Engadget

Facebook flips the switch on its North Carolina data center, cooled with balmy mountain air

Billy Steele — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:05:00 EST

Since breaking ground in Western North Carolina some 16 months ago, Facebook has been running at full speed to get its newest data center online. This week, Zuckerberg & Co. flipped the switch. The new facility, located in Forest City, touts the "first major deployment" of the outfit's Open Compute Project web servers and will be the first "live test" of the OPC's outdoor air-cooling design. It tends to get pretty warm around those parts and humidity levels are a bit outside of ideal data center conditions. The Carolina facility will mirror the projected power utilization effectiveness (PUE) of FB's Oregon data center at just a smidge above 1 - somewhere between 1.06 and 1.08 to be exact. In other words, this means the ratio of power used by the structure and the actual power sent to the hardware is almost perfect with minimal energy loss. No matter, it'll still be using plenty of power. A second identical building is slated to open on the site later this year, but for now, hit the source link for a bit more info on the initial launch.

Continue reading Facebook flips the switch on its North Carolina data center, cooled with balmy mountain air

Facebook flips the switch on its North Carolina data center, cooled with balmy mountain air originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NC governor will let cable-backed bill restricting municipal broadband become law

Jesse Hicks — Sun, 22 May 2011 02:20:00 EST

We've repeatedly hammered Time Warner Cable (and its big-cable cronies) for crying to the North Carolina legislature about municipal broadband. TWC claims it can't compete with taxpayer-backed ISPs such as Wilson, NC's Greenlight -- and that it shouldn't have to. In fact, Greenlight and four other municipal providers came about specifically because corporate players refused to provide inexpensive, fast broadband. And now that local governments have proven they can provide it, the cable companies have cried foul, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into select political pockets all the while. That's the drama so far, and now a bill restricting municipal broadband -- mandating that providers pay taxes similar to private companies, for example -- has landed on the desk of Governor Bev Perdue. She won't veto the bill, meaning it will soon become a law; for whatever it's worth (read: not much), she also refuses to sign it. The reason? Here it is from the horse's mouth:

I will neither sign nor veto this bill. Instead, I call on the General Assembly to revisit this issue and adopt rules that not only promote fairness but also allow for the greatest number of high quality and affordable broadband options for consumers.

The legislation strikes a blow against public ISPs in a country that ranks ninth in the world for broadband adoption and download speeds. And that, apparently, is what "fair competition" looks like in the US.

[Image courtesy of IndyWeek]

NC governor will let cable-backed bill restricting municipal broadband become law originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 May 2011 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Images leak out of Pentax NC mirrorless camera system, makes us long for summertime

Darren Murph — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:11:00 EST

At this point, we're guessing that it's just a matter of time before the likes of Pentax and Nikon toss their hat into the ever-expanding mirrorless camera ring, and at least for the former, it looks as if that could come sooner rather than later. If the (predictably grainy) image above is to be believed, the NC-1 is dangerously close to being ready for primetime, and according to leaked materials, it'll be the world's smallest mirrorless camera when it gets official in May / June. Purportedly, we'll find a 14 megapixel sensor and a pair of lenses to choose from -- an 8.5mm f/1.9 prime lens as well as a 5-15mm f/2.8-4.5 standard zoom. Crazier still, the NC system could be followed by a larger system in the summer, with that fellow sporting an APS-C sized sensor and compatibility with K-mount lenses. 'Course, we'd invite you to chase all of this with a dash of salt for now, but you can bet we'll be scrounging for more.

[Thanks, Andrea]

Images leak out of Pentax NC mirrorless camera system, makes us long for summertime originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big cable-backed broadband bill soars through NC House, one step closer to stifling ISP competition

Darren Murph — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:24:00 EST

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Time Warner Cable is made up of some insanely shady folks. And frankly, it's not just TWC to blame here -- CenturyLink, Embarq and a smattering of other big telecom companies are banding together in order to push the ironically-named H129 "Level Playing Field" bill straight into law. Unfortunately, said bill sailed through the clearly oblivious (or "persuaded") North Carolina House this week, with just 37 sane individuals voting against 81 delusional proponents. For those outside of the loop, the bill effectively suggests that commercial entities -- municipal ISPs like Wilson's own Greenlight that provide greater levels of service with lower costs -- are unfairly competing against for-profit monoliths. In short, that's an absolute joke. Rep. Bill Faison nailed it with this quote:

"This bill will make it practically impossible for cities to provide a fundamental service. Where's the bill to govern Time Warner? Let's be clear about whose bill this is. This is Time Warner's bill. You need to know who you're doing this for."

