber optic networks in the U.S. Any eligible schools or libraries in these areas must also be E-rated gigabit broadband service.

The new conglomerate company is also prohibited from ostracizing video services such as Netflix from the same service everyone else receives. The FCC is heading off fast-lanes at the pass, so to speak, and is not giving the new company any chance to develop them as their corporate assets and networks are consolidated. To ensure that the new company upholds this obligation, it has agreed to full disclosure of its Internet interconnection agreements.

Finally, following the merger, AT&T-DirecTV will be required to provide affordable standalone broadband service to low-income consumers. Given that the new definition of broadband is 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up, which is faster than many users currently have, offering an affordable broadband Internet service should help increase competition.

The company must disclose all information and comply with independent and external compliance officers who will report and monitor the company's activities to ensure these conditions are followed.

Although the FCC might go easy on companies when it is time to fine them, like the GPSPS fines announced yesterday, they really don't mess around when it comes to negotiating major legal contracts and regulations. Honestly, it is rather amazing that the two companies conceded to the FCC on these points; the FCC deserves accolades for what they have accomplished with this agreement.

Although it only affects one company, the FCC has succeeded in substantially expanding fiber optic infrastructure, increased broadband coverage, prevented the development of fast-lanes, negotiated affordable gigabit broadband service for libraries and schools, and negotiated a low cost broadband service for low-income families, all in a single move. That is simply extraordinary, and it falls in line with many of the goals FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and the rest of the FCC have been working on this year.

To be fair, some of these agreements, such as the section against fast-lanes, should already be in effect from the Open Internet legislation. However, many companies have been slow to put the Open Internet legislation into effect, because it is still being opposed in the legislature. This agreement for the merger of AT&T and DirecTV actually only lasts for four years, but likely the FCC is just using it to help push widespread adoption of the Open Internet, fiber optic networks and affordable broadband service.

For now, we should just sit back and enjoy the benefits of this agreement. If the Time Warner, Charter and Bright House merger is approved, the FCC will be able to place equally stringent measures on that new company, as well.

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Sling TV was launched back in February 2015, offering a solution for potential cord-cutters who are tired of paying for channels they simply don't watch. The service arrived on the PC, Mac, Apple's iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as Roku TVs and Roku set-top-boxes, providing at least 22 channels including TBS, ABC Family and the Disney Channel. Sling TV hit Amazon's Fire TV set-top-box and Fire TV Stick a week later.

Now the company has launched Sling TV for Android TV, including Google's own Nexus Player. The company is also providing a discount for customers who purchase a Nexus Player, offering a 50 percent discount when customers pre-purchase three months' worth of Sling TV. Don't want to take the plunge just yet? Sling TV also offers a free seven day trial.

Sling TV provides a basic package for $20 per month offering 22 channels. For $15 more each month, customers can enjoy movies and shows on HBO. There's also a Sports Extra package for an additional $5 per month (nine channels) and a Deportes Extra package for another $5 per month (six channels). The Kids Extra (five channels), Hollywood Extra (five channels), Lifestyle Extra (six channels), World News Extra (six channels) and Peliculas & Novelas (eight channels) also cost $5 per month each.

The beauty of Sling TV is that there's no annual contract to sign, no credit checks and in most cases, no hardware to install. Sling TV is a single app that can be downloaded, installed and enjoyed on smartphones, tablets and more. All TV stations remain within the Sling TV app and include video on demand (VOD) content.

Sling TV arrives at a time when consumers are looking to ditch the typical cable subscription for streaming their TV shows and movies to their favorite devices. Netflix and Hulu Plus are at the forefront, providing a huge amount of content that can be consumed whenever and wherever the customer wants. The difference with Sling TV is that it provides live TV; for Hulu Plus, most recent TV shows appear a day after their original air date.

"Today, we again bolstered our device footprint by expanding to Nexus Player's Android TV platform, and we expect this partnership to deliver additional convenience for both new and existing Sling TV customers," said Roger Lynch, CEO of Sling TV.

In addition to offering a discount for the Nexus Player, Sling TV is also providing discounts on hardware. For instance, purchase three months of Sling TV and customers will receive a free Fire TV Stick or 50 percent off an Amazon Fire TV set-top-box. On the Roku front, three months of pre-paid Sling TV service will land customers a free Roku streaming stick or 50 percent off the Roku 3 set-top-box.

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Just last week, DISH Network launched Sling TV, an alternative to cable TV that offers a handful of channels and content for one low monthly price. Then, the company introduced a promotion that saw free Amazon Fire TV and Roku Streaming Sticks and $50 knocked off the price of Amazon Fire TV and Roku 3 set-top boxes. Now, Sling TV has made another announcement that should be of interest to potential cord cutters.

The company signed a deal with EPIX to bring movies and on-demand content to the streaming service. The agreement will see EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX 3 and EPIX Drive-In packaged as an optional offering. The video on-demand aspect will provide more than 2,000 movies and "entertainment titles."

"Our customers crave the newest movies like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Transformers: Age of Extinction, but they also have a growing appetite for the classics and EPIX delivers both," said Roger Lynch, CEO of Sling TV. "Sling TV will feature EPIX's linear channels and movies on-demand in an add-on package that is accessible and affordable."

So when does EPIX arrive on Sling TV? Pricing and availability will be revealed soon, the company said. However, in the meantime, customers can get the base Sling TV package for a mere $20 per month. This includes live TV spanning ESPN, TBS, TNT, HGTV, the Disney Channel, ABC Family, CNN, AMC (Walking Dead!) and several more. Sling TV also provides three additional packages for $5 per month each: Sports Extra, News Extra and Kids Extra.

Is Sling TV worth the $35 a month? That depends on what the consumer likes to watch. There's no access to the major networks, so customers will have to rely on over-the-air digital TV access. Sling TV also requires that users have a device that's compatible with the Sling TV app, such as a smartphone, tablet, desktop PC, one of Amazon's Fire TV devices or the Roku set-top-boxes. And of course, a broadband or mobile connection is required.

The Sling TV app is rather slick. For example, the iPhone version provides a main menu that not only directs users to the TV lineup, but to a section of movies that customers can rent. These movies are broken down into categories such as "Action & Adventure," "Comedy," "New Releases," "Most Popular" and so on. To access TV on-demand content, simply hit the down arrow tucked away at the bottom of the screen to pull up the current schedule and the on-demand listings.

Is it time to cut the cord? Not yet, but we're getting there. Adding EPIX to the Sling TV menu certainly helps the cord-cutting process. What will be revealed next week?

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Looking for an alternative to cable television? DISH Network may have what you're looking for with the launch of Sling TV. The over-the-top television service was first revealed during CES 2015 last month and has since made ripples in the cord cutting community. That's likely because the base service costs a mere $20 a month, and it does not require special equipment, set up fees, or a long term contract.

"There has been a remarkable expression of consumer interest since we first announced Sling TV one month ago," said Roger Lynch, CEO of Sling TV. "We believe Sling TV is a game-changing service that enhances the existing television landscape. Now underserved audiences have access to the best of live TV at an affordable price."

The $20 base plan consists of fifteen channels including TNT, TBS, the Food Network, ABC Family, CNN, The Disney Channel, The Travel Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, HGTV, Del Rey Network, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Galavision and Maker Studios.

Sling TV also provides three additional "Extra" packages for $5 per month each. Sports Extra adds nine channels to the Sling TV lineup; the News & Info Extra package adds four, and the Kids Extra adds five channels. These packages include Universal Sports, ESPNEWS, the Cooking Channel, the DIY Network, Bloomberg, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Boomerang and more.

"New movies and current shows are a big part of Sling TV. You can watch movies and shows both live and on-demand from our programming partners," the FAQ stated. "We also include an extensive movie library where consumers can rent popular new release movies and classics."

The complete Sling TV lineup costs $35 per month for customers who want every channel. What's great about Sling TV is that it works on a large number of devices such as Roku players, Roku TV units, smartphones and tablets running Android or Apple's iOS, PCs, and Mac computers. Sling TV is also slated to arrive on Amazon's Fire TV Stick and Fire TV set-top box, webOS-based HDTVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Google's Nexus Player, the Xbox One console and other streaming devices.

Although Sling TV has an interesting lineup of TV channels, it's not exactly bursting at the seams. However, consumers truly wanting to ditch cable TV could switch to over-the-air digital TV for receiving local channels and then add the Sling TV library. The drawback is that consumers will likely need to purchase Roku hardware so their tablets, smartphones and computers aren't constantly tethered to the HDTV.

