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An excerpt from a blog at: Vista Does Not Suck | PC Pitstop which had an interesting perspective on DRM.
"So the big question is why is Vista worse than XP? This is not the nature of the technology industry. Each year, things get faster and cheaper. Never do things get worse. The reality is that Vista is an entire rewrite of Windows. Rather than building off of their most successful code base of all time (XP), they scrapped it. It all seems wrong. Like Windows ME, you scrap your bad code, not your best code.
So why? Here is my guess. There are two big differences between Vista and XP. The driver model and the video layer. In both cases, these changes were not made to help us, but to control our access to the content we view. Vista has a "feature" called DRM or Digital Rights Management. I think that once Vista is on a critical mass of PC's, Microsoft will be able to cut deals with Hollywood and other content providers to sell and display their content on our PC's. So every time, we watch a movie on our Vista PC, Microsoft makes a buck instead of Blockbuster.
Of course, we have little to no say in this matter, because Microsoft has essentially forced the PC manufacturer's to put Vista on all new PC's. In order for this plan to work, Vista does not have to be better than XP. It just can't suck. So folks, I am happy to inform you that after close to 18 months of use, Vista does not SUCK." July 14, 2008 by chengrob in The Pit Blog
"So the big question is why is Vista worse than XP? This is not the nature of the technology industry. Each year, things get faster and cheaper. Never do things get worse. The reality is that Vista is an entire rewrite of Windows. Rather than building off of their most successful code base of all time (XP), they scrapped it. It all seems wrong. Like Windows ME, you scrap your bad code, not your best code.
So why? Here is my guess. There are two big differences between Vista and XP. The driver model and the video layer. In both cases, these changes were not made to help us, but to control our access to the content we view. Vista has a "feature" called DRM or Digital Rights Management. I think that once Vista is on a critical mass of PC's, Microsoft will be able to cut deals with Hollywood and other content providers to sell and display their content on our PC's. So every time, we watch a movie on our Vista PC, Microsoft makes a buck instead of Blockbuster.
Of course, we have little to no say in this matter, because Microsoft has essentially forced the PC manufacturer's to put Vista on all new PC's. In order for this plan to work, Vista does not have to be better than XP. It just can't suck. So folks, I am happy to inform you that after close to 18 months of use, Vista does not SUCK." July 14, 2008 by chengrob in The Pit Blog
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my apology then.
Oh, so users can opt out of the DRM restrictions with Vista? That's cool, I wasn't aware of that. I wonder how many users will tell MS it's ok.diogen said:
Nobody cares because it hasn't really slapped them in the face yet. It's only just recently shown up in a limited form but people will start experiencing it more and more but by then it's too late because it's already built into the hardware and the big $$ of Hollywood will finally get the control they've wanted since the first VCR was sold.
diogen said:
And you know the rap as well as I - the industry has already built forced obsolescence into hardware via their media. Hey 8-Tracks may still play today but the only available media is what you might find at a yard sale.
D
If certain audio/video file uses it - no way around but obey.
With very few exceptions any audio/video file today can be ripped to the PC without DRM (legal or not). That will - forever! - leave this files DRM free, Vista or not.
You are not saying the studios would just abandon DRM if Microsoft wouldn't use it, do you?
BTW, congrats to your milestone of 3000 posts!
Diogen.
No they can't.
If certain audio/video file uses it - no way around but obey.
With very few exceptions any audio/video file today can be ripped to the PC without DRM (legal or not). That will - forever! - leave this files DRM free, Vista or not.
So, don't buy DRM-ed media. What's Vista got to do with it?
I think by the time today's hidef media is killed I'll have enough on my servers to take care of 90% of my needs going forward.And you know the rap as well as I - the industry has already built forced obsolescence into hardware via their media. Hey 8-Tracks may still play today but the only available media is what you might find at a yard sale.
You are not saying the studios would just abandon DRM if Microsoft wouldn't use it, do you?
BTW, congrats to your milestone of 3000 posts!
Diogen.
I realize that and except for home use copies, that's basically pirating, which IS something producers should be allowed to restrict. I don't believe DRM is so much about pirating as it is a way to eventually gain enough control on their media that they'll be able to receive residues when you pass by it on the shelf.
