DIRECTV or D*?

[Stuart Sweet]

What do you write when you're posting about "that" company? Do you write DIRECTV or D*? Why?

I used to write D* but I got convinced that it was misleading and the abbreviation doesn't make sense unless you know that their main competition is Echostar (E*).

Someone mentioned to me that he thought it was a trademark issue, that it was bad form to use the name unless you were "official".

It's not the most earthshaking question in the world, but still.

While I'm asking, do you use the term pixelation (or even worse, pixillation which is something else entirely) when you probably mean macroblocking?

Do you "RBR" by using the remote? Pushing the red button is one thing, but using the remote to reset implies you still have some control. The red button implies you don't.

Do you think that it makes the whole site better when people use consistent terms and meanings, or is it just a waste of time?

[Mikey]

What do you write when you're posting about "that" company? Do you write DIRECTV or D*? Why?

I used to write D* but I got convinced that it was misleading and the abbreviation doesn't make sense unless you know that their main competition is Echostar (E*).

Someone mentioned to me that he thought it was a trademark issue, that it was bad form to use the name unless you were "official".

It's not the most earthshaking question in the world, but still.
...It's just convention. The history is:
Primestar => P*
Echostar => E*

So even though there's not a star in the name, the precedent is set for abbreviating Directv to D*.

[Doug Brott]

In the past, I've used DirecTV, but from what I can see, DIRECTV's website is sprinkled with the two following uses:

DIRECTV®

or

DIRECTV

For accuracy, I think that I will start using DIRECTV instead.

[richlife]

I never knew the "*" as "star" history, but even more historically "*" is "splat" or the wildcard symbol on a search and that seemed logical to me. As to Directv vs. D*? -- would I rather type 7 characters or 2? (And I'm a fast and generally accurate typist.)

Edit (to cover the other questions from lc): RBR is Red Button Reset, not remote. I agree that using RBR for a Menu reset is bad form and very misleading.

And using a common set of definitions is extremely important or we'll be trying solve different problems -- some that don't exist and some that could result in screwing up other parts of the software. Not related to HR20, but this is probably the major source of friction between my wife and I. She is very loose in her use of words which I find very confusing and leading to misunderstandings. We frequently are not talking about the same thing (frustrating, but after 38 years, what the hell?).

I actually typed "pixillation" once and noticed the typo but Sent anyway. I meant "pixellation" (not "pixelation") which I just looked up on Wikipedia to find:
"Video Artifacts/Pixellation - Breaking up of the picture into small flickering colored squares.

Pixellation is most often an artifact of insufficient playback horsepower for proper decoding, or similarly, excessive bitrate. In either case it is due to the playback mechanism not being able to keep up with the data rate, and dropping the overflowing data, resulting in sharp edged rectangular defects of random coloration.

It is sometimes caused by a dirty lens or faulty transport mechanism in a dvd player.

Some pornographic video material uses an intentional pixellation effect to mask "the naughty bits".

This effect is referred to as blocking by television technicians, in that context it is caused by high incidence of errors in a digital signal.

I tend to think of blocking as the result of low bitrate, where macroblocks (8x8 blocks of pixels, AFAIK) become uniformly colored, typically with the average color for the block.

[veryoldschool]

R U sure?

[Stuart Sweet]

I never knew the "*" as "star" history, but even more historically "*" is "splat" or the wildcard symbol on a search and that seemed logical to me. As to Directv vs. D*? -- would I rather type 7 characters or 2? (And I'm a fast and generally accurate typist.)

By your logic, D* could be DIRECTV, Dogbert, Dipsydoodle, Destiny's Child, any number of things. ;)

[Tom Robertson]

BTW, DIRECTV is all uppercase in all their own documentation: press releases, articles of incorporation, website terms and conditions, etc. While DIRECTV may permit other capitalizations: Directv or DirecTV, I expect those are not correct. (Mrs. tibber has been a copywriter, copyeditor, and now is a writer. I always defer to her on these things.)

And "*" has been the star character to me ever since push button phones came out. Splat is much more recent to me (by about 40 years.) But regional variances happen.