So is Sling TV a good investment? That depends on the customer's viewing habits. If they don't watch a lot of TV, this would be a good alternative to a hefty cable television bill. The kids package is packed with great channels, and parents won't have to worry about the young ones stumbling over inappropriate content on TV. The ability to watch Sling TV channels on any device is also a big plus.

Consumers wanting to see what Sling TV has to offer can sign up for a free 7-day trial. They'll need a high-speed Internet connection, a 3G/4G connection for streaming on the go, and be a resident in the United States.  

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LG already sells a fleet of 4K TVs -- 24 SKUs to be exact -- but the company is planning to add more to the collection by announcing a new batch of 4K TVs that will be shown next week at CES. The company is keeping a lot of information about the new TVs under wraps until the show, but they provided an early glimpse of what's in store for the new generation.

The two main features for the new TVs are the displays, which are called Wide Color LED and Quantum Dot. The company says Wide Color LED uses different phosphor-based LEDs to show greater color depth. As for Quantum Dot, the company claims that the new technology increases color gamut by 30 percent and offers high color accuracy. Other visual features include the True Black Control to create darker blacks, Natural Color to reduce errors in color reproduction, and the Contrast Optimizer to bring out the most in brightness and contrast.

In terms of audio output, LG partnered with Harman/Kardon to make front-facing speakers called the ULTRA Surround System for five of the new TVs. LG is giving some special treatment to the UF9500 series by adding an Auditorium Stand to the TV in order to centralize sound.

Smart TVs continue to be a staple of today's TVs. In the past, LG used webOS as the foundation for its Smart TV platform. WebOS was originally a mobile patent from HP, until it was sold to LG last year as part of a plan to boost the company's financial position. With this new batch of TVs, LG upgraded the webOS to webOS 2.0. With this new upgrade, the company said boot time is increased by 60 percent and now allows users to customize the launcher bar, although it's unclear if that is the full extent of the software's new features.

While the price for the 4K TVs are still a mystery, it could be assumed that these TVs will all be over the $1000 price range, considering the many features involved. Right now, the 40-inch LG 40UB8000 is the cheapest 4K TV offered at $1199.99. Conversely, the most expensive 4K TV from the company is the 105-inch 105UC9 which features a 21:9 aspect ratio, 3D capabilities, and a curved screen for the insane price of $99,999.99.

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This week during the Tokyo Game Show, Andrew House, chief executive of Sony's PlayStation unit, revealed that the company is currently in talks with media providers about an Internet TV service. The company plans to launch this service before the end of the year in the United States, and it has already scored a Viacom deal that will bring 20  shows to Sony customers.

House also acknowledged that the company has intentions to extend the PlayStation Now service to other non-Sony devices, such as tablets, smartphones, HDTVs and more. PlayStation Now is currently on the PlayStation 3 (beta) and PlayStation 4 consoles, allowing subscribers to stream games to these two consoles. More than 150 games are available to stream including Saints Row The Third, Darksiders, Deus Ex Human Revolution and more.

"A streaming-based approach needs to have a very wide funnel of devices, and that inherently means a broad- and manufacturer-agnostic approach," said House.

The company is gearing up to launch PlayStation TV in the United States; it's a small $100 device that allows customers to stream video and play many PS Vita games without the need for Sony's PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4. The device will also have access to the PlayStation Now service as well as Sony's Video Unlimited service.

Reports of extending PlayStation software to non-Sony devices isn't new. Over the last several years, Sony has indicated that PlayStation would become a service, not a brand locked to hardware. Target devices would include smartphones, tablets, Windows PC and Blu-ray players. However, the PlayStation devices would still remain as the core target.

News of Sony's Internet TV efforts arrive after Sony reported that it posted a $1.7 billion impairment charge on its smartphone division due to declining sales. The company also increased its net loss forecast to $2.15 billion for the fiscal year ending in March 31, 2015.

"I will be at the center of making sure that restructuring will be completed this year and that we will turn a profit in the next financial year. A recovery is my responsibility," said Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai. "This is the first time we've not paid a dividend and we feel that responsibility as management very heavily."

Sony is looking at its PlayStation unit to bring the company back into the black. Hirai said back in May that the PlayStation 4 would be the company's biggest driver for its network services, which has 52 million active users, most of whom have a PlayStation console.

"Now we've got broadband and can send content in the blink of an eye ... the technology has finally caught up with the times," he told Reuters.

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Back in January 2014, Intel announced that it had sold all of the assets of its Intel Media division. That meant the company had thrown in the towel in regards to developing its "OnCue" streaming TV service. All the assets and a crew of nearly 350 employees now reside under Verizon Communication's roof.

"This sale ... enables Intel to further align our focus and resources around advancing our broad computing product portfolio in segments ranging from the Internet-of-Things to data centers," said Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel Corporation, at the time.

Verizon said it would integrate the IP-based TV service with its FiOS video to put a wider distance between it and competing cable subscription services. Verizon also indicated that FiOS subscribers would "benefit from elegant search and discovery, interactivity and cross-screen ease of use – integrated with the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network."

Now Verizon is indicating that its IP-based TV service will launch in mid-2015. The news came from Verizon Communications CEO Lowell McAdam during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference. He said that Verizon would offer customers a bundle consisting of the major broadcast providers along with a number of custom channels.

"It's the Big 4 for sure, and I would tell you that the very exciting part of this is some of the digital media out of the West Coast [including DreamWorks Annimation's AwesomenessTV] that really goes after the millennials. It's targeted content," he said.

According to Deadline, McAdam admitted that Verizon is still trying to reach an agreement with the big content providers. These include studios that previously feared that a virtual pay TV system may disrupt what's already set in place with cable and satellite TV providers. However, he seemed confident that Verizon could make a win-win deal with these media suppliers.

"Over the last six months to a year that dialogue has changed dramatically," he said.

Content providers may be loosening the reigns of their multimedia given the success of Netflix, Hulu Plus and the overall demand for more content online. Several cable and satellite companies have already given in, such as Time Warner Cable, which offers subscribers access to many cable channels online. That also means subscribers can watch Time Warner Cable content anywhere in the house on laptops, smartphones, tablets and more.

McAdam also hinted that the days of bundling pay TV together are nearly over. He said that customers don't want 300 channels on their wireless device and that online TV may take the a la carte route, meaning that customers can choose the channels they want and won't be forced to pay for junk channels. He said that offering a subscription with 20 user-picked channels would be a "terrific" idea.

A research analyst with Parks Associates told TechNewsWorld that around one-third of millennials would rather watch video content online. The analyst added that Verizon's FiOS has shown "success and promise," but laying down fiber optic cables is expensive and extremely slow. Providing content online can be accomplished right now.

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Last week, Amazon introduced us to its own media streaming solution, Fire TV. Amazon made the device available right away, and early adopters and developers have already delved in to see what the system is capable of. Over on Gamasutra, Chance Ivey reports that it's possible to get the new Unreal Engine 4 running on Amazon's $99 hardware.

Ivey explains in a blog post that while new hardware and software lack technical documentation or instructions necessary for the task, Amazon and Epic Games provided a jumping off point to get things going. The process requires an Amazon Fire TV unit (duh), a Windows machine with the latest UE4 SDK, and Android Development Tools (Fire TV is based on Android, just like the Kindle Fire), and involves setting up Unreal Engine for Android deployment. You can then hook up a controller to navigate.

The end result is a demo that Ivey describes as choppy and grainy. Still, it offers a little peek at the potential for UE4 applications for Amazon's set top box. If you have a Fire TV, check out Gamasutra for the full how to.

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It should come as no surprise that just days after Amazon released its Fire TV set-top-box to the public, documents describing Android TV – along with screenshots of the interface – begin to surface to wow potential customers. Some leaks are genuine leaks, but the timing of this one says otherwise.

In this installment, the documents fell into the hands of The Verge. According to the documents, Google is about to unleash a new assault onto the living room, and it won't be anything like Google TV, which failed to connect with consumers. "Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing platform," writes Google. "It’s all about finding and enjoying content with the least amount of friction. [It will be] cinematic, fun, fluid, and fast."

Android TV's interface will be simple, and Google is calling on developers to convert their own and/or build new simple apps. The report also states that this simple interface will consist of a set of scrolling "cards" to represent movies, shows, apps and games sitting on a "shelf".

To navigate through these cards and shelves, the customer uses the remote control to scroll left and right for different suggestions, and up and down to scroll through different categories. The remote will also include Enter, Home, and Back buttons. However Google mentions optional game controllers, meaning these can be used to navigate the interface as well (like consoles).

