VZW the Bully!?

What are we, as the customers, going to do about this? When will Verizon stop bullying and pressuring other companies into throttling our data? I had a real problem crop up recently: While watching Hulu Plus on my Rezound, the High Resolution option disappeared, but only when connected through Verizon's network. When connected through my (lower quality) home wifi, the high resolution option was returned. I contacted Hulu about this problem, and even though it took several e-mails before my support person reached high enough into the chain of command to get a real, and true answer, I did get that answer. Hulu Plus on Android has been specifically modified to remove the High Resolution option when connecting through Verizon's network, while continuing to allow High Resolution viewing when connected through other networks. This is something that Verizon required Hulu to do, in order to continue being able to send data through the Verizon networks. In other words, Verizon bullied Hulu into throttling the video, since Verizon doesn't always have enough reason to throttle OUR bandwidth. I have the copy of the email, here:

Hey ++++++, Thanks for getting back to me with more information. I apologize for the delayed response, as I've been researching this issue. I'd love to share some insight into what I've found. It appears this disappearance of the "High Resolution" option while using 3G is the intended behavior of the app, to remain in accordance with the streaming requirements established by the carrier -in this case, Verizon. I believe it's meant to help users from going over their data limits, but Verizon might have other reasons behind this mandate. I apologize for any frustration this causes, as your G3 network seems to be more reliable than your expensive Wifi network, but at this time there is no workaround for the issue, since it's in place to comply with Veriozon's requests. I hope this helps. If you run into any further issues or questions, please write back. Best, +++++ Hulu Support

Since I've got unlimited data, it's obvious this isn't to protect me from going over my data limits. For anyone who does have data limits, they're completely nuts if they watch much video over Verizon's network. The only other reason for the throttling of my Hulu data is simply because Verizon is being a bully. I'm trapped in my current contract for another year and a half. If things don't improve on a massive level, well in advance of that time, I'll dump Verizon. I won't use any carriers. Already, you can access WiFi at a large number of locations. In this town, there's the coffee shop, McDonald's, Burger King, Lowes, and many others. In another year an a half, WiFi will probably be available at WalMart, other grocery stores, and basically anyplace you could think of going. I'll end up going network free, and use Skype. If you do the math, just buying a brand new phone outright, paying for a phone number through Skype, and paying Skype's per-minute usage is still CHEAPER over a two year period than it is to be stuck in a two year contract with Verizon! Bonuses of sticking to WiFi and Skype? NO phone calls while driving. NO texts while driving. NO alerts of any sort while driving! If you want to watch video content while camping? Just download a copy of the content onto your device before going, and then be able to stay truly disconnected on your camping trip. Verizon is really getting on my nerves. If it's getting on your nerves, too, just pass this message on. Also, check out http://http://www.facebook.com/VzwTheBully

Netflix Moving to Dump Snail Mail Customers

From what I've seen so far, Netflix is attempting to nudge - perhaps more like ram! - it's customers away from physical DVDs and BluRays, and more toward streaming video content. It's true that Netflix carries a number of movie titles, "on demand," but it seems that the movie selection is much more limited than what you can get on DVD; also that they don't seem to get very good streaming rights to the movies, leaving a limited window in which people have to find, queue, and watch the movie.

The customers are putting up a fit, as they learn of the changes. People like getting that Netflix envelope in the mail. They like being able to add a movie to their DVD queue quickly and easily - but Netflix is deliberately making it harder to do. They like to watch their movies on their TVs - but Netflix is limited to computers, some handheld platforms, and some gaming platforms, seriously limiting many people's ability to watch a movie with the entire family.

"But wait, there's more!"

Here in the United States, we have a pretty decent broadband internet network. It's not anywhere as speedy as, say, South Korea's, but it does us okay. The question we have to ask, is, can our (somewhat) creaky broadband network handle the kind of high-bandwidth usage that Netflix is encouraging? In this writer's opinion, just watching a TV show on Hulu is sometimes difficult enough, and that's not trying to watch at Blu-Ray Hi-Def settings, either! It seems doubtful that, if we replaced every single DVD customer with a high-speed internet customer, anyone would be able to watch much at all!

This writer lives alone, so doesn't mind watching movies on his computer, or android device, most of the time. But if I get a date for a "movie night," I'll definitely want to pop in a DVD and watch it on the TV, to share the experience.

Android Incredible - short run?

Hey, as promised, I'm here to talk about the new Incredible phone available through Verizon. As the name says: it's Incredible! Mine just arrived in the mail yesterday, and I've got it all charged up and running well. I was having some trouble applying a screen protector to the phone, so stopped at an authorized Verizon dealer in town, where I learned something interesting: HTC and Verizon are shutting down production on the Incredible already! Not because of a problem with the phone, but either because Verizon wants to push the Motorola X, or because (maybe?) the company that provides the snapdragon processors to HTC for the phone has closed. I'm not clear on the details. I did get a chance to look at a demo (read - empty/fake) Droid X phone; it's HUGE... a LOT bigger in it's dimensions than the Incredible. Ladies with small purses and small pockets: you won't know where to put it. Gents, as well: this phone will stand up and show above your shirt pocket, and probably be sneaking out of your rear pants pockets, too.

I'm glad I got the Incredible while I could. Once I got the GPS function turned on, it pinpointed me very closely to my actual location. I can watch streaming video online easily with the 3g connection, it doesn't slow down at all no matter how many apps are open at once (that I could tell), and... and... well. Let's just color me impressed, right? I do wish it worked for watching tv shows on Hulu.com, though. Not the fault of the phone, but of Hulu itself, I'm pretty sure. I'll be keeping my eyes open for any workarounds so I can watch my tv shows there, though, as I'm sure many other people are doing.

Aside from playing with my new phone, I mowed a bit, this morning, and am now inside the house and thinking quite seriously about lunch. Perhaps I'll reheat some chicken I grilled last night; it turned out really good.

That's all for now, from the Nagogami Hills Farm, in Missouri. The cows say Hi, and the cats expect you to bring a fresh mouse with you on your next visit. ;-)

Until later!

-Mathew