Yours truly just so happens to reside in the wonderful state of North Carolina, and knows first-hand what it's like to live in a major metropolitan area with a single high-speed broadband carrier. TWC has only recently announced impending DOCSIS 3.0 coverage, but early installations in the heart of Raleigh have been fraught with latency issues and router difficulties. Oh, and it's charging $99 per month for a service with 5Mbps up; for comparison's sake, Greenlight gives customers 10Mbps internet (in both directions), home phone and expanded basic cable for the exact same fare. So, NC lawmakers -- how exactly do your constituents gain access to that "level playing field?"

[Image courtesy of IndyWeek]

Big cable-backed broadband bill soars through NC House, one step closer to stifling ISP competition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC confirms new research and development office in Durham, North Carolina

Darren Murph — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:37:00 EST

It's been swirling for months now, but at long last HTC has finally come forward with the official word: it'll be cracking open a new operation in the heart of North Carolina's technology hub to usher in 2011. According to the company, it'll be hiring 45 individuals at the Durham, NC-based venue, as they conduct research into "multiple areas of wireless technology, with plans to grow further during 2011 and into the future." The list of current job openings there is definitely robust, and there's little doubt that a good bit of design work will be going down just a few miles from the nearest Cook-Out. The opening of the new location marks HTC's third research and development facility in the States, with the others being positioned in Seattle and San Francisco. Out goes Sony Ericsson, in flies HTC -- fitting, don't you think?

Continue reading HTC confirms new research and development office in Durham, North Carolina

HTC confirms new research and development office in Durham, North Carolina originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NC State and CMU develop velocity-sensing shoe radar, aim to improve indoor GPS routing

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:54:00 EST

The world at large owes a good bit to Maxwell Smart, you know. Granted, it's hard to directly link the faux shoe phone to the GPS-equipped kicks that are around today, but the lineage is certainly apparent. The only issue with GPS in your feet is how they react when you waltz indoors, which is to say, not at all. In the past, most routing apparatuses have used inertial measurement units (IMUs) to track motion, movement and distance once GPS reception is lost indoors, but those have proven poor at spotting the difference between a slow gait and an outright halt. Enter NC State and Carnegie Mellon University, who have worked in tandem in order to develop a prototype shoe radar that's specifically designed to sense velocity. Within the shoe, a radar is attached to a diminutive navigational computer that "tracks the distance between your heel and the ground; if that distance doesn't change within a given period of time, the navigation computer knows that your foot is stationary." Hard to say when Nike will start testing these out in the cleats worn by football players, but after last week's abomination of a spot (and subsequent botching of a review by one Ron Cherry) during the NC State - Maryland matchup, we're hoping it's sooner rather than later.

NC State and CMU develop velocity-sensing shoe radar, aim to improve indoor GPS routing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC job listing hints at an E Ink / 3D-filled future, new North Carolina facility

Darren Murph — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:02:00 EST

Months back, word on the street had it that HTC was looking to grab up emptied space in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park post-recession; huge outfits like Nortel bit the bullet in 2009, while Sony Ericsson shuttered its operations there and relocated to Atlanta. Naturally, the consolidation paved the way for other technology firms to slide in without overpaying for real estate. HTC has remained mum on the prospect of expansion, but it's fairly obvious what's in mind given the multiple job listings that have just emerged for a heretofore unannounced facility in RTP. Of particular importance is a plea for a Display and Camera Design Engineer -- HTC is asking that whoever applies for the role have some level of "familiarity with 3D display and imaging technologies," not to mention "familiarity with multiple display technologies (TFT-LCD, PMOLED, AMOLED, E-ink, etc.)." Of course, we've seen quite a few bullet points in our years that end up meaning nothing at all, but it definitely gets our gears turning. Could HTC be working on a reader / tablet that would at least partially rely on e-paper? Are we destined to see a 3D Android device from the outfit at Mobile World Congress 2011? Imaginations, here's the part where you run wild.