Not to be outdone by Fire TV, Google's solution will also support voice input and notifications although the docs show that Google wants developers to rely less on the notifications. Even more, the company wants access to content to be "simple and magical", meaning that Google wants the customer to make only three clicks or gestures when searching for content.

"Android TV is Android, optimized for the living room consumption experience on a TV screen," writes the company. The report indicates that Google is ripping out unneeded features in Android TV such as touchscreen support, telephony, cameras, and near-field communication to keep the developers focused on the available hardware. What that is right now is unknown.

Up until now, developers have targeted smartphones and tablets as the core audience. For Chromecast, all they had to do was, according to Google, insert a few lines of code in order for their apps to be compatible. However for Android TV, developers will need to target large screens using a new interface that will match Android TV's layout. All developers are said to be keeping the same graphical presentation across the board.

So what will happen with Chromecast now? As we previously speculated, it's not going anywhere. Instead, it will likely serve as a cheap alternative to Android TV, which could very well cost $99 to compete with Amazon's Fire TV. That of course will depend on the hardware: Google may possibly use Nvidia's Tegra 4 or Tegra K1 to please the Android gamers.

Western Digital has announced a new series of portable hard drives – the My Passport AV-TV series. This series of portable hard drives are intended for media storage, and are built for use with TVs featuring a USB recording function.

The hard drives are, in reality, ordinary 2.5" hard drives with a USB 3.0 interface. That said, while the company didn't quote any specific reading or writing speeds, it might be a reasonable assumption that the drives will feature higher write speeds than budget-oriented drives in order to ensure that almost any TV can write to it fast enough, preventing unhappy customers.

"TV lovers want to enjoy their shows at a time convenient to them," said Jim Welsh, WD executive vice president, Branded Products and Worldwide Sales. "Timeshifting, plus the popularity of global events and international sporting events, is increasing consumer demand for recordable TVs and optimized drives. Our customers want a fast and reliable solution. The high-performance My Passport AV-TV -- specifically-designed for this application -- is the result of their requests."

The units also come with a mounting bracket, which will allow you to mount the drive behind your TV for seamless integration with your media center.

Do note, it is still your TV that will do the recording. The drive itself is no more than a storage medium.

The My Passport AV-TV series drives will come out in 500 GB and 1 TB variants, with no word on pricing just yet.

There were a ton of gorgeous TVs at CES 2014, but among our favorites was Samsung's 105-inch curved UHD television. The company actually kind of announced this one in late December, revealing that it would bringing it along for a CES debut in early January. Not surprisingly, it was one of the busiest corners of Samsung's booth. Even on the last day of the show, when most people have gone home, and some exhibitors are already prepping to go, it was hard to get near this 105-inch U9500.

Though the idea of a curved display might feel a bit gimicky, with a TV this size, it's actually quite effective in enhancing the viewing experience. The idea is that the curve of the TV will lend itself to a more immersive 'wrap around' experience that covers your entire field of view. On a smaller panel, that's a bit of a reach. With a display that measures 105 inches and boasts a 21:9 aspect ratio, it's way more plausible.

Unfortunately, Samsung wasn't keen to talk price when we talked at CES, likely because this TV is going to be prohibitively expensive for most, and telling people they likely can't afford something puts a bit of a damper on hype. We'll keep you posted on that depressing fact regardless. We do know that it will be available in the second half of this year. So, start saving.

Check out all of our CES 2014 coverage!

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The research arm of Digitimes predicts that Google TV will no longer be used in products, as Google has already merged the Google TV team with the Android team. Because of this, Google is expected to push TV products that have adopted Android, not the former operating system.

The report states that Google's experience with Google TV helped shape Chromecast, which Digitimes deems as one of Google's "star" products. Chromecast is a simple key-shaped device that plugs directly into an HDMI port. Owners connect it to their Google account, and can stream media directly to the device including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and a number of other apps.

Digitimes Research believes that this device will generate consumer demand for Android-based television. And the firm is correct: Chromecast may be simple and small, but Google customers likely want a bit more. They may want to watch purchased movies and TV shows, or pull up a favorite game with just the press of a remote control button.

Digitimes Research believes that Android TV will become a core entertainment device in families because of the smartphone connectivity. The firm also predicts that Chromecast – and likely Android TV – will boost the adoption of Google's Chrome browser because of its Chromecast connectivity.

Digitimes' predictions arrive after insiders said that Google's rumored set-top box may be called Nexus TV. The device will supposedly land in the first half of 2014, reportedly running Android and allowing customers to stream their paid Google Play content, load up movies and TV shows via Netflix and Hulu Plus, and play Android games.

The latest rumor claims that the set-top-box will not support live broadcast TV after all, indicating that the company may have faced the same roadblocks encountered by Intel, who is reportedly trying to sell off its own streaming TV project; Apple's rumored iTV plans have also reportedly faced the same issues. If the report is true, then Google is merely trying to compete with Apple TV and Amazon's own rumored Firetube set-top box.

Google reportedly dropped the Google TV name back in October. For now, hardware partners are using the "Google Services for TV" label. Making a Nexus set-top-box makes sense as a way for Google to reboot its TV efforts that began with the Chromecast gadget, and to set a new standard on how an Android-based TV should function within the home.

With more TVs than you could shake a stick at, Samsung's CES 2013 booth was pretty impressive, and it looks like the company's booth at CES 2014 will be equally impressive. The South Korean company this week announced that it would be bringing a 105-inch curved UHD TV to CES in two weeks' time. The company is claiming that this TV is the 'world's most curved' 105-inch TV, no doubt a subtle dig at LG, which announced its own 105-inch curved TV earlier this week.

"We are happy to unveil the 105-inch Curved UHD TV, the culmination of Samsung's advancements, following the world's first Curved UHD TV at IFA 2013," said HS Kim, executive vice president of Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. "You will experience a true curved TV optimized for consumer viewing environments at CES 2014."

Similar to LG's 105-inch 21:9 TV, Samsung's offering also packs a 21:9 aspect ratio. The display itself boasts 11 million pixels for a screen resolution of 5120 x 2160.

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The latest rumor surrounding Google's set-top TV box is that the device may be called "Nexus TV" and arrive in the first half of 2014. This set-top-box will reportedly run Android, stream video from the heavy hitters like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu Plus and more, and even play Android games.

Back in June there was talk that Google was working on its own Android console. Sources said that Google had been keeping a close eye on OUYA, Nvidia's Shield, GameStick and other Android consoles emerging in 2013. This device would presumably offer other Google services like Play Music, Play Movies and third-party services like Netflix and Hulu.

Then in July, sources claimed that during CES 2013, Google privately revealed a set-top-box based on Android and provided Hangouts as a core feature. The device also had a built-in video camera, a motion sensor, and full access to Google Play. Users could stream YouTube videos, watch TV shows and supposedly even play games. Netflix and Pandora were also mentioned.

Sources told the New York Times that Google actually reignited its streaming TV service plans, and reportedly approached media companies in recent months about streaming their traditional TV programming. In one case, Google even demonstrated the product, meaning the streaming TV plan was more than just a concept on paper.

The latest rumor claims that the set-top-box will not support live broadcast TV after all, indicating that the company may have faced the same roadblocks encountered by Intel, who is reportedly trying to sell off its own streaming TV project; Apple's rumored iTV plans have also reportedly faced the same issues. If the report is true, then Google is merely trying to compete with Apple TV and Amazon's own rumored Firetube set-top box.

Finally, in October there was talk that Google dropped the Google TV name altogether, and was planning to upgrade the platform to Android 4.2. This update was said to allow developers to use the same APIs available on Android tablets and phones. There was also speculation that Google TV partners would have immediate access to a more TV-friendly Android 4.4 "KitKat."

Right now, all hardware partners are using the "Google services for TV" label. Making a "Nexus" set-top box would make sense for the company, and a way for Google to reach out to iPad owners who are not keen on buying a new tablet, but want access to Google Play services. Developers would also have a solid platform to optimize their apps for the big screen, free of restrictions imposed by other ODMs.

Currently, Google's other living-room based product, Chromecast, is reportedly doing well. The device could be seen as a stepping stone of sorts, allowing owners to push content to their HDTV like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Pandora and tabs in the Chrome browser. A Nexus TV product would be considered as a "deluxe" model with a full set of features.