It's not just Vista (or MS for that matter) but this article happened to be about it and they're one more big media provider that's caving in to the whole DRM agenda.diogen said:
I realize it's nowhere near as significant now as it's going to be but it's not hard to see the pieces falling in place. I predict that in a couple of years we'll have the best quality media ever dreamed of available BUT (baring illegal copying) we're going to pay something to somebody each and every time we want to look at it. Commercial stuff probably not but the days of archiving HDDs full of recent HD movies is going to end if Hollywood gets it's way.
Ah but there's always the new stuff. I bet there are not too many that had shelves of VHS movies that were content with them. Most have probably already replaced them with DVD copies, just like they'll want to now replace them with HD copies or maybe even have a giant server in their basement with hundreds of 1080 24p copies.diogen said:
Probably not but if MS said no and major cable companies and satellite providers said no, the studios would sure have something to think about.diogen said:
Thanks.diogen said:
D
I agree, studios want to make all media pay-per-view/listen. And eventually I think they will get there. And as long as it is reasonably priced - I don't mind.
$1 for a hidef movie of BD quality would be fine with me. Gotten over the internet. I put no sentimental (or any other) value on the physical disc with its cover art, etc.
RE: Audio/Video ripping.
I did mean ripping discs you own (although I'm guilty of crossing the line from time to time). I don't care how the MPAA/RIAA and other Ass. of America call it.
I play my media DRM-free from hard drives. And pray the US doesn't "aquire" Canada...
Diogen.
$1 for a hidef movie of BD quality would be fine with me. Gotten over the internet. I put no sentimental (or any other) value on the physical disc with its cover art, etc.
RE: Audio/Video ripping.
I did mean ripping discs you own (although I'm guilty of crossing the line from time to time). I don't care how the MPAA/RIAA and other Ass. of America call it.
I play my media DRM-free from hard drives. And pray the US doesn't "aquire" Canada...
Diogen.
Mexico takes on South Africa to open the World Cup Final (it is called the Final... this just isn't the World Cup Final... Final). The tournament has been plagued with rife malfeasance as FIFA has been committing all sorts of fraud with the ticket sales. Hotel rooms have gone unfilled as the prices to attend a game and stay somewhere are through the roof. I swear this is impacting Mansfield, OH hotel rates which are higher than average for the Indycar race. And there is a broadening VAR presence which will ruin things as nothing worse now when scoring a goal and knowing you can't quite celebrate yet as they check to see if a player was offside by a pixel a half-hour ago.
The Group Stage used to mean something, but now 32 of the 48... yeah, 48 teams are going to the Knockout Round. Getting into the Knockout Round used to be a big deal, even for the US. But now... if you don't lose all of your group stage games, you get to move on. Oi! And this is avoiding all the political stuff!
I have never been so unexcited for a World Cup before. Every game used to matter. But FIFA be darned if they don't try to squeeze out every dime they can out of the players, refs, and fans.
The Group Stage used to mean something, but now 32 of the 48... yeah, 48 teams are going to the Knockout Round. Getting into the Knockout Round used to be a big deal, even for the US. But now... if you don't lose all of your group stage games, you get to move on. Oi! And this is avoiding all the political stuff!
I have never been so unexcited for a World Cup before. Every game used to matter. But FIFA be darned if they don't try to squeeze out every dime they can out of the players, refs, and fans.
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I was reading this article
thehill.com
That said this-
Last summer, for the first time, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime claimed the largest share of the television viewing audience, surpassing both cable and broadcast TV. Streaming captured 34.8 percent of July viewers, according to Nielsen data, compared to 34.4 percent for cable and 21.6 percent for broadcast.
And then, sometime in the second half of 2022, cord-cutters became the majority. The share of cable and satellite television subscribers dipped to 48 percent, according to a report from Samba TV, a television technology company.
Now I do not consider those with YTTV and the likes, Cord Cutters, but they still do not have Traditional Cable/Satellite delivered Live TV, so I decided to do the math.
There are, now, 129 Million Households in the United States.
In 2015, there were 100 Million Cable/Sat Subscribers , no streaming Live TV Service.
Today, there are 66 Million Live TV subscribers, including Cable, Satellite and Streaming.
Roughly, Streaming Live TV has 14 Million subs including all of them.
So that means, Cable/Satellite now has, roughly, 51 Million Households
So in just 8 years, lost 49% of their subscribers and by the end of this year, expected sub count to be, roughly, 45 million households.