HTC job listing hints at an E Ink / 3D-filled future, new North Carolina facility originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Li-ion Motors INIZIO: all-electric supercar hitting 170 mph next year, all yours for $139k

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:12:00 EST

Tesla, schmesla. This, friends, is the electric vehicle that your garage has been waiting for. Designed by North Carolina's own Li-ion Motors, the downright stunning INIZIO is being hailed as the world's first all American-made electric supercar, and while the Roadster is definitely peppy, it ain't got nothing on this. Using the company's own lithium-ion battery technology and management system, the car can purportedly cruise for up to 250 miles on electricity alone, and it can hit a top speed of 170 miles per hour without breaking a sweat. Naturally, you won't (legally) fit more than two humans into this thing at once, but those two individuals will enjoy adjustable, leather / suede Recaro seating with heating and cooling features, an inbuilt 12-inch subwoofer, digital surround sound system, integrated navigation system, DVD player and rotational doors that raise on a 90-degree angle. Oh, and they'll probably drool a little after racing from zero to sixty in 3.4 face-numbing seconds. The company also adds that it emits no carbon emissions, can be recharged over 2,500 times and can go from drained to rejuvenated after just eight hours on the plug. It's expected to launch in mid-2011 with a starting price of $139,000, or just a few pennies more than the current value of the wretched Carolina Panthers franchise.

Update: Just a heads-up before you throw down for a pre-order... you may not actually ever get your vehicle. Just another one to the list, really.

Continue reading Li-ion Motors INIZIO: all-electric supercar hitting 170 mph next year, all yours for $139k

Li-ion Motors INIZIO: all-electric supercar hitting 170 mph next year, all yours for $139k originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watermelon cooler push cart: perfect for those sultry North Carolina summers

Darren Murph — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:57:00 EST

Crazily enough, the device you're staring at above -- jaw solidly on the floor, we're sure -- is real. As in, you can purchase one for you and yours. So far as we can tell, this here watermelon cart (priced at ¥19,950, or a whopping $231) serves to keep your voluptuous fruit cool when being transported from market to mouth, but everything beyond that is lost in translation. What's curious, however, is that this seems like a device created and sold exclusively in Japan. If we had to bet, though, we'd say it was originally dreamed up by a farmer in eastern North Carolina -- you know, the home of watermelon Cook-Out milkshakes, an official watermelon license plate and roads where chop-top school buses are frequently used as watermelon hauling machines.

Watermelon cooler push cart: perfect for those sultry North Carolina summers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NC State's refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind

Darren Murph — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:43:00 EST

While many in Raleigh are wondering whatever happened to the glory days of 1983, Dr. Neil Di Spigna and company are doing far more productive things at NC State. It's no secret that the holy grail of Braille is a tactile display that could change on a whim in order to give blind viewers a way to experience richer content (and lots more of it) when reading, but not until today have we been reasonably confident that such a goal was attainable. Gurus at the university have just concocted a "hydraulic and latching mechanism" concept, vital to the creation of the full-page, refreshable Braille display system. As you may expect, the wonder of this solution is the display's ability to erect dots at the precise points, retract them, and re-erect another set when the reader scrolls through a document or presses a "link" on a website. We're told that the researchers have already presented their findings, and if all goes well, they'll have a fully functioning prototype "within a year." Here's hoping a suitable replacement to Lee Fowler is also unearthed during the same window.

NC State's refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clearwire's WiMAX rollout rolls on: NC, WA, TX, IL and HI get lit

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:36:00 EST

Think LTE is the future? How's about the present? Clearwire is expanding its national footprint in a big, big way today by announcing WiMAX services in a slew of regions in a smattering of states. Starting today, 4G access can be found in both Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, which effectively removes the last sane reason to not visit and / or relocate there. In fact, CLEAR is now available to 800,000 citizens of America's finest state, with service extending 1,759 square miles over Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. Moving on, residents of Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina can also buy in, right along with those folks in Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin, Texas who mistakenly think their BBQ is superior. Closing things out, we've got new access throughout the Puget Sound area (including Seattle and King County, Pierce County, Kitsap County, and Snohomish County), not to mention a green light to hop on the 4G superhighway in the Chicago region. If you're anxious to ditch 3G, you'll find plans starting at just $30 per month.

