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TWC to make Tuning Adapters available "later this year"
It's hard to say if letters like this are going out all over the country, but at least in central New York, Time Warner Cable has all intentions of providing CableCARD users with Tuning Adapters "later this year." Of note, the letter was addressed prior to the FCC slapping it with a fine for deploying SDV in an apparently improper manner, but at any rate, central NYers using a standard TiVo Series3 / TiVo HD now will see a whole slew of channels go dark on November 13th. The note also asserts that "it is currently contemplated that the Tuning Adapter will be provided at no additional charge," but that's a far cry from outrightly saying that they'll be doled out gratis. Guess we'll see in time, huh? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Panasonic's tru2way-enabled TH-50PZ80Q plasma lands in Chicago retailer
We were told yesterday that Panasonic's 50-inch VIERA TH-50PZ80Q plasma had made landfall in Chicago at Abt Electronics, and here we have the images to prove it. America's first live commercial tru2way deployment is underway, and this is the spot if you're looking to be among the first to indulge. All yours for $2,299 (the HDTV, that is) -- enjoy the pics below if you're far, far away from the Windy City.%Gallery-34758%[Thanks, Mark]
Panasonic reveals first tru2way HDTVs in Chicago and Denver
We already saw Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ80Q plasma doing the tru2way thing at CEDIA 2008, but the official lever has just been pulled in Denver and Chicago. As of today, Comcast's tru2way platform is active in the aforesaid cities, and the very first tru2way-capable HDTVs are arriving to retail. Eager consumers in the Windy or Mile High City who are ready to ditch the set-top-box altogether without sacrificing VOD and such can polish off their wounded credit cards, as both a 42-inch (TH-42PZ80Q; $1,599.95) and 50-inch (TH-50PZ80Q; $2,999.95) VIERA plasma will be on sale by "late October." As for the rest of the US anxious to dip in the cool, cool waters of tru2way? A few undisclosed locales should be going live with the service "in the coming months," though your guess is as good as ours as to what exactly that means.
Cannon PC starts offering internal CableCARD tuners for sale separately
If you're like some people we know - - yes Zatz, we're talking about you -- the idea of adding yet another box to your home theater setup isn't anywhere near consideration. Up until now, this meant that if you wanted to add an ATI Digital Cable Tuner to your Vista Media Center PC, you either had to hold your nose or spend the big bucks on one of the top tier OEMs that offered the internal version -- which is actually the same device sans a case, and yes it still connects via USB. Our friend Chris Lanier discovered today that Cannon PC started selling both the external and internal versions of the ATI TV Wonder DCT separately, so that finally those with CableCARD ready Vista Media Center PCs -- you know the OEM only ones -- can either add additional tuner, or opt to swap out the external variety for the internal type the takes less space, all for about $300 each. [Via The Digital Lifestyle]
Digeo readies two Moxi set-top-boxes for release
Are you ready to believe? While Digeo's road to the present has been laden with mishaps, the latest word has it that the company will indeed be rolling out two new products in the very near future. Of course, we've seen the plug pulled at the last minute before, but if everything holds up this time, we'll see a Moxi set-top-box arrive later this month on Charter. Additionally, "a second MSO" will be offering the unit in short order, and a retail box should ship in January. Sadly, that latter device won't have tru2way capability (though it will support a multistream CableCARD), but it should be noted that Digeo is also prepping a Moxi PC interface as well as wares that could tie into home automation setups. Hit the read link for the full spill -- just don't get your hopes up too high until we see a shipping confirmation.
EI breaks the 8 CableCard / 10 Extenders barrier too with Life|media 810
Niveus Media wasn't the only show in Denver offering up a new HTPC that can handle eight simultaneously CableCARD streams while dishing out content to some ten Media Center Extenders -- oh no, Exceptional Innovation showed up with a slightly less powerful, albeit equally effective alternative of its own. If you'll recall, EI shined last year by boasting a swank quad-CableCARD rig, and this year, the LMS-810 Life|media server raises the bar by handling twice that. The $30,000 box comes with 12TB of internal storage, two internal CableCARD slots, a USB add-on box (Life|tuner) with six other CableCARD slots and a Blu-ray writer. Those unaffected by sticker shock can look for it to ship in "early 2009." For now, you can peep the gallery below to see it in action. %Gallery-31198%
Hands-on with Niveus Media's Denali, Rainier and Cargo media wares
Niveus Media came to this year's CEDIA locked and loaded, and while most typical consumers won't look too far past the sub-$2,000 Vail system, those with cash to spare and colleagues to impress will certainly appreciate the Core i7-powered $19,999 Pro Series n9 media center PC. The rig setup on the show floor had said HTPC connected to four dual-CableCARD boxes via USB ($1,500 a pop), giving it the ability to record eight HD shows simultaneously while streaming HD movie clips to ten other Media Center Extenders (without a hiccup, might we add). The mid-range Denali was also on hand, and Blu-ray drives were found across the board. We also spent a tick with the new v1.5 Niveus Movie Library, which very neatly enabled us to surf to any media stored locally or on the networked 16TB Cargo Media Server. Even if you can't afford it, this stuff is still worth a look -- check it all out here at Engadget HD.
