Recent Comments:
Hands-on with Toshiba's SRT REGZA HDTVs (and other old crap) {Engadget}
Sep 4th 2008 10:34PM There was nothing wrong with Toshiba's technology. It was comparable to Blu-Ray. People keep on forgetting that HD-DVD was also blue laser format.
Where Toshiba got outgunned was "bribes". Sony literally paid some studios off to choose Blu-Ray. If it was a fair game, in technology to dollar proposition, then I certainly believe that HD-DVD would've won. HD-DVD was cheaper to manufacture, did not require as much of an overhaul for disk manufacturers and delivered as good of a HD video as Blu-Ray.
Panasonic & Comcast to demonstrate "real" tru2way at CEDIA {Engadget HD}
Sep 4th 2008 1:40PM tru2way was based on a premise that signaling will be delivered via DOCSIS/DSG messaging. Verizon FiOS does not use DOCSIS. They don't need it. FIOS is an IP service.
Theoretically it should not be that difficult to modify tru2way to support a pure IP based signaling delivery mechanism along with DSG. But cable companies call the shots on tru2way which is a CableLabs approved "standard". The telcos are not members.
Having to rent a set-top has a lot of advantages as well as disadvantages. Advantage is that with a rented STB you'll get the latest and greatest software and if the box "goes south" they'll replace one for free. With your own tru2way capable TV or a host you're on your own. As a matter of fact if something does not work the cable company can just wash their hands and will say "Call your TV manufacturer, its not our problem!" Obvious disadvantage is the rental fee and the fact that you need to have an extra piece of gear next to your TV. But frankly that's something I can live with.
I would think that FIOS service at some point in a near future will move to an all IPTV service and will ditch RF overlay. tru2way has been around for many years without much to show for the amount of dollars poured into it. Not a single commercial deployment, no paying customers. The IPTV on other hand has been deployed successfully around the world including many companies here in the US (AT&T U-Verse is the largest). Nothing should preclude Verizon going the same route.
Verizon vs tru2way, and the hits roll on {Engadget HD}
Aug 30th 2008 4:59PM Well, as far as Verizon is concerned they couldn't care less about tru2way. As per FCC requirement they have to support separable security which they'll do with QIP-7xxx series set-tops. Separable security mandate does not say anything about OCAP.
Motorola to reorganize home and networks mobility business {Engadget}
Jul 28th 2008 11:52AM DVS is Broadband Home Solutions now.
Comcast acquires Plaxo, your set-top box wants to meet your friends {Engadget HD}
May 15th 2008 2:15PM Do you think they will place an undisclosed cap on the amount of friends and associations you can have on Plaxo? I can see that e-mail from Comcast: "You have exceeded an allowed limit on the number of friends on you Plaxo network. Your social network is above allowed limit and is affecting 99.9% of all Comcast/Plaxo users. Please cease and desist. We expect by the end of the next month that you will cut down the number of people on your network list. If you will not comply we will be forced to terminate your Plaxo account.'
Science, Disney and ABC Family HD coming to Comcast in Philadelphia {Engadget HD}
Apr 21st 2008 9:26AM And yet somehow Comcast Philadelphia fails to add Sci-Fi HD, USA-HD and Discovery HD. And crap like Animal Planet HD and bunch of other stretch-o-vision junk get a priority on a line up. Hey Comcast, if you reading this where the above mentioned channels as well as FX HD. And while I am at it - since when a 10 Mbps video stream is considered HD?
Motorola W755 and a pair of Nokias come to light for Verizon {Engadget Mobile}
Mar 14th 2008 2:59PM [QOUTE] Verizon faithful might be disheartened to learn that both phones are thoroughly done over with Verizon's typical theme, so we're really not sure how much Nokia DNA is going to be left by the time these things get to market.[/QUOTE]
And this is exactly the reason I won't own a Verizon phone ever again. If they continue to insist and cripple every great phone they get then VZW can keep their phones and their over-priced service.
Samsung's SCH-W380 for Korea {Engadget Mobile}
Oct 18th 2007 10:39AM Not to mention a Verizon UI :-(
CableCARD 2.0: What's the hold up? {Engadget HD}
Jun 19th 2007 3:31PM People have this erroneous idea that having a selection of entertainment providers in one geographical area will dramatically alter (read: lower) prices. In my area Comcast "competes" with DBS providers and Verizon FIOS. And guess what they all charge about the same. Plus/minus $5-6 at most. They all charge what a given market can bear. Verizon looks at Comcast and if they see that Comcast's customers are willing to fork over $100/month for some package, Verizon will charge $98 for the similar package. Not a big difference. Non of these companies is interested in giving you the lowest possible price. They are in business to make money not to lose them. If anyone think that by ditching Comcast for Directv/Dish or Fios/U-Verse they'll get a better deal in a long term, they are drinking some good, spiked Kool-Aid. At the end the prices will be more or less the same. Gasoline prices are perfect example of that type of "collusion". Regardless of gasoline vendor in any given geographic area they all will charge the same for a gallon of gas.
FCC and Congress are working for the cable/telecom/DBS companies not constituents. When money talks, BS (I mean elected officials) works. Congress and FCC has been bought and paid for by special interest groups long time ago. Do not expect them to fix anything. As a matter of fact every time FCC or Congress sticks their nose into something my phone or cable bill goes up due to some new "regulatory fee" that will pad a phone or a cable company bottom line.
CableCARD 2.0: What's the hold up? {Engadget HD}
Jun 19th 2007 1:29PM Ben you said: "The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service."
Cable companies are smart. They have tens of millions of DVR customers who fork over $10-20 per month for a cable company's DVR product. They don't need Tivo. Tivo needs them. Why do you think Tivo partnered with Comcast to port their UI on Comcast's DVR set-tops. And Comcast's Tivo product will have access to VOD.
For every Tivo3 there are 6-7 "crappy" SA Explorer 8300 or Motorola 6412's. Millions of customers use them everyday without issues and like their interfaces on their DVR product so much that some cable systems have trouble stocking enough DVR for their customers. Tivo is a marginal product for people with discretionary $500-800 to burn. If you think it's "the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV" then go ahead get Tivo or Media Center or whatever you want. Its a free country. Vote with your wallet. Comcast or Verizon will still make money. Comcast has 24 million customers. For evey one that cancels their DVR service because they don't like the guide there will 10 new ones that don't care for the guide as long as it works. Cable companies are in business to make money and like any public company their answer only to shareholders, not customers.