Clearwire's WiMAX rollout rolls on: NC, WA, TX, IL and HI get lit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide

Darren Murph — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST

Sony Ericsson has yet to make this public, but we've learned that the flagging handset maker has caved once more to the pressures of the modern phone market place. If you'll recall, 450 employees were nixed from the company's payrolls in September of last year, and now the entire Research Triangle Park facility is being shuttered. In an internal announcement made this morning, SE is fixing to close four total sites: RTP in North Carolina, a smaller Miami facility and operations in Kista (Sweden) and Chennai. All told, 2,000 employees will be trimmed, with severance packages being offered to those who qualify. As of now, the departing individuals have yet to be chosen, with employees in RTP given the opportunity to apply for jobs elsewhere (likely in Atlanta or California). We're told that the cuts will happen "in stages," with project teams being assembled as we speak to work out the logistics. Frankly, we aren't as shocked as we are saddened to hear the news -- SE has refused to keep pace with the other handset makers, and its decision to wait until next year to ship an Android device is indicative of the choices that have kept it in the shadows these past few years. Here's hoping this restructuring effort actually gets things headed in the right direction.

Update: And it's official. SE will also be shutting down small offices in Seattle and San Diego, with its North American headquarters shifting from RTP to Atlanta and its research and development operation transitioning from RTP to Redwood Shores, California.

Filed under: Handsets, Sony Ericsson, Misc

Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide

Darren Murph — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint lights up WiMAX in NC, Chicago and Dallas, launches subsidized Mini 10

Darren Murph — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:44:00 EST

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Or better yet, when a leaked roadmap doesn't get delayed in the slightest? After months upon months of waiting, broadband-lovin' citizens in the North Carolina Triangle and Triad will be celebrating alongside DFW residents and Chicago natives as Sprint's 4G WiMAX service rolls into town. As of right now (that's today, junior), consumers in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point and Charlotte, NC; Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas and Chicago, Illinois can roll into a Sprint store and snag a U300 3G / 4G WWAN modem on a $69.99 monthly data plan. We're told that San Antonio and Austin will get lit up later this month, while Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; Salem, Oregon and Seattle, Washington will join the fray before 2010. Oh, and did we mention that Palm's favorite carrier finally snagged itself a WWAN-equipped netbook? 'Cause the Dell Mini 10 is available starting today for $199.99 at select Sprint stores in the metropolitan Baltimore area.

Update: Looks like Sprint changed "Baltimore" to "Bay Area." Odd.

Read - Sprint WiMAX in the Triangle
Read - Sprint WiMAX in the Triad
Read - Sprint WiMAX in Charlotte, NC
Read - Sprint WiMAX in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
Read - Sprint WiMAX in Chicago, IL
Read - Sprint's first netbook is Dell Mini 10

Filed under: Peripherals, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA, WiMAX

Sprint lights up WiMAX in NC, Chicago and Dallas, launches subsidized Mini 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint lights up WiMAX in NC, Chicago and Dallas, launches subsidized Mini 10

Darren Murph — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:44:00 EST

Filed under: Wireless

Sprint lights up WiMAX in NC, Chicago and Dallas, launches subsidized Mini 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clearwire branding true 4G WiMAX rollouts 'CLEAR,' upgrading pre-WiMAX areas nationwide

Darren Murph — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:01:00 EST

Clearwire's far too young of a company to be dealing with a mid-life crisis, but just a year or so after it really began rolling out its Clear WiMAX services in select portions of America, it appears that the outfit is changing names. Confusingly enough, the company (currently Clearwire) will be renaming itself as the service (currently Clear), leaving us to wonder what exactly CLEAR (the rebranded company) will call its WiMAX offerings. There's no indication on the company's website as to when it plans to make the rebranding official, but a customer in Charlotte, North Carolina has informed us that the change is already underway in the Queen City. According to him, his equipment was recently swapped out, with the new modem boasting a Motorola logo and a "CLEAR" logo instead of the "Clearwire" emblem as before. Interestingly, he also claims that his download speed received a (gratis) bump from 1.6Mbps to 5Mbps, which resulted in a "huge improvement in speed." So, any other users out there getting their modems swapped out? Call us crazy, but we're guessing it's just a matter of time.

[Thanks, Rick]

Update: Clearwire pinged us with a few clarifications here. Ready? Good. Clearwire, as a company, is not changing its name. So far as the SEC knows, the corporate entity will remain "Clearwire." The new "CLEAR" branding is a push to market its true 4G WiMAX services (as opposed to "pre-WiMAX service"), which are rolling out to over 40 existing Clearwire markets around the country. Seems that explains the speed boost Mr. Rick experienced, huh?

