Here are some audio and video trends for 2019:
The global Hi-Fi Systems market was valued at million US$ in 2018 and is expected to grow. EISA Awards has selected Hi-Fi product category winners, but I did not see anything really fancy new innovations that would excite me there. The Hi-Fi speaker market has seen considerable consolidation over the years but is expected to grow. The global Hi-Fi speaker system market is highly competitive. Various established international brands, domestic brands and as well as new entrants form a competitive landscape. The market is expected to have higher growth rate as compared to the previous years due to the booming electronic industry globally. It is due to the rising income of individuals globally and increasing affordability of technology products globally. Due to technological adoption and smart gadgets, North America region is showing steady growth in the Hi-Fi speaker system market. On technology standpoint the Hi-Fi market is mainly based on pretty much stabilized technology as class D amplifiers have been on mainstream for many years.
Smart TVs are everywhere. The vast majority of televisions available today are “smart” TVs, with internet connections, ad placement, and streaming services built in. Despite the added functionality, TV prices are lower than ever. Your new smart TV was so affordable because it is collecting and selling your data. It is clear that TV companies are in a cutthroat business, and that companies like Vizio would have to charge higher prices for hardware if they didn’t run content, advertising, and data businesses. Google wants sensors and cameras in every room of your home to watch, analyze, you, patents show.
Streaming services competition stays high. Apple’s embracing the TV industry for the first time: Vizio and LG TVs will support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, while Samsung TVs will get an iTunes Movies & TV app, as well as AirPlay 2 support. Google and Amazon are playing are important players on smart speaker markets.
4K video resolution is still as hot as in 2019 – it us becoming mainstream and getting cheaper. Peraso showcases 4K wireless video at CES 2019. LG has produced a market-ready rollable OLED TV. The new 75-inch 4K Micro LED TV announced at CES 2019 proves Samsung is serious about scaling the technology to do battle with OLED. But it seems that even in 1029 “4K” trend remains woefully deficient from a compelling-content-availability standpoint. CES 2019 is already full of weird and wonderful monitors.
But new higher 8K resolution is being pushed to market. The “8K” (resolution) tagline was apparently everywhere at CES this year. Samsung announced a 98-inch 8K TV because why not. LG has come strong to CES 2019 with an 88-inch 8K OLED TV, a 75-inch 8K LED/LCD TV, HDMI 2.1, new auto calibration features, Alexa built in, and many more features. It seems that this ongoing evolution is occurring out of necessity: as a given-size (and -pixel-dense) display becomes a low profit margin commodity, manufacturers need to continually “up-rev” one or both key consumer-attention-grabbing parameters (along with less quantifiable attributes like image quality) in order to remain profitable … assuming they can continue to stimulate sufficient-sized consumer demand in the process. I am not sure if they can stimulate 8K to mass market in next few years.
Wall size TVs are coming. Samsung announced a modular TV at CES. Samsung first showcased this MicroLED TV technology at CES 2018, showcasing how the screens were composed of millions of individual LEDs. Individuals screens could be combined to create massive displays, which the company calls The Wall TV. The wall-sized displays shown in recent years at CES are, in my opinion, quite ridiculous, at least for the masses.
HDMI updates are coming. At present, the HDMI equipment uses the 2.0 standard (adopted in 2013) tht provides support for example for 4K video. HDMI Forum announced a new 2.1 standard already in November 2017, but it just starter showing in CES in January 2019. 8K fiber-optic HDMI cables seen at CES 2019. The 2.1 standard is a big change in technology at the bus bandwidth increases from 18 gigabit to 48 gigabits per second. This enables up to 10K video transmission and up to 120 frames per second.
Bendable displays are really coming to PCs and smart phones. LG’s “rollable” display shown this year neatly showcased the technology’s inherent flexibility while also addressing the question of how to hide a gargantuan display when it’s not in use. Several foldable smart phones have been shown. Chinese company Royole was showing off the FlexPai at CES in Las Vegas.
