Comcast's Amy Banse just hit the stage at NewTeeVee Live and announced key details about the company's new On Demand Online launch. If you can't check out the video (embedded after the break) here's the important stuff: It will be available at no additional cost to existing subscribers and allow the authorization of up to 3 devices per household. Log in once from home to Comcast.net or Fancast.com, download the Move Networks powered player to authorize your PC and proceed to stream from the very healthy library of VOD, whether at home or anywhere else, despite previous rumors to the contrary. The bad news? Yes, this does still count against the 250GB monthly cap if used at home and still no word on HD streaming, but within the concept of making content available to subscribers wherever they want to view it, this seems like a good first step.
I strive to temper my language in public forum in general, so I hope you'll pardon me when I say Comcast can eat a bag of shit and proceed to burn in the center of Hell.
Do you have to have comcast internet? What if you only have cable tv? Additionally, many people are on a plan for their entire apartment or condo building, and don't have an individual comcast account.
"Yes, this does still count against the 250GB monthly cap if used at home and still no word on HD streaming, but within the concept of making content available to subscribers wherever they want to view it, this seems like a good first step."
Its Comcast. You expect to stream HD with Comcast internet? They arent going to support something that they are incapable of serving to their customers, it will just make them look bad.
Does this also apply to people who just subscribe to cable internet, and not TV? If so, then great - but otherwise I'm out of luck (of course it makes sense that it wouldn't but eh).
Has anyone ever hit that cap? How did they contact you? I've been downloading/uploading like crazy for months and haven't been notified once. Service has not cut out at all. Lucky? Do the internets' gods love me?
Downloading and uploading like crazy is not enough to hit 250gbs. Its almost impossible to download that much relevant data in a month. If you torrented 24/7 you probably couldnt do it because most torrents arent fast enough, I've never encountered a torrent that was 8gbs and finished in a day.
I monitor our household bandwidth with Tomato firmware on the router. We use about 120-150 GB a month. This is two adults with 3 total computers, a PS3, Wii, 3 TiVo's, and other things that use the net.
I've gotten letters from my isp before but they don't mean anything. 250GB's is too low, I think 500GB cap would be acceptable. Personally I wish it was tiered just like the speed is. If you have 3 tiers of speed it should be 250GB, 500GB, 1TB respectively in bandwidth. 250GB works out to about 53 dvd's/month (single layer, or 30 dual). I have reached that many times.
I tried to get more details from Comcast's site, but I couldn't find anything. I want to know if they're going to make the software run on Mac OS, or if they're going to only do PC, wait a year, and then decide to make a Mac version.
The only way they can possibly justify charging the data quota for this is if they show it commercial-free. If they're still going to show commercials, then they should still be getting money from advertisers, which should subsidize the increased bandwidth.
I hope I can view these Comcast On Demand via Boxee. Just need somebody to write a little app/script for Boxee and it should be good... If it can happen for Netflix and Hulu, I'm hoping it can happen with this. If it does, I just might switch back to Comcast from RCN.
I'm guessing Comcast CATV will be required for this one? If so, what tier? If it requires anything above basic (I'm sure it does) I'll stamp a big red FAIL on it and move on. Would be usedul if it worked for internet-only customers like myself; my 22/5 connection needs a workout now and then.
so is this a browser plugin or stand-alone app? and how does one authorize it? by IP address? comcast account number?
why is this "service" coming out in december 2009 when slingbox (yes I'm aware you need separate hardware) has been doing exactly this for... 4+ years?
“That iconic Klipsch sound is here in full force, with crisp highs, delicate mids (which can easily have a bit more meat added with an EQ tweak) and tight, booming bass.”
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posted Nov 12th 2009 4:58PM
I hate limits on shit no matter which way you serve it.
Soooo... basically, you like unlimited sHit served your way? i know, i know... you eat pieces of shiT like me for breakfast.
@ RdRunner
Cool story, bro.
Like any good pusher...The first one's always free.
Love Entourage
Yeah but the shark lost its jump virginity a while ago. Especially any episode centering on that loser E... guaranteed snoozefest.
They had me until - download a player....
Well they make you do that, because there's no existing, ubiquitous player available on 99% of computers at the present.
Of course, I'm being sarcastic. We have Real Player.
I would hope this counts against the cap. If Comcast didn't, then that would be in violation of network neutrality principles.
??
You're right... you can't favor your own content and not run afoul of the Federal Government's regulation of the Internet.
I'd hit it, even if she works for the devil.
I'd hit it *because* she works for the devil.
they should have a cheaper plan with limit for people to choose
I strive to temper my language in public forum in general, so I hope you'll pardon me when I say Comcast can eat a bag of shit and proceed to burn in the center of Hell.
