Messages

1546

Everything Else TWC / Re: The Weather Network

« on: July 23, 2010, 10:02:48 AM »

I watched The Weather Network when I was visiting Canada in 1997 and 2000.  Even back then, I found that The Weather Network made better use of the local forecast and LDL than The Weather Channel.  TWN's local forecast had more information that only started to appear in the Intellistar several years later, and the LDL usually had a graphical representation of temperature and weather conditions for both the current conditions and a short-term forecast on the screen at all times.

Back in 1997 the WeatherStar 4000 was still being used by The Weather Channel... and by The Weather Network, too!  However, The Weather Network got so much more out of it - it was hard to believe it was the same computer that was being used, since the difference was like night and day.  One way, however, TWN did this is by broadcasting the boxes and backgrounds for the local forecast on the national feed, and the WeatherStar 4000 broadcast its information with a transparent background, all the data being formatted to fit in the national feed backgrounds.  Of course, the satellite feed showed only boxes moving in and out of the screen with no data on them.   No looping "Travel Cities Forecast" for Canadian viewers.

Then again, based on the poll I made recently, I doubt any of the American viewers here remember the looping "Travel Cities Forecast" for satellite viewers or when the WeatherStar III/4000 broke down.

1547

General Discussion / Re: When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: July 21, 2010, 11:15:57 PM »

It was 1990 for me.  I still remember when TWC covered Hurricane Andrew.

I remember Mike Seidel trying to speak Spanish in a special bulletin.

1548

General Discussion / Re: When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:54:39 PM »

Wow... I'm feeling old. 

1549

General Discussion / When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:38:26 PM »

So... when?

1550

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:35:46 PM »

I think this was the first time I heard a TWC ad on the radio.

I've heard a couple from time to time over the years, even a long time ago.

1551

Programming and Graphics / Re: Wake Up With Al

« on: July 20, 2010, 08:34:58 PM »

It's better to celebrate one year anniversaries on ONE DAY instead of the whole week. I find it pointless and over-exaggerating to celebrate one stupid birthday all week imo.

You're obviously not a proud parent!

1552

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 19, 2010, 07:42:27 PM »

Ugh I know!Text Messages Cost $1310 per Megabyte. Its crazy We have gone way off topic but I like it

In the U.S., I have Net10, so I pay 5¢ to send/receive a text message.  In Russia, I had Tele2, and paid 45 kopeks (2¢) to send a text message and nothing to receive.  For calls: 10¢ a minute in the U.S. to send/receive and 95 kopeks (4¢) a minute to send.  So, the difference isn't huge - both Net10 and Tele2 are budget carriers, but I do miss not having to pay for incoming calls/messages.

Yeah, we're off topic, but so long as forum management doesn't yell at us , I don't think we're hurting anyone. 

1553

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 19, 2010, 06:40:52 PM »

Same thing with the damn cell phone networks and internet speeds. Coverage and speeds in Europe are amazing.

And incoming calls/text messages are free.  It kills me knowing I have to pay in the United States even when I'm the recipient.

1554

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 19, 2010, 05:14:10 PM »

What goes around comes around.  Europe was a decade and a half behind the U.S. in adopting color television, and some European countries didn't get color until the 1980s.  On the other hand, the U.S., specifically for the reasons mentioned above, is barely adapting HD technology.

1555

Everything Else TWC / Re: Blooper Thread

« on: July 19, 2010, 11:51:39 AM »

Perhaps a change to the LDL is in the works, and we just happened to get an accidental glimpse of it?

1556

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 19, 2010, 10:01:33 AM »

The cable co can just cheap out and down res TWC HD down to 16:9 SD on the SD channel.

Also what about the weather scan? If that needs new hardware why not make it HD ready / have a SD and HD mode.

As for downconversion, I'm surprised that hasn't happened yet throughout the whole cable industry.  I still see a huge number of cable networks that have seperate SD and HD feeds.

I would love to see an HD WeatherScan, but I'm obviously not going to hold my breath.  Even though WeatherScan performs a very useful service, it unfortunately seems as though The Weather Channel has put it near the bottom of its priority list, right around changing the entire graphical atmosphere of a WeatherStar 4000 Local Forecast.

