Topic: Dvr

John Dvorak reviews the Channel Master Stream Plus, a $99 DVR for over-the-air digital television. He also shares his impressions of Newsmax, describing it as a "Mickey Mouse channel" with dated production values that nonetheless appeals to viewers hungry for specific political narratives.

The hosts describe their technical process for gathering and editing news clips, involving DVR recordings and digital transfers the morning of the show. They request that producers and listeners avoid sending the same "gem" clips to both hosts simultaneously to maintain the element of surprise during the broadcast. This coordination is intended to streamline the deconstruction process for the Sunday and Thursday episodes.

A group calling itself New World Hackers claimed responsibility for the Dyn DDoS attack. Security firm Flashpoint suggests the hackers exploited vulnerabilities in Chinese-made DVRs and webcams using malware. The hosts discuss the poor security standards of these internet-connected consumer devices.

The process of gathering clips has evolved from recording directly off a television DVR to sourcing high-quality segments from YouTube and other online platforms. This shift allows the hosts to provide direct links in the show notes for their audience. They credit their "producers" (listeners) for finding and sharing relevant clips via Twitter, which helps them stay current on global news events.

Media companies like CNN are exploring three-minute native advertisements to combat the use of DVRs that allow viewers to skip traditional commercials. Intel has already utilized this format, disguising product promotions for its follow-me drones as standard CES reports. These segments often feature unknown reporters to blur the line between journalism and paid promotion.

The Roku 3 streaming box is praised for its universal search function and high-quality H.264 decoding. A host recounts a meeting with the CEO of Roku, who previously founded ReplayTV and was a pioneer in DVR technology. The device is noted for its ability to run the Time Warner Cable app, allowing users to bypass standard cable boxes.

An anecdote regarding persistent static electricity shocks leads to a discussion on grounding techniques and physical safety. One host describes receiving jolts from a DVR and even a potato, leading to a theory about potential electrical interference or listening devices. Advice is exchanged regarding using knuckles instead of fingertips to touch metal surfaces to minimize the pain of electrostatic discharge.

Curry and Dvorak discuss the psychological difficulty of asking listeners for money, which some family members initially characterized as "begging." They compare their approach to the "church model" or buying a novel, where the content is supported directly by the user without interruptions. They assert that this model creates a closer, more honest connection with the audience.

A new technical configuration allows for real-time monitoring and recording of C-SPAN directly into the studio mixing board. The hosts compare the advanced DVR features of Time Warner Cable in Austin to those in Los Angeles, specifically the ability to replay recordings across different rooms. This setup facilitates more efficient clipping of news segments for the program.

At a major cable industry panel in Las Vegas, CEOs from Time Warner and CBS (Les Moonves) discussed the future of content and technology. The hosts mock the Time Warner CEO for suggesting television was only invented 20 years ago. They also critique Moonves' comments on the DVR, noting that the industry's primary focus remains on "getting paid appropriately" and avoiding the mistakes made by the RIAA.

The hosts discuss their habits for capturing media clips, including keeping recorders running on television sets constantly. A desire is expressed for a DVR-like device for terrestrial radio to capture fleeting moments while driving.

Traditional television advertising is described as "dead" or "unwatchable" due to the high frequency of commercial breaks in modern programming like the series "V." Viewers increasingly use DVRs to skip ads, though some networks attempt to disable fast-forward features. The hosts argue that only high-quality, non-disruptive ads, like those for Apple, successfully capture viewer attention in the digital age.

The strategy for watching the Super Bowl involves using DVR technology to skip commercials, which have reportedly declined in quality since the dot-com era. The discussion explains the "format clock" used in broadcasting to schedule breaks. Despite the hype, many modern Super Bowl ads are described as overly subdued or "played out" compared to classic campaigns like Apple's "1984."