Gallery: Clearwire renaming itself CLEAR, getting a logo makeover too

Continue reading Clearwire branding true 4G WiMAX rollouts 'CLEAR,' upgrading pre-WiMAX areas nationwide

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Clearwire branding true 4G WiMAX rollouts 'CLEAR,' upgrading pre-WiMAX areas nationwide originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works

Darren Murph — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST

For those who missed the torrent of 3G MicroCell news yesterday, here's the long and short of it: the Cisco-built device is now on sale, but only in Charlotte, North Carolina. One fortunate Charlottean managed to scoop one up, but rather than keeping the experience to himself, he decided to bang out a full review for the rest of the world to see. By and large, Jason's experience with the femtocell mirrored our own with Sprint's AIRAVE. Installation and setup was a breeze, and once it was booted up and operational, it worked like a charm. Before picking this up, he was seeing one bar of EDGE (if he was lucky); afterwards, his entire house was blanketed with five bars of 3G. Not surprisingly, he noted that the before and after difference when fielding calls was "night and day," but he did take the opportunity to bark at the lofty $150 price tag. But hey, those desperate enough will cough up anything to actually use their phone, right?

Filed under: Peripherals, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works

Darren Murph — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Warner Cable reselling WiMAX later this year in Charlotte, Dallas, and two mystery markets

Ross Miller — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:27:00 EST

It's not really that surprising given its investment in Clearwire, but Time Warner Cable is now ready to join in on the WiMAX fun. The company plans to resell the mobile broadband in four US cities by the end of the year, but so far it's only revealed two of them: Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dallas, Texas. Meanwhile, cable competitor Comcast has already opened up its WiMAX shop in Portland, Oregon, and plans to hit Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia by the end of this year. No word on prices, but we don't expect it to stray far from the current $20 to $50 monthly fees. We're also a bit in the dark as to when we can expect the rollout this year, so if you're in one of those two markets and have a strong itch for 4G wireless, better start filling up that piggy bank now, just to be safe.

Filed under: Wireless

Time Warner Cable reselling WiMAX later this year in Charlotte, Dallas, and two mystery markets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TWC moves consumption-based internet billing to more markets

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:53:00 EST

No, folks -- this is no prank. Time Warner Cable really is throwing caution (and public opinion) to the wind and moving forward with its evil consumption-based internet billing. If you'll recall, we heard that the operator was trialing the method -- which imposes premium rates on big broadband users -- back in early 2008, but now it seems it's quietly hoping to roll it out into more major markets. Starting this month, TWC will start gathering information on its customers' internet use in Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX, Rochester, NY and Greensboro, NC; if all goes "well," consumption billing will hit those markets this summer or sooner. We'll point you to the read link if you're interested in just how outrageous these capped plans look (particularly for internet TV viewers), but we'd be remiss of our duties if we didn't share this gem of a quote from TWC CEO Glenn Britt: "We made a mistake early on by not defining our business based on the consumption dimension." Thanks for clarifying, Glenn-o.

[Thanks Kevin, image courtesy of Corbis]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

TWC moves consumption-based internet billing to more markets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TWC moves consumption-based internet billing to more markets

Darren Murph — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:53:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Cable, Internet

TWC moves consumption-based internet billing to more markets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DirecTV fires up HD locals in Greenville-New Bern, NC

Darren Murph — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:03:00 EST

The Greenville-New Bern, North Carolina market is one of the smaller big markets (if that makes any sense) that DirecTV serves, but apparently it's big enough to warrant the inclusion of HD locals. In fact, the move to light up the local stations in high-def comes just months after DISH Network decided to do so here, giving us the impression that it's simply trying to keep up. Whatever the reason, we're sure DirecTV subscribers in the region are ecstatic with the additions.

