Digital Subtitles for TV

In the UK both Freesat and Freeview TV broadcast of BBC and other channels feature subtitles. However, I notice how poor the real-time subtitles are compared to the ones on pre-recorded programmes and films are.

Solution is for BBC and other life programs and news to insert a 10 sec delay from capture to broadcast of their live feed to give the subtitlers chance to write and send the text in real-time!

Like other countries have had for years (Japan since 2001 etc), films which on DVD come with subtitles and audio in multiple languages should also be available when broadcast on TV. The UK must be the only country with single audio/subtitle stream broadcasts.

Also I'd like the subtitles available as part of a revised iPlayer open offering, ditching the Microsoft/Adobe requirements.

Panasonic TX37LZD81 TV runs GNU+Linux!

Wow, I saw the software license screen on my Panasonic TX37LZD81 TV shows it is built on top of lots of GNU+Linux components, there is even the download link: http://www.am-linux.jp/dl/EUIDTV6/.

Sources are provided for autofs, dhcpcd, findutils, glibc, linux, mount, mtd, netkit, nettools, procps and sash on that link above :)

Mobiles run GNU+Linux too.

HTML email considered harmful (TV Licensing)

The problem of companies sending out HTML emails is getting worse, certainly in the UK I just received my TV License email, and the email only said "Your TV Licence is available". I needed to switch Thunderbird to view the message body as HTML to be able to get to the rest of the information. (Thunderbird Message Body naming isn't ideal either).

The automated email from TV Licensing now also uses a from address indicating they don't even want me to contact them, donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk, their sender address bounces@tv-l.co.uk actually bounces when I tried to reply to them. Visit the TV Licensing site and you're presented with this link "Click here to fill in a short email form", a contradiction as the web-form is worse than usual, a tiny box which they try to give an automated answer, shifting yet more cost saving on to my back when I only wanted to let them know they were sending out empty emails.

Most spam I get uses HTML tricks to get through my ISP filters, a good reason if any not to support HTML email. HTML email is useful for sending tables of information, but then we could all just attach the OpenOffice file to the email!

freesat UK digital HD service launch today

UK Digital Satellite TV has been around for a couple of years, but today it launches as one integrated system with 7 day programme guide all setup!

The DVR (Digital Video Recorder) option isn't available yet, but TVs from Panasonic are on sale with HD support integrated now! Channels now include BBC HD and soon ITV1 HD. Now just need Channel4 to exit their tie-in with Murdock's BskyB and a couple more channels ;) Use MythTV DVR to share those programmes around the house.

Adam Curtis Documentaries

I've been catching up on older documentary series' by Adam Curtis recently. Saw his Power of Nightmares, and The Trap previously.

Century of Self - concerns consumerism and democracy.

The Mayfair Set - concerns how a group of four men who frequented the Clermont club in London ultimately shaped the climax of the Thatcher years.

Pandora's Box - concerns how governments have utilised technology for their own aims.

iPlayer Linux

The BBC have just launched their "on-demand" internet ready iPlayer beta. It's actually only Microsoft Windows XP compatible though -- no Linux or Mac support! This is essentially the same as if the BBC broadcast in a format incompatible with TVs which weren't manufactured by Panasonic!

Sign the iPlayer Linux petition, and make yourself, the free public heard!

Seemless streaming media solutions?

In a world of innovation, media streaming is an open field awaiting innovation at present. I'd expected Akamai to have capitalised and launched a streaming/p2p media system by now, and no one else is even that close. Kontiki is around, but only thanks to the BBC.

There are the possibilities for the future, Niklas Zennström (the Skype founder) has his internet TV app Joost in the works... but for the moment youTube / Google video is as good as it gets at present.

When will we see something truly revolutionary? I'm sure we will eventually, let's hope it's soon! We can't wait forever ;)

"24" Series 3 -- Episode 7 using Gnome Desktop and Subversion

"24" is a cult programme which tracks the events of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) in LA, USA. Fox (the production company) use the Gnome Desktop (left) for one of their workstations in the programme.

Kim Bauer is also shown using Subversion (below right)
usr/sector/src/svn/trac-all/include/apr.txt [code]

She enters:
unlock file -all [D7238]

Interesting they use Subversion and Gnome. Obviously these are staged to reflect the way these high-tech intelegence services function, it is great they are so accurate, and have not just put up a mock up Windows screen animation ;)