27 September 2008

Weekend watching:
Live TV DVB-H Demo on Nokia N96

DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) is one of three prevalent mobile TV formats. It is a technical specification for bringing broadcast services to mobile handsets and it is officially endorsed by the European Union as the "preferred technology for terrestrial mobile broadcasting"

TV is undoubtedly the biggest media in the world and thanks to the mobile TV based on DVB-H technology the ability to watch live television on a mobile device has never been so easy.

DVB-H is a one-to-many technology with low power consumption and high mobility that can be received with DVB-H-enabled phones. Program contents and guides are offered by providers while consumers select the channel they want to watch

Integrated DVB-H receiver on Nokia N96 offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide. Thanks to the DVB-H technology Nokia N96 allows you to surf your favourite shows on a handle screen, whether you want up-to-the-minute news or entertainment that travels with you while you’re on the go.

It indeed sounds as perfectly good solution for the Live TV when you want it but unfortunately there is a problem! Actual service is not widely available as yet and there would be no point in buying the N96 because of the mobile TV in countries and areas without DVB-H coverage.

*click to enlarge

From other hand European Union officially selected DVB-H standard as the single standard for mobile television delivered to cell phones and other portable devices so we can expect better coverage soon, at least I hope.

Anyway, I managed to find the video demo of the DVB-H functionality on the Nokia N96 but unfortunately video is on French unfortunately and I can’t find anything better on English.

DVB-H TV service is very well implemented and software even remembers the last channel you were viewing when you switched off the TV. You can also set reminders to alert you when your program is starting and simply access it.

Through the Program Guide in the mobile TV application you can view program information up to seven days, browse TV channels, purchase new channels if desired and select the TV program you are interested in.

By utilizing built-in interactive service functionality, like SMS voting for deciding what music video will be played next, it is very easy to make your voice heard. You can also take full advantage of 30 seconds replay and continue live TV watching after the replay clip.