Filed under: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Satellite

DirecTV fires up HD locals in Greenville-New Bern, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Warner Cable adding four more HD networks in Raleigh, NC

Darren Murph — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:49:00 EST

Raleigh, NC residents were pretty satisfied with 20 or so new HD channels at the tail end of last year, but apparently Time Warner Cable is really feeling the pressure from recent entrant AT&T. Now, Triangle citizens can start preparing for four more to hit the EPG on February 13th: USA HD (258), Bravo HD (259), CNBC HD (266) and SciFi HD (267). Don't take this personally TWC, but we appreciate the favor, AT&T. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks, Paul]

Filed under: Cable, New content

Time Warner Cable adding four more HD networks in Raleigh, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T goes live with U-verse TV in Raleigh, NC area

Darren Murph — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:17:00 EST

Be still our hearts! The rumors were indeed true, and U-verse TV has at long last arrived in the Triangle to combat the monopoly that is Time Warner Cable. A breaking report from WRAL has it that the carrier is "offering its U-verse TV service as well as high-speed internet service in the Triangle," but fails to elaborate on specific service areas. We've heard from locals that Cary, NC will be one of the first locations with access, but until AT&T issues its own confirmation, it's hard to say for certain. Obviously, those who sign up will have access to Total Home DVR from day one, and we're told that packages will start at $44 per month. Reportedly, locals can ping local retail stores or head to the carrier's website to apply for access.

In related news, TWC is said to be readying more HD channels as well as Start Over functionality and a feature that "allows you to watch shows you missed, up to 48 hours after the program originally aired." Funny -- we suspected that real competition was on the way when 20 some-odd high-def stations showed up on the cable company's lineup in late October. Guess that wasn't too far from the truth.

[Via The Wolf Web, thanks Dave]

Filed under: Fiber

AT&T goes live with U-verse TV in Raleigh, NC area originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MGM HD replacing MOJO HD on Time Warner Cable in Raleigh, NC

Darren Murph — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:50:00 EST

No word yet on whether this is a national / regional change, but Time Warner Cable has informed Raleigh, NC-based subscribers that it won't just let users lose an HD channel when MOJO HD vanishes on November 20th. Instead, it's slotting in MGM HD on the HD Tier (channel 291), which we feel is a pretty fair trade. And for those wondering, yes, this one is in addition to the 20 high-def newcomers announced for the area late last month.

Filed under: MOJO, Cable, New content

MGM HD replacing MOJO HD on Time Warner Cable in Raleigh, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TWC gets official with HD expansion in the Carolinas

Darren Murph — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:46:00 EST

Hot on the heels of TWC's Greensboro expansion announcement comes some official word from the carrier itself on how it'll be handling new HD rollouts in the Carolinas at large. For starters, many Raleigh-area customers received an e-mail proclaiming that 20 new high-def stations would be coming soon, though it mistakenly claims ESPN2 HD as a newcomer. At any rate, the director of digital communication at Time Warner Cable chimed in to clear things up, noting that the company is "rolling out up to 20 HD channels over the next several months, depending on the division." From the looks of things, Raleigh and Charlotte will be getting just about everything TWC has, while Greensboro, NC and Columbia, SC will receive smaller allotments. Curiously enough, the Wilmington area wasn't mentioned at all, but here's hoping they'll be on the same wave as Raleigh. For the full report from Jeff Simmermon, jump on past the break. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

Continue reading TWC gets official with HD expansion in the Carolinas

Filed under: Cable, New content

TWC gets official with HD expansion in the Carolinas originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TWC adding 11 HD channels in Greensboro, NC, Triangle seen fuming

Darren Murph — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:06:00 EST

You can't be serious. No, really -- this cannot be happening. Merely days after Time Warner Cable did its best to appease rightfully frustrated Raleigh-based subscribers with four new HD channels, in flies word that our pals up I-40 are getting set to receive 11. It's been no secret that TWC favored the Triad in the high-def department, but this is just blatant. Beginning on Wednesday, Greensboro, NC-area customers will see SPEED HD and Bio HD hit the lineup, with Fox Sports Network South HD, Cinemax East HD, Cinemax West HD, Starz HD, The Movie Channel HD, Weather Channel HD, FX HD, Hallmark HD and Pay Per View HD joining that duo "in the coming months." Suffice it to say, Triangle dwellers everywhere are hoping and praying for that U-verse investment to amount to something sooner rather than later. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

Update: A new source asserts that TWC will begin the rollout of 20 new HD channels in its "Carolina Region" starting on October 29th. Unfortunately, there's no mention of what areas will get what channels, we'll remain cautiously pessimistic that the entire state won't see all 20 until we hear otherwise.

