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State of HD Radio !?

It costs too much. When the patent runs out, and stations don't have to pay royalty, we'll really see if it has a future.
 
Funny how much less negativity there is towards HD on a non-radio forum like Reddit versus the entrenched attitudes here. There, it's ambivalence, but not outright hatred.

I definitely think that iBiquity could kill the licensing requirements and it would do a lot better. But it may be too late for it now. Those who want it, already have it, and those who can't afford it, won't add it if gets cheaper.
 
tomservo said:
I definitely think that iBiquity could kill the licensing requirements and it would do a lot better. But it may be too late for it now. Those who want it, already have it, and those who can't afford it, won't add it if gets cheaper.
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If iBiquity did not have licencing requirements, how would they generate income? The bulk of their revenue comes from licencing the technology to make HD-inclusive chipsets, and a very small amount comes from licensing the technology to radio stations.
 
DavidEduardo said:
If iBiquity did not have licencing requirements, how would they generate income?
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Once again, using the Microsoft example, you need more than one product. That's also what's killing Pandora. They only do one thing. It happens to be a very costly thing. But it's all they do. As long as they stick to one thing that requires a high royalty payment, they won't turn a profit.

iBiquity needs to broaden its product base. They give away the IBOC license, which gets their primary product out there, so they can find other ways to make money. But if the public doesn't have their technology, they won't know why they need it, and they're not going to buy it if they don't need it. It's a circular problem, but it's one they could control.
 
TheBigA said:
Sure...how much is IE?
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It's part of the cost of Windows. For the record, Microsoft charges full price for end users to buy a licensed copy of Windows but offers steep discounts to manufacturers who bulk install their software. That's why it's often cheaper to buy a new computer with Windows pre installed than to assemble one yourself and but your own copy of the OS.
 
tomservo said:
It's part of the cost of Windows. For the record, Microsoft charges full price for end users to buy a licensed copy of Windows but offers steep discounts to manufacturers who bulk install their software.
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That's what I was thinking. Can you imagine if iBiquity did something like that?

I've downloaded several browsers for free. That's the kind of thing that would have helped HD take off. But no.
 
I read somewhere that although the patent for the Ibiquity chip or system or whatever it is will run out, they'll still have a proprietary hold on the HD system because they will still own a vital part of it, the software key needed to make HD work or something like that.

Can't remember where I read it. It might have been a linked article on RD somewhere.
 
boombox4 said:
I read somewhere that although the patent for the Ibiquity chip or system or whatever it is will run out, they'll still have a proprietary hold on the HD system because they will still own a vital part of it, the software key needed to make HD work or something like that.

Can't remember where I read it. It might have been a linked article on RD somewhere.
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Jonathan Hardis can explain. Basically, iBiquity has kept enough of its tech outside the patent-system that a portion of the tech will always be a "trade secret."
 
diymedia said:
Jonathan Hardis can explain. Basically, iBiquity has kept enough of its tech outside the patent-system that a portion of the tech will always be a "trade secret."
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They can keep their trade secret. I don't know that anyone necessarily wants to release a white-label generic version of HD Radio. The problem is other inventors and developers can't release similar alternative systems because of possible patent infringement. Once the patent runs out, they will be free to release similar systems, perhaps based on the original technology, that might have improvements. At least that's my hope.
 
TheBigA said:
They can keep their trade secret. I don't know that anyone necessarily wants to release a white-label generic version of HD Radio. The problem is other inventors and developers can't release similar alternative systems because of possible patent infringement. Once the patent runs out, they will be free to release similar systems, perhaps based on the original technology, that might have improvements. At least that's my hope.
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In that it's an FCC approved system, how would they do that? Wouldn't the patent define how the system works, even if it is no longer in effect?
 
KB1OKL said:
Yugos seemed like they were here to stay at one point too.
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Ford Edsel
New coke
PC Junior
Apple Lisa
Cue Cat
Microsoft Bob
Quadraphonic sound
C-Quam
And - introducing - HD Radio to the list
 
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