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Posts with tag chicago

Man charged $28,000 for using data card, Slingbox to watch football game

by Ross Miller Feb 24th 2009 @ 7:31AM


While waiting for a Caribbean cruise liner to set sail from the Port of Miami last November, a Chicago native with an AT&T wireless card and Slingbox decided to catch the Bears vs. Lions football game on his laptop. The end result? A $28,067.31 bill from for international data charges, despite the ship never leaving the harbor. Apparently the card was picking up a signal it shouldn't have, and while the bill was eventually dropped to $290.65 after a considerable number of calls to customer service, let that be a warning to mobile users traveling on the fringe of international roaming areas -- and in case you were wondering, the Bears ended up winning 27 to 23.

[Via The Register]

Comcast's DOCSIS 3.0 high-speed internet rolls to Chicago

by Darren Murph Jan 28th 2009 @ 9:44PM


Another month, another city or two seeing the beauty that is DOCSIS 3.0. As Comcast continues on its quest to offer the blazing fast internet speeds in 100 percent of its markets by 2010, we're told that the great city of Chicago (or its suburbs, more specifically) now has access. Existing customers will see a speed boost at no additional cost, and those still unsatisfied can opt for a $62.95 per month 22Mbps down / 5Mbps up or $139.95 per month 50Mbps / 10Mbps connection. DSLReports has also mentioned that San Francisco should be getting upgraded in the not-too-distant future, so if you call the Bay your home, keep an eye out.

[Via Electronista]

RCN's Analog Crush nears completion, 100 HD channels coming soon

by Darren Murph Jan 21st 2009 @ 8:18AM


RCN's Analog Crush initiative has been steamrolling for a few months now, and according to the cable carrier, the elimination of old school analog is all but complete in its major markets. By the end of January, RCN anticipates 100% digital penetration in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Chicago markets, which will free up spectrum in order to get more HD (and SD, and international) programming onto the EPG. In fact, the company is hoping to surpass 100 high-definition channels by March, which makes us wonder why every other cable company out there isn't on this very same warpath.

[Image courtesy of TJooning]

TV One HD coming to several TWC / Comcast markets

by Darren Murph Dec 20th 2008 @ 8:23AM


There doesn't appear to be a set time line in place, but TV One is expected to launch an HD simulcast of its SD network soon on several Comcast / Time Warner Cable systems. The channel, which is a self-proclaimed "entertainment television network for African Americans," will first hit TWC's NYC region and Comcast systems in Boston, Chicago, Portland, OR and Seattle. We're told that more regions should find the HD iteration of the channel beginning in early January 2009, and at least initially, some 20% of the content will be shot and aired in high-def; if all goes well, that figure should rise to 40% by 2010.

Comcast unloads slew of HD nets in Chicago suburbs

by Darren Murph Dec 19th 2008 @ 2:30PM

It's been awhile, hasn't it Chicago? Okay, so maybe some of the Windy City got gifted with a bundle in August, but now tips are flying in hot and heavy stating that many of the suburbs have been upgraded with a whole slew of high-def channels. We're talking FOX News HD, FOX Business HD, Lifetime Movie Network HD, ESPNews HD, SPEED HD, Planet Green HD, Encore HD, FX HD, Bravo HD, Fuse HD, IFC HD, We HD, QVC HD, Toon Disney HD and MGM HD. Feel free to chime in below with your area of residence and whether or not you're seeing 'em.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Chicago's Conrad Hotel getting HDTV services courtesy of RCN

by Darren Murph Dec 17th 2008 @ 4:40AM


RCN's locking down lodging deals like it's going out of style, and just days after cementing one with Highgate Hotels in New York, here we have another with Chicago's Conrad Hotel. Soon, said luxury venue will be able to provide guests with all-digital cable TV and HDTV services. Each of the 311 guest rooms will present said content on a 42-inch plasma, though there's no exact word on when the agreement will be implemented. And yeah, considering the per-night rates here, you'd better stay locked inside around 90% of the time in order to come close to making it worthwhile.

Comcast readies DOCSIS 3.0 rollouts for Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Ft. Wayne

by Darren Murph Dec 11th 2008 @ 3:29PM


Comcast promised us all a few months back that it would be bringing its wicked fast DOCSIS 3.0 technology to a handful of other big markets before too long, and today the carrier has chosen to reveal the next four places where said service will be made available. The high-speed internet service, which is capable of hitting 50Mbps down / 5Mbps up, will be launched "over the next several weeks" in Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Don't see your city listed? Hang tight -- the next wave should be announced in the not-too-distant future.

Chicagoland broadcasters testing analog shutdown today

by Richard Lawler Nov 12th 2008 @ 4:12AM


For any Chicago-area readers not already enjoying tru2way bliss (or certain Engadget editors waiting around for another CableCARD install attempt), the full power broadcast TV stations in the area are running their own soft-shutdown of analog TV broadcasts at 6:53 a.m. and 5:23 p.m., sending anyone properly prepared for digital broadcasts a screen crawl to check all household TVs, while analog sets will get a fullscreen graphic directing them towards various informational resources, including a (hopefully) prepped and ready 311 call center to assist residents in making the switch. Know someone who still gets their TV OTA? Make sure they're watching TV at the appointed test times, or better yet send them a link to one of the available online resources, and then for some Harold's.