1557

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 19, 2010, 09:59:16 AM »

Does the I2 use FreeBSD and PC hardware like the IntelliStar does?

I am under the impression it uses a completely different program platform. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the next Intellistar SD built on a similar type of platform in the future

Why would there be a next generation Intellistar SD, or any new SD system, for that matter?  The day will eventually come when SD is just fazed out altogether.

It's interesting... in Europe, when the HD transition takes place, it takes place.  Anyone with an SD TV set can, with a converter or SD cable box/satellite receiver, still watch channels, but they're always presented in widescreen format.  The U.S., however, is stuck in some kind of limbo, where there have to be separate SD and HD feeds for everything, which usually means the widescreen HD picture is little more than a square SD picture with "wings" on either side, usually filled with "runoff" from the center part of the screen.  I hope the U.S. will someday catch up and make widescreen actually widescreen.  Very few U.S. cable/satellite networks do that right now - Fox News and CNBC are the two examples that come to mind off the top of my head.

What are you talking about? HD transition? Can you link me to any such program? Heck in 2008 according to a report on 5% of HDTV owners in Europe had HDTV service. I think you are completely wrong about SD. Its going to be around for a long long long time. First off cable companies make extra money by having "HD" packages. Second it is physically impossible currently for any cable operator to have every SD channel in HD. There isn't enough bandwidth to support it on the cable lines. Considering the Intellistar is nearly 7 years old, its clear the hardware is becoming dated and can't be expected to last too many more years. Granted I am not saying expect a new Intellistar next year but down the road there is bound to be another unit.

I used to live in Europe, so I speak from personal experience.  In countries that have already abandoned SD, cable companies don't offer a choice of SD and HD channels.  You get only HD channels, which your own equipment will then downconvert to SD.  TV programs generally aren't framed to be "SD friendly," as they are in the United States, and the really important aspect is that most Europeans receive television broadcasts not by cable or satellite, but by antenna.

As for your claim of 5% HDTV service in 2008, I don't know what your source is, but it completely contradicts what I personally experienced.  Around that time I was in Russia, Finland, Estonia, and the UK, and saw a lot more than 5% HDTV penetration.

As for the Intellistar, yes, it's seven years old, but what does that really matter?  Not only is SD supposed to be becoming obsolete,  but the XL, 4000, and Jr. are still plugging away, and no one's talking about a major overhaul for them.  In fact, the 4000 never had a major overhaul, unless you count the transition from text-only to graphics very early on, the change from static to animated radar, and then the change in the TWC logo.  That's all, and they took place a long, long time ago.

1558

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 18, 2010, 09:29:32 PM »

Does the I2 use FreeBSD and PC hardware like the IntelliStar does?

I am under the impression it uses a completely different program platform. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the next Intellistar SD built on a similar type of platform in the future

Why would there be a next generation Intellistar SD, or any new SD system, for that matter?  The day will eventually come when SD is just fazed out altogether.

It's interesting... in Europe, when the HD transition takes place, it takes place.  Anyone with an SD TV set can, with a converter or SD cable box/satellite receiver, still watch channels, but they're always presented in widescreen format.  The U.S., however, is stuck in some kind of limbo, where there have to be separate SD and HD feeds for everything, which usually means the widescreen HD picture is little more than a square SD picture with "wings" on either side, usually filled with "runoff" from the center part of the screen.  I hope the U.S. will someday catch up and make widescreen actually widescreen.  Very few U.S. cable/satellite networks do that right now - Fox News and CNBC are the two examples that come to mind off the top of my head.

1559

Local Forecast / Re: The Weather Channel / The Weather Network UK STAR

« on: July 18, 2010, 03:05:58 PM »

In all the discussions I've read about The Weather Channel in the UK, I don't remember any mention of a WeatherStar.  I could be wrong... I'll have to see if I can find more information.

1560

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

« on: July 17, 2010, 06:37:36 PM »

My thinking is...

1.) Boston to test the Intellistar 2
2.) Boston to test traffic
3.) Boston to test marine
4.) Boston to test the LDL

boston isn't a beta location...

I'm thinking that needs to change!