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The FCC changes the CableCARD rules, but not dramatically
The long awaited rule changes pertaining to CableCARDs that was originally proposed in the FCC's Broadband Plan finally got some resolve today, we have to say we're not convinced things will get that much better. While the FCC failed to kill Tuning Adapters or make the CableLabs certification process any less painful, it did make some changes, which include: CableCARD fees have to be the same for everyone, no matter which package you have. If your cable company allows any self installs, they must allow CableCARD self-installs. Cable companies must support SDV for CableCARD users -- this was implied before, now it is black and white. By default, all new deployments must be M-Cards (unless you actually request a S-Card). Cable companies can include an IP interface in set-top-boxes lieu of a 1394 port. One way HD boxes without CableCARDs are no longer forbidden and they don't require IP interfaces. Obviously nothing is as simple as six bullet points and there's much more detail in the 59 page order, so click on through for our interpretation of the nitty-gritty or hit up the PDF source and go nuts.
FCC waives 1394 requirement in lieu of an IP interface
On Thursday July 1st it'll have been five years since the FCC mandate went into affect requiring all cable set-top boxes to have a 1394 port. Well, anyone who's ever tried to obtain and use said port knows it is neither convenient or terribly useful. The problem is that even when the port is functional, most of the content is locked down with DRM. Third party 1394 based DVRs have never been any good, and companies like Microsoft and TiVo aren't interested in supporting the interface. We can't say we blame them, in fact 1394 is on its way out and even Apple doesn't support it on the iOS line of products anymore and while 1394 used to be the de facto standard for digital camcorders, most new ones don't use 'em. So it isn't a shocker in the least bit that the FCC has granted a waiver on the mandate and now while operators are still required to make boxes with functional 1394 ports available to those who request it, the rest of the boxes can just support an IP interface instead. Of course this doesn't mean you'll actually be able to use this IP interface, but there's no reason to believe that the DRM used to lock down the content will ever be supported by anything that you'd actually want to consume content on.
Fujitsu's MB88395 HD-over-Firewire controller hits the road
HD video is headed for your auto, and just like your home, you need to be able to soak up those pixels from more than one seat. To keep manufacturers from having to pull HDMI cables through the door panels and running boards, Fujitsu has the MB88395 controller (catchy name, right?) for streaming your entertainment around the cabin over a DTCP-protected 1394 network. At the heart of Fujitsu's silicon is the SmartCODEC, which can take a decompressed 1280x720 pixel video stream at 885Mbps and compress it down to 249Mbps with only a couple of milliseconds of delay. Never mind that Blu-ray only spits out a maximum data rate of 54Mbps, the analog hole comes through again -- just like in the home. Don't you just love copy protection?
HANA Entertainment Box looks to pass along HD content over coax
Coaxial cabling has long since been viewed as a premiere option for passing along high-def content within the home. After all, in most places it's already neatly installed within the walls. The High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) has announced its intentions to release a HANA Entertainment Box reference design based on the new (UWB-based) 1394 Over Coax standard; products based on said design will enable consumers to "download HD content from any broadband connection or HD cable set-top-box and watch it in any room in their home with a coax jack and a remote control." HANA is hoping to have the reference design and initial prototypes out the door in Q4, though we wouldn't hold our breath.
FireWire 1600 and 3200 approved by IEEE
While FireWire 800 gear is still pretty rare and we've only seen one piece of FireWire 1600 kit, the IEEE is still pushing the standard forward -- it's just approved the 1394-2008 spec, which includes both FireWire 1600 and 3200. Interestingly, the spec is fully backwards compatible with both 400 and 800 ports, but it remains to be seen which connector gets used more prevalently. We'll find out in October, when the spec is made available to manufacturers -- looks like that controversial 2010 launch of USB 3.0 just got upstaged a little, huh?[Via CrunchGear]
FireWire: over a billion ports served
Alright, so we've harshed a little bit on FireWire recently, but we've got to stop and give the venerable interconnect some love: the 1394 Trade Association says that there are now over a billion FireWire ports out there. That's quite an accomplishment, even if we're not so sure that the group's claim that "every 1394-equipped device sold now has 1 billion opportunities to connect" is the most accurate or useful way of measuring the success of the technology. Even still, growth is always a good thing, and with an estimated 15 percent expansion rate in existing markets and some new applications like in-car networking showing potential, it looks like FireWire is set to hold its own against USB and eSATA for a while longer.
