The SF Chronicle’s Benny Evangelista writes today about two companies products which utilize plasma TVs to turn a blank wall into a canvas for digitized art of all kinds. It’s a terrific idea, and one I plan on implementing when we buy our flatscreen TV, but I honestly don’t see the necessity for paying hundreds of dollars over and above the rather pricey monitor itself for the art “server”, when a simple connection to a computer on my home network will easily do the same thing.

The Consumer Electronics Association, an industry trade group, recently projected the move to HDTV will boost digital TV sales to 5.8 million units in 2004 and 16.2 million in 2007.

Roku and RGB Labs are getting into the market at a good time because the costs of flat screens are heading for a “free fall” next year, as major manufacturers like Samsung and LG Philips ramp up production, said Richard Doherty, an analyst with technology research firm Envisioneering Group of Seabury, N.Y.

This is wonderful news. I think we should be able to afford one within the next two years.

CNet News.com’s Michael Kanellos writes today about things that will never happen in the computer industry, noting

Nothing is impossible. In early 2001, Webb McKinney of Hewlett-Packard said PC mergers don’t generally work, while Compaq Computer’s Mike Winkler and others said Compaq would endure. Five months later, HP bought Compaq. Nonetheless, here’s a crop of things that may never come to pass.

Bay Area cable TV rates rising — again

At the time, Jennita Hile wasn’t sure if [switching to satellite] was the right move. But when Comcast announced last week that cable TV rates in the Bay Area were going up — the second increase in less than a year — she felt better about the switch.

Cable TV rates are climbing about 7 percent in most cities next month — from an average of $38.34 to $41.07 a month. Last December, AT&T;, which has since been taken over by Comcast, hiked rates 6.5 percent.

Hee hee. My DirecTV rate has remained the same for the past three years–and it’s $12 below the lowest rate quoted for Comcast cable. And yes, of course it includes every local channel.

Okay, this is old but I haven’t done it in a while and it’s kind of funny. You put your name followed by is into Google (in quotes) like this: "Andrew Rich is" and look at the results. Here are some interesting hits for me:

• Andrew Rich is on the phone, and he’s begging again.
• Maps Downunder Technical Manager Andrew Rich is responsible for issues relating to the website
• Andrew Rich is a sergeant with the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police where he is commanding officer of the Accident Investigation Unit.
• Andrew Rich is involved in Q165 relating to the optional protocol for the EPO with regard to litigation concerning European and Community patents [PDF]
• Andrew Rich is yet another one of those wine guys that we love to meet. (This is probably the most common general reference. Apparently Andrew Rich is a highly-regarded winemaker in Oregon.)
• Andrew Rich is organizing a group of people to go see the second movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
• CAnder1755: Andrew RIch is a fruit.

Hours of fun for the whole family!

So Gator Corp. is suing an antispyware company for calling Gator “spyware”. Whatever; people realize that it’s evil no matter how it’s labeled. LavaSoft AdAware makes short work of it.