Microsoft is working on adding SDV support to Media Center
Some things take way longer than they should, and Microsoft making an announcement about its intent to add support for the tuning adapter, for all those SDV hating Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuner users, is most definitely in that category. While we've been following this switched digital video problem for over a year now, most of the solutions we've seen have been aimed at TiVo owners, meanwhile Microsoft has been quiet. A few months ago we contacted CableLabs and AMD and while we received some promising responses, it's still just all talk. Some in the Media Center community -- yeah that's right, I'm talking about you Chris -- think the specs would have to be changed to even make it possible, but we don't see why it would be any more complicated than using the PC as a bridge with a little UPNP magic mixed it to bring it all together. Regardless of how it will work though, while we're glad MS said something, but the mystical response posted at The Green Button didn't give us much confidence that the solution is right around the corner.[Via Chris Lanier's Blog]
Niveus says "never enough," adds support for eight CableCARDs / ten Extenders
At least year's CEDIA, EI's quad-CableCARD 754 LifeMedia server was all the rage. Between then and now, Cannon PC has jumped out to offer a system with six CableCARDs. Now, Niveus Media is showing 'em all up by announcing support for up to eight CableCARDs and ten Media Center Extenders. The functionality will soon be available on the forthcoming Pro Series n9 powerhouse, which will utilize Intel's Core i7 processor. The sum of eight is reached by pairing the n9 with four Niveus Digital Cable Receivers and an external, dual CableCARD tuner device, giving users the ability to view and record eight SD / HD programs at once. Oh, and you can also stream those eight signals along with all other HD content to eleven zones. Don't kid yourself -- you know the next US President is so getting this for the White House. Full press release after the break.
Verizon vs tru2way, and the hits roll on
All this back and forth banter between the cable industry and Verizon is quite entertaining. While ultimately we agree with Verizon that there has to be a better solution than tru2way, we're not buying "it's not compatible with our network" jazz. As pointed out by a podcast listener (thanks Derek) -- the real reason why Verizon isn't down with tru2way, is because it would make all of VZ's new software useless. Either way, in the latest chapter Verizon calls out the NCTA's redicluos "it'll still work with a STB" argument, by pointing out the obvious; which is that the whole point of a system like tru2way, is to eliminate the STB. Although there is nothing new about us saying that we want to choose the software, as well as the hardware, we just hope that if we say it enough times, maybe the FCC will actually stand up and listen.
Time Warner Cable implementing SDV in Charlotte, NC
Time Warner Cable is keeping the SDV deployments a-rollin', and it sounds as if the next market to get hit is Charlotte, North Carolina. A local chimed in to let us know that he just recently received a letter in the mail from the carrier which informed him that the switch to SDV was coming on September 23rd. As predicted, the letter told him that he's pretty much out of luck being the CableCARD user that he is, and while TWC is supposedly working with TiVo on a tuning adapter, the best it could offer was a "hope" that it would be ready by "the end of the year." Gee, thanks. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Shawn]
Motorola gets official with its tru2way toolkit
Although everyone isn't on board the tru2way train, those that are excited about it, are pushing forward. Today Motorola officially announced its tru2way toolkit. The kit will includes software to run on Windows XP, as well as a Motorola tru2way STB for real world testing. So whether you work for a cable company that's ramping up for deployment, or just an independent developer hoping to break into a walled garden near you, you'll be able to test your application without all the normally insanely expensive equipment like a your own personal headend. The exact price wasn't included in the release, but whatever it costs, Motorola assures you there won't be any 3rd party licensing fees as the kit is based on open source tools.
Verizon to the FCC: We're not down with tru2way
Finally, a multi-system operator that see this whole two-way CableCARD problem the same way we do. Don't get us wrong, we want to get rid of our providers STB as much as the next, but the way we see it is tru2way isn't that great, but is better than nothing. Just like Verizon, we'd like to see "a cable-centric approach to interactive connectivity [that] does not inhibit technological innovation... or disadvantage other segments of the video marketplace." Or in other words, having the choice of what hardware that we may use on our provider's network isn't good enough, we want to choose the software too. While the rest of the cable industry thinks tru2way is open, we think it is about as open as AOL Internet access was-- so yeah, it's a walled garden. The other thing that really hit home with us about Verizon's statement, was that it thinks the approved solution should be an "all-provider" solution, meaning it should be the same no matter if the provider uses coax, fiber, copper or satellite to deliver services. We couldn't agree more, and would love nothing more than to be able to use an HD TiVo (for example) on any provider we wanted without being forced to give up any features such as HD or VOD.
