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New i-Guide for Comcast, other cable ops, slated for second half of '09
StartOver, switched digital video support, TiVo-style searches and prompts to make sure you're really watching an HD channel are coming to Comcast and other services using the i-Guide software in the second half of '09, hopefully bringing the much-loathed Motorola set-top boxes (& tru2way HDTVs) up to par with other modern DVRs. Multichannel News reports SDV support was originally planned for this year, but got pushed back to the next major release due to glitches. If our early preview at CES '08 was any indication there's a lot to love in the new software, except for the wait until it's released.
Digeo settles with Gemstar, new Moxi DVR on the way
The continuing saga of Digeo and its now you see it / now you don't DVRs at CES has taken another step, first by the company resolving a lawsuit with Gemstar-TV Guide. Courtesy of a multiyear licensing agreement, any problems with its "too similar" guide software should be in the past; a good thing since Light Reading noticed the Moxi HD DVD 3012, set to debut at next month's Cable Show with dual tuners, increased hard drive and CableCARD support. We'll keep an eye out for more details on the new hardware hidden among all that tru2way equipment.[Via ZatznotFunny]
TV Guide moves to mobile, TV enthusiasts swoon
Gemstar-Tv Guide has launched a new web-enabled version of its source for all things telly related with M.TVGuide.com. The site offers a 14-day ahead look at all your favorite programming including episode guides, news, recaps, and likely anything else TV-related in the entertainment world -- if you're into that type of thing. If you choose to register with your mobile number, you can then opt in for series and show reminders via text message, and never miss Oprah again. All we need now is for it to talk to our Slingbox and sort out automatically recording anything we forgot to set up on the PVR.
Nintendo launches TV Guide Channel in Japan, enables Wiimote to control TV
For Wii owners not located in Japan, get ready to weep. Why? Because users in the aforementioned nation now have access to an incredibly fascinating new channel and you, well, don't. Details on the TV Guide Channel are still a bit fuzzy (read: lost in machine translation), but based on what we've pieced together, users can surf through shows on the EPG, share their favorites with friends, see how popular a program is (using demographic data, too) and even receive an e-mail / SMS alert 30 minutes prior to a flagged show's start time. Best of all, however, is the ability to use your Wiimote as a television remote. You heard right -- owners can use their Wii controller (via the sensor bar) to dictate volume, switch channels and flip back and forth between their shows and the TV Guide Channel. Now, how long must the rest of the free world wait? Check out the gallery over on Classic for a few more looks at what you're (probably) missing out on.[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Tru2way TVs at CES 2008
We took a stroll around the CES floor, taking a straw poll on the state of tru2way among TV manufacturers. Our results were mixed -- three exhibitors had tru2way displays and four did not. Follow us after the break on our tour.
Hands-on with the latest TV Guide software (Comcast DVR)
CES is officially over and on the last day we went on the hunt for things we missed, and we got a chance to catch the latest TV Guide tru2way software. TV Guide is the company that makes the user interface for Comcast's -- among others -- set-top boxes. Not only is the latest software designed for tru2way devices, but overall it was really slick. We especially liked the all the new configuration options such as, custom channel lists, custom menus, and different font sizes; -- fit even more data on your 60-inch TV -- but the other new features were cool as well. Like the list of recorded shows with images next to them, or being able to turn off the video preview, different grids, StartOver, and the much improved VOD menus. While we didn't spend enough time with it to know if it stands up to your favorite, (TiVo) we have to say it's a step up from what we've seen from them in the past. But what's really cool is that this software will run on any tru2way HDTV, -- obviously the TV would have to have an integrated DVR for all the functionality -- which we should see hit the streets by the end of 2008. Also, while we were there we asked them about all those old analog TVs that depend on analog signals for TV Guide data, and they explained that they've deployed a solution to this problem years ago and everyone with a digital to analog converter box will have no problem continuing to receive guide data after the analog shutoff.More pics after the break.
Nintendo reveals TV guide service for Wii
In all the excitement about the Wii's planned Virtual Console gift giving service we somehow missed another important channel announcement in Nintendo's recent graph-packed financial results briefing. The TV Program Schedule Channel will ... wait for it ... let Wii users view the TV program schedule! On their Wii!According to the briefing, the Channel will allow for searches by genre or actor and let various members of the family register their favorite shows. "We want Wii to become a kind of a friend to the TV set in the living room," Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said. "So it will be nice if people will turn on the Wii console when they want to search for interesting TV programs." Or, y'know, they could just turn on the TV and use the integrated on-screen guides included with most cable systems. Then again, we thought the Wii Forecast Channel couldn't compete with cable's Weather Channel, but we still love spinning that on-screen globe, so what do we know?While no U.S. plans for the service were announced, the Interactive Program Guide service Nintendo is using includes U.S. data from Gemstar-TVGuide, so a domestic release seems possible. Japanese users can look forward to the service in Spring '08.
Gemstar sues Moxi over guide
Gemstar-TV Guide has filed a federal patent infringement lawsuit against Diego's Moxi program guide, alleging that their TV listings are too similar to their own. Of course, Moxi has also filed an antitrust lawsuit against Gemstar. As usual, Gemstar wanted Moxi to license the program guide tech from them, and when Moxi refused, lawyers entered the picture, echoing TiVO v. Echostar on the lawsuit front. Because Charter is one of the major cable providers using Moxi technology, they are included in the lawsuit -- although surely not just to get some bigger bucks out of any potential settlement. We'll keep you updated on the lawsuit as we know more.
Get a free episode of Battlestar Galactica in iTunes
Much like Sports Illustrated did with this year's Swimsuit Issue, TV Guide is offering a free episode of Battlestar Galactica via iTunes. To get your copy, simply buy the March 6th edition of TV Guide (it should be out now) and enter the unique code you find inside. This will allow you to get the episode "Downloaded," which was a fantastic episode, I must say (plus it guest stars Lucy Lawless). [Via TVSquad]
