General LF Discussion

[Austin M.]

I don't know, TWC introduces a new STAR every five years or so, and the Intellistar is from 2006 (6 years ago).

[toxictwister00]

I don't know, TWC introduces a new STAR every five years or so, and the Intellistar is from 2006 (6 years ago).

Actually 8 years ago (2004) and I said that because the IntelliStar is "supposed" to be far more superior so it should still have quite of hardware life left in it.

[Zach]

Actually, I think it's the XL that has better hardware, though TWC isn't pushing the O2 to it's full capacity with what the XL does... however, the IS has pretty good hardware to go with it as well.

[yourweathertoday]

I don't know, TWC introduces a new STAR every five years or so, and the Intellistar is from 2006 (6 years ago).

Even if that could be termed "conventional wisdom," it can basically be thrown out the window. Every STAR unit was developed under the previous ownership, with the exception of the IS 2. And just because something seems to have an apparent "pattern" does NOT mean that is why it is being done.

[Austin M.]

Actually, I think it's the XL that has better hardware, though TWC isn't pushing the O2 to it's full capacity with what the XL does... however, the IS has pretty good hardware to go with it as well.

What hardware does the IS have? I never remembered what it had. TWC needed to do SOMETHING with the XL, considering the O2 is capable of some pretty freakin' awesome 3D graphics.

[Localonthe8s]

I actually am quite surprised that TWC is still using the older STARs. Aren't they going to at least retire all the 4000s and Juniors at some point?

[toxictwister00]

Actually, I think it's the XL that has better hardware, though TWC isn't pushing the O2 to it's full capacity with what the XL does... however, the IS has pretty good hardware to go with it as well.

That's what I don't understand, if they know this then why aren't they taking advantage of it? The IntelliStar is great and all for what it does, but I still would rather have the XL over it.

[Zach]

There are likely software restrictions that apply to that factor.

[Mike M]

The XL has so much potential that TWC isn't taking... they could add in video clips of the current on-air graphic animations (albeit not in HD) and it would still work flawlessly.

[Austin M.]

I actually am quite surprised that TWC is still using the older STARs. Aren't they going to at least retire all the 4000s and Juniors at some point?

Though I do love the 4000 and Junior both, there comes a time that they do indeed need to retire such old equipment. I know that our 4000 crashes every time there is a severe warning that warrants an LDL, and when it doesn't crash, the radar or extended forecast does. We're at a point in time where people want the latest graphics and more, not this old (however vintage) piece of unreliable hardware. If TWC would make the next STAR as they did with the Intellistar (however using a better method) where they could add anything they needed to specific or all units via the internet, that'd be nice.


So, what is everyone's bets on the next name? I say something like Infinistar.

[Localonthe8s]

I'll believe it when I see it, although the news is nevertheless encouraging.

[TWCJim]

TWC Satellite Emergency feed from January 2012

Clip courtesy of MrDaniel789

Along with StumbleAudioJazz's clips, Farish apparently might be the new emergency feed music.

Is this the end of Trammell on TWC?   

[Eric]

I liked the ORIGINAL Intellistar (not XL) icons, from 2007.

They look very good in HD, but they were replaced in SD because they just weren't clear enough.  Precipitation, in my experience, often looked like a hazy grey blob with smaller blobs falling from the clouds.  On a 19" TV I honestly had a hard time telling whether the precipitation was rain, snow, or a mix, and, living in Massachusetts, that made quite a difference.  The smaller the icons got, the harder it was to tell just what was falling.

Yes, they're very realistic, but the clarity in SD just wasn't there, which is why they were replaced.  Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with the current SD graphics.  They're not as realistic, but they're very clear, and that's what's essential in communication.

That said, now that I have access to the Intellistar 2, the realistic icons look fantastic, and there's no confusion about what kind of precipitation is being shown.

[Eric]

Smoke on the DirecTV LF

That's probably a rarity!  Pity the icon has that dark blue line drawn around it.

[toxictwister00]

Along with StumbleAudioJazz's clips, Farish apparently might be the new emergency feed music.

Is this the end of Trammell on TWC?   

Oh well, he had a great 16 year run.