Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2005 > February > 16 > Entry
Not for me: teeny-screen TV
There’s a strange contradiction going on in the world of television technology. It’s an outright irony, really.
On one side, we have high-definition TV, those crystal-clear images that really must be seen on mega-screens to be appreciated. Gigantic sets with 60-inch screens were all the rage at Christmas time.
On the other side, we have cell phones touting video streams, news updates and, more recently, original “series” with one-minute episodes. These are teeny-tiny screens that wouldn’t recognize an HD picture if they had one.
But tech innovators are proclaiming that portable, weensy-screen TV/phones are the Next Big Thing. They say consumers are ready to move beyond cameras and e-mail in their phones. They’re ready for Tiny TV.
The creators of “24” have produced “Conspiracy,” about an anti-terrorism agent trying to infiltrate the Department of Defense. The series is available on Verizon’s newest mobile phone for an extra $15 per month.
This so-called V Cast service, which debuted Feb. 7, is in addition to the basic service fee. The phone itself, which has a high-resolution screen (that is nevertheless minuscule), sells for about $200.
Verizon isn’t the only cell phone company offering video. Cingular and Sprint have MobiTV for $10 a month. But Verizon is making the biggest push, with three original series and access to CNN and ESPN updates, music videos and hundreds of video clips.
Mobile video is said to be popular in Korea, Japan and Europe, but it’s so new here most people have never heard of it, let alone bought it.
It’s possible that I’ll change my mind about the advent of small-small screen TV, but I don’t think so.
I have no interest in squinting into a 2-inch screen to watch television. I need a big screen, big sound, a big sofa for my viewing experience. My cell phone is for phone calls only. I don’t take pictures, e-mail or text message with it. It’s a phone, for crying out loud.
Cell phone TV is scary. Can’t you just see people barreling down MoPac at rush hour, checking the latest news on CNN or, heaven forbid, watching a UT basketball on their cell phones? It’s bad enough that people yammer on phones while they’re driving. Just imagine how much worse it would be if they were also looking at their phones!
On the other hand, actors who become stars in these little one-minute series episodes sure won’t have to worry about how they look. Unlike high-def on a big screen, cell-phone TV will allow actors to age without concern. In fact, they won’t even have to wear makeup or fix their hair.
Still, the bad outweighs the good here. Miniaturization is fine for model trains and doll houses, but television sets should be huge.
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