Cheers,
Tom

[DaveTheWave]

It could also be D* (DSTAR) ;)

[Nick]

I had E* for five years.

I've never had D* or P*.

I have had C* for a year and a half now.

Those are the ABCs of my MCVPs. :p

[Tom Robertson]

Each site has its conventions. Certain communities who's basic premise is forbidden material here, often use "Dave" to reference DIRECTV in their nefarious schemes. (And members who cross over to here tend to stick out.) :D

Cheers,
Tom

[PoitNarf]

I just started using D* because everyone else was and it seemed like the cool thing to do at the time. Now I'm addicted and can't stop using the abbreviation! :lol:

[Stuart Sweet]

I actually typed "pixillation" once and noticed the typo but Sent anyway. I meant "pixellation" (not "pixelation") which I just looked up on Wikipedia to find:

I did a Google search (G*? I don't know what I should type anymore) and Wikipedia spells it with one 'L'. Transcode_Wiki spells it with two.

According to dictionary.com, which pulls from Merriam-Webster's New Millennium, they put the definition under "pixelation" but "see also: pixellation".

Apple's Dictionary widget defines "pixelation" as a derivative of "pixelate" but has no definition for pixellation.

At any rate, it's definitely not "pixillation" which is a special effect where objects seem to be moved by invisible pixies. It sounds uncomfortable. The end result looks like stop motion animation with people.

[Stuart Sweet]

I just started using D* because everyone else was and it seemed like the cool thing to do at the time. Now I'm addicted and can't stop using the abbreviation! :lol:

Ok, thanks P*.

[PoitNarf]

Ok, thanks P*.

Let's not go bonkers here ;) :lol:

[Milominderbinder2]

All of this points to one key fact: We want a new release!

We don't have 50 people a day with constant resets any more to trouble-shoot.

As to pet peeves. Do all of use use the free ieSpell or an equivalent to spell check before you post?

OK, back on topic...

I wrote DIRECTV in one of my first posts and was scolded in a PM that at DBSTalk we are never to write their name out. So I have used D* from then on. Until now, I thought it was a rule.

- Craig

[PoitNarf]

I wrote DIRECTV in one of my first posts and was scolded in a PM that at DBSTalk we are never to write their name out. So I have used D* from then on. Until now, I thought it was a rule.

I'm sure you're not the only one.

[Stuart Sweet]

All of this points to one key fact: We want a new release!

We don't have 50 people a day with constant resets any more to trouble-shoot.

Well that sort of is the elephant in the room, is it not?

[MikeR7]

I like to use DTV, DIRECTV's stock symbol.

[Doug Brott]

As to pet peeves. Do all of use use the free ieSpell or an equivalent to spell check before you post?

One word ... Firefox! :D

[Tom Robertson]

I like to use DTV, DIRECTV's stock symbol.

By convention of many forums, DTV is often too confusing with Digital TV.

Cheers,
Tom

[morgantown]

I like to use DTV, DIRECTV's stock symbol.

+1

[veryoldschool]

By convention of many forums, DTV is often too confusing with Digital TV.

Cheers,
Tom
I was scolded for using DTV for the same "reason" [another forum though].

[Mark20]

If I say my TV has a problem what am I referring to? My television or my tow vehicle. On another forum I participate in TV is the common abbreviation for tow vehicle and it has caused some confusion in posetings as to which the poster was referring to.

When I worked on a couple of DIRECTV projects we got "reminded" by them that it was all caps and not DirecTV when they reviewed some documentation we sent them.

BTW, under fair use I think it is perfectly legal to use DIRECTV and the other names in our personal non-commercial messges. Sure beats saying "I have satellite TV from the company based in El Segundo, CA." I could be wrong but don't feel like reviewing copyright and fair use case law.

[Jhon69]

I think that using D*& E* helps with the Carpel Tunnel therapy.;)

[wilbur_the_goose]

Don't forget A* - AlphaStar. Goes WAY back.

[heavyobjects]

As long as people understand what you are referring to, I don't think it matters.
"A rose by any other name ..."

[Stuart Sweet]

Mark20 is right. As long as you're not libeling or slandering them or fundamentally misrepresenting a fact in the matter, you can refer to any company you want to in a fair and open discussion. That's the first amendment to the US Constitution.