Micro displays for VR and AR glasses have developed. MicroLED is better looking, more efficient and more versatile than any previous display tech. Now all Samsung, Sony, LG and others have to do is figure out how to manufacture it affordably.Nanoco Technologies and Plessey Semiconductors have partnered to shrink the pixel size of monolithic microLED displays using Nanoco’s cadmium-free quantum-dot (CFQD quantum dots) semiconductor nanoparticle technology. Microchips and organic LEDs that deliver 4K-like high resolution displays a quarter of the size and half the weight of existing virtual reality (VR) headsets have been developed under a European Union project. Marc Andreessen says VR will be “1,000” times bigger than AR even though VR seems to be the popular whipping boy amongst the tech community.
There seems to be no shortage of angst with the current (and unfortunately burgeoning) popularity of usage of the term artificial intelligence (AI). Intelligence has been defined in many ways which makes it hard to get good picture on what is going on. I am still waiting for sensible intelligent AI to do something useful. But the ability for a sufficiently trained deep learning system to pattern-match images, sound samples, computer viruses, network hacking attempts, and the like is both impressive and effective.
Potential problems related to the coming of self-driving car technologies and cameras are expected. A man at CES in Las Vegas says that a car-mounted lidar permanently damaged the sensor in his new $1,998 Sony a7R II mirrorless camera. Man says CES lidar’s laser was so powerful it wrecked his $1,998 camera because the LIDAR laser power rules ensure lasers are safe for human eyes—but not necessarily for cameras. Is this something that camera and car manufacturers need to figure out together?
2019 Will Be the Year of Open Source from software and even hardware. Open source video player app VLC has now reached 3 billions downloads.
When almost all AV products are pushing more and more features, it seems that almost Everything is too complicated for an average Joe.
1,491 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
6 Reasons You Should Ditch Netflix Streaming
https://uk.pcmag.com/old-video-streaming-services/130538/6-reasons-you-should-ditch-netflix-streaming
Video streaming is cheap and convenient, but it can’t touch physical media like Blu-ray when it comes to content breadth, quality, and extras.
Tomi Engdahl says:
In the United Kingdom and some other countries required those households which view broadcast television to purchase a licence for the privilege. Here is an interesting story of the old technology used on vans used to locate those TVs without license. Nowadays the signal listening vans are mostly used to locate illegal radio transmitters and RF noise sources.
https://hackaday.com/2021/01/18/tv-detector-vans-once-prowled-the-streets-of-england/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Onko ethernetkytkimillä äänenlaadun suhteen väliä?
https://diabolusinhifi.com/2021/01/25/onko-ethernetkytkimilla-aanenlaadun-suhteen-valia/
Hifiharrastajienkin viestialueen palstatilaa on syönyt digitaalisten lähteiden twiikkaus. En nyt tarkoita CD-soitinta, vaan muita digitaalisen domainin asioita. NASseja, kytkimiä, ethernet-johtoja, optisia kaapeleita, koaksiaalikaapeleita, USB-kaapeleita jne. Ei ole niinkään yllättävää että tämäkin asia saa lähestulkoon uskonnollisia mittasuhteita. Jotkut uskovat siihen että eroja on, jotkut taas uskovat siihen että eroja ei ole. Jotkut ovat kuunnelleet ja eroja löytäneet, jotkut taas eivät. Jotkut tietävät kuuntelematta miten asia on
Tomi Engdahl says:
ōPik—the optical guitar pickup
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/light4sound/opikthe-optical-guitar-pickup
Tomi Engdahl says:
The scandal isn’t that TV detector vans are going to intercept your Wi-Fi. The scandal is that you still believe in TV detector vans
https://medium.com/@adambanksdotcom/the-scandal-isnt-that-tv-detector-vans-are-going-to-intercept-your-wi-fi-ce0ac4fe1e82
No, the BBC can’t drive up your street and sense that you’re using iPlayer. And it probably never could tell if you were watching TV
Tomi Engdahl says:
This a cappella group is scarily good at imitating Windows sound effects
I have no idea how human voices can do this
https://www.theverge.com/22252590/maytree-a-cappella-group-windows-10-singing
Tomi Engdahl says:
CMOS image #sensors: 5 major process techniques #DigitalImaging
https://buff.ly/3r9D3eR
Tomi Engdahl says:
BREAKING: Lenses? That bulky optics module on the back of your smartphone may soon be outmoded, says new company Metalenz, out of stealth mode today. Etching nano waveguides into silicon, they say, could change cameras for good.