Filed under: Cable, New content

TWC adding 11 HD channels in Greensboro, NC, Triangle seen fuming originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Warner Cable finally recognizes Raleigh, adding 4 HD channels

Darren Murph — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:38:00 EST

We're struggling to believe this is real, but it appears that Time Warner Cable has finally woken up and realized that it serves a great number of increasingly frustrated people in the greater Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina area. While locales like San Antonio have upwards of 70 HD channels on TWC, the poor citizens of the Triangle have been suffering with just a handful for years. Sure, TWC gifted the area with Big Ten Network a few weeks back, but seriously, who's watching that in the heart of ACC territory? Nevertheless, the carrier is gearing up to add Discovery HD (260), SPEED HD (273), ESPNU HD (288) and Bio HD (296) on October 29th, all of which will be listed in the "Free HD" lineup. We still feel the people of Raleigh deserve a few more, but so long as this is just the beginning of lots more, we'll be content. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks, Bill]

Filed under: Cable, New content

Time Warner Cable finally recognizes Raleigh, adding 4 HD channels originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATMC Cable adds PBS HD to ever expanding HD lineup

Darren Murph — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:06:00 EST

A month is a long time to go without ATMC Cable adding a new HD channel, but just as it promised earlier this year, PBS HD has finally hit the lineup. With the addition, the North Carolina-based cable company has grown its high-def lineup to 37 channels, and those with an HD receiver or HD DVR can tune in now for no extra charge on slot 908.

Filed under: Cable, New content

ATMC Cable adds PBS HD to ever expanding HD lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DISH Network unloads HD locals in a handful of new markets

Darren Murph — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:26:00 EST

Of late, it's been DirecTV doing all the dishing of HD locals, but at long last, we've got its biggest, most bitter rival stepping to the plate and doing some damage, too. As it's fall HD locals rollout continues, DISH Network has gone live with 'em in a bevy of new places. We're talking Florence / Myrtle Beach, SC, Fort Myers / Naples, FL, Greenville / New Bern / Washington, NC, Madison, WI and Wilkes Barre / Scranton, PA. As it stands, the satcaster now offers locals in high-def in 70 markets reaching 71% of the US, but really, all that matters is if you're in that 71%, right?

Filed under: Satellite

DISH Network unloads HD locals in a handful of new markets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charter brings Food Network HD and HGTV HD in Western Carolinas

Darren Murph — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:34:00 EST

Charter just gifted Asheville, NC with five new HD channels in July, but considering how bleak the HD lineup was there, these two couldn't have arrived soon enough. As of this week, Food Network HD and HGTV HD have been added on slots 756 and 757 (respectively) in the Asheville, NC and Greenville-Spartanburg, SC systems. Trust us, the carrier is still struggling over there, so we'll totally understand if you customers in the area start bickering for more in a week or so.

[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]

Filed under: Cable, New content

Charter brings Food Network HD and HGTV HD in Western Carolinas originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson laying off 450 employees in Research Triangle Park, NC

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST

"Planned" and "executed" are two very different things, and while we knew Sony Ericsson was mulling the idea of hacking 2,000 jobs, the hammer has finally fallen in Research Triangle Park, NC. The company will soon be axing 450 employees at its North American headquarters as part of a large reorganization, with most everyone knowing by the week's end whether they'll stay or go. According to Aldo Ligouri, Sony Ericsson's head of global communications and public relations, the RTP cuts are "part of company-wide changes that Sony Ericsson announced in July," and in whatever context, he added that "this is our map of how we see things moving forward." Just to put things in perspective, the outfit only has about 750 workers in the North Carolina-based facility, which is primarily seen as an R&D hub. Tough news to hear, no matter how you spin it.

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

Filed under: Culture, Sony Ericsson, Misc

Sony Ericsson laying off 450 employees in Research Triangle Park, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson laying off 450 employees in Research Triangle Park, NC

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson laying off 450 employees in Research Triangle Park, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Network coming to TWC in the Carolinas, Raleigh / Durham included

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:12:00 EST

It's with a heart full of enthusiasm and a mind full of frustration that we share with you Time Warner Cable's latest addition to its Carolinas lineup. After landing a deal with Big Ten Network late last month, the carrier has announced that it will soon be launching BTN in Raleigh / Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte, Statesville / Iredell, Wilmington and South Carolina. The station will be available in both SD and HD flavors on different slots based on location (details are in the read link), and we're told to expect it on the air this Thursday. Sure, we'll take any high-def station we can get here in the ~~Tar Heel~~ Wolfpack state, but we still feel the operator owes us a few more given the absurd prices it feels fine with charging. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks, Justin]