Oh, and by the way, if you're in the BSG fan forums do you say *$ for Starbuck?

[LGM2007]

Wait. D* means DIRECTV? Man have I been wasting too many hours reading the wrong forum. No wonder I haven't seen any improvement updating my Diskman.:eek2:

[jimbojive]

slow day on the board ?

I thought it was Dave or Charlie

[captain_video]

I'm with the opinion that the abbreviation "D*" doesn't make sense unless you are familiar with the history behind it. Even then, it's incorrect in it's usage since there is no "star" in the name DirecTV". These forums run rampant with newbies that are DirecTV virgins and know nothing about Echostar (aka E*) or Primestar (I won't even bother since nobody in their right mind uses P*). People started using D* because they thought it was hip, but now I think most people use it out of sheer laziness. I guess it must be the influence that text messaging has imparted on our society. Nobody likes to spell things out anymore, let alone check their spelling. OTOH, acronyms are all the rage and seem to be part of our everyday language.

I like to use DTV instead of spelling it out, as long as the discussion is about DirecTV and it's obvious what I'm talking about. Since this is a DirecTV discussion thread I would like to believe that the term DTV is obvious to anyone perusing these forums.

I don't like to use all caps in the name because it signifies that you're shouting the name when used in an online forum, regardless of how it's spelled on the DTV website. I'm sure some of you are exuberant in your feelings for DTV but it's not worth yelling about it.:rolleyes:

[mx6bfast]

Maybe this site should have a dictionary like the AVS forum. There:
E* = Echostar, Dish
D*= DirecTV, DIRECTV, Directv, DirecTv, however you wanna spell it
DTV = Digital TV
TV = television

DTV and D* are really easy to get confused. So if I said that my local DTV channels looks better on my TV than Comcast which one would you think I was saying?

[Tom Robertson]

I'm with the opinion that the abbreviation "D*" doesn't make sense unless you are familiar with the history behind it. Even then, it's incorrect in it's usage since there is no "star" in the name DirecTV". These forums run rampant with newbies that are DirecTV virgins and know nothing about Echostar (aka E*) or Primestar (I won't even bother since nobody in their right mind uses P*). People started using D* because they thought it was hip, but now I think most people use it out of sheer laziness. I guess it must be the influence that text messaging has imparted on our society. Nobody likes to spell things out anymore, let alone check their spelling. OTOH, acronyms are all the rage and seem to be part of our everyday language.

I like to use DTV instead of spelling it out, as long as the discussion is about DirecTV and it's obvious what I'm talking about. Since this is a DirecTV discussion thread I would like to believe that the term DTV is obvious to anyone perusing these forums.

I don't like to use all caps in the name because it signifies that you're shouting the name when used in an online forum, regardless of how it's spelled on the DTV website. I'm sure some of you are exuberant in your feelings for DTV but it's not worth yelling about it.:rolleyes:

So if you're in an HR20 thread talking about DTV and DTV, sprinkling DTV liberally throughout the conversation trying to get DTV on your DTV device which should get DTV and DTV, how do you know DTV from DTV, much less the rest of us DTV watchers? :D

As for all caps, this thread, driven by lack of CEs and the intent to be more PC on our PCs, is just to 'splain the correct way to spell DIRECTV. You are welcome to incur the wrath of the copyeditors in the world...

Besides, why YELL DTV if you aren't willing to say DIRECTV? :lol:

Cheers and in fun (cause we're all waiting for the Well Fargo delivery of our CE's),
Tom

[veryoldschool]

Maybe this site should have a dictionary like the AVS forum. There:
E* = Echostar, Dish
D*= DirecTV, DIRECTV, Directv, DirecTv, however you wanna spell it
DTV = Digital TV
TV = television

DTV and D* are really easy to get confused. So if I said that my local DTV channels looks better on my TV than Comcast which one would you think I was saying?
You mean like this: http://www.dbstalk.com/acronyms.htm

[mx6bfast]

You mean like this: http://www.dbstalk.com/acronyms.htm
Actually yeah. I was trying to find that but couldn't.

