Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television Review

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(More customer reviews)Communications researchers now have a definitive scholarly chronicle of the cable industry. Parsons delivers an immense and exhaustive history of the industry, from its earliest days as a small town community antenna service to the modern mega-conglomerates delivering hundreds of channels of on-demand programming. Here we learn that cable isn't much younger than broadcast television, and the two industries have had a fractious but symbiotic relationship, made more complex by interloping technologies like satellite transmission and the Internet. Decades of inconsistent regulation by the FCC have added to the complexity of the industry's relations with the public. Parsons combines his strict chronological political and business history with the social construction of technology as a theoretical backdrop, showing that the public's changing perceptions of cable's technical possibilities and programming choices are a key influence on the development of the industry and its modern structure and practices. This extensive and encyclopedic tome will prove to be essential for interested students of the field for years to come. [~doomsdayer520~]

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Blue Skies is the first complete history of cable television, the most influential technology affecting the lives of almost every American. Author Patrick Parsons writes about the early days of cable -- they go back farther than most people know -- and the pioneers in the last half of the twentieth century whose business skills, entrepreneurial instinct, and luck all played out to give rise to the most ubiquitous technology in the country-- still outpacing computers and the internet -- cable TV.

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IPTV and Internet Video, Second Edition: Expanding the Reach of Television Broadcasting (NAB Executive Technology Briefings) Review

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(More customer reviews)IPTV and Internet Video explains what is happening today in the converging world of TV, Internet and communications. It turns out IPTV is really the ability to deliver programming using the IP over a private network rather than the public Internet. And those private networks are the cable, DSL and satellite networks constructed by the large companies providing these services today.
If you are like me you look forward to the day when you can interact with your TV instead of just sitting there and passively watching it. Tivo and other brands of DVRs are a start. They let you record programs and watch them when you want to, and of course you can skip the commercials. I even skip the lulls and often lame commentary between baseball pitches and football plays.
But when will we be able to watch a show and look up other information on the Internet related to what we are watching? What is that batter's average again? What other movie was this actor in? Where can I blog about that news item?
Today I can do that with a laptop while watching TV but I have to type everything in to do a search. That's not the integrated environment that is possible if I could interact with the TV program directly on my computer or computer-based TV. IPTV is what I want!
Or is it?
The book covers the differences between IPTV programming, delivered over a private network and viewed on a TV through a set-top box, and Internet Video which is usually small clips delivered on-demand through the public Internet.
The authors do an excellent job of explaining the technical and business reasons for what is happening now and in the near future of IPTV. Technical details including the various MPEG standards, multicasting and network layer reference model are discussed in this context. Business aspects are also discussed and include business models, subscription costs and "Corner Office View" sidebars that quote industry leaders on the impact of IPTV and Internet video developments.
This is an excellent book if you are in the business and want an overview of IPTV with a good balance of technical and business detail. I rate the book at 5 stars in this case. If you want a description of the gory details of UDP vs. TCP and how multicasting on IP works then this book probably doesn't have enough of those details for you.
You will also have to look elsewhere if you want to know what the next Web 2.0 or YouTube-like video craze will be. OTOH, you might just detect an opportunity not adequately addressed by the IPTV services offered by the powers-that-be and soon-to-be that are discussed in this book.


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Make the right IPTV business decisions with a thorough understanding of the technology and the business implications of the broadband video revolution. Master key trends transforming the world of broadcast television and the Web with this guide to hardware, software, Internet applications and the wide range of alternative products and services. Explore why IP is the new gold standard for online video delivery and how it will be monetized. Understand the entire IPTV process, with clear explanations of complex technologies designed to help leaders make informed decisions and drive successful strategies. This comprehensive guide prepares you for IPTV's rapid deployment and future growth with features that include:


Clear explanations of IPTV and Internet Video networks and applications

Overviews of how the technical solutions are being turned into business models

Reality Check perspectives in each chapter that illustrate theories with real-world case studies

An expanded glossary that clarifies complex, technical jargon

* Reality Check perspectives throughout each chapter tie theory to real-world case studies * Expanded glossary clarifies complex technical jargon * Includes clear explanations of complex technologies, for both technical and non-technical professionals