Filed under: Cable, Sports, New content

Big Ten Network coming to TWC in the Carolinas, Raleigh / Durham included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T U-Verse cabinets pop up in Winston-Salem, NC

Darren Murph — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:37:00 EST

It's the case of the mysteriously appearing U-verse cabinets all over again, and this time it's taking the Triad by storm. The images you see above are of an AT&T utility cabinet at the corner of Peace Haven Road and Mountain View Road in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Our tipster (and photographer) dug a little deeper and asked a local AT&T store manager to "explain" the in-store U-verse display, only to find that the manager was expecting AT&T to launch U-verse services in the area by "early next year." We knew AT&T was spending some serious dough in the Carolinas, and truthfully, we'll be stoked to see said investment finally lead to something tangible. Now, how soon before the company strings U-verse on down to the Triangle?

[Thanks, Prime]

Filed under: Industry, Fiber

AT&T U-Verse cabinets pop up in Winston-Salem, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western North Carolina's WLOS takes local news to high-def

Darren Murph — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:43:00 EST

The Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson DMA just netted itself another local station with HD news: WLOS (ABC). Starting this week, the station -- which serves the western parts of both North and South Carolina -- will be broadcasting from its new set and studio, which features a "rotating desk with two different back drops, more than two dozen HD monitors, new HD studio cameras, HD graphics, and the advanced HD 'Sky Watch' Weather Center." The station is just about a year late on being numero uno in the market, as rival WSPA-TV (the local CBS affiliate) took its local news HD in September of last year. Nothing wrong with choices, though.

[Thanks, PopWeaverHDTV]

Filed under: ABC, Primetime, Daytime

Western North Carolina's WLOS takes local news to high-def originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TWC adding ESPNU HD / Planet Green HD in Greensboro, NC

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:18:00 EST

One word Time Warner Cable: pathetic. Look, we're as stoked as we can be for our pals up in the Triad area of North Carolina -- after all, ESPNU HD and Planet Green HD are coming just months after a trio of others arrived -- but the lack of attention in the Triangle is sickening. While the Raleigh area limps along with an absolutely anemic HD lineup, Greensboro is being promised two more on Friday. The stations will be available on slots 570 and 559, respectively, and at least the former should provide plenty of entertainment as the football season really gets going. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

Filed under: ESPN-HD, Cable, New content

TWC adding ESPNU HD / Planet Green HD in Greensboro, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wilmington, NC kills analog dead as broadcasters go all-digital

Darren Murph — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:43:00 EST

Wilmington, NC had the pleasure of being the nation's first DTV transition test market, and now it has officially become the first market in the nation to flip the kill switch on analog. As of noon ET today, the Wilmington area entered the digital frontier, and initial reports suggest that things are going fairly swimmingly. Granted, "a few" viewers were still "struggling" to see the signal (read: not at all prepared for the change), but at least the world didn't completely implode or anything. Not like we can really avoid that scenario come Wednesday, but hey, an extra 24 or so hours to live it up ain't half bad.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Wilmington, NC kills analog dead as broadcasters go all-digital originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wilmington, NC kills analog dead as broadcasters go all-digital

Darren Murph — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST

Wilmington, NC kills analog dead as broadcasters go all-digital originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Craigslist ad hints at U-verse in Raleigh / Durham, NC

Darren Murph — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:46:00 EST

Just over a year ago, we heard that AT&T would be sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into the Carolinas in an attempt to "upgrade its fiber network, further broadband deployment, and deliver internet-based technologies to customers in North Carolina and South Carolina." Now, we're beginning to see signs of life. According to this nondescript job posting on Craigslist, AT&T is scouting residential field agents specifically for U-verse in the Raleigh / Durham, NC region. Sure, this could very well be a hoax of some strange kind, but we can't possibly be more hopeful that it's not. Hey TWC -- is this enough to get you to add a few HD channels to your absolutely abysmal selection in the Triangle?

[Thanks, Jonathan]

Filed under: Industry, Fiber

Craigslist ad hints at U-verse in Raleigh / Durham, NC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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