Dialog Launches HD TV
My parents, after years with a small TV, finally got a big one. Paradoxically, however, this just makes the programming look really bad. Most big budget movies look like they were filmed on a HandiCam when they’re blown up bigger than 19 inches. These type of TVs really need HD, so it’s great that Dialog TV is finally bringing it to Sri Lanka, even if only a few channels.
It looks like Star Movies, AXN, Ten Sports, and National Geographic will be available, at a hefty surcharge of RS. 990 per month. Plus a one-time Rs. 2,990 payment, which I think includes a DVR (thing which can record stuff for later). Seems pretty cool, perhaps my parents should get it. I, on the other hand, just stream everything online and blow up my Internet bill.
I’m happy to be featured in Echelon magazine’s 40 Under 40 feature, profiling young people who contribute to the economy in some way, mainly in business but also in terms of innovation and thought leadership. It’s an interesting article not just in that I’m in it (mainly for work on indi.ca and 
I won’t add too much commentary, but just read I guess. The youngest Rajapaksa, Rohitha (Chi Chi) has given an amazing interview to the 
In 2009 this strange character appeared on the Sri Lankan Internet scene, getting angry, flaming, trolling whatever. Then he started naming anonymous bloggers, posting comments as people’s kids, nasty stuff, for which I removed him from 
The chutzpah of this government knows no bounds. Every government since Independence has had to balance placating Sinhala nationalists (AKA racists) while at the same time actually running a sensible, inclusive nation that doesn’t send minority citizens, capital and foreign investment fleeing. Basically, they’ve had to pay lip service to nationalists while at the same time trying to run an actual nation. Every government has also generally failed, SWRD being killed by a nationalist monk and everyone after almost losing the country to various rebellions. In that context Mahinda is actually doing a better job by virtue of not being dead and not losing control of the country. But he’s still not doing a good job.
I didn’t even notice that my dog chewed through the satellite cable months back, as on the rare occasion there’s something worth watching on Dialog TV, I’m usually out.
Having been used to Sky+ for many years in the UK (kind of a well-integrated TIVO), then Sky HD for the past five years, going back to normal sat tv was retro as hell (and not in a good way).
Having now got used to using iPlayer variants or torrenting (in HD) all my favourite tv shows and using a media server on a hacked Apple TV, I might not have bothered with this upgrade. But one cannot live without sport. Especially in HD. Dialog, I’m about to give you even more money.
In related news, iTunes music and movies is now available for Sri Lanka. Haven’t checked it out yet – and of course it costs – but there might be stuff that’s hard to find for free elsewhere. Also, I recently read an article (on arstechnica I think) about how a lot of recordings have been remastered and optimized for iTunes, so the quality is superior to common or garden MP3s.
The Dialog DVR can only record certain channels and in an encrypted format that can’t be used elsewhere (e.g. a PC or tablet). This is certainly better than nothing, but I wonder if there’s some kind of workaround.