I just want to watch TV on my laptop, no limits, no requirements.
That's it.
I gave up after looking at all these various options and solutions, DVR + TUNER + STREAMER, Tivo etc...
It's almost 2010, is it really that hard to be able to watch TV on my laptop wirelessly?
Technically? No, not at all.
Legally, within the laws that our media and tech industries have paid Washington to make? Basically impossible.
Sorry.
Sling Box
iplayer / hulu / torrents all work fine on a laptop.
Do people on engadget really watch live TV anymore?
Do you have to have comcast internet? What if you only have cable tv? Additionally, many people are on a plan for their entire apartment or condo building, and don't have an individual comcast account.
People have been telling me "no you don't have to have Comcast BB"
/I'll wait to hear that from Comcast
I may have missed this, but what is the quality of this video content? 640x480? HD?
"Yes, this does still count against the 250GB monthly cap if used at home and still no word on HD streaming, but within the concept of making content available to subscribers wherever they want to view it, this seems like a good first step."
Its Comcast. You expect to stream HD with Comcast internet? They arent going to support something that they are incapable of serving to their customers, it will just make them look bad.
Does this also apply to people who just subscribe to cable internet, and not TV? If so, then great - but otherwise I'm out of luck (of course it makes sense that it wouldn't but eh).
Sooooooo lame they make it count against your monthly cap. Thank god I don't have comcast.
Will I be able to watch live NFL with this
Has anyone ever hit that cap? How did they contact you? I've been downloading/uploading like crazy for months and haven't been notified once. Service has not cut out at all. Lucky? Do the internets' gods love me?
verizon doesn't love me, that's for sure. glad ccast is working for you.
Downloading and uploading like crazy is not enough to hit 250gbs. Its almost impossible to download that much relevant data in a month. If you torrented 24/7 you probably couldnt do it because most torrents arent fast enough, I've never encountered a torrent that was 8gbs and finished in a day.
I monitor our household bandwidth with Tomato firmware on the router. We use about 120-150 GB a month. This is two adults with 3 total computers, a PS3, Wii, 3 TiVo's, and other things that use the net.
@Eh:
Comcast 22/5 DOCSIS 3 plan + Any HD torrent site = HD movie in about an hour at my house.
I regularly hit 400GB/mo total data transfer, have yet to even get a letter or a call.
I've gotten letters from my isp before but they don't mean anything. 250GB's is too low, I think 500GB cap would be acceptable. Personally I wish it was tiered just like the speed is. If you have 3 tiers of speed it should be 250GB, 500GB, 1TB respectively in bandwidth. 250GB works out to about 53 dvd's/month (single layer, or 30 dual). I have reached that many times.
I tried to get more details from Comcast's site, but I couldn't find anything. I want to know if they're going to make the software run on Mac OS, or if they're going to only do PC, wait a year, and then decide to make a Mac version.
The only way they can possibly justify charging the data quota for this is if they show it commercial-free. If they're still going to show commercials, then they should still be getting money from advertisers, which should subsidize the increased bandwidth.
Yes?
No, commercials pay for the shows, why would the networks allow Comcast to strip out their commercials?
I'm just wondering when they're going to release that damn usage monitor that they promised us over a year ago!!!
so by "really goes anywhere" you mean, "really goes anywhere but is limited to being used on a computer, mobile devices screwed"
I hope I can view these Comcast On Demand via Boxee. Just need somebody to write a little app/script for Boxee and it should be good... If it can happen for Netflix and Hulu, I'm hoping it can happen with this. If it does, I just might switch back to Comcast from RCN.
44:43 minutes. What Entourage episode is that? Oh wait, none.
I'm guessing Comcast CATV will be required for this one? If so, what tier? If it requires anything above basic (I'm sure it does) I'll stamp a big red FAIL on it and move on. Would be usedul if it worked for internet-only customers like myself; my 22/5 connection needs a workout now and then.
i have had Comcast HD for about a year now, and nothing on demand is what I want to see... maybe if they made EVERY show available...
"whether at home or anywhere else"
I bet it doesn't work overseas
Too bad it doesn't let you access what's recorded on your DVR.
so is this a browser plugin or stand-alone app?
and how does one authorize it? by IP address? comcast account number?
why is this "service" coming out in december 2009 when slingbox (yes I'm aware you need separate hardware) has been doing exactly this for... 4+ years?
/fail I'll stick with slingbox.
So when they say anywhere, they mean...anywhere inside continental America, right?
FUCK YOU Comcast. Those fuckers are threatening me with collections on equipment I already returned. I hope Brian Roberts gets cancer and dies.