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Phonevision: The Death of Physical Media Started in 1951
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AlexSea
07/25/09

In reply to Phonevision: The Death of Physical Media Started in 1951
Wow, slow news day today huh? This isn't in relation to this post or anything, but I get home from a hard day's work hoping to lose myself in gizmodo.. and there's like 6 posts total today.
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Δεν βρέθηκαν λέξεις promoted this comment AlexSea was starred AlexSea was unstarred

not_a_virus.exe.vbs
07/25/09

@AlexSea: If you haven't noticed, it's the weekend. People are usually out having fun with friends and family, not hunched over the computer posting news articles.
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AlexSea
07/25/09

@Δεν βρέθηκαν λέξεις: HAHA wow. I actually didn't notice it was the weekend, I have a weird ass job and the days sort of run together. SORRY GIZ, I stand corrected.
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AlexSea was starred AlexSea was unstarred

Jack of all Tirades R.O.A.C.H.
07/25/09

In reply to Phonevision: The Death of Physical Media Started in 1951
Wow! So 1951 was the year kids began wanking it to scambled porn?! I thought I was trailblazer in the 80's. Gotta give it up to the Greatest Generation.
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bosskev promoted this comment

bosskev
07/25/09

@Jack of all Tirades R.O.A.C.H.: I think you may be confusing April Showers and Homecoming with more contemporary titles, Golden Showers and Home, Cumming. That is, unless I'm unaware of Clark Gable's moonlighting jobs.
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bosskev was starred bosskev was unstarred

Nick
07/25/09

@bosskev: i see you're the creative mind behind all those wonderful movie titles in the pr0n industry.
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Nick was starred Nick was unstarred

N1k0s
07/25/09

@Jack of all Tirades R.O.A.C.H.: And that's also when the ORIGINAL saying began when a mother caught her son in the act: "If you keep doing that, you'll lose your phonevision!"
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Nelson
07/25/09

@Nick: DeusExMach needs a star: He probably works here
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bosskev promoted this comment Nelson was starred Nelson was unstarred

bosskev
07/25/09

In reply to Phonevision: The Death of Physical Media Started in 1951
"Started in 1951...cancelled in 1969"

So, this service lasted 18 years? Jeezus. I was curious, then, as to why it would flop, given how popular the pay-per-view concept is today. I found these two tidbits in a Wikipedia article:

"One of the major limitations of the Phonevision system was that due to the delay line being switched in and out, color could not be broadcast, as the 3.58 MHz phase lock necessary for NTSC color broadcasting could not be held. This limitation contributed to the demise of the system, along with the FCC authorization of subscription programming about 1969."

And that part where the "industry called Phonevision a 'massive flop'", yeah, those "industry folks" were...drumroll, please...The Theatre Owners of America. OF COURSE theater owners would call a home theater system a flop!

Anyway, nice find, Dan, and a great article about a near-miss technology that's--wow!--even older than I am. (Yeah, that is ancient.)
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Edited by bosskev at 07/25/09 2:20 PM bosskev was starred bosskev was unstarred

switchblade saints
07/25/09

In reply to Phonevision: The Death of Physical Media Started in 1951
It should be noted that the FCC denied permits for this and that was part of it demise.

Nice piece Dan, good gadget history right here
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switchblade saints was starred

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