Comcast offers Masters in 3D, plans more
How close do you want to get to Tiger Woods? Shoulder to shoulder? But can't afford to go to Augusta, Ga., for the 2010 Masters Tournament?
Early adapters of 3D television and PCs likely are getting that chance this week, without an extra fee, as Comcast provides its transmission of the Masters in 3D through Sunday.
It's also a first for the cable company seeking to jump onto a rising trend after the successful films "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland."
To receive the Comcast transmission, subscribers will need a 3D-ready TV or PC monitor and specially designed glasses to feel like they're really on that green. Comcast, which has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg, has been transmitting 3D coverage of the Masters because that's the future of television, said Comcast spokesman Rich Ruggiero.
"We feel this is a unique opportunity with the Masters to make this available to our customers who have 3D TVs today," Ruggiero said.
Quoting different research studies, Ruggiero said that more consumers will be buying 3D TVs in the next few years, so demand for 3D content will increase. Comcast already got a taste of what its subscribers want with OnDemand movies, such as "My Bloody Valentine." About 65 percent had requested the 3D version. So Comcast had to ship them the paper 3D glasses to view the program, he said.
While Comcast doesn't yet know what impact the Masters 3D transmission will have, the company is eager for more such programs and events. Ruggiero couldn't say what 3D program will be next, or when "Avatar" and others will be available.
Surfing: Gnu Ventures Co., headed by Web developers Don and Kate Gingold, and J&S Tech Designs, led by managing partner Jim Nagy, have formed a joint venture called NapervilleWebsiteDesign.com. It's geared toward small businesses that otherwise couldn't afford custom Web design and provides a do-it-yourself alternative. Both businesses are based in Naperville.
•Itasca-based Gogo, the in-flight Internet service for airlines, has introduced Gogo Inflight Internet Mobile Pass, starting at $4.95, so you can surf the Internet using Wi-Fi on your mobile device after the plane as reached 10,000 feet.
•AT&T, which has its Midwest headquarters in Hoffman Estates, said this week it has invested about $40 million from 2008 to 2009 to update about 700 cell towers and about 40 antennas and microcell sites, all to boost wireless capacity for its 3G broadband network.
•PlatinumTel, the prepaid wireless service provider in the Chicago and suburban market, has partnered with Embee Mobile, an e-commerce provider for social media, to launch the PlatinumTel Mobile Wallet Facebook application. It allows users to redeem points for adding minutes on their mobile phone account from Facebook.
•Elgin-based Re/Max Northern Illinois has added a new feature so you can find newly constructed properties on its regional Web site, illinoisproperty.com.
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