[MikeR7]

You mean like this: http://www.dbstalk.com/acronyms.htm

OK, if this is the "official chart" then I'll use DTV, the stock symbol. If you don't get what I mean you can ask. I don't like asteriks.:lol:

[HDTVsportsfan]

I only used/use "D*"because when I first joined DBStalk, AVS, and tivocommunity that's all I saw being used 99% of the time.
I just figured it was an un-written rule and simply followed along. I just assumed it was done that way to save time typing.

[Doug Brott]

I don't like asteriks.

:up: especially when, in my mind, it means 'star' I have DIRECTV, not DirectStar .. oh well, to each his own.

[ApK]

What's all this about the spelling of pixelation?
Pixelation and pixellation are alternate spelling of the same thing.
BTW, Pixelation is correct. How do I know? Because I once worked for a magazine called PIX-Elation, so I say so, and my word is as authoritative as anyone's ;-)

[ApK]

As long as people understand what you are referring to, I don't think it matters.
"A rose by any other name ..."

As a wise person said: the purpose of language is not just to be understood, but to avoid being misunderstood.

If you have something worth saying, make the effort to say it clearly, and more people will understand. And people will respond better if they don't have to strain themselves to figure out what you mean.

The above is all sound communication philosophy, but how it applies to D*, I have no idea.

[Tom Robertson]

Thus began a *tling discussion *ted by a * poster on the correct way to no longer use "*" in a posting.

Cheers,
T*

[harsh]

T*TerraStar?

[Andrew_J_M]

You mean like this: http://www.dbstalk.com/acronyms.htm

One of my pet peeves - incorrect use of "acronym".

An acronym is an abbreviation used as a spoken word, so GOP is an abbreviation, pronounced "gee oh pee" unless you actually say "gop".

[veryoldschool]

...so GOP is an abbreviation, pronounced "gee oh pee" unless you actually say "gop".
The Mods have warned us about political postings.....:lol:

[MikeR7]

One of my pet peeves - incorrect use of "acronym".

An acronym is an abbreviation used as a spoken word, so GOP is an abbreviation, pronounced "gee oh pee" unless you actually say "gop".

nevermind

[ApK]

One of my pet peeves - incorrect use of "acronym".

An acronym is an abbreviation used as a spoken word, so GOP is an abbreviation, pronounced "gee oh pee" unless you actually say "gop".

Yup. GOP is, strictly speaking, an initialism.

Andrew, we are not ever going to get 'acronym' back, any more than we'll get people to stop using 'unique' to mean 'unusual,' but I'll keep fighting for the latter if you keep fighting for the former.

Keep the faith,
ApK

[tonyd79]

One of my pet peeves - incorrect use of "acronym".

An acronym is an abbreviation used as a spoken word, so GOP is an abbreviation, pronounced "gee oh pee" unless you actually say "gop".

Webster disagrees with you:


: a word (as NATO, radar, or laser) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term; also : an abbreviation (as FBI) formed from initial letters


Guess you have to get a new pet peeve.

Back on topic, I type D* because it is quicker than D-I-R-E-C-T-V which requires I hold the caps key down for all those letters. I detest DTV because that is digital TV, which is NOT foreign to the HR20. Guess what the OTA channels the HR20 records are? Yup, DTV, not DIRECTV.

[veryoldschool]

Andrew, we are not ever going to get 'acronym' back, any more than we'll get people to stop using 'unique' to mean 'unusual,' ApK
As opposed to: not comparable ?

[tonyd79]

Yup. GOP is, strictly speaking, an initialism.

Andrew, we are not ever going to get 'acronym' back, any more than we'll get people to stop using 'unique' to mean 'unusual,' but I'll keep fighting for the latter if you keep fighting for the former.

Keep the faith,
ApK

Webster disagrees with you, too.

[tonyd79]

BTW, I have no problem with "almost unique" just as I have no problem with "almost extinct." What I have a problem with is "almost pregnant."