LG, Funai officially jump on the tru2way bandwagon
tru2way might not be entirely without issues, but add one more major ally to CableLabs' two-way technology, as LG (and Funai) both signed onto the same Memorandum of Understanding ratified by the six largest cable operators and a slew of consumer electronics manufacturers. Ideally, this means tru2way rollout will be speedy, and there will be plenty of hardware on shelves over the next year. LG prez Woo Paik expects HDTVs planned for '09 and beyond to include tru2way support, hopefully their compatibility testing will go a little bit better than Panasonic's.
FCC waiver enables Puerto Rico's Choice Cable TV to sell HD DVRs
The FCC put a stop on selling non-CableCARD-equipped set-top-boxes in the United States around this time last year, but it did leave open the possibility for small cable carriers and other providers in strange market conditions to sidestep the new rule. Choice Cable TV, which services parts of rural Puerto Rico and the cities of Ponce and Mayaguez, finally received its long-awaited FCC waiver which will enable it to start selling HD DVRs that lack CableCARD support. It's hoping that this will rekindle demand for high-def service and consequently allow it to add more HD content. On a related note, the island's Liberty Cablevision is also applying for a similar waiver, as it argues that the low median annual household income in its service area constitutes a "idiosyncratic factual situation."
CableLabs loosens up on PC CableCARD tuner restrictions
No CableLabs isn't going to make it so you can purchase an ATI Digital Cable Tuner without an OEM PC, but it's almost that big of a change. Believe it or not, currently, even after you pony up for a PC and CableCARD tuner from the likes of Dell or Niveus, every single recording made with the CableCARD tuner is locked down with DRM -- no it doesn't matter whether the content is marked as copy freely or not, crazy huh? Well it finally looks like there is some sanity over at CableLabs, because the recently revised OCUR specification (6/20/08) no longer requires this draconian limitation. No clue when this change is going to take affect to current owners however, but it appears that a firmware update for the tuners and the elusive Vista Media Center TV Pack may be required. Either way this is a step in the right direction, but there is still no way these things will really take off until the OEM requirement is eliminated too, especially considering the current alternatives.
Motorola / Cisco see Tuning Adapters certified
July is over half way over and if you were starting to worry that the Tuning Adapters that would save your TiVo from uselessness, you can rest a little easier. Sure, you can't rest as easy as you could if you actually had one of these little guys from Motorola or Cisco making your TiVo HD or Series3 SDV compatible, but it can't be long now. In the long line of red tape that is required to bring any cable device to market, the tuning adapters have finally made it through one of the last hurdles by being certified by the all mighty CableLabs. This means that it is only a matter of time before you can expect to see a letter from either TiVo or your cable co -- assuming they are using SDV -- informing you of your HD savior. And in case you're wondering, yes the latest TiVo update -- that's right, the same one that enabled YouTube -- does include the necessary fixins to make this all work, so stay tuned while we all wait to see how things finally shake out.
TWC implementing switched digital video in Kansas City
Stay sharp, Time Warner Cable subscribers -- we've got a feeling the switched digital video wave is just beginning to swell. Merely hours after hearing that San Diego residents were receiving a letter informing them that SDV was on the way, one particular user in Kansas City has apparently received the same. Better still, he was kind enough to post the full text, which explains that a number of "lesser-viewed" channels will be delivered via SDV as of August 20th. Of course, this means that existing CableCARD users will be out of luck unless they pick up a tuning adapter, and while some carriers have already committed to handing them out to those in need for free, TWC is entirely more ambiguous. The exact verbiage reads: "It is currently contemplated that the Tuning Adapter will be provided at no additional charge," but those unwilling to wait will be forced to pick up one of the carrier's own set-top-boxes in order to see the stations. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
CableLabs states the obvious, tru2way is open to all
You gotta love the cable industry sometimes. It takes an act of congress to get them to move towards an open standard for all, and then from the very beginning they drag their feet for twelve years. Now here we are, close to the dream of being able to access all the same services with any HDTV, as those with a STB, and the CableLabs CEO pretends to extend an olive branch to the telco industry by letting them know they can use the open standard tru2way too. Sure, the FCC didn't specifically mandate the deployment of tru2way, but it did require an open platform to be created and considering that FiOS (for example) has been required by the FCC to support CableCARD -- just like any other cable company -- we find it hilarious that CableLabs would pretend that the cable industry would do their competition any favors.
Cannon PC showcases Media Center with six CableCARDs
Ah, companies that don't just rest on their laurels. Not even a month after we heard that Cannon PC would be offering up dual- and quad-CableCARD rigs, in flies word that said company is demonstrating a machine capable of handling half a dozen CableCARDs. Yeah, six cards controlled simultaneously by one computer. For those curious, the devices in question were ATI's Digital Cable tuners, and while gloating about something is one thing, it's another to host a video up on the 'net for all to see. Six high-definition programs get recorded at once in the video just after the break -- c'mon, you know can't resist checking out such a feat out.
