Kameir

If you want to bring the Internet to you tv you typically need a separate device — a video-game console, DVD player or set-top box with Internet access.

Now you will be able to take a more direct route with LG. The company announced a line of televisions that can directly receive Internet video in addition to satellite and cable signals.

LG’s line of LCD and plasma televisions is called Broadband HDTVs and are expected to cost around $300 more than comparable models without Internet access, said Tim Alessi, director of product development at LG Electronics.

Owners of the televisions will not be able to browse the Web freely though— the TVs’ processors and memory chips are not up to that task. But the Broadband HDTVs will have access to a variety of specific video sites, and on Monday, LG will announce one in particular: Netflix.

The Federal Communications Commission has canceled a meeting scheduled at which it planned to vote on a controversial free Internet plan.

The group has been considering whether it should auction off 25 megahertz of wireless spectrum in the 2155MHz to 2180MHz band. In exchange for using the spectrum, the FCC would require license holders to offer some free wireless broadband service, as a way to provide free Internet access to millions of Americans who either can’t afford or don’t want to pay for high-speed Internet access. That Web service would have been filtered for pornography and material deemed not suitable for children. People 18 and over would have the option to opt out of the filtered service.

OMMA Mobile focussed on ROI and results, especially in the entertainment and media business. Televison, film, magazines and music industries all launched major mobile initiatives this year and tweaked some of the older models. From TV text-in programs to branded games, dedicated iPhone apps to mobile video on demand, on-deck music stores to the emerging ringback market, media companies finally are serious about getting a foothold on mobile.

Patrick from Razorfish told a story about one of their developers developing an iPhone app that interacts with the vending machine to dispense soda pop – cool. Unfortunatelly that was pretty much the only interesting thing 🙁

For the eights year CommNexus today crowned a the winner of its annual GadgetFest, an event for tech companies in the San Diego region and beyond to showcase their newest, most innovative technologies for this year’s competition.

Every year, CommNexus challenges tech companies within and beyond the San Diego region to enter their latest technologies into GadgetFest and compete for the coveted title of “Greatest Gadget.” The previous year’s winner, GrandCentral, was acquired by Google shortly after GadgetFest.

This year, a couple of large companies such as Motorola, LG, Verizon, RIM and Cricket Wireless seemed to be destined to lead he pack. However, a small start-up from the UK managed to steel the show and title: truphone. The service offers cheap call routing over the internet via Wi-Fi, 3G or even via ordinary GSM (translation: iPhone; Blackberry (available on Monday)).

The new Blackberry device Storm got mixed reviews, mainly because of RIM’s decision to go touch screen only. Finally Runner-up Mushroom Networks deserves special mention for its smart broadband bonding device which made my X-mas list.

Google just reported their Q3 earnings. Nothing new here … still growing nicely and probably the only strong buy out there right now. Whereas most attention from the financial industry will probably go to the increased cash flow positions, I still find it fascinating to see that 30% of Google’s revenue is generated by ‘partners’, leading to commission payments of almost $17 Mio. per day!

Google Q3 2008 Quarterly Earnings Summary – Get more Free Tax Forms