That means a total loss of 55% since 2015 at the end of 2023.
But out of 129 Million households, 45 million will mean only 35% will get Cable/Satellite Delivered Live TV by the end of 2023.
Imagine what 2024 will be like.
Cable TV ‘cord-cutters’ became the majority in 2022
The steady decline of cable and broadcast television, and the rise of streaming services, reached a sort of inflection point over the past year. Last summer, for the first time, streaming ser…
thehill.com
That said this-
Last summer, for the first time, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime claimed the largest share of the television viewing audience, surpassing both cable and broadcast TV. Streaming captured 34.8 percent of July viewers, according to Nielsen data, compared to 34.4 percent for cable and 21.6 percent for broadcast.
And then, sometime in the second half of 2022, cord-cutters became the majority. The share of cable and satellite television subscribers dipped to 48 percent, according to a report from Samba TV, a television technology company.
Now I do not consider those with YTTV and the likes, Cord Cutters, but they still do not have Traditional Cable/Satellite delivered Live TV, so I decided to do the math.
There are, now, 129 Million Households in the United States.
In 2015, there were 100 Million Cable/Sat Subscribers , no streaming Live TV Service.
Today, there are 66 Million Live TV subscribers, including Cable, Satellite and Streaming.
Roughly, Streaming Live TV has 14 Million subs including all of them.
So that means, Cable/Satellite now has, roughly, 51 Million Households
So in just 8 years, lost 49% of their subscribers and by the end of this year, expected sub count to be, roughly, 45 million households.
That means a total loss of 55% since 2015 at the end of 2023.
But out of 129 Million households, 45 million will mean only 35% will get Cable/Satellite Delivered Live TV by the end of 2023.
Imagine what 2024 will be like.
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Comcast Corporation, one of the largest telecommunications and media conglomerates in the United States, has shed more than 13 million pay-TV subscribers since reaching its zenith in the late 2000s. The company's video subscriber base, which includes traditional cable television services, stood at approximately 24.2 million customers toward the end of 2008. By the close of the first quarter of 2026, that figure had plummeted to roughly10.95 million, representing a loss of about 13.25 million subscribers, or more than half of its historical peak.
cordcuttersnews.com
Comcast Has Lost Over 13 Million TV Subscribers Since It Peaked Back in 2008 - A Look Back At This Historic Fall That Saw It Lose More Than Half of Its TV Subscribers | Cord Cutters News
Comcast Corporation, one of the largest telecommunications and media conglomerates in the United States, has shed more than 13 million pay-TV subscribers since reaching its zenith in the late 2000s. The company’s video subscriber base, which includes traditional cable television services, stood...
cordcuttersnews.com
Comcast Corporation, one of the largest telecommunications and media conglomerates in the United States, has shed more than 13 million pay-TV subscribers since reaching its zenith in the late 2000s. The company's video subscriber base, which includes traditional cable television services, stood at approximately 24.2 million customers toward the end of 2008. By the close of the first quarter of 2026, that figure had plummeted to roughly10.95 million, representing a loss of about 13.25 million subscribers, or more than half of its historical peak.
Comcast Has Lost Over 13 Million TV Subscribers Since It Peaked Back in 2008 - A Look Back At This Historic Fall That Saw It Lose More Than Half of Its TV Subscribers | Cord Cutters News
Comcast Corporation, one of the largest telecommunications and media conglomerates in the United States, has shed more than 13 million pay-TV subscribers since reaching its zenith in the late 2000s. The company’s video subscriber base, which includes traditional cable television services, stood...
Couldn't happen to a nicer company!
The average monthly cost of cable television in the United States has climbed to $147, marking a significant increase that reflects broader trends in media consumption and rising operational expenses for providers. This figure represents the baseline expense for standard television packages across major cable operators, excluding additional fees for premium channels, equipment rentals, or taxes that often push household bills even higher.
This is without Broadband services ( bundled), also, paying a lot more for a lot less new scripted content and now….sports.
cordcuttersnews.com
This is without Broadband services ( bundled), also, paying a lot more for a lot less new scripted content and now….sports.