LG has spoken up again regarding an accusation that its Smart TVs are collecting user data.Just yesterday we told the story behind the company’s initial response, and the answer seemed a little disconnected and rude. Now the company appears to be taking this privacy concern to heart and plans to conduct a full investigation.

"Customer privacy is a top priority at LG Electronics and as such, we take this issue very seriously," said an LG spokesperson in speaking with the BBC News. "We are looking into reports that certain viewing information on LG Smart TVs was shared without consent."

"LG offers many unique Smart TV models which differ in features and functions from one market to another, so we ask for your patience and understanding as we look into this matter," the spokesperson added.

In 2012, LG reportedly introduced an ad system to target Smart TV owners, the LG Smart Ad platform. Advertisers can provide targeted ads based on device information, location and the details of the user if they are provided (Samsung requires a user account and presumably LG does too). As seen with Samsung Smart TVs, targeted ads aren’t uncommon.

The discovery of LG’s alleged TV snooping was made by Jason “DoctorBeet” Huntley, a 45-year-old IT consultant in the UK. He came across a corporate video that detailed LG’s data collection practices, and decided to switch off a specific data collection feature on his Smart TV. But he then realized, by monitoring internet traffic to and from the device, that information was still being sent unencrypted to LG servers. He even discovered that LG keeps track of video and audio files stored on a connected external drive.

Huntley believes that even if LG isn’t inspecting the data, the practice could still pose as a security risk, as hackers could take advantage of the method. "I can't prove that this was being actively logged by LG, but nevertheless it was being transmitted in the clear across the internet's backbone to wherever the servers are located," he told BBC News.

When he contacted LG about what he discovered, the company essentially blamed the retailer. "Unfortunately as you accepted the Terms and Conditions on your TV, your concerns would be best directed to the retailer.  We understand you feel you should have been made aware of these T's and C's at the point of sale, and for obvious reasons LG are unable to pass comment on their actions," a spokesperson previously said.

According to the Information Commissioner's Office in the UK, LG could be breaking the law. "We have recently been made aware of a possible data breach which may involve LG Smart TVs," said a spokesman in speaking with BBC News. "We will be making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken."

LG will reportedly release additional information about the Smart TV data collection "shortly".

An unnamed consumer electronics manufacturer that has produced Google TV products recently told GigaOM that Google has quietly dropped the Smart TV platform's name. Members of the original Google TV team have reportedly stopped using that label when talking about their work, and a recent developer event in Seoul was officially called "Android TV Developer Day". Some associated developers have even changed their online biographies to match what could be the platform's new name: Android TV.

The site points out that Sony didn't mention the fact that its new Bravia TV stick used Google TV, but instead announced that the device "brings the full power of Google services to your TV." Even last month STMicroelectronics said that the new SDK for its set-top box processors would support "the latest Google services for TV". LG also recently revealed new Android devices that had access to the "latest Google services for TV" without mentioning the Google TV name.

The terms "Android TV' and "Google services for TV" indicate that the company may not have a final brand for its TV efforts. The company may also decide to use a variety of brands depending on the target audience. Currently there's no information regarding when Google will officially announce the switch, but there's a good chance this will happen with the release of its rumored set-top-box supposedly running a version of "Google TV" based on the latest Android build.

Google TV was first introduced in October 2010, and was based on Android 2.1. The platform didn't enter Honeycomb territory until December 2011 with the Android 3.1 upgrade, and then Android 3.2 in June 2012. The platform is reportedly set to upgrade to Android 4.2 in 3Q 2013, with LG updating its Google TV devices later this month followed by other manufacturers in the coming months. This update is said to allow developers to use the same APIs available on Android tablets and phones.

There's speculation that Google TV partners will have immediate access to Android 4.4 "KitKat", which is expected to arrive as early as next week (to steal some of the spotlight away from Microsoft and Windows 8.1, no doubt). Google previously indicated that after upgrading to Android 4.2, Google TV device makers will be able to easily move up to Android 4.4. Naturally upgrades to either Android 4.2 or 4.4 will be at the manufacturer's discretion.

Back in July, sources said that Google privately revealed a set-top-box during CES 2013 that was based on Android and provided Hangouts as a core feature. The device also had a built-in video camera, a motion sensor, and full access to Google Play. Users could stream YouTube videos, watch TV shows and supposedly even play games. Netflix and Pandora were also mentioned.

Perhaps then, as seen with Chromecast, Google may believe its TV efforts should be solidified in stand-alone products rather than serve as a Smart TV operating system. Set-top solutions like Vizio's Co-Star seem to be doing rather well, but Google TV still hasn't become a household name like Roku and TiVo. Vizio CTO Matt McRae even told GigaOM earlier this year that Google TV devices may end up ditching live TV to be more like a Roku box.

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Apple yesterday announced that iOS 7 will be released on September 18, but the company have something else in the works for that date? According to the latest rumors, we may also see an Apple TV software update, too.

AlllThingsD cites people familiar with Apple's plans that say Cupertino's set-top box will get an "internal overhaul" on September 18. This will include an update to AirPlay that will let you play your purchased content on other people's Apple TVs via the cloud. No word on what else we can expect in this software refresh for Apple TV, but it looks like the current generation of hardware is here to stay.

Apple first showed off iOS 7 in June, at WWDC, and is finally releasing it ahead of its new iPhones next week. The newest iteration of Apple's mobile operating system features iTunes Radio, Control Center, Notification Center, improved camera and photo applications, AirDrop for iOS, improved multitasking, a new version of Safari, a revamped version of Siri, and more. It is compatible with Phone 4 and up, iPad 2 and up, iPad mini, and the 5th generation iPod touch.

• iPhone 5S Packs Apple A7 Chip: World's First 64-bit Phone
• Apple Confirms iPhone 5C with 4-inch Retina Display and A6 SoC
• Apple Confirms iOS 7 to Launch September 18
• iPhone 5S Announced with A7 SoC, Fingerprint Scanner

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The BBC has decided to take a bit of a break from its 3D efforts. The British broadcaster has announced that it will be easing off on 3D following a special 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who. RadioTimes cites Kim Shillinglaw, the BBC’s head of 3D, as saying 3D hasn't taken off and that the corporation will be taking a three year break from the development of 3D programming.

"I have never seen a very big appetite for 3D television in the UK," Shillinglaw told the RadioTimes. "Watching 3D is quite a hassly experience in the home. You have got to find your glasses before switching on the TV. I think when people watch TV they concentrate in a different way. When people go to the cinema they go and are used to doing one thing – I think that’s one of the reasons that take up of 3D TV has been disappointing."

Shillinglaw's comments on 3D TV follow similar comments from British retailer John Lewis. Last month, John Kempner, Vision Buyer at John Lewis, was quoted as saying that while there is an interest in 3D, it's not the primary purchasing decision anymore, and the noise and consumer interest surrounding the technology is not where it was two or three years ago. Kempner highlighted the need to wear glasses as a big reason customers are slow to catch on to 3D viewing in the home.

"The usage of 3D for home viewing is very limited," Kempner told Trusted Reviews. "As an experience I think people maybe enjoy it at the cinema, but in the home it’s not quite such a wonderful experience because of the requirement to wear glasses."

The BBC said it would reconsider 3D further down the line and "see what happens when the recession ends and there may be more take up of sets."

Though 3D movies are still very much a part of our movie-going experience, it seems that attempts to bring this technology to our living rooms may be falling flat. UK retailer John Lewis has told TrustedReviews that customers aren't really interested in 3D TVs the way they used to be.

TrustedReviews cites John Kempner, Vision Buyer at John Lewis, as saying that while there is an interest, it's not the primary purchasing decision anymore, and the noise and consumer interest surrounding the technology is not where it was two or three years ago. Kempner highlights the need to wear glasses as a big reason customers are slow to catch on to 3D viewing in the home.

"The usage of 3D for home viewing is very limited,” Kempner told Trusted Reviews. "As an experience I think people maybe enjoy it at the cinema, but in the home it’s not quite such a wonderful experience because of the requirement to wear glasses."

While Kempner says John Lewis does still sell 'a lot' of 3D TVs, the gist of his statement is that interest in 3D TVs is waning. He also mentioned that the benefits of Smart TVs, which let users browse the web and access other online services, are of real consumer interest.

Of course, with so much progress in the realm of glasses-free 3D, we can't say that 3D TV will never catch on. That said, it seems as though the days of watching 3D content at home with glasses are numbered in terms of both innovation and consumer adoption.

Did you buy a 3D TV? Do you plan to buy one? Let us know in the comments below!

