Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Te Reo and the Resolution

60 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

  • Tom Semmens,

    Actually two words: Laura Calder and Beverly Turner. *sigh* and *melt*

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Why did TV get so complicated....

    So much gibberish and technical knowledge needed for when one buys a new set

    and once you have it all working the content is dumber and duller than ever

    The same thought occurred to me as I spent hours trying to get the new DVD recorder to go through the amplifier to the screen a couple of days back, which considering how little time I spend watching the box was odd.

    And then I went to see Dark Knight and realised that no matter what I do or add to that small screen the big screen trounces it every time.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    What about those for whom their putative birth culture just doesn't interest them that much? Are the alienated? Or just making a decision?

    I am just a little wary of this sort of essentialist approach.

    It's a soap opera! But yeah, I think it'd be fair to say that Scotty has been a bit alienated ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    $1850, from memory, which was less than some places wanted for the next Bravia down.

    The same model sells for a similar price in AUD. I'm trying not to be envious...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Questions ...

    There doesn't seem to be much info on the sky website.
    Do they use the satellites for Sky HD or terrestrial?
    Does one have to sign up for other sky services to get?

    It's via satellite and yes, you have to be a Sky subscriber to get it. There's an initial set-up cost of $500+ (but Sky still owns your decoder) to get the HD PVR, then $10 per month extra for the HD channels. MySky users can switch for $50, and I'm guessing there'll be new pricing for pre-loved MySky boxes sent back by upgrading customers. You can also elect to keep your MySky as a second decoder for a small fee.

    Oh yeah -- and when they take your MySky away, you lose all the stuff you had on the hard drive. For some reason, that didn't occur to me till after it had gone ...

    A technical question then, that I haven't been able to figure out. If you want to have Sky channels, and Freeview as well, and be able to schedule recordings of any of them, what's the solution? Do you need to have a media PC or is there another way?

    The Sky PVRs -- either the MySky or the new HDi -- will record everything except TVNZ 6 and 7, although the EPG information for Stratos was sketchy last time I checked, because Sky is just taking the Freeview signal and rebroadcasting that with permission. You can't do anything with the files it records apart from watch them or play them out to a DVD recorder. Also, the HD programming on both platforms is "protected" with HDCP, which is DRM on your TV. It downconverts the signal to SD.

    Freeview PVRs are a couple of months away. They'll have a proper Freeview EPG, which should make them better than the generic Topfield PVR I've been trying out. And the Freeview people have made it clear they're happy to bless PC card-type solutions for either satellite or terrestrial. There may be some going through approval now.

    Russell, a question about the instalation, did sky provide you with an HDMI cable to connect to your telly, or did you have one?

    Actually, they used the one that was there already. I presume they'd have to provide one if that wasn't the case.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    and once you have it all working the content is dumber and duller than ever

    Take a look at The Mighty Boosh or The Larry Sanders Show or Doctor Who. You might change your mind.

    Or 'The Dying Channel' as it's known at our house.

    Snap! Ore 'The Half-Dead Channel" as it is known i n our house. I will admit that there are occasional treasures--as in digging holes in search of remnants of Roman life (as noted above). Quite how they can re-construct an entire Roman town from a bit of muddy stone and bits of pottery, still puzzles me. Like how they construct dinosaurs (including skin colour and texture) from a bit of bone.

    I did like the series about retracing the step of English travel writers of the 17th/18th century. There were gems in a sump-hole of real estate!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Like how they construct dinosaurs (including skin colour and texture) from a bit of bone.

    Given that every few years they totally revise how they think they looked (Reptiles/birds?), or which bone came from which beast, I think there's rather a lot of guesswork that goes on.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • bob daktari,

    Take a look at The Mighty Boosh or The Larry Sanders Show or Doctor Who. You might change your mind.

    I appreciate there are some great shows on TV - usually/always at times I don't want to watch

    I do steal shows via p2p and watch them on my computer, saves the buying of a overly complicated box and waiting for programmers to buy and schedule a show

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    Take a look at The Mighty Boosh

    i stumbled upon that last week. Utterly bizarre, in a good way.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Was I the only one to have thought evil thoughts last week regarding TV1's Olympic coverage - specifically, the questionable human rights records of both host nation and (now resigned) local host presenter?

