Engadget HD Podcast 166 - 12.08.2009

The countdown to CES continues, but the big news this week is on the regulatory and industry side, as the FCC tries to figure out where CableCARD is going wrong and what to do about it, and Comcast buys into NBC. We also take on the troubles of going all digital with this week's Ask Engadget HD question, and also show you what an SSD can and can't do for a HTPC. Sony's making the World Cup a part of its 3D showcase, is that enough to get us excited about soccer? Next we go behind the scenes at Sharp, while discussing plasma burn in and Universal's new flipper combo discs before closing out with the latest attempt at relevancy for BD-Live.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:00:45 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 165
00:02:30 - Hell freezes over, the FCC admits that CableCARD is a failure
00:16:55- Time Warner wants to know if it should get tough about rate hikes
00:22:17 - Poll: How do you feel about Comcast buying NBC?
00:30:40 - Ask Engadget HD: Best video encoding process to maximize quality & compatibility?
00:35:22 - SSD drives don't help dedicated Windows Media Center PCs much
00:42:55 - Sony and FIFA team up to make the World Cup 3D
00:48:36 - Inside Sharp's new LCD factory, we can see our next HDTV from here
00:50:12 - The HD Guru tries to burn-in a plasma, but fails
00:57:03 - Universal's BD-59 Blu-ray / DVD flip discs to debut on Bourne trilogy releases
01:02:55 - Terminator: Salvation's McG hosts the first audio Blu-ray director's chat session tonight

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[zeeke Posted Dec 8th 2009 4:28PM]

The AAC rss feed is last weeks ep uploaded again

[RichardLawler Posted Dec 8th 2009 7:36PM]

@zeeke Thanks for the heads up, should be fixed now.

[Brian Posted Dec 9th 2009 11:22AM]

You may want to disable page filing if you are running Media Center and are making your drives out. In general, I have been disabling it for several years now in all my computers. RAM is so cheap and you can pack in a lot that it isn't needed. Technically it should be only used when you don't have enough RAM to run your applications. But it will use up your read/writes on your drive. Maybe you won't notice a difference but it also may help if you are maxing out your drives.

[wyldtek Posted Dec 9th 2009 5:17PM]

I agree with Ben. When there is beer involved I can watch any sport :)

-wyldtek aka Big Sam

[Pugsly Posted Dec 16th 2009 1:27PM]

Directv and VS network, need i say more why Comcast and NBC is a very bad idea?