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Profiles of Genius: Thirteen Creative Men Who Changed the World Review

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(More customer reviews)This book has a deceptive title that suggests that it is objectively focusing on the concept of genius. I think that if you were to ask the average person to start naming the smartest people in the world, you would end up with names like Einstein and Mozart, Michelangelo and Bobby Fischer. Even given that Landrum was going for people who have displayed genius in the last forty years, I'm sure that there are people who rate higher on an IQ test than the thirteen men Landrum has chosen.
And so, this book is much more a measure and study of what goes into business success than it is a blueprint for genius. By identifying thirteen men and thirteen characteristics that can be emulated for financial gain, Landrum is giving business advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, and I wish that the title of the book reflected that.
Aside from that, I'm not sure that the book does a good job of identifying thirteen separate personality traits that drive success. For one thing, many of the traits seem to overlap or even seem somewhat synonymous. The personality traits of being competitive, driven, and passionate are extremely similar, if not identical. For another thing, all of the personality traits are described in glowing, positive terms. Where are the traits of ruthlessness, greed, and insecurity that also drive some of the market forces that drive success?
I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, and I realize that this book can serve the valuable function of inspiring those who undertake the very difficult job of being an entrepreneur. I started and ran my own business for seven years, and realize that there is some sound business advice in this book that can help someone to make their own dreams come true.
But I don't want anyone to think that this book is something that it's not. It's not a book about genius, nor is it a scientifically sound piece of research. I'd recommend it to business owners or inventors, but not to those who are truly interested in the nature of the human mind.


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The story of creative and innovative behaviour is about change", says author Gene N Landrum. "In this case it is about thirteen iconoclastic individuals who have demonstrated a unique ability to deal with change in the world and redefine it for their own purposes."Landrum calls these individuals the "change masters," entrepreneurial geniuses whose innovations have had a profound influence on modern society: Steven Jobs (Apple Computer), Fred Smith (Federal Express), Tom Monaghan (Domino's Pizza), Nolan Bushnell (Atari), William Gates III (Microsoft), Marcel Bich (Bic), Solomon Price (The Price Club), Howard Head (Head Ski), William Lear (Lear Jet), Soichiro Honda (Honda), Akio Morita (Sony), Arthur Jones (Nautilus), and Ted Turner (CNN). Each of these business giants was motivated by what Landrum describes as an "innovisionary personality", which drove them to follow a unique inner vision of success and gave them an inviolable belief in themselves."Profiles of Genius" demonstrates, through thirteen dynamic examples, that future entrepreneurial success in a global marketplace will depend on technological innovation, adaptability to change, intelligent risk-taking, and competitive drive.

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Chinnovation: How Chinese Innovators are Changing the World Review

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(More customer reviews)When I embarked on reading Chinnovation, I was expecting to learn lessons on how to compete with the Chinese entrepreneurs. I realized that this book is not just for me, rather it is also for the millions of aspiring Chinese entrepreneurs who need a framework or process to help them navigate through the muddy waters of starting businesses. It is comforting to know that there is little "magic" in ensuring entrepreneurial success even in China. Yinglan has the perfect narrative to convey the message that entrepreneurship requires one to be thoughtful and observant, when spotting opportunities, and disciplined in the business execution. It also demonstrates the fact that there are many innovative startups, not just "copycat businesses". The innovation comes when adapting to a rapidly changing and uncertain environment. Chinnovation is a highly readable and enjoyable book and once started, is difficult to put down, despite its 500 plus pages! Narrative after narrative, the case stories take me to the world and circumstances of each entrepreneur. How they confront their challenges, turning "problems into opportunities" will guide and teach the future entrepreneurs in China. As an investor and the non-Chinese reader, the key lesson is to be a more effective business partner to the Chinese entrepreneur in their own markets.
I met the author, Tan Yinglan, recently at a conference in Shanghai. His presentation was top notch and was the key motivating factor in me getting this book to help navigate shark filled waters

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