Convergence Conversation

So what is it that we do when we "timeshift" TV? (assuming that we have gone digital in the first place)...do we video it? Do we use a PVR? What about the DVR? Or the latest potential acronym DTR (Digital Television Recorder)...does it matter? From a pedantic point yes..because the point is that the term should give a vague indication of the activity being carried out..and none of the above cut the mustard. yes it is a recorder, but is it personal (surely everyone uses it), and is it video?

Further what is the associated verb...most people (after the water cooler moment) talk about taping last nights programme, surely that cannot be right...and is brought about by the confusion of the term video

So what about DCR: More...

Yesterday, or today depending on your where you are in the world, came the news that IPhone 2 was coming. Not in the UK yet, but launch delays are the one of the interesting side effects of the UK timezone.

What was more interesting (OK difficult I know with the apparently unassailable gadget of the year) were the associated tariffs. For a variety of unlimited 3G bandwidth consumption ranges , you could even get an IPhone 2 for free (well.....£75 per month for 18 months).

Mobile TV has rather stuttered in its launch, with many a promise from consultants and others that lift off was just around the corner..with little evidence to support that. More...

There I was buying a new PC in PC World (yes I know but someone has to keep it running!) when it struck me that when I have to buy a new one in two years time (that's modern technology for you)..will I have to submit my details to the TV Licensing authority?

With the recent BBC announcement that I can watch a simulcast of BBC 1 (to supplement my diet of BBC 3 and the News channel (whatever it is called this week)) as well as the various ITV offerings and ultimately Kangaroo, I could in theory get rid of my 42in plasma and confine myself to my mac laptop. Seriously though this does begin to question where the Beeb is going with this, and the implications for the licence fee itself. More...

Well..here it is..the first of an occasional something....I have been threatening to do it for some time so what is it about? Well, those of you that know me, know that I generally have an opinion about most things..and whilst they are all clearly fascinating (and occasionally entertaining..intentionally or other wise) I thought that I could capture some of these and see how consistent I am over a given period of time. It is fair to say that I have been known to change my view several times during a conversation let alone any longer.

What I will do, though is commit to only pontificating on thoughts on meja rather than the impact of rice shortages at my local curry or the rising price of diesel (Important issues yes, but not on my current event horizon). More...