Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The short history of digital content includes several examples of on-the-go services like Audible and Slacker that were started out on own devices before expanding to others, But FLO TV, which started its service on handsets from Verizon and then AT&T, has gone the other way. After being stalled by the digital TV transition delay that held up spectrum it needed to launch and expand service in several markets, FLO TV has launched a dedicated $250 device, the HTC-branded Personal Television, even as it seeks to expand the number of handsets supporting its receiver.
Like a Kindle, iPod nano, or Flip camcorder, the pocketable Personal TV has a straightforward, optimized purpose. And for technophiles who live in a world of Hulu, TV-on-DVDs and Apple TV, it recalls a simpler time when TV content and device were an integrated pair. Turn on the device, press a GPS-style safety disclaimer, and you’re watching TV. Apart from power and volume/mute controls, it has only a single front-mounted button brings up the electronic programming guide, which can be navigated by touching and swiping its 3.5-inch touchscreen. A laptop battery-style power status button lights up a series of LEDs to let you know how much charge is left in the device.
Continue reading Switched On: The TV is personal again
Switched On: The TV is personal again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
WSJ: AT&T and Verizon will sell LTE iPads
Origin PC’s EON17-X laptop assures gaming glory, regular chiropractor visits
