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Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR

Oregon and Southwest Washington are enjoying more than just the launch of Comcast's updated A28 guide today, the company also announced it has begun offering Anyroom DVR (not to be confused with Anyroom On Demand) setups in the area. It's a pretty standard MoCA implementation, one central HD DVR that allows customers to watch and control recorded programming from other hard drive-less set-top boxes in the same house. Comcast say Anyroom DVR is available in 20 markets including the Bay area, Western Mass, Augusta, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Little Rock and others, while forum posts on DSLReports indicate promos have been spotted in Chicago and Pennsylvania with a price tag of $19.95 for the main DVR, and the usual fees for the other boxes (maximum of 3).

We couldn't get an official confirmation on the amount of storage available 500GB is an all too welcome improvement over the 160GB / 250GB drives still sitting in most standard DVRs Comcast issues or the FiOS one we tested a while back, outpaces the 250GB / 320GB options in AT&T's U-verse setups and would put it on par with DirecTV's HR24 (can be upgraded) and the new Cox Plus Package. Sure, it's a little late to record every World Cup match in HD (or 3D) but we're sure you'll find something to fill the space.

Update: Check after the break for specs on the main DVR and networked set-top boxes. (Thanks, Robert!)



Host box

Dimensions:

  • 15 x 10.5 x 3.25

Available Outputs:

  • Coaxial RF

  • IEEE-1394

  • Multi Stream Cable Card

  • S-Video

  • IR Receiver

  • USB 2.0

  • Ethernet

  • Digital Audio Coaxial (S/PDIF)

  • Digtial Audio Optical (S/PDIF)

  • eSATA

  • HDMI

Specifications:

  • DVR

  • Supports 3D Programming

  • DCX 3400: 250GB Hard disk drive; DCX3400M: 500GB Hard disk drive,

  • 256MB RAM, HDMI, eSATA, 1GHz in-band, legacy OOB, XMP1 protocol remote control

  • DOCSIS, MPEG-4/ AVC, RJ-45 Ethernet interface

  • Front panel display

  • Energy Star compatible

DCX3400M:
The DCX3400M includes everything listed above, as well as:
Moca Capable
AnyRoom DVR

Networked boxes

Dimensions:

  • 15 x 10.5 x 3.25

Note:
The TiVo guide is currently not compatible with this converter.

Available Outputs:

  • Coaxial RF

  • IEEE-1394

  • Multi Stream Cable Card

  • S-Video

  • IR Receiver

  • USB 2.0

  • Ethernet

  • Digital Audio Coaxial (S/PDIF)

  • Digtial Audio Optical (S/PDIF)

  • HDMI

Specifications:

  • Supports 3D Programming

  • Single 1 GHz digital video tuner, 64 MB Flash, 256MB DRAM, HDMI

  • DOCSIS, MPEG-4/ AVC, RJ-45 Ethernet interface

  • No Front Panel buttons

  • Energy Star compatible

  • External Power Supply

  • Deployed with legacy firmware with native a25 2.2 guide

  • OCAP capable

  • Tru2way support

  • Supports Switched Digital Video (SDV) solutions

DCX3200M:
The DCX3200M includes everything listed above, as well as:
Moca Capable
AnyRoom DVR


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Comcast Adds Remote DVR Scheduling, AnyRoom DVR Viewing and Upgrades On-Screen Program Guide in Oregon and SW Washington

New Enhancements Make It Easier, Faster and More Convenient For Customers to Schedule, Record, Manage and Watch Favorite Programs


BEAVERTON, Ore., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comcast today announced the launch of new features to its DVR service, including AnyRoom DVR, as well as on-screen program guide that will bring more choice and convenience than ever for Digital Cable customers in Oregon and SW Washington. The additions, which will improve the overall customer experience and make future enhancements – like interactive television – possible, are part of Comcast's recent launch of XFINITY TV. XFINITY is about offering customers more HD, more speed, more choice and more control over their services.

"Our Digital Cable customers in Oregon and SW Washington will see significant value and convenience from these new features," said Hank Fore, Regional Vice President in Oregon and SW Washington. "We remain committed to providing our customers with the ultimate TV viewing experience, and AnyRoom DVR, the enhanced DVR functions and new on-screen program guide technology join a long list of value-added features that make watching favorite programming easier and more enjoyable than ever."

Comcast AnyRoom™ DVR Service

This new DVR service allows a customer to view DVR recordings on any networked set-top box in the home, and to finish watching a saved recording in one room that was started in another.

Equipment

AnyRoom DVR is comprised of one HD/DVR set-top box as the primary outlet and up to three additional HD set-top boxes that can play back content recorded on the DVR on the primary outlet.

AnyRoom DVR Functions

The primary DVR controls all DVR recording functions - scheduling, deleting, recording settings and more.
The networked set-top boxes can be used to view, sort, play, fast-forward, rewind, pause, skip ahead or skip back within DVR recordings, and give you the same control no matter what TV you are viewing from.

New On-Screen Program Guide Features

Customers do not need to add equipment to take advantage of these enhancements, which are completely free of charge.

Watch in HD Button

The new Watch in HD button feature allows customers to quickly switch to the HD version of the program they are watching and eliminates searching for the HD version of the channel.
The Watch in HD Button cuts scroll times and allows customers to jump from the SD channel to the corresponding HD channel faster.

On Demand Skip Ahead/Skip Back

On Demand Skip Ahead and Skip Back enables customers to skip ahead or skip back in five minutes increments while watching On Demand programming by using the Page Up (skip ahead) and Page Down (skip back) arrows on the remote control.

Other New DVR Service Features

Customers do not need to add equipment to take advantage of these enhancements, which are completely free of charge.

myDVR Manager

myDVR Manager is a new feature that allows customers with a Comcast DVR and high-speed Internet service to remotely schedule and adjust their recordings online using Comcast TV Listings. Comcast customers can logon to www.comcast.net/tv to add programs to their recording list and manage their scheduled DVR recordings as well as change the priority of recorded series. In addition, customers with an iPhone or iPod Touch can remotely schedule their DVR recordings using the Comcast Mobile App.

DVR Search & Record

DVR Search & Record enables customers to search for a program by actor, title, director and keyword. For example, if a customer searches for "Clint Eastwood" all programs Clint Eastwood acted in or directed that are in the TV Listings would appear. If the customer saves the Clint Eastwood search, the DVR would automatically search for new matches and schedule recordings anytime a Clint Eastwood program aired on any channel.

DVR Skip Ahead/Skip Back

DVR Skip Ahead/Skip Back allows customers to skip ahead or skip back in five minute increments by pressing Page Up and Page Down arrows on the remote.

DVR History, Cleanup and Folders

DVR History displays information on already recorded, watched and deleted programs.
DVR Clean Up allows customers to manage their DVR by deleting in bulk programs they no longer want to save.
DVR Folders - When customers record more than one episode of a series, DVR Folders will automatically create a folder where programs are stored.

For more information on the new program guide customers can visit www.comcast.net/newguide or to order Comcast Digital Cable service, customers can call 1-800-COMCAST or visit www.comcast.com.

About Comcast

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.5 million cable customers, 16.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.9 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, 11 regional sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, and a large, multipurpose arena in Philadelphia, the Wachovia Center, and manages other facilities for sporting events, concerts and other events.