Siri's voice is instantly recognizable to Apple users. The virtual assistant has been making appointments and directing iPhone users to their closest coffee house since October of 2011. However, iPhone users might be shocked to hear about Siri's latest gig: advertising for Microsoft.

Microsoft's latest ad is using Siri's own voice to tell users about all the things the iOS personal assistant can't do. "Sorry, I don't update like that," she says as Microsoft's Live Tiles auto-update on a tablet nearby. "I'm sorry, I can only do one thing at a time," she says, as a user starts to multitask on the Windows 8 device. Siri eventually gives up on trying to keep up and suggests a few bars of 'Chopsticks' instead. Microsoft wraps up the ad by pointing out how expensive the iPad is compared to the Asus VivoTab Smart that's being used in the commercial.

Microsoft is no stranger to trashing its competitors these days. The company has been ragging on Google for months via its "Don't Get Scroogled" campaign and recently targeted Google Docs in two new commercials that labeled the service unstable, unreliable, and a gamble. Ouch.

Check out Microsoft's latest ad below:

Rumors of a second new Xbox device isn't anything new, but it's been a while since we've heard anything about it. That may be due to Microsoft's uncertainty on whether to launch this "Lite" version along with the Xbox Infinity, or just release the latter full-blown console by itself.

Let's back up a moment. For a long time the plan, it seemed, was to launch a new Kinect 2.0-based Xbox Infinity gaming console with app support and set-top box functionality, and a second lighter Kinect-enabled set-top version with just support for apps and streaming TV. Naturally, this model would compete with the likes of Roku, Apple TV and other set-top boxes. Gamers wanting to play premium Xbox Infinity games would need to buy the console.

But now sources claim that it's unclear if Microsoft intends to introduce the set-top box version at all. The product design has reportedly gone through several iterations, including models with Kinect that would allow the user to navigate through content using voice commands and gestures. That said, it's possible that pricing could be a big factor in Microsoft's uncertainty, especially if Kinect technology is involved. Can the company sell a Kinect-enabled set-top box that's priced competitively with Apple TV and Roku hardware?

The news stems from the Wall Street Journal, which also quotes several insiders who said Microsoft is telling teams to write software using coding standards that Microsoft recently developed. This is nothing new as well: the company is pushing Windows 8-based apps that can work across a wide field of devices including the Windows 8-based Xbox Infinity, the "Xbox TV" set-top box, Windows Phone 8, Windows 8-based tablets and Windows 8 desktops and notebooks.

Both the Xbox Infinity and the Xbox TV set-top box will reportedly use tech stemming from Microsoft's acquisition of VideoSurf for $70 million back in November 2011. This company created technology that catalogs and tags videos by scanning audio and visual content of videos. The company's mobile app was like Shazam, only for video; point the device's camera at a television and pull up information.

After the acquisition, Microsoft established a Video Cognition team that would use the tech to "radically change the way we watch TV," and to leverage advances in gestures and voice control to "streamline the way viewers search, consume, and share content, minimizing the time spent searching for programs, while maximizing the viewing and sharing capacities."

Adding TV capabilities is the logical next step in the Xbox console's evolution. Microsoft set out to create a central entertainment system in the living room with the original Xbox back in 2001. The company didn’t really achieve that until the successor arrived in 2005, but there's still a disconnection between the device and the customer's cable or satellite TV service. Microsoft likely plans to eliminate that final gap with the next Xbox.

If Apple plans to reinvent the way we watch TV in the living room, then it needs to start with a screen resolution that's better than 1080p, eliminate the remote, and the overall solution needs to be somewhat affordable. That is supposedly the route Apple is taking with iTV, offering not only motion-sensing control functions and Siri-based voice commands, but support for a 3840 x 2160 resolution, or Ultra HD.

In addition to negotiating with content owners, the holdup of Apple's supposed iTV rollout may be partially based upon where the panels will originate. Sources state that Apple and Foxconn have been in negotiations for quite some time in regards to the TV's mass production schedule, but Apple is supposedly shopping around for an Ultra HD panel supplier.

As it stands now, most of these Ultra HD panel suppliers are based in Taiwan. They're expected to be at nearly full capacity later this year in order to meet demand from China-based TV vendors. Apple already has panel makers capable of producing Ultra HD screens in its supply chain, but they're dedicated to high-res panel production for Apple's next generation of the iPhone, iPad and iPad mini.

One of the Ultra HD panel suppliers Apple is relying on is LG Display, which will be able to mass produce Ultra HD TV panels by the second half of the year. If LG is successful and can meet Apple's supply demand by the end of 2013, consumers may finally see iTV in time for the holiday shopping season. If not, the launch may be pushed back to 1Q14.

Of course, the iTV launch will also depend on whether Apple can finally land deals with content suppliers. Apple has traveled a rough road of negotiations for quite a while, as networks and Hollywood have feared that Apple will take over the living room much like it did with the smartphone and tablet sectors. Sources have claimed that Apple's requirements have been a little "pushy" too, thus turning off potential partnerships.

But Apple is feeling the bite of irrelevance. Google's Android has consumed the smartphone sector, appearing on form factors that dwarf the physical size of Apple's "premium" iPhone. Android has also finally taken over the tablet market thanks to smaller form factors like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. Apple has yet to produce something entirely new since the original iPad launch, and the iTV, in addition to the rumored iWatch, seems to be Apple's lifeline.

The iTV is projected to arrive in different sizes and sport the company's iOS platform. Apple is planning to allow customers to start content on one device and resume on another. The company is also seeking to make content discovery extremely easy, using gesture movements and voice control through Siri.

But has Apple already lost the battle? Intel is gearing up to launch its own streaming TV service later this year, and Microsoft will likely open the doors to its own service later this year with the launch of its Xbox Infinity console. Google is already pumping a streaming TV service through Google Fiber.

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Bloomberg reports that Intel is getting close to making a firm deal with Time Warner, NBC Universal and Viacom in obtaining programming for its online pay-TV service. These three media companies have reportedly agreed to broad outlines of the proposed service, although some aspects still need to be settled. Intel is also still trying to negotiate the financial terms.

Unnamed sources close to the negotiations claim that Intel is getting ready to begin financial negotiations with News Corp., owner of the FOX film and news businesses. The chip maker has also entered preliminary talks with Walt Disney Co. (ABC, DIS, etc) and CBS Corp. (CBS).

Erik Huggers, Intel’s vice president for media, said last month that Intel plans to offer an online product this year using its own set-top box. This service will compete directly with "incumbent" operators like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Dish Network and others while still using the customer's current broadband access.

By taking this already established route into the living room, Intel believes it can offer more choices over the channels consumers receive, combining live channels, on-demand programming and cloud-based DVR capabilities. The set-top box promises an easier-to-use electronic programming guide, offering better content discovery than your typical cable subscription set-top box. However customers will also be able to receive programming on their PCs, laptops and mobile devices.

Unfortunately, subscribers to Intel's upcoming TV service may be forced to pay more than what they currently do to cable companies. That's because Intel will be required to shell out premium licensing fees to content owners because it's "the new kid on the block." David Bank, an analyst at RBC Capital in New York, thinks this will be great for the likes of NBC Universal and CBS Corp. who are already cautious about stepping out of the long-standing relationships with cable operators.

With Intel, Google, Microsoft and even Apple looking to enter the TV programming market, consumers will be faced with even more choices than before. As it stands now, thanks to services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, Time Warner, Comcast and other cable TV providers have launched online programming that allows customers to log in and watch specific channels on their tablets, smartphones, and computers.

But eventually these cable providers may be forced to bring all of their programming online to battle the new web-based competitors. Suffering a declining subscription rate, they may be forced to provide competitive packaging that doesn't force customers into subscribing to dozens upon dozens on channels they'll never watch. As it stands now, many set-top boxes are already IP-based – it's the content owners who are seemingly dictating the rules.

Intel's move into the online TV space is reportedly fueled by the company's need to be less dependent on the personal computer market. Industry players across the board are feeling the decline, and are scrambling to find different avenues to make up for the loss in revenue.

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Cast your mind back to January and you might remember that LG kicked off pre-orders for its new 55-inch OLED TV in Korea at the beginning of the year. If you're in the UK and were drooling at the thought of such a device, we have good news: LG is launching that same device in the UK this coming summer.

While many people have 55-inch panels in the home, the expense associated with producing large OLED panels is much higher. As such, the TVs themselves are fairly costly. However, because OLED layers are flexible and lighter, OLED displays don't require backlighting and the colours are more vivid and the blacks are very deep.