HANA adds Cablevision & 17 other new members, demos connectivity
We've been following the High Definition Audio Video Network Alliance for over a year now and at this year's CES the group is announcing it has added 18 new companies, most notably Cablevision joining as a board member. The promise of easily connected HD devices from companies like JVC, Mitsubishi and Samsung is enticing but the fact is that none of those companies announced plans for the technology in their new product lineups. CE Pro sat in on a reception last night and did see connectivity demonstrations on various devices, including a HANA-enabled Samsung HDTV. Progress takes time so for now check out a list of HANA's 17 other new members after the break and dream of a day when your HDTV, AV system, set-top box, DVR and PMPs can join hands as sisters and brothers throughout the house with no new wiring or extensive setup necessary.Read - Cablevision Joins High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) BoardRead - HANA Scores with Multiple Vendors Showing Interoperability over 1394
1394TA and HANA to offer "1394 over coax via UWB" home networking
Although coax isn't the freshest medium on the block, there's still a good bit of potential yet to be realized in your household cable wiring. The 1394 Trade Association has teamed up with the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (aka HANA) in hopes of networking the electronics in your crib by tapping into the copious amount of cable you've probably already got installed. While turning all of your home entertainment devices into one big happy family has been a long-standing fantasy, these two organizations are hoping to bring the ideas to complete fruition via ultrawideband technology (UWB). Plans are to leverage the bandwidth in your home's coaxial cable to network HDTVs, PVRs, set-top boxes, HTPCs, NAS drives, DVD players, and whatever else you can throw in the mix by using hardware and software developed by PulseLink (which we've already seen in action), Freescale Semiconductor, and Samsung Electronics. The technology will reportedly play nice with your legacy programming, meet the current FCC mandates, and even support IP. As expected, 1394 over coax via UWB will support DRM, so even though content guardians of the world can rest easy, we could potentially endure a bit of headache in the "seamless networking" that we're led to expect. This promising application will supposedly feature "real-time QoS [quality of service]" and raw data rates "exceeding 1Gbps," which combined with its long list of attributes, sounds like a match made in heaven for those looking to network their currently disconnected entertainment devices. But until we see hard pricing and implementations beyond a trade show setup (i.e. some industry support), we'll continue to keep our fingers patiently crossed, and our coax patiently un-networked.
1394 is -- still -- coming to home theater
Things have been a bit quiet on the 1394 front since the HANA announcement, but they want us to know things are still progressing. This article from EETimes goes into the issues faced by the connector and why it hasn't taken off yet. We all want all of our devices to be able to talk to each other and share their content but so far that hasn't materialized. Helping get the ball rolling are planned 1394b support in a Vista service pack and the ability to send 1394 signals over ethernet or coax. Still, many CE manufacturers seem to be backing ethernet and the DLNA as a way of connecting devices, and this stalemate is even more complex than Blu-ray/HD DVD. As it is, most of us have cable or satellite boxes equipped with FireWire, ethernet and USB ports that are mostly unsupported, unless you like to tinker. Is the (easily) connected home 6 months or 6 years away?
Vista to support 1394b, aka FireWire 800
One of the best ways to send HD material between devices is 1394, for one it has tons of bandwidth, it is very versatile and has good industry support. We are not sure why it isn't included in more TVs especially considering that so many TVs include ATSC tuners. We don't subscribe to the evil MPAA theory, but we don't have a better explanation either.Either way we are glad to have the new faster version included in Vista, not because we need the extra throughput, but because of the distance that 1394 over CAT5 gives us. 1394b combined with a network technology like HANA has alot of promise and OS support is the first of many pieces that must come together to give us the whole home media nirvana that we all dream of, now we just need 5C support.Thanks Julie
Does your cable box have a FireWire port?
There is currently an FCC mandate in effect that requires all Cable companies to provide their customers a STB with a functional 1394 (FireWire) port on request. This mandate was agreed to by the Cable companies (yes they all signed it) and went into effect on April 1st, 2004. Back then I tried to get one and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Shortly after another Tampa resident called the CEO of Advance/Newhouse Communications, (the parent company of Bright House Networks) the boxes became available.
But who gets top bunk? HANA and 1394 TA to share a booth at CES
More of this "collaboration" as some people call it, I'm taking a cue from the HD-DVD and Blu-ray camps and thumbing my nose at all forms of standardization and cooperative efforts. The latest two draw my ire are the 1394 Trade Association and HANA who will be showing off how they can make your digital media devices connect better and more easily in just one booth at CES. I mean really, who wants that, now Kevin can't get the exercise of walking back and forth from booth to booth. It's a fact, 1394 makes kids and Kevins fat.From the release: "At ICES, HANA will demonstrate HD audio-video room-to-room networking with a network interface unit. It also will host a demonstration featuring audio and video distributed using 1394 through a variety of legacy products including Cable STBs, D-VCRs, AV hard drives, camcorders and a new HDTV. The Trade Association will participate in the booth, and plans to establish a formal liaison with HANA early in 2006."Blah blah blah, all this working together makes me sick, excuse me while I go work on some proprietary technology.
Apple/Firewire getting a boost from HANA's HDTV plan?
So it would seem, Macsimum News has gone deeper into last weeks announcement of the newly-formed HDTV initiative, and how exactly they plan to connect all of your devices together. Basically, HANA certified devices will all use 1394 to communicate with one another, without the installation of drivers and users will be able to control all connected devices with one remote.What with Firewire being an Apple technology, plus Apple's existing relationships with some of the companies in the group, it seems like a no-brainer that apple will be getting on board at some point. That is all of no concern to me, I just want to know when I can get that widescreen high-resolution MPEG-4 playing video iPod, Mr. Jobs?
