Pace
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+Le Cube HD DVR brings a touch of class to Canal+
Apparently not happy with standard DVR offerings, Pace France delivered the slick +Le Cube exclusively for Canal+ and CANALSAT subscribers this month. Canal+'s first internal hard drive-packing HD DVR coming with 320GB of storage, Ethernet for downloading VOD and a 128 x 128 exterior LCD that senses if the unit is standing up or lying down and adjusts accordingly. Promising near-silent operation, multiroom streaming, catch up service and recommendations make sure it's got substance to go with style as Canal+ rolls out new offerings. Like the time it takes to change channels, we're not sure if the design of a STB is enough to change services for, but peep our gallery and imagine how that'd look next to your Armani HDTV.%Gallery-38035%
2012 London Olympics to push broadcast 1080p?
Good decision London, you will never top the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, so why not try pushing them on resolution. That's the potential idea coming out of a recent roundtable discussion at Rapid News TV. Reps from Tektronix and Pace cited interest from their customers in 1080p-ready equipment and the potential for an IBC 1080p feed in 2012 as reasons to believe, while the Tandberg rep -- from the company that previously predicted the onslaught of 1080p VOD via satellite -- was more concerned about finding enough bandwidth. Hit the read link for the full discussion, while we ponder a world where NBC could actually get 1080i right before going to 1080p, or least show the 100m final live, somewhere.
Up close and personal with the new Pace HD STBs
It's tough to get too excited about new cable STBs, but the latest crop do have some pretty cool features. The coolest new feature we noticed -- other than tru2way of course -- was the fact that the new line of Pace HD STBs have a built in DOCSIS modem. This will allow the STB to access the Internet, but also via the included Ethernet port on the back, you can say goodbye to your dedicated cable modem. Anytime we can get rid of yet another box and accompanying wall-wart, we're happy.%Gallery-23245%
Pace unveils new MPEG-4 cable STB
The NCTA Cable Show kicks off today, and Pace Micro Technology is ready with a line of MPEG-4 capable set-top boxes aimed at provers in North and South America. Besides handling advanced compression technologies with ease, they'll handle all that switched digital video (SDV), all-digital network, DOCSIS channel bonding and tru2way support the kids are so into these days. Two way messaging (for updating ones Facebook status/Twitter/Plaxo) is also in the bag, oplus backwards compatibility with older networks. Pictured is the "Aspen" box, a dual-tuner DVR CableCARD host box, but expect Apache (HD, no DVR) and Denali (SD only, no DVR) flavors to also be tucked securely in a cable guy's truck near you when they launch later this year.%Gallery-23154%
Fans react to 3D Mavericks / Clippers matchup
Under normal circumstances, we tend to give 3D a hard time around here, but it's hard to deny the strides the technology has made of late in an attempt to move beyond being a gimmick and into a desirable product. It seems that hundreds of NBA fans that packed the Magnolia Theater just days ago were quite impressed with the first regular season matchup to be aired in 3D. Those in attendance were able to catch a commercial-free 3D broadcast of the Dallas Mavericks versus the LA Clippers courtesy of two Sony 4K projectors and a set of gaudy glasses. Unfortunately, we're not sure if the one-time event will blossom into something more, but feel free to tap the read link for more opinions and a couple more snapshots.[Via AboutProjectors]
FSN Southwest preps first NBA regular season 3D broadcast
It's good to see those Brits aren't the only ones getting 3D HD sports action this season, as PACE is back and hooking its Fusion 3D tech to an NBA game yet again. For the first time during the regular season (after last year's All-Star Game and a Finals game) -- and unsurprisingly with a connection to Engadget HD friend Mark Cuban (where's our invite man?) -- the March 25 game between the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Clippers can be viewed live at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, or across town in the Magnolia Theatre with Sony's SXRD 3D projection system beamed onto an 18x42 foot screen for VIPs and 100 lucky fans who can win entry on mavs.com. Now if they could just find a way to simulate buying tickets for way over face value from eBay or StubHub in the theatre, it would be just like going to a real game.
Cavaliers fans to watch the finals in 3D HD
The best thing about using a series of games to decide the champion of a league is the fact that fans from both teams get to experience at least one home game. But even when your team is away, people often still gather and watch the game at the arena (if not on their big screen); and this year the Cleveland Cavaliers arena-goers are going to have a better viewing experience than most. Rather than watching the away games on the side of a building, though, they'll be catching the action in glorious three-dimensional HD -- with a little help from 3D motion imaging specialist PACE. The game will be captured with PACE's Sports Fusion 3D HD camera systems. Then using TI DLP projectors, it will be displayed on four 46-feet 3D screens. So, even if you aren't a basketball fan, if you're anywhere near the Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday at 9pm, you might want to check it out -- assuming you can even get in. [Thanks, Andy M]
NBA's 2007 All-Star Game in HDTV... and 3D
If you can't afford a courtside seat at this weekend's NBA All-Star Game festivities, the league is testing a new way to "change the way we see the game" -- sans the chance of rubbing elbows with various celebrities. Guests in Las Vegas, will go to the Mandalay Bay hotel instead of the Thomas and Mack Center where the game is being played, and don special glasses to view view a 3D high definition version of TNT's broadcast of Saturday and Sunday night's activities. Five 3D camera systems have been installed around the arena by Pace, and according to the NBA's VP of operations and technology, the HDTV widescreen broadcast will allow them to avoid many cuts and camera movements, hopefully minimizing any shaky cam effect some complained about during the special SkyCam broadcast last year. If you can't make it to Vegas to check things out, you can still see this technology at work this season, as a similar broadcast during the NBA Finals is already planned. No word on plans for a "belligerent drunk" simulator, so either way we still have a long way to go towards simulating the real game experience in a theater and someday in the future, at home.Read - Variety Read - Broadcasting & Cable
Pace's satellite/IPTV hybrid PVR
Looks like 2Wire isn't the only player in the league trying to forge a little satellite / IPTV lovefest, with British manufacturer Pace now pushing a hybrid set-top box of its own -- dropping some PVR and content sharing functionality into the unit to boot. Dubbed simply the Pace Hybrid PVR at the moment, the box is being offered directly to operators looking for a two-pronged approach to pry customers away from the cozy confines of their cable provider, meaning it's still a ways off from actually landing in your living room. Like the 2Wire box, Pace's unit will give customers the attractive-but-likely-pricey option of side-by-side standard or high definition satellite and IPTV service (a la U-verse), and the ability to stream all that content (wired or wirelessly) to other IP-enabled devices in your house -- like a PC, handheld, or a second set-top box. No word yet on any takers for the converged STB, but with SBC already staking out its territory with 2Wire, we're guessing that there must be at least few other operators out there looking to play a little catch-up.[Via GigaOM]
Pace intros a new Free-to-air satellite receiver in the UK
UK HDTV viewers now have a second way to receive their free-to-air signals. Pace has launched their own set-top box that will allow people to enjoy soccer football on the BBC. With all the issues Sky is having getting their HD boxes up this might be a great way to enjoy the worlds past-time. Users will need to point their dish 28.2 degrees East and of course have an HDTV. The box will sell for 299 pounds and be available later in June.
