Jon Iverson

Recordable DVD has been struggling through a swamp of obstacles, from movie studio restrictions preventing DVD back-ups of movies to expensive, hard-to-find DVD recorders. Computer-based systems offer a popular alternative to pricey stand-alone units, but the real barrier to consumer acceptance of a recordable DVD format is likely the multitude of competing approaches fighting for domination: DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW.

Software titan <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com">Microsoft</A> has big eyes <I>and</I> a big stomach, as evidenced by the company's announcements at the Western Cable Show in Anaheim, California, last week. It's no secret that the software giant has been eyeing consumers' living rooms for years, hoping to get Windows CE (WinCE), a junior version of the ubiquitous Windows operating system, into portable devices and TV sets.

<A HREF="http://www.echostar.com">Echostar Communications</A> has been planning to merge its popular Ku-band TV satellite service with Ka-band spectra that could add two-way broadbrand and interactive satellite Internet services, just like its competitors DirecTV and <A HREF="http://www.Direcpc.com/">DirecPC</A>have done. Operating on the 17.7 GHz, 21.2 GHz, 27.5 GHz and 31 GHz spectra, the KA-band slots would enable EchoStar's satellite to cover large areas with broadband service.

It's the dream of home-theater fans and TV addicts everywhere: Video-On-Demand, better known as VOD. The concept is simple: Viewers pick movies or shows from a list and watch them via their cable, satellite, or Internet connection when they want to&mdash;no waiting for the program to start at the top of the hour, or recording something that is broadcast only while you're on vacation. But getting VOD to work, especially in anything approaching DVD quality, is another issue altogether, and has become something of a Holy Grail for VOD developers in the broadcast industry.