The Cost of Cable TV Has Jumped Almost 55% Over the Last 10 Years | Cord Cutters News
The average monthly cost of cable television in the United States has climbed to $147, marking a significant increase that reflects broader trends in media consumption and rising operational expenses for providers. This figure represents the baseline expense for standard television packages...
cordcuttersnews.com
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Anybody been following the Tournaments? I've been watching all weekend on the various ESPN's...
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Last weekend I got in on a MLB game top of the 8th 1-1, first thought was extra innings... and it actually went extra after the 9th.
Catching a little of the AUSL, something to watch when I can't get into anything else.
and it actually went extra after the 9th. Catching a little of the AUSL, something to watch when I can't get into anything else.
Wasn't there a law passed a long time back mandating service providers level the sound from one ch. to the next? Or was that just for within any single given ch., and not letting commercials be boosted? Regardless it's a pain on DiSH with some ch's way louder than others, and having to jockey the sound up & down. Is there some fix? Can some TVs compensate for this?
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maybe he should post his gear so we could look into it
.. t.v. soundbars AVR whatever he's running.. our home theater has volume leveling but so does our soundbar in the bedroom
T
Most stuff has all this volume leveling, almost all them dont work the way should or advertised as. maybe "ai" versions of volume level will work closer to way we would like to which make all channels and inputs same defualt sound level, including commercials
There is reason my entire mp3/audio music collection on my pc was changed to have same defualt "dB" for all files via something like MP3Gain so there all same defualt volume level and there for I never have to play around with my volume. I know Winamp could change dB defualts but never worked as good as just manual changing all the audio/mp3/music collection files to just be all the same
maybe he should post his gear so we could look into it
Most stuff has all this volume leveling, almost all them dont work the way should or advertised as. maybe "ai" versions of volume level will work closer to way we would like to which make all channels and inputs same defualt sound level, including commercials
There is reason my entire mp3/audio music collection on my pc was changed to have same defualt "dB" for all files via something like MP3Gain so there all same defualt volume level and there for I never have to play around with my volume. I know Winamp could change dB defualts but never worked as good as just manual changing all the audio/mp3/music collection files to just be all the same
S
That's a fundamental issue with volume levels - it's not just that people want some "level" but that the material itself can demand (or at least so says the creator) a wide dynamic range or a smaller one. ie: do you boost the typical conversations upward and use most of your range just for voices? Or do you leave room for the explosions and jet engines. Creators and viewer/listeners all vary in their priorities, and most volume-leveling products are trying to do things in real time so they have very little context to work with. Even when using a tool that reads a whole file and displays a peak volume, you can wonder how often such a volume occurs and then you can disagree on how important it is for something like an explosion to have any clipping/distortion.
I think the OP refers to the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, AKA the CALM act. But as the name suggests, I think it only has to do with commercials and not different sources.
By the way, if you watch westerns with realistic gunshot sound levels, I recommend hearing protection.
I think the OP refers to the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, AKA the CALM act. But as the name suggests, I think it only has to do with commercials and not different sources.
By the way, if you watch westerns with realistic gunshot sound levels, I recommend hearing protection.
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Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
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This is a thread that will keep you apprised of 4K events that will be showing on Dish channel 540. Keep looking here for information.
As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
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Cutting Edge
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Additional tabs provide:
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D9S, D16
@103W.... D10, D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D9S, D16
@103W.... D10, D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
See also
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
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Did anyone have a price increase today on their equipment? I own my VIP211k's, and they have been $5.00. My bill that I received last week shows the "add-ons" as being $5.00. However, I just logged into my Dish account, and my "add-ons" are now $10.00. Did the additional receivers go up by $5.00 recently?
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
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I feel like this was discussed in another thread, but I can't find it. I have T-Mobile and my last iPhone upgrade was in 2020. I want to get a new iPhone, but what is the best way to go about doing it? Should I order the iPhone from T-Mobile directly, or should I buy from the Apple Store? I feel like there are pros/cons to each option.
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Hello everyone, new guy here. I'm trying to solve problem I'm having with Dish bonus view channels. When I'm watching the bonus view channels then I switch back to regular dish channels, after few minutes the screen flips to black and after 30 seconds flips back to regular channels and continues to flip back and forth until I turn off TV. After I wait 30 minutes and turn back on , I can use regular channels again. So, its after I switch from bonus view channels to regular dish channels the problem starts. Been trying to fix this for a month, but no luck
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
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