AT&T's Homezone caught!

Remember that Homezone every kind of media but the kitchen sink system AT&T is rolling out? Well, we got the scoop on the box from a kind soul with one of their own (who also happened to tip off our pals over at HD Beat). The 2Wire box (which looks disappointingly similar to their MediaPortal STB) features a 250GB drive for storage of live DISH, MovieLink, and Akimbo programming, dual TV outputs for simultaneous TV playback (more on that after the break), HDMI (presumably with HDCP), two QWERTY remotes (saywha?), Ethernet, and three USB ports. Click on for a bunch more shots!

If it's anything like its older 2Wire sibling, the Homezone box will play back Real audio and video, MPEG-2/4, DRMed WMV 9, AAC, MP3, support up to 1080i, and even have WiFi. Unfortunately we don't have shots of the interface on this baby, which is what we were most worried about (between that and all the services the box is rolling together). The old 2Wire interface wasn't bad though, so we're hoping they didn't mess it up too much; what we do know is that it's got dual television output, meaning you can watch shows on more than one set around the house by way of coax output and a second RF remote. Tres hot. Expect it in July, peeps.

Dual satellite inputs and dual antenna inputs.

 

Here we've got RF in and UHF out, composite, S-video, component, HDMI, and digital audio outs, Ethernet, dual USB, and (presumably) ADSL-in.

Ah, we've finally found the remote of our dreams.

Ah, sweet love, come to us. Can you tell which is the RF device? No? (It's the one on the right.)

[Dov @ May 23rd 2006 8:14AM]

When they say DISH support, is that DISH network satellite?

[Ni @ May 23rd 2006 8:21AM]

Watch this people...
http://www.iliad.fr/en/presse/2006/CP_190406_Eng.pdf

[Timmay @ May 23rd 2006 8:51AM]

that remote looks like the offspring of a cable remote and a moto twoway pager...

pretty damn cool

[ian mcgrady @ May 23rd 2006 9:03AM]

Why anyone would let AT&T in their house at this point... c'est une mystiore...

[W. P. Henry @ May 23rd 2006 9:07AM]

Let me be the first to label devices in this category of "every kind of media but the kitchen sink" with the new acronym I came up with moments ago..."EKOM BTKS" (pronounced "e-com butt kiss").
Now, GO! Persist this to the world!

[Dorf @ May 23rd 2006 9:11AM]

No one is using HDCP yet, so you needn't bother posting about it everytime you type in HDMI.

Ooo Component out. Thats what i'm talking about.

[Todd @ May 23rd 2006 9:22AM]

W. P. Henry wrote: "EKOM BTKS"

To paraphrase the classic Beastie song B-boy Bouillabaisse / Get on the Mic:

"...I’m the king ad-whammy and your E-com butkus!"

[Yoweigh @ May 23rd 2006 9:33AM]

I want one now just so I can say I own an e-com butt kiss to my friends. Brilliant acronym.

[rafael @ May 23rd 2006 9:36AM]

id love to have this for my lcdtv. but damn ATT just got its ass shown to them in court, for cooperating with the NSA and even allowing them a thupersecret room in its damn offices. AT&T just lost a big chunk of my change... i can wait for competing devices.

[Jason @ May 23rd 2006 9:40AM]

I agree with Ian Mcgrady, why would anyone let AT&T into thier house? They are givong your telephone call, and internet info to the NSA, and now your going to let them track what you watch on TV? Here is a link to a Wired.com article on the AT&T whistleblowers evidence that the NSA is listening.
http://wired.com/news/technology/0,70944-0.html?tw=wn_index_6

[Chris @ May 23rd 2006 10:06AM]

"No one is using HDCP yet, so you needn't bother posting about it everytime you type in HDMI." Yes, cable companies use HDCP on their programing. That said, HDCP is part of the HDMI spec, its dvi that could have or not have support for it.

[oshean @ May 23rd 2006 10:32AM]

To #7, Todd.
Ha! That was great!

[geoff teehan @ May 23rd 2006 10:37AM]

Wow. That remote looks an awful lot like something we prototyped a couple of years ago. Some renderings can be found in a pdf report here:
http://pvr.teehanlax.com/report.php?PHPSESSID=034ce4117ccca369b6d5f89eb9f4623d

[El Froggo @ May 23rd 2006 10:50AM]

Will it have Bittorrent too?

[Jax @ May 23rd 2006 11:08AM]

To #13
Holy crap, it really does resemble your render.

[Jason @ May 23rd 2006 11:56AM]

yep they stole it from you!

[Bart @ May 23rd 2006 12:15PM]

Wow. I actually like that remote control. If the UI on this box is good, I'm a potential buyer.

AT&T seems to get the fact that there's no good reason to try to use flaky IPTV software just to put the linear broadcast channels into a box. (How many years have we hard that it's "almost there"... especially with trying to do good Hidef over IP - good luck!) Use existing broadcast to get those channels there, and integrate it with good interactive service and VOD coming in from broadband. To consumer, it will be transparent if done right.

[MC @ May 23rd 2006 1:48PM]

Talk about home invasion...it proably has a tracking device so AT&T knows where you move it at all time.

It proabably also has a bug, so they can listen in to your home conversation, why bother tapping the phone lines???

[g @ May 23rd 2006 2:04PM]

F#$@ AT&T

[pbu @ May 23rd 2006 2:24PM]

Love that remote!
Want one similar for my MacBook Pro

[seize @ May 23rd 2006 2:39PM]

I had been playing with a prototype, with a lot of features disabled, in January. That remote is really not all it's cracked up to be. It's a lot bigger than you would expect, pretty uncomfortable to hold on to and surf well. It's pretty thick and weighted weird. It does beat having a seperate keyboard. I never saw the 2WIRE interface, but this one was pretty slick. Color-coded like those buttons, pretty well-designed. Awfully large and stuck around too long while surfing, but the thing was great at recording HD shows and calling them up well. Don't ask how I got a look at it.

