As if being able to talk, type, surf, snap photos, and play games with your cell phone wasn't enough, now you can watch TV on that 2-inch screen. Just in time for the fall season, RealNetworks and startup Idetic rolled out mobile television services. Major cellular carriers, which will distribute their content, are hoping that the handheld idiot box will be the long-awaited killer app for floundering 3G networks. But is the celly ready for prime time? Wired squinted at gnomelike news anchors and mini weather forecasters for a week to find out. Here's how the services rate.
|
MobiTV by Idetic
|
What�s On Three to five real-time TV feeds, 24/7. The channel lineup is still being tweaked, but expect major cable networks. Price: $10 a month.
Look and Feel Choppy and sluggish. The video creeps along at about 1 frame per second. Simulated TV snow during content loads is a nice touch.
Highlight George W. Bush press conference. Watching his twitchy facial expressions at 1 fps? Priceless.
Built-In Annoyance What�s worse than irritating cell phone ads? Watching them on your phone.
Glitches Frequent audio hiccups. Occasionally, the picture freezes, requiring restart.
When News Breaks Tune in to catch the whole story as it unfolds.
Best Place to Watch It An elevator. Enjoy the tension as other riders try to peek at your screen.
| 
| <p> rOne for Sprint PCS Vision by RealNetworks</st>
<p><
�s On</stned two-minute clips from outlets like ABC News, NPR, and Fox Sports. Programming updates anywhere from hourly to daily. Price: $4.95 a month.</p>
<and Feel</stres slide show. The audio plays over static images that refresh every 10 to 15 seconds.</p>
<light</stBest Damn Sports Show Period. Reducing the program to a few slides distills its unintelligible essence.</p>
<t-In Annoyance</stcan adjust the volume between clips, but not while you watch them.</p>
<ches</sting from clip to clip is a marathon of creeping status bars. Balky audio.</p>
<News Breaks</stlNetworks sends a text message alert. Clips are posted around the clock.</p>
<Place to Watch It</stcery checkout lines. Forget trying to finish a People article � a two-minute news bite fills the wait nicely.</p>
<img
<p>
| <stroSTARg> </
r"httmpletely Different</a> </p> <p
r"htt> </p> <p
r"htt</a> </p> <p
r"httd’s Clocks Are Wrong</a> </p> <p
r"httelf Up With Glue</a> </p> <p
r"httlectricity Beast</a> </p> <p
r"htty Strong Pump</a> </p> <p
r"htttion</a> </p> <p
4on the Phone’s Fall Season </p> <p> |
r"httPower of Orange</a> </p> <p
r"htts Manual</a> </p> <p
r"httng I’ve Copied Is My Lawyer!</a> </p> <p
r"httd at 1,640 Feet Below</a> </p> <p
r"htte for Solar Sails</a> </p> <p
r"httr Every Cause</a> </p> <p
r"htt</a> </p> <p
r"httaster</a> </p> <p
r"httd l Expired</a> </p>