Can Silicon Nanostructures Knock Plastic Lenses Out of Cell Phone Cameras?
https://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/semiconductors/optoelectronics/can-silicon-nanostructures-knock-plastic-lenses-out-of-cell-phone-cameras
Tomi Engdahl says:
HDR is a SCAM! feat. LG OLED GX 77
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx-pfuszquk
HDR. We’ve all heard about it. But what does it *really* mean and is it *really* worth it? It’s convoluted…
HDR has now been marketed to consumers for a few years now but things are becoming increasingly complex and transparency from television manufacturers has become even more clouded. Let’s talk about what high dynamic range is, what it will do for you, what HDR standards are supported by what TVs and if it really matters…
Tomi Engdahl says:
An update on #music codecs: It’s time to check in on the latest in lossless and lossy #audio compression standards
https://buff.ly/2MIrpJo
Tomi Engdahl says:
IKEA’s Sonos Speaker Has a Secret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB413S8KDmo
When IKEA launched its own line of smart speakers in collaboration with Sonos, many wondered how they were able to sell them for such low cost. I tore one down and discovered the answer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Teardown: Google Home smart speaker
https://www.edn.com/teardown-google-home-smart-speaker/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=link&utm_medium=EDNConsumerElectronics-20210210&oly_enc_id=2359J2998023G8W
Tomi Engdahl says:
Breathtaking Colorized Photos From The Past
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KX6-QaE84Y
Let’s see today some more photos from the past, breathtakingly being brought to life with stunning colorizations. We have always been fascinated by old black and white photos, seemingly belonging to a completely different world from the one that we know today. With new technology and artistic skills of few individuals, we can now actually reimagine what this world looked like in full color. Some may argue that black and white photography is a classic art, yes of course… but still, adding vivid colors to these photographs, makes them look much more realistic and alive again.
Tomi Engdahl says:
OLED vs QLED TV: Don’t make a mistake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N35y5IEwFvs
Buying a new TV isn’t as easy as it used to be; the tech inside TVs is much more complex and difficult to decipher. To help you, I am breaking down all of the marketing jargon to make TV buying easy again! In this episode, let’s tackle the differences between OLED panels and QLED panels.
Tomi Engdahl says:
OLED vs QLED – With a Microscope! – What is the best TV?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=226kWMOVGGc
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/wildlife-photographer-of-the-years-peoples-choice-winner-reflects-on-australias-bushfires/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to Become a Millionaire By Streaming Music on Spotify
Could playing your own shit music from a bank of cheap computers make you super-rich? VICE crunched the numbers.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/88aedv/how-to-become-a-millionaire-by-streaming-music-on-spotify?utm_content=1612792922&utm_medium=social&utm_source=VICE_facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/02/11/motorisoitu-alykamera-voittaa-kannettavan-vakiokameran/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Trusted Computing System Protects Video Over Optical Fiber
The VT085 encodes the USB 2.0, dual DP++, Display Port (DP), or HDMI and transmits the data over LC fiber. The video can be as fine as 4K resolution.
https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/systems/article/21154745/trusted-computing-system-protects-video-over-optical-fiber
Tomi Engdahl says:
Building a Pair of High-Quality OPA Microphones
https://www.hackster.io/news/building-a-pair-of-high-quality-opa-microphones-9cc80797056c
These two true condenser microphones use an OPA impedance converter circuit and a hex inverter voltage multiplier to produce bias voltage.
DJJules has built a pair of true condenser microphones that use an OPA-based impedance converter circuit and a hex inverter voltage multiplier to produce bias voltage. Both OPA circuits are on a single board with a common ground, allowing the two signals to come out of the microphone with a 5-pin XLR. One microphone is a cardioid, while the other employs a double diaphragm, enabling a user to select the response pattern. The microphones also have TSC-1 and TSC-2 transound capsules, which are center terminated.
The hex inverter multiplier converts the 12 VDC from the OPA boards into 80 VDC, making the microphones more sensitive. These microphones feature CMOS inverters to drive the voltage multiplier circuit
The impedance converter has two functions that the electronics must perform. First, the circuit needs very high impedance, so it doesn’t load down the capsule. Second, it needs to drive a long microphone cable without affecting the signal. The OPA swings from rail to rail, allowing the capsule to distort before the internal electronics, which have a dynamic range of 130db.