:)

[veryoldschool]

What I have a problem with is "almost pregnant.":)
Would that be like "almost Honest"? :)

[Tom Robertson]

...so GOP is an abbreviation, pronounced "gee oh pee" unless you actually say "gop".
The Mods have warned us about political postings.....:lol:

As a moderator I can tell that Andrew was referring to the dbs version of GOP, Group of Picturers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_pictures. Albeit more commonly found in discussions examining the guts of the MPEG format. :D

So no violation of rules.

Cheers,
Tom

[vansmack]

I have no idea why, but I have always used D*TV in correspondence about DirecTV, even before I began to post on this board (or TiVoCommunity). I guess I never realized that you folks drop the TV part.

[carl6]

Well, I have normally typed DirecTV, but am now seeing that is no more or less correct than D*. If it is correctly written with all caps, then the only proper way to write it is DIRECTV (which really isn't that hard to type - hold the left shift key down with your little finger and type away - assuming you are a touch typist).

C*
(aka Carl)

[ApK]

Webster disagrees with you, too.

Webster is long dead and has no say in the matter.

Dictionaries are DESCRIPTIVE, not PROSCRIPTIVE. They describe and record and document word usage. They do not tell people how words should be used. There are schools of style and literature and history for that.

Webster's just documents that a lot of people are ignorant about the words they use and are contributing the damage of the language.

English is a living language, and meanings will change.

Sometimes the change will be through poetic or well thought out choices, or new ideas, which will reflect the times and will stregthen the language and make it more expressive and useful.

Other times changes happen because people are ignorant and too lazy to learn the right word to use, and those changes weaken the language, and make it harder to express concepts clearly and unambiguously.

Welcome to the Secret Grammar Policeman's Other Ball.
ApK

[heavyobjects]

You mean like this: http://www.dbstalk.com/acronyms.htm

RE This Thread and D*: FWIW IMHO everyone should just RTFM for DBSTalk (i.e., above) to avoid confusion.

LOL

[Jeremy W]

I always type DirecTV but as this thread has shown, that's incorrect. I'll try using DIRECTV now, but I don't know if I'll be able to stick with that. I never use D*, because I think it's dumb. Even worse is when I see people on here use C* to refer to Comcast.

Interestingly enough, the forum titles on this site use DirecTV™. They should probably be changed to DIRECTV™ to be correct.

[Doug Brott]

Interestingly enough, the forum titles on this site use DirecTV™. They should probably be changed to DIRECTV™ to be correct.

True, but DIRECTV apparently uses both DIRECTV and DIRECTV® on their own site. One of those should be used, IMHO ...

[Tom Robertson]

In any given work, the ® or ™ symbol does not need to appear with every appearance of the trademark. Typically using them on the first appearance within the body of work suffices. (Along with the usual legalese "such and such WORD is a registered trademark of OWNER.")

DIRECTV's Terms and Conditions page lists many trademarks, most of them for various cable and network channels.

Cheers,
Tom

[Stuart Sweet]

Webster is long dead and has no say in the matter.

Dictionaries are DESCRIPTIVE, not PROSCRIPTIVE. They describe and record and document word usage. They do not tell people how words should be used. There are schools of style and literature and history for that.

Webster's just documents that a lot of people are ignorant about the words they use and are contributing the damage of the language.

English is a living language, and meanings will change.

Sometimes the change will be through poetic or well thought out choices, or new ideas, which will reflect the times and will stregthen the language and make it more expressive and useful.

Other times changes happen because people are ignorant and too lazy to learn the right word to use, and those changes weaken the language, and make it harder to express concepts clearly and unambiguously.

Welcome to the Secret Grammar Policeman's Other Ball.
ApK

HUGE +1

I thought I was the biggest grammar nerd on the planet - nice to have company!

[Steve Mehs]

A*, P*, E* and D* have been used for 12 years now, if not longer. It's tradition, going back to the newsgroups and DBSDISH days. It will never change. Who cares how you type it, D*, DIRECTV, DirecTV, DIRECTV™, etc it all means the same thing.

Now I'm going to eat a Hot Pocket™, drink a Pepsi™ and watch my Sony™ TV.

[mocciat]

D* is just quicker to type

[gcvt]

The path to this thread is...

