FCC Implements CALM Act, Lowers Volume of Commericals

Loud TV commercials could one day soon become a thing of the past as the FCC Dec. 13 moved to implement the 2010 Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act.  The new rules, adopted at the agency’s monthly open meeting, require commercials to have the same average volume as the programs they accompany.

The rules, which cover OTA TV broadcasters, cable operators and satellite TV providers, set up a method for stations and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to demonstrate compliance without placing upon them an unnecessary burden, the agency said.

Broadcasters and MVPDs have until Dec. 13, 2012, one year after rule implementation, to come into full compliance. In a press statement, the commission said the year also provides “ample time” for programmers and networks to provide their distributors with certification that the commercials accompanying programming comply with the rules.

Although not mandatory, the certification will make the safe harbor process for broadcasters and MVPDs easier, the commission said.

Sharing the Same Pipe

HDBaseT hits the cable companies...

http://www.systemscontractor.com/article/66382.aspx

25 Million Poor to Get Cheap Computers, $9.95 Internet Service

What was originally supposed to be a "bring broadband to rural areas" morphed into a subsidized computer and internet service by the FCC.   Windows 7 to the masses...

"The Federal Communications Commission is launching a $4-billion program to narrow the digital divide by making high-speed Internet access and computers more affordable for more than 25 million mainly low-income Americans.


Those who qualify would pay $9.95 a month for Internet access at 1 megabit per second and $150 for a refurbished laptop running the Windows 7 operating system, along with applications that include digital literacy training.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fcc-broadband-20111109,0,7709028.story

Google Finally Figures Something Out

After losing 8 percent market share to Bing over the last year, Google is trying to update its core search engine....

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/google-changes-search-algorithm-trying-to-make-results-more-timely/?hp

Panasonic Cuts Plasma Output

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/10/panasonic-jobs-plasma-tv.html

Einstein was Wrong?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903703604576588422968704078.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop

Gamers Crack AIDS Puzzle

http://news.yahoo.com/online-gamers-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle-175427367.html

Making Electric Cars Noisy

Usually we're trying to make things quieter...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904103404576558701065779940.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_second

Ten Years Ago

 

Apple opened its first retail stores in Tyson's Corner, VA and Glendale, CA.  We were there.

Emmaco designed the electronics infrastructure and project managed the electronic systems for an entire generation of stores.

Indiana State Fair Collapse

5 dead so far...











See the video of at:

http://www.jimonlight.com/2011/08/15/indiana-state-fair-stage-collapse-five-dead-now-what/

iTunes 1, Walmart 0

Walmart is closing down eMusic downloads later this month....

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/walmart-shutters-its-online-music-store-somewhere-steve-jobs-is/

Macy's Peeking in the Dressing Rooms

Absurd.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/202101/250/Hidden-cameras-expose-privacy-problem-in-a-Macys-fitting-rooms

Acoustic Cloaking?

Works from 1 kHz to 4 kHz using plastic sheets!



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13905573

Facial Profiling

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303678704576440253307985070.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond

End of an Era- iPod Sales Sinking Fast

If I'm going to put something in my pocket, it better do more than play music...

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10820263/the-era-of-the-apple-ipod-may-have-passed.html?cm_ven=outbrain&psv=outbraintopstories&tools=&obref=obnetwork

A Move to Unionize the Apple Stores

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/apple-store-employee-seeks-plant-union-seed-162709710.html

Happy IPv6 Test Day

The plan is to check it out for 24 hours...

http://www.worldipv6day.org/


Use this link to test your system:

http://test-ipv6.com/

Theater Motion Base Technology Comes to the Individual Chair

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704810504576305363217225214.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_technology

RIP- Sony's Ogha- Mr "CD"

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-mew-former-sony-president-20110424,0,3412637.story

RIP- Sid Harman Age 92

Industry Legend- Harman/Kardon, JBL, etc...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sidney-harman-dies-20110414,0,1593631.story

Incandescent Lamps Get a Reprieve

South Carolina allows bulbs to be manufactured in their state. 

http://www.manufacturing.net/News/2011/04/Other-Manufacturing-Traditional-Incandescent-Bulbs-Get-SC-Lifeline/?et_cid=1376250&et_rid=54676654&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.manufacturing.net%2fNews%2f2011%2f04%2fOther-Manufacturing-Traditional-Incandescent-Bulbs-Get-SC-Lifeline%2f

Tokyo Disneyland Remains Closed

Not much earthquake damage, but X day is still some time off.   Local businesses suffer.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-tokyo-disney-20110405,0,4981903.story

Inventor of SuperGlue Dies

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/afterword/2011/03/harry-wesley-coover-jr-considered-the-inventor-of-super-glue-dies-at-94.html

Half the Undersea Cables to Japan Not Working

Earthquake related.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576199952421569210.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_technology

Want to be Billionaire?

Just figure out how to unencrypt Blackberries, Google, Skype, and iPhone messages...

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/india-poised-to-ban-blackberrys-skype-google-could-be-next/8563

Audio Cable Voodoo?

Russ Andrews' exotic cable capability claims were taken to task by the UK's advertising authorities.

He lost.  Big time.

http://www.asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/1/Russ-Andrews-Accessories-Ltd/TF_ADJ_49597.aspx

Universal Donates Recordings to Library of Congress

Wow!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/01/universal-music-library-of-congress-bing-crosby-ella-fitzgerald.html

GM Sold More Cars in China than USA Last Year

BEIJING (Kyodo) -- U.S. automaker General Motors Co. said Tuesday its new car sales in China jumped 28.8 percent year on year to a record 2,351,610 units in 2010, becoming the first foreign car maker in the Chinese market to have sold more than 2 million vehicles a year.

GM also said its new car sales in the United States totaled 2,202,927 units in 2010. As a result, GM's annual sales in China surpassed those in the U.S. market for the first time ever.

Among foreign automakers, GM topped the list of new car sales in China for the sixth straight year, according to the U.S. firm.