First announced at CES 2012 and originally scheduled for launch some time last year, the TV boasts passive 3D and a Full HD resolution. It weighs around 16 pounds and boasts a thickness of less than 4-mm. LG said last year that it was based on its Oxide TFT (which replaces Amorphous Silicon with a cheaper Oxide) White-OLED (WOLED) panel with color filters (RGBW). It started shipping to Korea in February and will ship to the UK in July. Pricing is said to be £10,000, which is significantly more than the $8,000 USD price tag that was floating around in January.

Still no word on a U.S. launch but we'll keep you posted.

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Erik Huggers, vice president and general manager of Intel Media, confirmed at the AllThingsD media conference that the chip giant plans to introduce a new Internet-based TV service and set-top box in 2013. He said the box itself, powered by an Intel chip, will sport a camera that can detect who is in front of the TV, seemingly backing up previous rumors that the company may limit content viewing to the number of customers present in front of the screen.

"For the first time, we will deliver...a new consumer-electronics product that people will buy from Intel through a new brand," Huggers said.

As indicated, the company will actually provide the TV service and hardware directly to consumers rather than rely on third-parties. He said Intel is currently working with the entire television industry to determine how to distribute live television, to offer “catch-up TV”, and other TV-based services across the Internet. Intel believes there can be an all-in-one solution that will please content owners and cable/satellite providers.

Like Apple, Intel is looking to fix a broken TV industry by changing the way media is consumed in the living room. And like Apple, Intel has seen an opposition from Hollywood, cable and satellite providers who are reluctant to alter the current (lucrative) system, to “unbundle” and license specific networks and shows at a discount.

But according to Huggers, potential customers won’t save any money by ditching their current cable provider for Intel’s solution. They also won’t be able to pick and choose their own channels, but rather will be forced to subscribe to bundles created by the Intel team.

"What consumers want is choice, control, and convenience," Huggers said. "If bundles are bundled right, there's real value in that.... I don't believe the industry is ready for pure a la carte."

Thus Intel plans to provide smaller bundles than what’s offered via cable providers, seemingly allowing consumers to “cut the crap” that typically comes packed with cable and satellite TV subscriptions.

Intel tried once before to enter the TV industry through a Sony Google TV set-top box, a Logitech Google TV set-top box, and other Smart TVs. When the first-generation Google TV devices failed to gain any traction, the company stopped pushing its chips and shuttered its TV business in late 2011.

"We have been working for (the past) year to set up Intel Media, a new group focused on developing an Internet platform," Huggers said. "It's not a value play, it's a quality play where we'll create a superior experience for the end user."

Huggers said the set-top box, which will be the central point of Intel’s TV service, will be able to “steer content and ads toward specific users” thanks to the built-in camera.

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South Korean technology giant, Samsung, has revealed that the company sells three televisions every second.

Samsung president BK Yoon stressed that the firm dominates the living room through its home appliances division. "Three Samsung TVs are sold every second. And in 2012 we made $184 billion in sales. We invest $9 billion every year in R&D to develop the next big products."

"We think innovation is truly the key to our company's success," he added. "That's how we are able to bring the world's first, best and amazing products to the market."

Forthcoming Samsung products associated with its home appliances arm include a new eco bubble washing machine, a new refrigerator and a robotic vacuum cleaner.

"We believe that the next big thing is home appliances. Why? Because the home is the most important place for all of us, in each country, in each culture. We want to make your home more pleasant and more enjoyable. We must understand the need of consumers around the globe."

Samsung, which has sold tens of millions of TV units through its 'Smart' television brand (including apps, in-built browser, etc.), revealed the world's largest ultra HD TV during CES 2013.

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According to the rumor mill, Apple has been working on its own-brand TV for years. Though the company already has a digital media player dubbed 'Apple TV,' the last few years have been rife with rumors of an actual HDTV from Apple. It seems every new event Apple plans, there are questions as to whether or not the company will be unveiling an HDTV. However, those hoping for an Apple television can probably write off 2012, because the latest scuttlebutt says there's no announcement coming this year.

Bloomberg cites sources that say Apple won't be releasing a TV this year. People familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg that Apple is still struggling to cut deals with cable and media companies. Two of the biggest issues are apparently control over the software that determines the system's user interface and whether or not the box should be sold by Apple or through cable companies. Apple is working to develop a system that would allow users to find programs they like, and recommend shows based on what they've already watched. This system could be controlled by the iPhone or an iPod and would include both live and recorded content. 

This isn't the first time we've heard that Apple's TV might not launch in 2012. Back in March, Business Insider cited a research note that said Apple TV was a 2013 event. Apple has so far had huge success with the smartphone, tablet, MP3 player, and digital music industry but the company is famous for demanding complete control of each device. With this Apple HDTV, Apple would no doubt want the same amount of control that is has with the iPod and iTunes, or the iPhone and the App Store. Cupertino can't launch its TV without the help of major media companies, but with cable and media companies, already feeling threatened by digital distribution and services like Netflix, will be driving a hard bargain.

_{Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.}                     

_{Contact Us for News Tips, Corrections and Feedback}

Last week, Sony officially unveiled the XBR-84X900, an 84-inch TV equipped with a 4K (3840 x 2160) LCD panel and Sony's 4K X-Reality Pro Picture Engine (with up-scaling capability to 4K). However on Wednesday during CEDIA 2012, Sony released the actual pricing and pre-order date, reporting that customers drooling over the 4KTV will be required to shell out $24,999.99 USD starting September 6, 2012. The actual wall-sized device won't hit retail floors until this November.

"The new 84-inch set, model XBR-84X900, is equipped with a 4K LCD panel that delivers an image four times the resolution of Full HD and creates an immersive viewing experience previously unavailable from a TV. The XBR 4KTV provides the most immersive picture and sound experience ever available for the home theater," Sony said on Wednesday.

As reported last week, the monster 4KTV features a 10-Unit Live Speaker system which is optimized for the large-sized screen and envelops the viewer in virtual 5.1 surround sound. The side speakers are also detachable, allowing consumers to connect to an existing home theater system. The specs reveal that the 4K TV has a 50 watt total output, and a 10-unit speaker system including a subwoofer. Other audible features include a 10 degree inward facing array, and S-Force Surround 3D.

In addition to the speaker system, the 4KTV also features network connectivity including access to the full Sony Entertainment Network suite of services, dynamic edge-lit LED backlighting, and passive Full HD 3D capabilities. A tablet or smartphone can even be used as a remote (via the Media Remote App), allowing users to sit back and pull up movies, TV shows, music and other media through Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, Netflix, Pandora, Yahoo! Broadcast Interactivity and more than 50 other "popular internet entertainment providers."

The spec list also reports that the 4KTV features local dimming, Motionflow XR 960 for a fluid framerate, and support for Wi-Fi Direct, DNLA and Skype. Users can also connect their PlayStation 3 and use the console's PlayMemories Studio to view, share and edit photos in 4K. PC and tablet content can even be streamed to the 4KTV using Intelligent Connect.

Sony said it will begin taking pre-orders for the $24,999.99 USD 3D 4KTV right here starting Thursday. Currently the actual retail availability in November is unknown, but it will be "available at select Sony Stores as well as specialty electronics retailers nationwide."

As previously rumored, Sony Electronics plans to launch an 84-inch 4K 3D TV at Sony Stores and select retail locations in North America later this year. Labeled as the XBR-84X900, this monster-sized HDTV will be equipped with a 4K (3840 x 2160) LCD panel packing Sony's 4K X-Reality PRO Picture Engine with up-scaling capability to 4K.

"From Trinitron to HD, 3D and now 4K, Sony has led the way, innovating TV since 1968. This new model redefines what consumers should expect from their television’s performance," said Brian Siegel, vice president of Sony Electronics’ TV Group. "Our professional division continues to see the migration toward 4K content creation with major film and broadcast productions. Armed with this knowledge and expertise, only Sony continues to push the television experience with innovation and immersive products."

According to Sony, the 4K TV incorporates a 10 Unit Live Speaker system which is optimized for the large-sized screen and envelops the viewer in virtual 5.1 surround sound. The side speakers are also detachable, allowing consumers to connect to an existing home theater system. The specs reveal that the 4K TV has a 50 watt total output, and a 10-unit speaker system including a subwoofer. Other audible features include a 10 degree inward facing array, and S-Force Surround 3D.