DBSTalk.Com ---> DirecTV™ Products and Services ---> General DirecTV™ Discussion...

Hmm. :scratch:

[JLucPicard]

Good grief, I can't believe there's three pages worth of this duscussion. :lol:

[captain_video]

What's all this about the spelling of pixelation?
Pixelation and pixellation are alternate spelling of the same thing.
BTW, Pixelation is correct. How do I know? Because I once worked for a magazine called PIX-Elation, so I say so, and my word is as authoritative as anyone's ;-)
So, you worked for a magazine that didn't know how to spell pixelisation (the correct spelling for the term being discussed, in case anyone's interested)? Here's Webster's definition and spelling of the term:

PIXELISATION

Specialty Definition: PIXELISATION
Domain Definition
Electrical Engineering The transformation of a picture into a regular chequer-board of uniformly-coloured rectangles, whose size can be varied.

A search for either "pixellation" or "pixelation" turned up zero hits, indicating that neither is a recognized term.

A*, P*, E* and D* have been used for 12 years now, if not longer.
Just because some people likle to use silly acronyms or shortcuts doesn't make it right. It just shows that some people just never learn the right way to do things.:D

Good grief, I can't believe there's three pages worth of this duscussion.
Obviously you've never been to the Tivo Community Forum. There'd be at least fifty pages on this discussion by now if it was posted there.

[CobraGuy]

Good grief, I can't believe there's three pages worth of this duscussion. :lol:

Yep. There's 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back. But it was a good dose of humor to start the day!

[DaveTheWave]

I'm done with this thread :hurah: :rolleyes:

[Mikey]

So, you worked for a magazine that didn't know how to spell pixelisation (the correct spelling for the term being discussed, in case anyone's interested)? Here's Webster's definition and spelling of the term:

PIXELISATION

Specialty Definition: PIXELISATION
Domain Definition
Electrical Engineering The transformation of a picture into a regular chequer-board of uniformly-coloured rectangles, whose size can be varied.
...Must be Webster's British dictionary. The American spelling would be "PIXELIZATION". That whole definition is peppered with Britishisms.

[mx6bfast]

Maybe we should write our posts like the ATT (I think) commercial about texting with the mom and daughter.

[Nick]

The meaning of an acronym, initialism condensation, abbreviation or other artificial
literary device is entirely contextual. Different specialties may utilize identical labels
that are representational of entirely unrelated elements of such disparate disciplines.

Thus, it behooves the reader to acquaint himself with the frame of reference in which
a specific abridging device is employed. For example, consider the following, which
contains a pair of identical, but entirely unrelated colloquialisms:

The tranny was compelled to take the bus because her tranny needed lubrication.

[Doug Brott]

The tranny was compelled to take the bus because her tranny needed lubrication.

Holy double entendre Batman! http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/shocked003.gif

[Stuart Sweet]

The tranny was compelled to take the bus because her tranny needed lubrication.

I presume you mean her car's tranny, unless you mean to imply that she, the aforementioned transgender individual, had as a slave or house servant another transgender individual who suffered from dry skin. Although why that would prompt a trip on the bus is another matter entirely. Perhaps the first individual lived in a city where owning a car is prohibitively expensive and the preferred moisturizer could only be acquired at some distance.

Oh, sorry, was that OT? ;)

[Herdfan]

OK, if this is the "official chart" then I'll use DTV, the stock symbol. If you don't get what I mean you can ask. I don't like asteriks.:lol:
Fine, but I wouldn't suggest using DTV for D* over at the sister-site AVS. KenH will ream you a new one.

As for other uses: anyone know what *C stands for?

[Steve Mehs]

*C = Star Choice

[captain_video]

That's it. I'm going home to watch *Wars on DVD.:p

[jasonblair]

Someone mentioned to me that he thought it was a trademark issue, that it was bad form to use the name unless you were "official".As a trademark attorney, I don't see what the issue would be. As a consumer, you can call a product whatever you want. DirecTV can ask you all they want to call it something specific, but as a consumer (and not a competitor), you can call it whatever you want.

Let's remember what the basic function of a Trademark is... so that consumers know where a product comes from. If we all know who you are referring to, then you're all good.