The OPA circuit is a low impedance to function as a signal return path, but it’s only 5.5-6V, depending on the zener diodes voltage. It also uses wima polyester 0.1uF capacitors. Additionally, the OPA board and the area around the 1Gig resistor needs to be very clean.
https://www.instructables.com/True-Condenser-OPA-Mics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Open baffle speakers VS TQWT full range
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kTEZrPOM3cg&feature=youtu.be
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rupert Neve, GRAMMY-Winning Audio Industry Icon, Dies at 94
https://www.rupertneve.com/rupert-neve-obituary/
Wimberley, Texas, February 13, 2021 — Rupert Neve, an innovator and business owner whose analog audio equipment designs have become an essential component in music recording, live sound production and home hi-fi systems, died on February 12, 2021 in Wimberley, Texas, due to non-Covid pneumonia and heart failure. He was 94.
His designs, ranging from large-format mixing consoles to compact 500 series modules, are ubiquitous, and may be found anywhere from the largest production facilities to the most basic home studios. His audio hardware designs have also been reproduced as software plug-ins, making them available to anyone with access to a computer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Myth debunked: Samsung’s 100X zoom doesn’t fake moon photos
https://www.gsmarena.com/myth_debunked_samsungs_100x_zoom_doesnt_fake_moon_photos-news-47487.php
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has two telephoto cameras, one is a 3X zoom and the other is a 10X zoom. Working with the phone’s AI, the S21 Ultra can capture a digitally enhanced photo of the moon’s surface. The conspiracy was that Samsung was able to apply a texture of the moon to anything that resembled it. Samsung denied this and explained that the camera’s AI Super Resolution takes multiple frames of the moon and assembles a more detailed final image.
Tomi Engdahl says:
21 Award-Winning Photos From National Sony World Photography 2021 Competition
http://on.forbes.com/6188H9EsA
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/brain/do-you-see-red-like-i-see-red/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2021/01/29/the-last-few-analogue-tv-stations-in-north-america/
Tomi Engdahl says:
MicroNova’s AmpliPi Is a Raspberry Pi-Powered Open Source Audio System for Your Entire Home
https://www.hackster.io/news/micronova-s-amplipi-is-a-raspberry-pi-powered-open-source-audio-system-for-your-entire-home-c0f95223fd75
Driven by a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, this Python-powered audio system supports up to six stereos zones — expandable to 36.
MicroNova has launched a crowdfunding campaign for AmpliPi — an open source, whole-home audio system powered by a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+ and running a Python REST API and mobile-first web application.
“AmpliPi is a multi room/zone home audio controller and amplifier made for whole house audio systems with many zones,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
YouTube to expand Shorts to the US, add 4K and offline DVR to YouTube TV, launch in-video shopping and more in 2021
https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/17/youtube-to-expand-shorts-to-the-u-s-add-4k-and-dvr-to-youtube-tv-launch-in-video-shopping-and-more-in-2021/?tpcc=ECFB2021
Tomi Engdahl says:
The open source deep fake tool ‘Avatarify’ allows you to algorithmically become another person and join the online video conference
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20200417-zoom-skype-avatarify/
GitHub-alievk / avatarify: Avatars for Zoom and Skype
https://github.com/alievk/avatarify
This Open-Source Program Deepfakes You During Zoom Meetings, in Real Time-VICE
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/g5xagy/this-open-source-program-deepfakes-you-during-zoom-meetings-in-real-time
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Cameras That Shot 78th Golden Globe Awards’ Nominees
https://ymcinema.com/2021/02/07/the-cameras-that-shot-78th-golden-globe-awards-nominees/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Holography “Quantum Leap” Using Entangled Photons Could Revolutionize Imaging
https://scitechdaily.com/holography-quantum-leap-using-entangled-photons-could-revolutionize-imaging/
A new type of quantum holography that uses entangled photons to overcome the limitations of conventional holographic approaches could lead to improved medical imaging and speed the advance of quantum information science.