As for the screen itself, Sony said viewers can watch video on the large screen and not see any degradation of image quality traditionally associated with larger screen sizes. "High-resolution processing powers a 3D viewing experience that exceeds Full HD resolution," the company said. "The accompanying 3D glasses use a light and comfortable passive design, allowing viewers to enjoy 3D footage on an impressive large screen the same way they would in a movie theater."

Naturally this monster-sized HDTV will have direct access to the Sony Entertainment Network via a built-in Wi-Fi connection. A tablet or smartphone can even be used as a remote (via the Media Remote App), allowing users to sit back and pull up movies, TV shows, music and other media through Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, Netflix, Pandora, Yahoo! Broadcast Interactivity and more than 50 other "popular internet entertainment providers."

The spec list reports that the HDTV features a Dynamic Edge LED backlighting design, local dimming, Full HD 3D support, Motionflow XR 960 for a fluid framerate, and support for Wi-Fi Direct, DNLA and Skype. Users can also connect their PlayStation 3 and use the console's PlayMemories Studio to view, share and edit photos in 4K. PC and tablet content can even be streamed to the HDTV using Intelligent Connect.

"Sony leads the way in all aspects of the 4K workflow, from both the professional and consumer perspective," Sony said. "More than 12,500 of the company’s 4K digital cinema projectors are in use at movie theaters throughout the world, and Sony is also leading the way in true 4K content creation with its flagship F65 CineAlta 4K camera. With several 4K movies in production, the first broadcast TV shows beginning to shoot in 4K and Taylor Swift’s release tomorrow of the world’s first-ever 4K music video the content evolution has begun. Also part of Sony’s 4K line-up in the home is the VPL-VW1000ES, the first 4K home theater projector, which was announced last year and is available through custom installers."

For more information about the upcoming 4K 3D TV, head here. It's ok if your jaw hits the table -- we totally get it.

_{Contact Us for News Tips, Corrections and Feedback}

Fortune reports that Apple may not release the rumored iTV -- or at least the HDTV version -- for quite some time. This is based on a "company update" issued on Friday by Pacific Crest analyst Andy Hargreaves. He attended a meeting on Wednesday with Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer and Eddy Cue, senior VP for Internet services and software.

According to Hargreaves, the Apple execs supposedly talked about its HDTV efforts and how difficult it has been to acquire rights from content owners and broadcasters. In short, the vision of changing the living room doesn't seem to be on Apple's world domination plans in the immediate future -- at least, not in the form on an HDTV. However, given recent rumors, Apple may still attempt to transform the television sector with a revamped set-top box first. Once everything falls into place, the company may push forward with an actual HDTV.

Regardless, here is the note from Hargreaves which echoes what Apple has said all along: it won't enter the TV sector until the company can secure the necessary rights to fulfill its vision -- a vision that's seemingly scaring content owners, networks and cable operators:

Relative to the television market, Eddy Cue, Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services, reiterated the company's mantra that it will enter markets where it feels it can create great customer experiences and address key problems. The key problems in the television market are the poor quality of the user interface and the forced bundling of pay TV content, in our view. While Apple could almost certainly create a better user interface, Mr. Cue's commentary suggested that this would be an incomplete solution from Apple's perspective unless it could deliver content in a way that is different from the current multichannel pay TV model.

Unfortunately for Apple and for consumers, acquiring rights for traditional broadcast and cable network content outside of the current bundled model is virtually impossible because the content is owned by a relatively small group of companies that have little interest in alternative models for their most valuable content. The differences in regional broadcast content and the lack of scale internationally also create significant hurdles that do not seem possible to cross at this point.

The latest report surrounding the rumored iTV project is that Apple wants to offer a DVR service that stores TV shows in the cloud so that users can start any show at any time, or restart a show minutes after it has begun, similar to Time Warner's Start Over feature.

One of the many problems Apple is reportedly facing is that some of the proposed services -- including the web-based DVR -- reside outside the existing rights over TV content cable operators currently have. To make everyone happy, content owners will need to expand the rights of cable operators so that the Apple box can be deployed. But the relationship between Apple, cable operators and content owners still remain tense because the latter parties are worried Apple will control the entertainment sector much like it has with the smartphone and tablet sectors.

That said, Apple's transformation of the living room may be an extremely slow one. The company is currently trying to sell the idea of replacing current set-top boxes provided by cable operators with its iTV device. It would offer an iOS-based interface, Siri integration, and motion sensing to eliminate the remote. Mobile devices -- by way of apps -- would help control channel selection as well, similar to the way current apps from Time Warner Cable and other operators already provide.

The new device is rumored to be making an appearance alongside the iPhone 5, iPad Mini and iPod refreshes, but we're betting this will be a transformed Apple TV set-top box for now.

_{Contact Us for News Tips, Corrections and Feedback}

The average U.S. retail price of a flat panel TV was $1,224 in the second quarter of the year, up from $1,190 in Q1 and up from $1,124 in Q2 of last year.

“The climb in U.S. flat-panel TV prices is attributed to market gains in retail among new sets sporting advanced technologies, such as 3-D, integrated interactivity and light-emitting diode (LED) backlight technology used in LCD TV sets,” said Edward Border, analyst for TV technology at IHS. “Consumers also are buying a larger portion of sets with Web 2.0 features characteristic of Smart TVs. Moreover, some large-sized television models in both the LCD and plasma categories increased their share, contributing to overall growth in pricing.”

30.9 percent of TVs currently available at retail are now 3D sets, up from 27.8 percent in Q1. Smart TVs are up from 40.9 percent to 44.3 percent. LED TVs now have a share of 63.5 percent, up from 59.2 percent, IHS said.

The most popular size for LCD TVs is 46 inches, which now has a 12.2 percent share. For plasma TVs, the size with the greatest share is 50 inch (23.8 percent). Interestingly, below-42-inch screen sizes saw their retail prices increase on average, while the generally popular 32-inch models dropped to new lows. The average 32-inch TV sold for $435 in Q2, down from $495 in Q1. 42-inch models are currently priced at about $761.

Smart TVs saw significant price increases. Average pricing in June fell to $1,907 from $2,015 in May, but it was up significantly compared to $1,724 in June last year.

All eyes were on London last Friday as the city hosted the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Of course, with so many people watching from all around the world, the ceremony represented a golden opportunity for advertisers. Apple was among those that advertised during the opening ceremony, airing brand new material that represents quite a departure from the norm as far as Apple ads are concerned.

Cupertino's latest commercials aren't singing the praises of the iPad, iPhone or iPod. Instead, the company is advertising its Genius Bar (or the people behind said Genius Bar, we're not sure which). This is the first time Apple has featured the Genius Bar in its commercials. The ads show an Apple Genius Bar worker heroically saving technologically-challenged individuals with computer problems.

All told there are three new ads, dubbed Mayday, Labor Day, and Basically. Check them out below and let us know what you think.

_{Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.}       

_{Contact Us for News Tips, Corrections and Feedback}

According to Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth, there are a few developers who want to develop such a platform and have met in a chat to nail down some of the priorities of a Ubuntu-TV project.

There are no surprises in the first batch of ideas or initial mockups that may blow your socks off. Shuttleworth noted that it will have to be a 10-foot interface for watching media with remote control support, cloud and/or server storage, physical media playback, Ubuntu One accounts, installable image, easy configuration, integration with other Ubuntu devices, portable devices control, as well as media sharing and the option for media purchases.

It is very early in the process and thus difficult to judge what Ubuntu-TV may look like. There may be an opportunity for Ubuntu to deliver a unified TV platform, but we know that Google TV largely failed in its first version due to the lack of content and the rough edges of the software itself. Google may come back with a big swing that could correct the errors made with the initial product generations. There are also more rumors that Apple will be releasing a true integrated Apple TV early in 2012, which will focus on content as well as intuitive user control, which could make Ubuntu-TV look old from the start - at least if the software remains as it is currently described.

The biggest challenge may be to create a consumer electronics perception for Ubuntu Linux that can match the acceptance level of the mainstream CE buyer. From a platform perspective, the integration with other Ubuntu devices will be critical, but the low penetration of Ubuntu Linux devices in the overall market decreases the value of this feature significantly.

One the eve of the announcement of an Android Market version of Google TV, market research firm IHS released some numbers that show that Intel may not be as committed to the smart TV market anymore as it announced back in 2010.

Wrapped up in a group of new entries in the TV chip supplier segment, Intel had less than 2 percent market share in the first half of 2011. According to IHS, Intel has begun shifting its resources away from the TV market and is now focusing on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. The TV SoC market is dominated by Mstar with a 39 percent share and Mediatek with 12 percent.