[Nick]

...Oh, sorry, was that OT?No, but it was OTT! :grin:

~~~~~~

IMO, AFAIK IIRC C* = Comcast ("ComStar?") :sure:

[jasonblair]

I wrote DIRECTV in one of my first posts and was scolded in a PM that at DBSTalk we are never to write their name out. So I have used D* from then on. Until now, I thought it was a rule.Hmmm... I've got a theory as to why this might be a policy on certain boards. If the message board uses the term so much that search engines bring it up toward the top when someone searches "DIRECTV," the folks at DIRECTV might not like it. They probably want their site to come up first on a search... So they might try to discourage message boards from using the term by sending a cease-and-desist letter to the board administrator, by claiming that the constant use of the term would make consumers falsely believe that the board was created or sponsored by DIRECTV. Of course anyone can write a scary cease-and-desist letter from an attorney, whether or not it would have any legs to stand on in court.

The only thing to watch is to make sure you don't use the term in a way that reasonable people would assume the board was supported by or affiliated with DIRECTV.

[Mark20]

The published terms of service for DBStalk would be the final say on whether we can spell out the company names. And if we can't then why can DBStal?. All of the E* and D* forums have their company name spelled out in the titel.

On another forum we routinely mention RV and equipment manufcacturer names and there has never been an issue. But nobody has tried to claim they were XYZ company and AFAIK (see another one) nobody from those companies has ever posted in an official capacity.

[gcvt]

Hmmm... I've got a theory as to why this might be a policy on certain boards. If the message board uses the term so much that search engines bring it up toward the top when someone searches "DIRECTV," the folks at DIRECTV might not like it. They probably want their site to come up first on a search...

I'm guessing they already pay some $$$ to get the top listing on the major search engines...certainly above links to forum threads that mention their name. No?

[ApK]

So, you worked for a magazine that didn't know how to spell pixelisationMore to the point, I worked for a magazine that knew how to spell "Elation" and make a pun with "PIXEL"

A search for either "pixellation" or "pixelation" turned up zero hits, indicating that neither is a recognized term.

Your Google powers are weak, old man.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pixelation
http://books.google.com/books?q=pixelation


What was this thread about again?

[captain_video]

Nope, my "google powers" are just fine. It's the search engine within Webster's that are lacking.

And who you callin' old?:grin:

[richlife]

Good grief, I can't believe there's three pages worth of this duscussion. :lol:

I'm with you JeanLuc... and now it's up to 4 (or more?). Amusing, ridiculous and clearly a heartfelt and nearly transparent demand for a new CE (which we're about to get and which may finally shutdown this thread). But I still thing D* is just fine and perfect for my aching wrists. And I'll bet noone has misunderstood.

But hasn't this been a GREAT discussion? :p

[SubaruWRX]

Good thread.. always confused me as well I never understood what the "*" meant for D I would sit and try and figure out how in the heck does that let me know this means DirectTV

[mx6bfast]

Considering D* is removing ~30% of the HD PQ, I'm saving 30% of my time by typing D* instead of DirecTv.

[Jhon69]

Considering D* is removing ~30% of the HD PQ, I'm saving 30% of my time by typing D* instead of DirecTv.

How do you know when HD is 720p or 1080i?.:rolleyes:

[mx6bfast]

How do you know when HD is 720p or 1080i?.:rolleyes:
Are you asking subjectively or by channel?

[Jhon69]

Are you asking subjectively or by channel?


I'm just making the statement that HD is 720p or 1080i.:rolleyes:

[mx6bfast]

I'm just making the statement that HD is 720p or 1080i.:rolleyes:
Without hijacking this thread, I have had HD for over 4 years so I do know that HD is 720p and 1080i. In fact I had D* HD when they only had 3 HD channels and sent all of those at 1920x1080 19 mpbs instead of this 1280x1080 15 mpbs crap.

If someone does have HD and doesn't know that 720p and 1080i are HD then they should do more research.

[veryoldschool]

How do you know when HD is 720p or 1080i?.:rolleyes:
Both resolutions are "HD" & if you set native to "on", you will see the receiver change to what the broadcaster is using.