Thursday, September 2, 2010

A Law Suit Looms Over HD Radio...

A New Jersey law firm that specializes in personal injury is investigating HD Radio. What? "The attorneys at Keefe Bartels are continuing their investigation into HD Radio and whether consumers are being forced to purchase technology that does not work as claimed. If you have experienced problems with your factory-installed HD radio receiver, we are interested in speaking to you." That's the message on Keefe Bartels website. The firm is "investigating" HD Radio's technology because of "numerous complaints from not only the radio industry but also consumers...

And what are those complaints? Among the complaints cited on the law firm's website are receivers switching from HD to analog and an associated "echo sound", "crackling or static sound when HD Radio is inactive, insufficient numbers of HD Radio stations, loss of signal while driving in valleys or between high buildings, signal disruption in different environmental conditions, and interference with adjacent channels." The law firm notes that HD doesn't stand for "high definition" and claims that developer iBiquity "likely uses the 'HD' as a marketing device based upon consumers' understanding and ever-increasing desire for HD television...

iBiquity hasn't made a public statement yet but will. They're also likely to slap an injunction against Keefe Bartels from issuing any further damaging statements affecting their product. Although I'm not a big fan of HD Radio, this sounds like a law firm wanting to become famous overnight to me. Announcing an investigation rather than an actual suit is bizarre. Starbucks has better grounds for a lawsuit than Keefe Bartels...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1901] Teddy's shtick: Vice President Theodore Roosevelt offers this advice: "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair...
2.1935] Hurricaned in Florida: A devastating hurricane slams into the Florida Keys, killing 423...
3.1944] 41 is down: Navy pilot George H. W. Bush is shot down by Japanese forces as he completes a bombing run over the Bonin Islands. The future president is rescued by a U.S. submarine...
4.1945] White flagging it: Japan formally surrenders in ceremonies aboard the U.S. Missouri, ending World War II...
5.1963] Streching the news: CBS and NBC expand network news from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. This clip contains an interview of the late Walter Cronkite who took part in that expansion...
6.1969] A tyrant dies: North Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh dies from multiple health problems at 79...
7.1983] O Solo Mio: Tom Brokaw takes over as sole anchor of NBC's 'Nightly News'. Brokaw's run lasts until December 1, 2004 when he is succeeded by Brian Williams. Here's Brokaw's last show.
..
8.1992] What space race?: The United States and Russia agree to build a space station together...
9.2004] Vote for me again: President George W. Bush accepts his party's nomination for a second term at the Republican National Convention in New York City...
10.2005] Care packages for New Orleans: A National Guard convoy packed with food, water and medicine rolls into New Orleans four days after Hurricane Katrina hits...


Music Memories:
1965] Released on this date: "Yesterday" - Beatles...
1980] #1 on this date: "Upside Down" - Diana Ross..
1988] For human rights: The Amnesty International Tour starts in London, starring Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Tracy Chapman...

Commentary:
The Audio Engineering's New York Section will hold their September meeting with a screening of "Copyright Criminals" with a panel discussion to follow, hosted by Roger Johansen of Tangerine Mastering. The screening and panel discussion will be held at the New School's jazz performance space, 55 West 13th Street (5th fl.). The event will be held Tuesday, September 14 at 6:30 pm...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Salma Hayek (44), Lennox Lewis (45), Keanu Reeves (46), Jimmy Connors (58), Mark Harmon (59), Terry Bradshaw (62), Joe Simon (67), John Thompson (69), Jimmy Clanton (70), Peter Ueberroth (73) & D. Wayne Lucas (75)...

Timeline Countdown: The college football season begins tonight, 4 days until Labor Day, 7 days until the NFL season begins (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 21 days until autumn arrives...