One of the problems Intel and other new suppliers may be facing is that the term smart TV isn't defined yet and that, despite a TV market volume of hundreds of millions of units each year, there are long replacement cycles and the smart TV just has not caught on yet. IHS said that it will take several more years until the smart TV will hit substantial volumes - and account for 65 percent market share by 2015.

“In a television semiconductor market characterized by entrenched suppliers and weak near-term growth prospects, Intel was facing enormous challenges in trying to establish itself as a competitor,” said Randy Lawson, principal analyst for display and consumer electronics at IHS. “And with the first-generation Google TV products proving unsatisfactory given their slow sales, it’s no surprise that Intel is moving away from the television SoC market.” There was no information how Intel will react to the Google TV upgrade.

However, it is already clear that it will take much more than a sophisticated chip to break into the TV market as even Broadcom hinted that it would be leaving the TV chip because of the rough competitive environment.

Given its $99 price, this should not come as a surprise, but the question is what Apple will do with this installed base as it knows that it has now found the sweet spot for the device.

It appears that analysts are already anticipating the next stage for the device, which could be what the name of the device indicates: A real, LED TV that integrates the Apple TV box. The hardware isn't the limiting factor anymore. If Apple believes that it can bridge over to the LCD/LED TV market, then it may be just a matter of time until we are seeing a white flat screen TV with an Apple logo.

"Longer term, we believe Apple has larger ambitions in the TV market, and the new version of Apple TV is just the beginning of something much larger," wrote Ticonderoga analyst Brian White in a research note to clients. "Keep in mind, the global LCD TV market is estimated at nearly $100 billion in 2010 revenue by DisplaySearch and the U.S. TV advertising market is estimated at $70 billion by Google."

The TV space could be the next area where Google and Apple are competing much more fiercely. "In our view, Apple is one of the few companies in the world that will be able to offer consumers a broad digital media ecosystem with iTunes, iBooks and the App Store", White said. "Additionally, Apple arguably offers the most aesthetically pleasing consumer electronic products in the world. Keep in mind, the TV is at the center of living rooms around the globe, and an Apple TV would likely be a big hit, in our view."

White argued that it would be difficult for traditional LCD TV makers to compete with Apple due to the ecosystem Apple has built. If that is the case, then many TV makers would have to rely on Google's products to be able to deliver a competitive product.  

Back in March, the New York Times reported that Google, Sony and Intel would team up to develop a new platform called Google TV. Citing people familiar with the matter, NYT said the collaboration would result in a new generation of web connected televisions and settop boxes that would make it easy for people to access the likes of Twitter and Picasa from their living rooms.

Bloomberg today reports that Sony will next month announce a new line of home-entertainment devices that use Intel chips and Google software. Citing two people familiar with the matter (people familiar with the matter know everything these days), Bloomberg's Ian King, Tim Culpan and Cliff Edwards write that the three companies plan to discuss the new products at a conference sponsored by Google in San Francisco on May 19 and May 20.

While the finer details have yet to be worked out, Intel is said to be supplying a customized version of its Atom processor, while Google is providing a brand spanking new version of Android calling Dragonpoint. Logitech will provide a keyboard-remote control combo.

The joint business venture is supposed to help Sony get a leg up on the competition while allowing Intel to spread it's chips around and enter markets other than that of the personal computer.

Google, Intel and Sony declined to comment on Bloomberg's report.

Read the full report here.

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As usual, a big thanks to our partners Logic Buy for sponsoring this post. Be sure to let us know if you take advantage of any of these deals and how it works out for you!

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It’s been a long, delayed road to the switchover in the U.S. from analog TV broadcasts to all-digital. Today marks the day that the analog frequencies are freed from carrying TV, which means that unless you took the proper steps to ensure that all your hardware was up to snuff, you’re not getting anything on the boob tube.

For a recap of our coverage leading up to today, check out the links below:

• Intel Developing DTV Antenna; Coupons Resume
• DTV Changeover Begins; Initial Reports Good
• Eight out of 10 Households Ready for DTV
• DTV Officially Delayed Until June 12

We expect that most of you were ready for DTV, but the question of the day is:

Wwere there any of you (or people that you knew) who weren’t prepared for it? Or even better, do you know anyone completely taken by surprise on the sudden cutoff of analog signals?

High-end HDTVs are all gaining some sort of special net-enabled service, but leave it to the mainstream brand of Vizio to really embrace connected media.

Vizio debuted at CES its “Connected HDTV” platform, which adds the stacked roster of support from Accedo Broadband, Adobe, Amazon, Blockbuster, Flickr, Netflix, Pandora, Rhapsody and Yahoo! This translates to movies, music, news, weather, sports, gaming and social networking services once the television is connected to the Internet.

Making its HDTVs even better is built-in 802.11n wireless, helping to reduce cable clutter behind the set. Even some super high-end HDTVs, such as Sony’s gorgeous Bravia XBR9, don’t have built-in Wi-Fi and require a wireless bridge.

“As consumer demand for content and information grows exponentially, we want to address what our customers are increasingly looking for – the ability to enjoy their favorite content and services from the comfort of their living room easy chair,” said Laynie Newsome, co-founder of Vizio.

Unlike many of the other HDTV makers at CES, Vizio did not explicitly announce any specific new products that would make up part of its new “Connected HDTV” lineup. Instead, this announcement serves to inform the customer of upcoming sets that the company hopes would keep the prospective buyers from considering other brands.

One could wonder why out of all major electronics companies did Vizio manage to secure so many partnerships. Well, first of all, content providers want to sell as much of their products as possible. This is in Vizio’s favor, as the company has been one of the consistently top vendors of HDTVs in the U.S., mostly thanks to its value-oriented pricing. Basically, Vizio televisions reach broad audiences, which is exactly what Amazon, Blockbuster, et al. are after.

Look for the new Vizio “Connected HDTV” models this fall.

What are your experiences with the Vizio brand? Do you own an HDTV panel from Visio? Do you feel you get a better bang for the buck or were you disappointed and ended up going with a "better" brand?

Obama's transition team wants to push back the date when analog broadcasters switch over to digital, however FCC's chairman rejects the idea.

During CES '09, Federal Communications Commissions chairman and Republican Kevin Martin said that a delay in the upcoming analog-to-digital transition taking place next month might actually cause more confusion, that there are other options to pursue rather than push the transition date back. As reported by The Associate Press, last Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama's transition team requested that Congress not switch off the analog signals just yet, citing that the program ran out of money and currently could not fill the requests of consumers seeking converter box vouchers, thus the need to delay the change.

Martin said Saturday that Congress could pass additional funding, or eliminate the 90-day expiration deadline on the coupons altogether. Over the past few months, broadcasters have heavily advertised the February 17 transition, and many have even scheduled the engineering work to take down the analog antennas and make way for digital coverage.

However, turmoil seems to boil within the FCC, as Democratic FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein voiced his understanding of the delay at a CES panel discussion. "This program has been badly mismanaged. It's not ready for prime time," he said. "There are so many elements of the preparation that have not been undertaken ... We don't have program in place in the field to help people who need assistance in their homes. The phone banks are inadequately prepared."

Last week the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) put a "waiting list" into effect after the $1.34 billion in funding quickly depleted. 103,000 requests were immediately added to the list, and those currently on the list will only receive a voucher if one goes unclaimed and expires. The NTIA urged consumers to go out and purchase a converter box for at least one television set, and not wait for a voucher. The NTIA claims that more than 24 million households requested over 46 million coupons.

With constant advertising and online media coverage, consumers facing the turmoil of upgrading current connections to digital may or may not find the postponement confusing. Time is running out, as February 15 looms in the distance and millions of over-the-air viewers may eventually be left in the dark if something isn't done soon. A delay seems appropriate, if not necessary, despite the FCC chairman's reservations.

"I'm concerned about a delay in the sense that if you can solve that issue other ways, a delay has actually the potential to confuse consumers," said Martin. "All of our messaging has been about Feb. 17 — not just ours — the industry's."

Los Angeles (CA) - A University of California scientist says our love of large television sets could be destroying our environment.

Michael Prather claims nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gas used in the production of plasma and LCD televisions could be more than 17000 times as powerful as carbon dioxide in heating the atmosphere. The gas is not covered by the Kyoto Treaty and Prather says 4000 tons were produced in 2008 - which according to Prather’s calculations is equivalent to 68 million tons of CO2.

Prather adds that NF3 gas production is expected to double next year.

Read more ... Australian Broadcasting Channel