The
FCC is currently accepting comments about the replacement for
CableCARD and amongst the usual suspects of cable companies, consumer electronics manufactures, and industry groups is a comment by one company that stuck out -- don't worry, we're still going to read the rest. Now obviously with the announcement of
Google TV, it makes sense that Google has something to say about how 3rd parties should be able to work with cable and satellite TV providers, but there are plenty of others in the space that don't stick their neck out for consumers. Basically Google puts its support behind the new IP video gateway solution (
nicknamed AllVid) that
TiVo and Sony originally championed, but goes on to say that the goals of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 have not been achieved and that "parties from all corners of the video space agree that the current navigation device marketplace is wholly inadequate" (hey, Google and
Apple do still agree on some things). A specific example given is that while searching the entire internet is something Google can do, searching what's on your provider's video-on-demand isn't. There are a number of steps to go before any of this can become reality, but we'll be following this closely in the hopes that one day our set-top box options are half as compelling as modern smart phones.
posted July 14th 2010 4:54PM
why set top box?
why dont just embed them onto the TV itself?
@thisisit
Some tv's will have it built in.
@thisisit
Build it into the DirecTV boxes! Please!
ENGADGET iOS SDK 4.1 beta IS NOW AVAILABLE!!
@MoonWalkerCTE
If you can't keep your comments relevant to the post, you blew it.
On topic, I still don't know if internet-enabled TV is going to take off. I am in the very small minority who have an HTPC hooked up to a large TV, allowing me to get OTA programming, cable/dish service (if I felt like it ;), and a large display for my computer where I can watch DVDs, Hulu, Netflix streaming, etc.
The rising popularity and competitive cost of HTPCs will make a dedicated box with a specific set of features seem obsolete before ever reaching the market. Anyone agree?
@thisisit
Please tell me that picture is not of you.
@thisisit
my xbox can do a lot more than a google pos box ever will
@thisisit One of the biggest reasons that HTPC use hasn't been huge is because it has been nigh impossible to get most premium cable content on the HTPC because of CableLabs interference. Most people are not willing to spend the kind of money an HTPC requires if they are not going to be able to watch their movie channels, VOD, and HD programming. If these standards are adopted, they could pave the way for lots of new interface devices which will open up the market in a big way and we will see a range of devices from the slim TV and web viewing only boxes to the integrated home video distribution solutions that can truly function as a one-box-for-everything solution.
@a dumb cat I don't agree and the reason is this will be built into tvs without adding cost. so, with a free solution in hand it will ddepend on the ease of use and completeness of expectations with that being too easy if the typical consumer comes in without expectations. So while ill desire a htpc I'm not sure it'll be the solution for more than 20% of households.
Maybe its good I held off on the ceton cable card. Something better must be headed this way.
anything is better than cablecard
I just want one device watch tv and browse the web and only one searchbox to have to use. If Google or Apple are the first to do that then I'll support either
I'm still waiting for someone to launch an internal cablecard expansion for PC. Every day I just get the feeling that Ceton is going to be vaporware, and ATI's just getting back into this whole cablecard thing with, dare I say, lackluster support. I can't wait the 7 or so years that it will take for a standard to be ratified and adopted before I'm able to simply use whatever I wish to watch TV.
@ddhboy
Besides Ceton, SiliconDust is also jumping into the CableCARD game.
Just put all of this shit inside the TV. Wi-Fi, done.
@Telephoto
Sony is making televisions with built in Google TV but what if you just bought one without it? I think the Revue fits exactly my needs.
@wakeup
Thank you for that.
And if you just bought one without it, sucka.
@Telephoto
Sucka really... that is the most childish thing i have ever read on Engadget.
@Telephoto
Why? So you can replace the whole TV instead of just an inexpensive set top box when it becomes outdated? If they can make this modular so that it can easily be replace when necessary, that's fine. However, we all know that it will never happen.
@Dafrety I'm not sure why it would ever need to be replaced, unless we adopt a new HD standard, anyway. A dual core from four or five years ago could keep up quite handily as a media center, and it wouldn't be hard at all to put something like that (or perhaps one of the new dual-core Atoms) into a television. Any upgrades I could think of would be able to be done with software updates. I would like to hear an example, if you have one, though.
Funny, I have the cable guy over at the house this very instance installing a cable card. Why they couldn't mail it to me and instead have to have a guy come out to do it is beyond me.
@Jimi $
@Jimi i've had numerous cablecards installed over the years (at least 5) and have done it myself every time. comcast has never required someone come do out to do it.
Can someone explain why they mentioned Apple? Sorry very long day for me...Google TV does way more than what Apple TV does.
do you really think cable companies want a device other than their poorly made cable box sitting under someones tv? the $11 a month they charge would really hurt their pockets. if they had to compete with aftermarket boxes then they would have to upgrade their crappy offerings now. imagine how much money comcast would have to spend to go from their 1995 technology they now offer to technology from 2010.
In some cases. Cablecards actually work and are easy to setup. At least that was my experience with fios and a Tivo series 3. Plus I get the benefit of being able to rip shows completely DRM free with direct show dump and Tivo desktop. Anything new will probably put a stop to that type of inapropriate behavior.
Anytime the FCC opens it's big mouth the CE industry dumps the last thing.
So the FCC forced the cable companies and the CE industry to do Tru2way.... aaand now nobody is making them. Why is that you might ask? Just look at the stupid carp the FCC is pulling with this right here. Just when Tru2way is ready, the FCC already starts talking about making a rule for something else. They did the exact same thing with Cable card, the CE industry abandoned it when the FCC mandated true2way.
There's ZERO reason for the FCC to get involved now. There are what? at least 30 stand alone non-cable company boxes that can stream all kinds of programing to your TV now over a cable modem.
Just stay out of our lives government. TV isn't so important that you have to control a private wire payed for by private industry for private people.
@annonymiss
Wow you couldn't be any more mis-informed. tru2way is not mandated by the FCC, it is a solution that was worked out by cable and the CE industry and the CE companies don't make products because (among other reasons) the cable industry hasn't delivered. All cable markets were supposed to be tru2way ready by July of 2009, according to the memorandum of understanding, and it is over a year past due with no sight of becoming a reality.
The CE industry agreed to CableCARD kicking and screaming (it was in favor of DCR+) and now not even the members of the NCTA want to use it because it is so expensive and are petitioning to the FCC for waivers.
No, the FCC has done NOTHING for long enough, it has given the industry 14 years to work together and you see where it has gotten us.
More importantly, is there a way for consumers to submit their opinions to the FCC?
@jjohns63
Use this link, the proceeding number is 97-80.
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display?z=fzrrv
Any the chance of any of this working with Sky in the UK?
Moving back the the US of A is fine, but where will I get the warm beer???