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About Me - Opinions expressed here are my own personal opinions and do not represent that of Microsoft Corporation
While I still haven’t seen specs updated to confirm how I believe CableLabs would handle Tuning Adaptor’s with OCURs , I can confirm that the next firmware release (in theory 1.19) will support Tuning Adaptors as CableLabs has officially approved all ATI OCURs as Tuning Adaptor ready (hooray for me being wrong!). In addition the firmware should allow for less DRM on non-flagged CableCARD recordings. Expect more next week at CEDIA.
This is one of the very few predictions that Ben at Engadget HD made that I believe will come true.
Now we just need OCUR’s approved for DIY (officially)
1 for Chris "No Dish Tuner: 1 for Ben SDV support
No offense Chris, but I really wish you were wrong more often. Maybe this is the start of something wonderful...
Darren
We can all hope.
Nice. I have a tuning adaptor from Time Warner just waiting to be connected once the new firmware is released. I'm down to 4 HD channels out of 45 that aren't SDV.
How can one figure out if their Cable Co is moving to SDV besides calling them and talking to idiots that don't know? Right now I just go over to friend's houses that have the same service and scan their channels like a hawk to make sure they don't have any new channels that I'm missing. Anywhere out on the web where all this information is listed?
and oh yea, this is great news!
FSUGrad: you can tell if SDV is being used because you will be able to see it in the guide but you will not be able to tune those channels.
This is very good news, especially since I am in the process of building a new media center system. One question I have never understood is what is generally meant by the "relaxed DRM?" When I follow your link to "CableCARD to Get Relaxed DRM" I see a complicated table that may answer the question, if I could actually read it. A answer with three pieces would help. Which of the following are protected and not protected?
1. Standard HDTV network channels, e.g., ABC
2. Cable HDTV channels, e.g., SyFy
3. Premium HDTV channels, e.g., HBO
@ DanITman: Well duh, that makes sense... Why didn't I think of that??? :) Thanks!
@DNR:
I may be incorrect here, but this is how I understand it.
1) Shows can be set protected if the broadcaster flags a program as such.
2) Shows can be set protected if the broadcaster flags a program as such.
3) Shows will most likely always be protected
Wow this is great news. I'm glad I just joined the CableCard club with my new Win7 machine. I know Comcast will be switching to SDV in San Francisco at some point. I don't feel as nervous about it now.
Just a comment on FSAGrad1999's comment.
1) I believe, by law, the cable companies must provide network programing without the protection flag set (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS)
2) Analog stations should also be "in the clear". Cable digital may or may not, depending on if the cable provider sets the flag.
3) Almost certainly will have the flag set.
Just ran to Time Warner and picked up my Tuning Adapters - Can't wait for more news next week!
Now that the OEM requirement is being lifted and there will be support for SDV, I see the market expanding in a big way.
How big? I don't see it making a big impact. This does nothing to really expand the market outside of the people already using it.
Given the issues that still exist with getting CableCARD 100% stable, I think the return rate on the tuners will be high as well.
Lifting the OEM requirement DOES expand the market, by definiton.
And with the rest of the announced changes, I'd say it's a big impact for a niche market (that will always be a niche market)
The real value is in the complete announced changes (and future change in the case of the Ceton MCard launch):
1) relaxed DRM: More value from content
2) relaxed OEM hardware requirements: more accessiblity
3) Lower Cost: from DIY hardware and hopefully Mstream capable tuners (buy and setup one Ceton vs multiple ATI's)
4) Easier setup: again due to MStream Ceton setup vs multiple ATI setup
All of these points make it a more compelling value proposition for more households.
as for the comment on CableCard reliability? No comment from me since I've never had an issue with my CableCard deployment or usage (Comcast cable bay area)
The niche market already had access to it, be it a hack. I agree with the points you are making. My point is this does nothing to move Media Center into any new market. In fact, the market they were advertising too (eg. CEDIA) will be more put off by this than anything.
Microsoft doesn't develop "niche products." They develop mainstream.
My take is Microsoft can't make Media Center a "mainstream" product until they conquer the current market first. (And even then depending on definition, MC will never be mainstream, but that does not mean Microsoft will not play in the space)
If we as enthusiasts have to say to admiring friends/neighbors "yeah it does HD content BUT...." then the mainstreamers will never do it. At least these changes make you say "but..." a lot less.
I guess what I'm saying is defining the market for Media Center was a moot point as long as it remained so blatantly crippled in a primary usage scenario.
Now it has the chance it should have had from the begininng of the HD age...
OK. How long until ATI makes the DTC firmware upgrade available. Note we never saw version 1.18 which was supposed to fix this problem last year....