VidaBox rolls CableCARD into Blu-ray and HD DVD all-in-one media centers

Like your home rolled media center do ya? Well tell us this, can yours throw down against dual integrated CableCARDs, Blu-ray, HD DVD and more than 3TB of RAID-5 protected storage? Definitely not since you haven't managed to skirt the CableLabs certification process... have you? Well, VidaBox's latest all-in-ones can, at least they will once they begin shipping in March 2007. Each new media center system will be engineered to record two HD shows while playing back your choice of a pre-recorded show from disk, Blu-ray or HD DVD media, high fidelity music, upscaled DVD, or digital picture slideshow. Not sure if those optical drives will be writers or read-only devices but we'll guess the latter -- just like their MAX and LUX dual-drive systems. While pricing or specific models were announced, you can expect 'em to drop for more than $5k as their new, top-o-the-line systems.

Update: Looks like Vidabox spoke too soon. Their press release neglected to mention that they have yet to receive a Microsoft license to enable CableCARD support in their box (which also leaves us wondering whether they received CableLABS certification, or if they're building that aspect of the process into their launch date). Either way, We're a little sketched that they'd announce before approval; we'll let you know what turns up.

Update 2: We heard back from Vidabox, they claim that they "are indeed receiving Microsoft licenses to enable CableCARD support in our VidaBox media centers" and that "the bottom line is that our VidaBox systems that will be released in March are fully licensed with Vista Ultimate & certified for CableCARD." Sounds like some licensor / licensee he said she said, but until Vidabox can confirm their license to vend CableCARD Vista boxes we may be inclined to take the word of the project manager in Microsoft's Windows group that contacted us. Either way, we'll let ya know.

[Andy @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:12AM]

so umm...i guess they're not messing around then?

[Maff @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:51AM]

will someone please answer me this:
how are they playing HD-DVD as well as Blu-ray???

I have both drives in my Media Center PC but can only get PowerDVD to play Blu-ray and WinDVD8 HD doesn't even try HD-DVD

what software does this monster use???

[sxt173 @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:53AM]

I don't get it. I thought the consensus was that only the big boys like Dell and HP would ever be able to get CableCard certification on Vista machines.

How is this "Voodoo-type" aftermarket retailer getting CableCard support on a roll-your-own MediaPC?

[CaptCaveman @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:19AM]

That's just it, this isn't a home made PC. It's not Dell or HP. But they are a company. A company that is approved to certify Media Center PCs.

While the PC that they are selling sounds pretty nice. I already have a BD player, and a HD-DVD player. And I don't need my Media Center PC in the living room because I have a 360 that works as an extender. I also don't want to drop 5K on a box. I would rather upgrade my current PC (not that it needs upgrading now) as I see new needs pop up.

This Cable Labs thing really ticks me off. I see this as the equivalent of needing a fuel pump for your car. But the only way to get a fuel pump is to buy a new car. Why are they making is so hard for me to timeshift the programs that I want to see. I would rather not watch TV then schedule my life around watching a TV show live.
I guess I may just end up dropping this whole Media Center thing and just go back to the cable company's PVR.

[sxt173 @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:47AM]

The reason I had questioned it was that most of the info surrounding the CableCard certification was pointing at only big manufacturers being given such certification (also mentioned by ATI). They suggested smaller boutique manufacturers would be left out, such as Voodoo PC, Alienware, etc..

Although, I am sure there will be grey market tuners or software 'solutions' soon for the likes of Hauppauge or other major tuner manufacturers to allow CableCard..

[Jason @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:52PM]

Hey!! I sent that submission to engadget. How about a little credit guys??

www.innovationsandinsights.com

j

[Steve @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:43PM]

Why can my Scientific Atlanta DVR by Cisco record 2 HD streams, and let me watch an existing already recorded HD stream with no problems, lock up or hight cost. No need for Vista, viruses, or the hassel of Microsuck. At 6.95 a month per DVR from Time Warner in Raleigh NC, it would take a lot of months to recoup the cost of that monster. Vista is loaded with DRM, so the ability to burn those HD recordings to DVD probably will not be available.

I would like to see an appliance that takes external cable cards w/o the need for vista sometime soon. AFAIK the FCC has opened up the market for STBs so it should not be long.

[Steven W Cheung @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:40PM]

*** Official VidaBox Response ***

Hello everyone,

For some reason, there's a statement disputing our CableCARD certification in the updated post. We want to assure everyone that we are indeed receiving Microsoft licenses to enable CableCARD support in our VidaBox media centers.

There seems to be quite a bit of misinformation on the web about the entire certification process, particularly about who qualifies, who doesn't, and how the whole process is completed. Regardless, the bottom line is that our VidaBox systems that will be released in March are fully licensed with Vista Ultimate & certified for CableCARD.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
VidaBox LLC
516-730-7500

[Mike @ Mar 25th 2007 10:59AM]

I had some talks with the Microsoft people in charge of CableCard Authorization, at both CES (not the guys in the booth) and Electric House Expo 2 weeks ago. One of them spoke on the certification process in the Media Center Boot Camp at EHX.

They assured me that only a hand full of OEMs would be authorized for CableCard this year and the determining factor is the number of Microsoft licenses sold per year and the presence of your product in the CE industry, not the computer industry. In addition, the ability to guarantee to market and sell large numbers of the authorized device under contract.

Those criteria alone will eliminate many small OEMs.

At CES, Niveus was the only OEM, as of that date, to be authorized. Since, I think Dell and HP have been authorized.

So, I think I question your announcement of the cable card certification.

I suspect your box may be certified, not by Microsoft, to install a cable card device, but that you are not authorized by Microsoft and therefore will not be able to obtain the OCUR product.

You, like many other builders, may have an application filed. But, if the 6th thru 10th largest computer OEMs in the US have only been told maybe by Microsoft, then a smaller OEM, like you, would be farther down the list.

Niveus was the first to be certified because they are one of the dominant players in in the CE market for MCE. That is all they do.

I seem to remember that the editors of CE Pro magazine called you on the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD announcement you made too. Finding that another manufacturer had a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD product at the Electric House Expo the previous March (2006).

Your VidaBox computer announcements have begun to raise questions all over the CE industry that leaves people questioning the validity of your statements.

Time will tell.

Mike DiMichele
CE & Computer Technology Specialist
Website Wednesday Night
WGN Radio - Chicago

http://www.savemybutt.com

Microsoft Partner
Cisco Certified
Panduit Certified
Intel Certified Wireless Systems
Consumer Electronics Association - Tech Home Div

[K @ Jan 24th 2007 8:59AM]

Steve check you bill. TWC Raleigh/Durham just upped the cost of that HD DVR monthly payment to $7.95