[thesawzall @ May 23rd 2006 4:39PM]

AT&T usually gets interface stuff right. Heck, these guys probably invented the 3x4 numpad that's on every telephone! But yeah, I'm scared that they'll tell the government I watch all the WB teen shows.

[Bhowdy @ May 23rd 2006 6:56PM]

The political commentary on this site is quite hilarious.

Romper room level.

God help this country.

[Scott Johnson @ May 23rd 2006 7:21PM]

Presuming that something supports HDCP just because it supports HDMI is quite a stretch. Heck, even if it states that it might support HDCP, it might not. See the recent ATI press for an excellent example.

[Tim @ May 23rd 2006 7:51PM]

Oh snap! That remote is huge! You gotta love AT&T (or SBC) for throwing everything together in one device, just how the FCC loves it. Can you smell a monopoly suit?

[Shooter @ May 23rd 2006 9:29PM]

For one 2Wire has nothing to do with AT&T's NSA
incident and don't forget SBC bought AT&T 2Wire was there before all that happened. The only people that will mess it up is ecostar "aka dish network". It's doesn't support torrent but probably can if someone does some good hacking, DVD burner was not allowed. The interface and remote is not designed to acomidate a two year old. Pretty sure no HDCP. Accompanied by the 3700HG oh ya. Lets not forget 2Wire built this.

[LittleJoe @ May 24th 2006 2:05AM]

#4 "Why anyone would let AT&T in their house at this point... c'est une mystiore..."

we didnt! they took over our house!

Our ISP was first Ameritech...
then bought out by SBC...
then SBC Yahoo...
now At&t Yahoo!!! Gahhhh!

[crash @ Apr 21st 2007 3:29PM]

ummm att was bought by SBC and SBC decided to change their name to ATT because it is well known.... and why are people so paranoid about ATT when Dell can remote into your computer at any time they want and take complete control of your computer... its not like you asked for this feature (given it is nice when there is some one with a ID=10T error or some one who cant RTFM) but alas ppl only believe what they want to... and remember even less

[JR @ Jun 25th 2006 9:30AM]

AT&T Can give the goverment any info pertaining to my calls etc. I have nothing to hide. In a time when national security could and should overide some civil liberties the goverment should be given and use all the tools it deems necessary to protect us, simple.But then again as I said "I" have nothing to hide, how about you? Kudos to AT&T for not laying down for the liberals in the media who are screaming about and disclosing some of our anti-terrorism tactics thus putting us at risk.

[getsome @ Oct 16th 2006 4:16PM]

Why bother though, no HD until next year...i'll pass until then. Horrible though, AT&T should advertise that fact a little better on the website...i caught one mention of it being standard def in the quick install guide on there website and that's it.

2wire announcement lays it out though...

http://www.2wire.com/?p=95&pid=153

[Future enhancements to the Homezone product will include a High Definition version of the receiver, as well as great new music and video content from content providers Yahoo! and Akimbo. And customers will be able to eventually program their DVR and use other �remote access� features through their Cingular wireless phone.]

-g

[Riot @ Jun 15th 2007 11:49AM]

getsome wrote: "[Future enhancements to the Homezone product will include a High Definition version of the receiver, as well as great new music and video content from content providers Yahoo! and Akimbo. And customers will be able to eventually program their DVR and use other �remote access� features through their Cingular wireless phone.]"

I believe that site was written in mid '06, just before DISH released their VIP622 Dual-tuner HD DVR receiver which, in my opinion, kicks butt.
http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/pdf/product_brochures/ViP622_ProductSheet_HighRes.pdf

AT&T has just repackaged the receiver and labeled it 622 HZ. Now DISH has 32 channels of HD programming and they're looking to add alot more. Add that to the Akimbo VOD and you may really have something.

I agree with Bart. AT&T is just looking for a way to be all things to all people without waiting on IPTV.

[M.B. @ Nov 12th 2006 10:43PM]

This goes hand in hand with Net Neutrality.
I deal with the telcos more on a data side of things but in small talk with ISPs and techs from ATT theres alot of shush talk about this issue and how Verizon and ATT are close to getting the final word from congress and senate on passing this BILL that allows ATT/Verizon to become full blown ISPs. There plan from what I hear.
Block the internet, or atleast slow it way down and point your traffic to THERE search engines, There Media portals, etc.
Check out a few items Ive been told about.
http://www.google.com/help/netneutrality.html
ATTs U-Verse and Blueroom plus HomeZone.
Look at SBC/ATT. The market DISH TV.. guess what Happens when they can feed you fiber or VDSL to your home at 50MB/Sec.
Cut the dish and they have you completely.

[Dan @ Nov 21st 2006 8:46PM]

When will you people get with modern times the Gov needs no company to do what you all seem to be worried about. They have the equipment to hear every word you say in your home without a phone line. Are you all still living in the dark ages??? They can even see inside your homes and this is not sifi

[R.A.Y. @ May 15th 2007 2:15PM]

Anyone know what the USB ports are for on the box? I can't locate any info on them?

[Riot @ Jun 18th 2007 6:13PM]

Right now you can use the USB ports on the VIP 622 (the pure DISH version of this receiver) to move video or music to a device called a PocketDISH. It's a hand held device with a screen and up to 120 hours of MPEG-4 standard def video. http://www.pocketdish.com/?section=products