A team of physicists from the University of Glasgow are the first in the world to find a way to use quantum-entangled photons to encode information in a hologram. The process behind their breakthrough is outlined in a paper published on February 4, 2021, in the journal Nature Physics.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Photos Is Killing Free Unlimited Storage: 7 Top Alternatives
Taking advantage of free unlimited photo and video storage with Google? That deal ends in June, 2021. Here are your best options for storage if you don’t want to pay Google.
https://uk.pcmag.com/onlinecloud-backup-services/130200/google-photos-is-killing-free-unlimited-storage-7-top-alternatives
Tomi Engdahl says:
Teardown: Aukey’s DRA1 dash cam
https://www.edn.com/teardown-aukeys-dra1-dash-cam/
The exploding popularity of the dash cam product category is something that I admittedly didn’t see coming. Then again, though, given that I’ve worked from home versus commuting to an office each day for more than a quarter-century now, I’m not exactly the target demographic. The appeal, I gather from my research, is multifold:
If you get into an accident with someone else, there’s video evidence of what actually transpired to assist in resolving disputes.
Similarly, if your vehicle is hit, vandalized, or broken into (the latter assuming the thief isn’t smart enough to take the dash cam, too), an A/V record of the incident now exists.
And the same (sadly) goes for any undesirable interactions you might have with law enforcement officials while on the road.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.gsmarena.com/myth_debunked_samsungs_100x_zoom_doesnt_fake_moon_photos-news-47487.php
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ultrasonic Holograms: Who Knew Acoustics Could Go 3D?
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/sensors/imagers/acoustic-holograms-and-3d-ultrasound
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/27/test-your-streaming-video-connection-in-latest-ookla-speedtest-app/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slew-induced_distortion
Tomi Engdahl says:
Converting CD Tracks to WAV, MP3 and WMA using Windows Media Player
https://www.indezine.com/products/sound/convert/cdtowavmp3wma.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dachman Audio DA87i (DIY kit for U87) • Unboxing & first impressions
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FP7HoXldptw
Tomi Engdahl says:
Do Audiophile Network Switches Make a Difference?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHPwPRLxDWc
A trend has started in the last few years to sell Ethernet network switches that supposedly improve the fidelity of the streamer connected to them. Advocates swear they make huge difference. Others say that is impossible. Let’s discuss how they work and whether they make a difference objectively or via listening tests.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Sony says the PlayStation Store will stop offering movie and TV show purchases and rentals on Aug. 31, citing users’ preference for video streaming services — As of Aug. 31, 2021, the PlayStation Store will stop offering movie and TV show purchases and rentals.
Sony PlayStation Store Will End Movie, TV Show Purchases and Rentals
https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/sony-playstation-store-ending-tv-movie-vod-1234919341/
Sony’s PlayStation group is throwing in the towel on its digital movie and TV transactional VOD business.
As of Aug. 31, 2021, the PlayStation Store will stop offering movie and TV show purchases and rentals. Sony said it is exiting the transactional VOD business — after more than a decade — because it sees more PlayStation users adopting free and subscription streaming-video services.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth from PlayStation fans using subscription-based and ad-based entertainment streaming services on our consoles.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/03/03/samsung-tuo-vetta-kestavat-oled-televisiot-teransseille/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2021/03/04/volumetric-oled-display-shows-bladerunner-vibe-curious-screen-tech/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Julia Alexander / Musings on Mouse:
A deep look at changes in theatrical windowing for movies and the revenue calculations media companies make as they try to build their streaming subscribers
Movie Equations: When everything is paramount
Paramount+ is here, and the theatrical window is not
https://musingsonmouse.substack.com/p/movie-equations-when-everything-is
The theatrical window is dead. Long live the theatrical window.
On February 24th, ViacomCBS became the latest company to announce it was approaching theatrical releases through the lens of a shortened window. Movies like A Quiet Place II and Mission Impossible 7 will play in theaters for 45 days before moving to the company’s new streaming service, Paramount+. Other movies might play for 30 days. Some, albeit seemingly increasingly more rare, will play the normal 90 days before moving to the streaming service.
