The one-year-anniversary of the switch to digital television came and went on June 12, 2010. That was the date decided on last year for mandatory analog cutoff, after millions of viewers failed to prepare by the original date of February 17, 2009. In the time before the transition, the government passed out 40 coupons to offset the price of a digital-to-analog converter box. However, many of them went unused. (more…)

If you’ve already purchased a digital television converter or digital TV, RCN has your next purchase all ready. The internet and digital TV provider has partnered with TiVo to launch the TiVo Premiere, an all-in-one box that replaces a regular cable box, a DVR, and much more. The product is launched in Boston, Massachusetts and the surrounding area on July 13, and is already available in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Upcoming launch cities include Chicago and Pennsylvania. However, it can’t be long before the TiVo Premiere catches on nation-wide. (more…)

The digital revolution is old news by now, with most people having either purchased a digital converter box or made the leap and upgraded to an actual digital set. The newest technology to attract viewers is 3D televisiona technology which actually isn’t very new at all, but dates back to the creation of stereoscopic images in the 1800s. New 3D-ready TV sets and Blu-ray players are being produced by big-name manufactures like Sony, Philips, and Panasonic, and channels are already experimenting with full-3D broadcast. But the big question is whether old televisions can once again be converted to join the 3D revolution. (more…)

Although most converter boxes will run a little more expensive now than they would have with the government coupon, you can still find great deals. Some of the best-reviewed boxes can be got for little more than a mid-quality DVD player. The RCA DTA800B1 (78 from novatechgadgets) was one of CNET’s favorites during the original transition. One of the pluses is its remote, which features large and clearly-marked buttons for even the most digitally-nave consumer. Other features include an electronic program guide, above-average video quality, and compatibility with automatically-aligning Smart Antennas. If you’ve got a wide-screen TV, though, you might want to check out some of the other options, since the RCA’s quality is much more noticeable on wide screens. (more…)

DIRECTV has been providing quality satellite television services since 1994, meaning they have a long history of satisfied customers. If you’re not already one of them, now is one of the best times to get started, with packages starting at 29.99 a month. Selected packages also come with free HD DVR and receivers, so you won’t miss any of your favorite shows. Be prepared to find some new ones, as well, since DIRECTV offers the most HD channels (over 160) and is now the first TV provider with HD 3D-only channels. Fans got the chance to watch the 2010 World Cup in full 3D over these past weeks, alleviating the pain of not being able to fly out to South Africa for the real thing. (more…)