[Thanks, Stephen]

Comcast TiVo headed to Chicago next

by Richard Lawler Oct 29th 2008 @ 4:35PM


By way of Dave Zatz comes news from Comcast's Q3 earnings call that Chicago will soon be home to not only tru2way, but also the Comcast TiVo option. Less optimistically mentioned is a CNET writer already choosing to abandon the service after finding TiVo's software slower and less reliable than Comcast's native DVR software, a possibility many would consider impossible. Hopefully a dash of tru2way (or a new advertisement, embedded after the break) could be just what it needs to improve the user experience -- and speed up this agonizingly slow rollout.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Continue reading Comcast TiVo headed to Chicago next

Panasonic's tru2way-enabled TH-50PZ80Q plasma lands in Chicago retailer

by Darren Murph Oct 17th 2008 @ 11:52AM


We were told yesterday that Panasonic's 50-inch VIERA TH-50PZ80Q plasma had made landfall in Chicago at Abt Electronics, and here we have the images to prove it. America's first live commercial tru2way deployment is underway, and this is the spot if you're looking to be among the first to indulge. All yours for $2,299 (the HDTV, that is) -- enjoy the pics below if you're far, far away from the Windy City.

Gallery: Panasonic's tru2way-enabled TH-50PZ80Q plasma lands in Chicago retailer



[Thanks, Mark]

Panasonic reveals first tru2way HDTVs in Chicago and Denver

by Darren Murph Oct 15th 2008 @ 4:58PM


We already saw Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ80Q plasma doing the tru2way thing at CEDIA 2008, but the official lever has just been pulled in Denver and Chicago. As of today, Comcast's tru2way platform is active in the aforesaid cities, and the very first tru2way-capable HDTVs are arriving to retail. Eager consumers in the Windy or Mile High City who are ready to ditch the set-top-box altogether without sacrificing VOD and such can polish off their wounded credit cards, as both a 42-inch (TH-42PZ80Q; $1,599.95) and 50-inch (TH-50PZ80Q; $2,299.95) VIERA plasma will be on sale by "late October." As for the rest of the US anxious to dip in the cool, cool waters of tru2way? A few undisclosed locales should be going live with the service "in the coming months," though your guess is as good as ours as to what exactly that means.

RCN gifts Chicago with a whole slew of new HD channels

by Darren Murph Sep 22nd 2008 @ 9:42AM

Over the weekend, RCN decided to give locals a few more compelling reasons to not switch to one of those other carriers. A whole mess of new high-def stations appeared on the EPG, including a number of HBOs and premium channels and a handful of standard stations. We're talking MyNetworkTV (WPWR Chicago), Lifetime HD, ABC Family HD, Disney HD, Toon Disney HD, FOX News HD, FOX Business HD, ESPNews HD, Speed HD, NHL HD, Golf / Versus HD and all of the previously hinted-at premiums. Tap the read link for the full rundown, and get ready to spend some serious hours in front of the tube.

[Thanks, Nick]

Wide Open West adds an HD trifecta

by Darren Murph Sep 17th 2008 @ 8:31AM

Man, it has been awhile since Wide Open West subscribers saw a new HD channel hit their EPG. Thankfully, it looks like the drought is over, with FX HD, History HD and FOX News HD coming to Chicago, Columbus, Evansville and Michigan. No word on whether any others are on the way, but let's celebrate this small victory before begging for more, shall we?

[Thanks, David]

Chicago's CBS 2 going HD on September 22nd

by Darren Murph Sep 12th 2008 @ 3:31AM

With practically every other broadcast station in Chicago already beaming out local news in HD, we can only say that it's about time CBS 2 made its move. As the station slides to a new headquarters at Dearborn and Washington Streets across from Daley Plaza, it will also begin airing its newscasts in beautiful high-definition. We're hearing that ratings have been on the decline of late (that's what you get for not keeping with the program!), but hopefully the switch to HD will be a shot in the arm, er, meter. Give it a look on September 22nd.

[Thanks, Stephen]

Comcast lighting up 15 HD channels in Chicago, Illinois

by Darren Murph Aug 15th 2008 @ 5:52PM

Is this a trend we spot, or just a small flurry of Comcast expansions that sadly won't affect the rest of the nation? While we're obviously hoping, praying, pleading for the former to be true, citizens of Chicago, Illinois can expect a whopping 15 new high-def stations to arrive on their EPG in a matter of days. Aside from the highly-anticipated Big Ten Network launch, users will also find Weather Channel HD (270), FX HD (267), Fox News HD (265), Bravo HD (278), NFL Network HD (234), SPEED HD (237) and our personal favorite, QVC HD on slot 282. Check the read link for the full list, or just turn to QVC HD and zone out for a few days.

[Thanks, cypherstream]




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