ViacomCBS follows WarnerMedia and NBCUniversal in its move to radically upend the movie industry by effectively refusing to play by the rules that theater chains like AMC and Regal have enforced for years upon years. NBCUniversal struck a deal with AMC to pull movies after just 17 days in theaters, while WarnerMedia “got rid” of the theatrical window entirely, moving its 2021 slate to a “same day” release format, allowing movies to appear on HBO Max the same day they’re in theaters. Disney, a box office behemoth, is testing new formats, too.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Do 2021 HI-RES RECORDINGS sound better than 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s recordings?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5LDSy8uoPw
No doubt hi-res recording has a lot of potential, but it’s rarely heard on hi-res music of the 2000s. In fact, the best standard resolution analog and digital of the 20th century sounds better than what’s currently being produced.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why Tube TVs DIED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW7NjQLpHx0
What happened to large CRT TVs and monitors?
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3765674243478099
Million dolar shot with 3 people crew and a 15K budget
VFX Breakdown @curemovie
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3765674243478099
Tomi Engdahl says:
Turtius’ Canon EOS 200D Digital Camera Has a Bonus Feature: a Built-In Minecraft Server
Combining the Magic Lantern firmware for custom code execution and the avrcraft Minecraft server, this Canon is no longer just a camera.
https://www.hackster.io/news/turtius-canon-eos-200d-digital-camera-has-a-bonus-feature-a-built-in-minecraft-server-8f0afe7d2185
Tomi Engdahl says:
The buying frenzy caused AMC’s stock price to soar nearly 500%. As a result of the sudden skyrocketing of the stock, the movie theater chain was able to “bag another $305 million from the stock market and slash its debt load by $600 million,” in addition to a new infusion of $917 million.
The Hollywood-Style Story Of How The AMC Movie Theater Chain Was Saved By Social-Media Reddit Day Traders
https://trib.al/WJcrPRN
Back in mid-April 2020, during the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, Vanity Fair posed the question, “Is filing for bankruptcy on the table for AMC, the largest movie theater chain in the world?” The company closed 634 theaters in the U.S. and Canada.
The over 100-year-old company faced an existential threat to its existence. As the country called for social distancing and the closures of nonessential businesses, the movie chain found itself in dire straits. The situation was exasperated as the major Hollywood studios held off filming blockbuster movies because of the pandemic.
The over 100-year-old company faced an existential threat to its existence. As the country called for social distancing and the closures of nonessential businesses, the movie chain found itself in dire straits. The situation was exasperated as the major Hollywood studios held off filming blockbuster movies because of the pandemic.
The Wall Street Journal reported the buying frenzy caused AMC’s stock price to soar nearly 500%. The WSJ wrote, “The hashtag #SaveAMC proliferated on social media, attached to memes showing images of AMC theaters superimposed on the surface of the moon—a symbol that Reddit traders use to represent their aspirations of the stock reaching stratosphere-busting heights.”
As a result of the sudden skyrocketing of the stock, AMC was able to “bag another $305 million from the stock market and slash its debt load by $600 million,” in addition to a new infusion of $917 million.
Tomi Engdahl says:
THE DIGITAL RADIO ERA (PARTIALLY) ENDS IN IRELAND
https://hackaday.com/2021/03/07/the-digital-radio-era-partially-ends-in-ireland/
It’s commonly agreed that the future of broadcast radio lies in the eventual replacement of AM and FM analogue transmissions with digital services. A wide range of technologies exist to service this change-over, and for much of the world the most visible of them has been Digital Audio Broadcasting, or DAB. This VHF service has slowly increased in popularity to the extent that in some countries the FM or AM switch-off process has already happened or is well under way. It’s thus a surprise to hear a piece of news from a country that’s going the other way, as the Irish broadcaster RTÉ is about to turn off its national DAB multiplex.
The reason cited is cost-effectiveness, the take up of DAB in the Republic by listeners is low (Northern Ireland having the UK multiplexes instead), and that the broadcaster is the only one maintaining a national multiplex. Our Irish friends tell us that as in other parts of the world the rural coverage can be patchy, and with only RTÉ and no commercial stations on offer it’s easy to see why the allure of a DAB set is lacking.
Plenty of Irish people listen to the radio through digital media just as anywhere else, this is simply an indication that they’re choosing not to do so via DAB. The Irish DVB television multiplexes carry the same stations and more, and meanwhile, the inexorable rise of online listening through smart speakers and mobile phones has eaten DAB’s lunch. But it does raise the point for other places: when your mobile phone delivers any radio station or streaming service you desire and is always in your pocket, why would you want a radio?