The Halloween Table Dishes are a great set of plates and cups for a Halloween party that you could be having or it could be only for your family if you are someone who likes to have everything for different holidays and days like Halloween.

The plates and cups match in the Halloween colors that is very festive and just a remainder of many fun days to everyone.

This is worth having in your home and you will really love to have it because it is great and something fun for anyone who is in your house when you take this set out so go out and buy it and just be happy.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

DirecTV and DISH Network trying to get together again? That’s the idea according to the Wall Street Journal, apparently in response to DISH making “a major strategic shift” after losing 25,000 subscribers in Q2. Of course the last time these two tried U + me = Us back in 2001, regulators put the smackdown on the idea, but apparently DISH CEO Charlie Ergen thinks things may be different now. We can see how a 90% drop in subscriber growth (and a blown satellite or two) could cause anyone to reevaluate things, but as our extensive experience watchnig daytime TV proves, running into a new relationship to escape ones problems never works out long term, but it is interesting to see if either is really willing to stop the constant one-upsmanship and concentrate on taking on the cable (& telco) companies together.

[Thanks, Adam]

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The timeshifting DVR patent that’s been at the core of TiVo’s closed-but-not-quite-closed lawsuit with DISH / EchoStar is being contested yet again by the very same company. Not content just appealing to the Supreme Court regarding the Federal Circuit’s ruling against a rehearing for the last case, DISH / EchoStar has started up a whole new lawsuit against TiVo, requesting a Delaware court find the new version of their DVR software does not infringe TiVo’s patents — presumably as an embittered and pre-emptive measure before TiVo could kick off its inevitable next suit. Don’t worry if you’re confused as all hell, so are we — the point is, despite the fact that decisions have been made and rulings handed down, these two companies are still managing to sue, re-sue, and counter-re-sue one another.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Storage

From what we can tell, this is just marketing hoopla to get you to buy a drive “certified” for use in a particular application; in all actuality, users can connect any USB 2.0 external hard drive to their DISH Network HD DVR and expand their storage capacity for a one-time fee. Nevertheless, Western Digital has just let loose its 500GB My DVR Expander, which “more than doubles” your available recording hours by storing up to 300 hours of SD content and 60 hours of high-def goodness. As predicted, the drives work with the satcaster’s ViP family of HD DVRs, and WD is apparently looking to expand the brand to other carriers as soon as they get with the program and enable USB storage. Those willing to fall for this ploy can procure the half-terabyte drive for $149.99, but considering that the port activation fee is still charged, we can’t imagine looking elsewhere first.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video, Wireless

Ah ha! So this is what DISH Network was planning on doing with its recently-purchased swath of spectrum. Just under two months after analysts pondered what the firm was thinking throwing out bids for a smidgen of bandwidth — and not even a fortnight after the ICO G1 successfully launched in order to bring DVB-SH to America — out comes the whole truth. The satcaster is teaming up with Alcatel-Lucent to test the Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite services to Handhelds technology right here in the US, with A-L providing the equipment, test tools and training. The evaluation will be taking place at a DISH facility in Atlanta from May until August, with the ultimate goal to “validate the performance and cost-efficiency of the DVB-SH standard.” As expected, we’re only given crumbs of information as to where this partnership may lead, but we should be much more clear on everything by the time the summer concludes.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Although DISH Network was quick to assure customers that their DVRs would stay functional after losing its patent appeal against TiVo, it looks like the company was a bit quick on the draw. Although the majority of the company’s DVRs have had their software updated to include non-infringing code, the VIP 721, 921, 942 and Homezone 1022 boxes haven’t been updated and installers are being told that they can no longer install or activate them. You’re safe if you’ve already got one up and running, but if you were in the market for a specific box, it’s probably wise to double check those numbers.

[Thanks, Dennis]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

DISH Network hasn’t taken “no” “denied” or “not yours” for an answer before in its battle against TiVo before, and it’s not going to start now. In a statement, the company expressed its plans to appeal the Federal Circuit’s ruling against a rehearing to the Supreme Court. No matter how it ends, customers don’t have to worry about jackbooted government agents (or software updates, whatever) stealing their precious DISH DVR functionality, because its “next generation” DVR software has already been downloaded to your box, and does not infringe on any patents. We’ll leave this up to the lawyers to fight out (and write amusing disclaimers about), but in the meantime hit the read link to hear DISH’s side of things.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Bad day for DISH Network, first its satellite is gone for good and now comes word its appeal to overturn TiVo’s lawsuit has been denied. That should put an end to the legal push and pull between the companies, with TiVo firmly on top, DISH customers could have their DVRs pulled out from under them. Win in hand, TiVo has a lot more leverage against other providers to put its service on their boxes, (which might not be the worst thing if you’ve used some cable DVRs) and leaves the company looking a lot more lively.

[Thanks Zatz Not Funny & Thomas Hawk]

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Filed under: HDTV

You want to know — nay, you deserve to know — which service provides the most HD content. Engadget HD’s got the answer, see how your HD provider stacks up.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We’ve always had an inkling that Archos was making some content moves around its Generation 5 PMPs, and the latest is pretty sweet: a plug-in download from Archos.com now enables the 605 and 705 to transfer shows and movies directly from Dish VIP622 and VIP722 DVRs over USB 2.0. There’s no mention of pricing in the press release, so we’re assuming it’ll be a free download, and the plug-in should be available “today,” although we’re not currently seeing it. You know, with the Sling relationship and now this deal with Archos, it kind of seems like Dish actually wants customers to view its content as they see fit — any of the other satellite or cable companies paying attention here?

[Warning: PDF read link]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

After visiting Dish Network’s booth at CEDIA and noticing a prominent sign boasting of a future relationship with IPTV, we can’t say we’re totally shocked to see this develop. Nevertheless, EchoStar unveiled today its ViP-TV MPEG-4 IPTV transport platform, which has the ability to beam out “over 300 channels of secure broadcast quality television programming via satellite to telecommunication firms, private / rural cable operators, municipalities and master planned community video providers that have obtained rights for distribution.” Deemed a “turnkey solution” for wholesale content delivery, ViP-TV will also offer up locals in 165 designated market areas including 30 in HD. Interestingly, it seems that Dish doesn’t much mind competing with itself so long as would-be Dish Network customers choose ViP-TV, and while it sounds mighty ambitious, ViP-TV General Manger Daniel Daines was quoted as saying that he hopes to have “paying customers on the platform in January 2008.” For the full slate of down and dirty details, be sure and visit the read links below.

[Via TeleCompetitor]
Read - ViP-TV Press Release [PDF]
Read - ViP-TV website

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!