At each CES there is a winner chosen by CNET.com that is (in their opinion) the best of show.
This year was a first … CNET was literally forced into changing their selection by their owners.
CNET chose the new satellite receiver “The Hopper” as its “best in show.” As it turns out, CNET is owned by CBS, who is suing the satellite TV company “Dish Network” that builds that unit. The suit is based on the convenience that allows its users to jump past annoying commercials. Believe it or not, CBS says that is a criminal act. As you may have read in my previous blogs, I talk about how the providers of content are doing everything they can to stifle innovation. This common-sense technology was invented by “Replay TV” well over a decade ago. And it’s as warmly received now as it was then. So, according to CBS if you manually jump past commercials on a DVR on which you have recorded material, it’s OK, … but if the machine does it for you, it’s stealing … go figure.
And this is from a company who constantly touts its “Dan Ratherish” liberal beliefs, justifies it with the constant use of the phrases “freedom of the press” and “freedom of speech” to say anything it wants, even it’s patently wrong or blatantly biased.
I can only guess those “good liberal” beliefs don’t extend to its employees or customers.