television

As we round out the first part of 2012 on the heels of three big television events--Super Bowl, Grammys, and Oscars--a lot has been said and written about the power of social media as an extension of the TV experience.

It's easy to see why: triple and quadruple digit increases in user adoption.

According to some accounts, social media comments for the Oscar awards this year were up more than 250 percent over 2011 levels. Meanwhile, social comments about the 2012 Grammys were up an astounding 2,300 percent and those for the Super Bowl were up 580 percent. … Read more

With the passage last week of legislation authorizing the FCC to conduct new spectrum auctions, you might think that the looming spectrum crisis has been averted.

Nothing could be farther from the truth--or more dangerous to the continued health of the mobile ecosystem.

To avoid severe service interruptions or outright collapse of mobile networks, the FCC's 2010 National Broadband Plan estimated that mobile users will need an additional 300MHz of spectrum by 2015 and an additional 500 MHz by 2020. Many industry insiders believe these estimates are actually low.

The FCC now has the authority to conduct auctions to … Read more

Led by coordinating producer, Lance Barrow and commentators Jim Nantz and Sir Nick Faldo, the CBS Golf team is a tight-knit family. They travel the PGA Tour together for weeks just as the players do, hopscotching from course to course across America. Recently I caught up with them at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera in Pacific Palisades, north of Los Angeles. Production Manager Bob Thiele, another all-star in our business, gave me an update on how the team works, as well as the latest in tech innovations.

Among the most interesting recent advances is the use of fiber cable … Read more

Google has filed for a patent on a technology that would let users search their program listings with only the sound of their voice.

According to Patently Apple, which obtained the patent request, Google's application describes a method of allowing users to say a voice command through a mobile device. That command is then relayed to a television or set-top box--likely equipped with the company's Google TV platform--that displays the desired information.

According to Patently Apple, the patent describes one implementation in which a user asks, "When is 'Seinfeld' on?" The software on the television then … Read more

Should Apple use the "iTV" moniker for its widely expected smart TV, it may entangle the company in a legal mess. Or it may not.

British TV network ITV has reportedly warned Apple not to use the brand name iTV for its upcoming smart TV product. The U.K. broadcaster may have even received assurances from Apple in 2010 that the iPhone maker would not christen any upcoming TV products with the iTV name.

At least, that's the scoop according to the U.K. Telegraph.

But ITV is denying the report, claiming it's had no such … Read more

Best Buy said it authorized a survey that discussed the as-yet announced Apple TV, but insisted that fuss over the survey is much ado about nothing.

"The customer survey was a routine offer effectiveness survey conducted by one of Best Buy's research partners," Best Buy told Wired in a statement last night. "Any brand reference was hypothetical. The survey is no longer available."

Apple TV rumors have been swirling over the last several months after co-founder Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that he had "cracked" the code for a revolutionary television. … Read more

I know I've posted a lot of TV deals of late, but, hey, they're a hot category right now. And who knows if the deals will be as good after this Sunday's big game?

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Sharp LC42SV49U 42-inch LCD HDTV for $329.99, plus sales tax where applicable. You can opt for free site-to-store shipping, which, alas, takes 7-10 days, or pony up around $20 for shipping.

Two factors set this deal apart from some of the others I've shared recently. First, Sharp is a … Read more

Is it Black Friday again already? Somebody at Target must think so, because they've got a TV deal that has day-after-Thanksgiving written all over it.

I say that having already posted a couple of pretty amazing TV deals in the last few weeks. This one beats them all.

While supplies last, Target has the Apex Digital LD4688T 46-inch LCD HDTV for $379 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable).

That's a whopping $200 off the regular price. And if you have a Target REDcard, you can save an additional 5 percent. Throw Ebates into the mix and you'll … Read more

As if LED and 3D TV weren't confusing enough, 2012 and beyond will bring an HDTV technology called 4K. It's being heralded as the next high-def, and manufacturers are already lining up to bring you products.

But just as was the case with 3D, it's the hardware chicken before the software egg: there's no consumer 4K content available. Still, if you listen to the industry, it'll tell you it's the last resolution you'll ever need. So what is 4K anyway, and what makes it different from high definition?… Read more