The BBC has responded to criticisms of the onscreen logo (pictured above) used on its trial HD services on the Sky HD platform and Freeview. Like all criticisms of onscreen graphics, the broadcaster dodges the complaints of its users and adopts a dismissive tone about the irritation they cause:
“The BBC, in common with other broadcasters, inserts Channel Identifiers (also known as DOG for Digital On-screen Graphic) in the top left-hand corner of the screen on its dedicated digital channels. In the competitive multi-channel environment we feel that such identifiers are an aid to viewer navigation and it is important to ensure that viewers can quickly identify they are watching BBC services.
This policy has evolved over the last few years and is applied in a flexible manner which we believe best reflects the needs of the majority of our audience (more…)
Arch rivals LG and Samsung are locked in a fascinating battle to monopolize the high-end hotel and leisure industry TV markets. LG is currently ahead of on prestige points, having recently signed a deal to supply 424 LCD TV and plasma TVs to the Ritz Carlton in Moscow. When the hotel opens in Red Square, two LG 60 inch screens will also dominate the foyer. The brand has also sold an additional 180 LCD TVs to the Dubia hotel Burj Al Arab, with 700 more to ship. Samsung is retaliating by cornering the luxury cruise market. In May the Corporation installed 2,000 LCD TVs on the gigantic new Freedom of the Seas liner. It has also inked a deal to supply an additional 5,000 LCD TV to Freedom’s two sister ships when they enter service over the next two years. The Korean giants are now squaring up to compete for the contract to supply the Burj Dubai skyscraper. At 150 stories this hotel contract is both lucrative and prestigious. The bidding begins in earnest in 2007.
The latest specification for CE Linux is expected to be announced in July by the steering committee of the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum.
The CELF was created to establish a common standard of Linux requirements for CE devices and boasts considerable support from the likes of Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung and Hitachi.
Once published this should open the floodgates for a new generation of CE devices built around the code. A formative 1.0 specification was first issued in 2004.
Despite the best efforts of Microsoft, Linux is rapidly becoming the operating system of choice for major consumer electronics brands, primarily because of cost and development savings. The TiVo PVR was the first widely successful device to use Linux. The OS can also be found in Philips iPronto control system and media centre products from Samsung and Sharp.