    Nope, me too. Plus, it's boring as, and only relieved by the presenters equally desparate efforts to make us get behind New Zealand's hopeful for bronze in the reverse backward feltch or whatever.

    The Tour De France is equally boring, but it's only held on the soil of mild human rights abusers. Also, it is useful to mankind in providing a venue for new and innovative pharmaceuticals to be tested on a range of willing subjects under onerous conditions.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    reverse backward feltch

    Heh. And also, how does that even *work*? :)

    The Mighty Boosh: like being caressed by natural yoghurt.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Plus, it's boring as, and only relieved by the presenters equally desparate efforts to make us get behind New Zealand's hopeful for bronze in the reverse backward feltch or whatever.

    People could try constructing their own, more ethical Olympics using past coverage from YouTube. Might I make a recommendation for the gymnastics section? (Caution: link may damage your heterosexuality).

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Newsprint,

    Might I make a recommendation for the gymnastics section?

    Thanks for that Emma!

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    (Caution: link may damage your heterosexuality).

    Yeah, could well do... wouldn't it be just so cool to be able to fling yourself about like that...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    wouldn't it be just so cool to be able to fling yourself about like that...

    Oh trust me, anyone can fling themselves around like that. It's landing safely that eludes most of us.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    The Mighty Boosh: like being caressed by natural yoghurt.

    How does one know how that feels? Er, no wait, I don't want to know.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox,

    Those not familar with the Mighty Boosh might like go back and view from series One on youtube before attempting to make sense of remaining episodes on C4. The most darkly surreal psychedelia on TV since Reeves and Mortimer. A bit like the Goodies on a trip. Magic stuff. Watch out for the Crack Fox.

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    before attempting to make sense

    The joy of The Mighty Boosh is that it makes no sense at all....from Old Greg to the Helloooooooooooooo lady. But I did like the concept of the Stationary Farm.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Thomas,

    Might I make a recommendation for the gymnastics section?

    bloody hell. he's like the tom cruise of gymnastics. ew

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    bloody hell. he's like the tom cruise of gymnastics. ew

    Agree. My heterosexuality hadn't felt less threatened since the days when Keanu Reeves was popular.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Hamboy,

    It's via satellite and yes, you have to be a Sky subscriber to get it

    Knew there was going to be a catch. I'm fair to cheap for that.

    Freeview PVRs are a couple of months away.

    Actually that is what I'm more interested. Since I keep forgetting when programmes are on and they seem to put the ones I like up against each other.
    Will they replace the current decoder or are they an add on?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 162 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Given that every few years they totally revise how they think they looked (Reptiles/birds?), or which bone came from which beast, I think there's rather a lot of guesswork that goes on.

    I hate to break it to you, but the bird-dinosaur thing has been solidly established for a decade or so now. It's hardly every few years.

    You know what I really want from the Olympics? Some footage of the fencing. I'm not fussed. I'll take the men's sabre pools at three am if I have to. I'll take the men's sabre team pools at three am if that's all there is. But I find it deeply frustrating that we send people to the Olympics to fence - we've even had someone make the top eight - and yet sports which no New Zealander plays, yet alone plays at an Olympic level, get hours of footage. (Handball and synchronised swimming: I am looking at you.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Some footage of the fencing

    You'd reckon we should rock at that. It's the old #8 wire tradition.

    Are we good for gold in the mens barbed wire this year? And how do you think the humidity in China will affect the womens HotTape(TM)?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    (Handball and synchronised swimming: I am looking at you.)

    Well there we differ (except for the synchronised swimming bit)

    I really like Handball, and for me it’s one of the viewing highlights of the Olympics. What I can’t understand though, is why it’s never taken off in NZ, even if only at a social business-house kind of way.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Sorry to be a party pooper but if you are after ethical, competitive gymnastics ain't it...think of the kids.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.