According to a letter the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) submitted to the FCC, TiVo is working on an Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) port. Long term, this seems like an inevitable software engineering initiative if TiVo plans to continue working with the likes of Comcast and Cox.
Multiple guides, multiple VOD applications, switched digital applications, interactive advertising, caller ID, email viewers, on screen subscriptions, and even the TiVo interface are being ported to OCAP.
I’ve got a few questions in to TiVo, Inc on this… Should they choose to respond, I’ll post an update.
UPDATE: I’ve heard back from TiVo who confirms discussions of an OCAP port. This could possibly explain the delay in rolling out Motorola Comcast cable boxes running TiVo software… Though I doubt it: Sounds like the Comcast Moto TiVo is nearly ready to go, whereas OCAP is probably many months away from any sort of widespread rollout.
In conjunction with development deals with Comcast and Cox, TiVo has announced that it is porting its DVR application to non-TiVo hardware, such as Motorola DVRs. This development work is built on a Java-Based pre-cursor middleware to OCAP. Efforts to port the TiVo application to OCAP are subject to ongoing business discussions between TiVo and its cable partners.
By contrast, TiVo has not announced any plans to use OCAP for any standalone boxes, including the TiVo Series3 HD DVR.
DVR software maker Digeo (Moxi) is onboard, and has been developing for the OCAP platform — they don’t have the brand recognition or fervent TiVo fanbase, but they probably have a large head start.
For the uninitiated, OCAP is middleware for cable boxes. The idea is everyone (Cox, Comcast, TWC, etc) runs a common operating system (OCAP) on their hardware and then they build or commission Java software/applications to run on top of it. It’s supposed to save money in the long run and open the door to third party developers, though not everyone buys it. There has also been a proposal that the CableCARD 2.0 spec require OCAP. I had a nice OCAP Q&A with a Motorola exec, if you’re interested in more (potentially biased) info.
This looks to me like a means to bog down Tivo doing busy work at the whims of the cable companies, so they don’t pose an outsider threat to cable service.
Long-term it may actually be easier for TiVo to develop and update software for the cable companies if the OCAP layer handles security, SDV, or whatever else comes down the pike. We shall see…
For good or bad, it shows that Tivo is now firmly in the cable camp. Funny that because Tivo is currently the only outside threat to make a decent non-leased cableCARD box. Either they’re in a great position, or the cable companies like to keep enemies close, or even better the whole CEA, NCTA debate is misplaced.
Peteypete – Remember that, under the current proposals, OCAP will be required for 3rd party devices to support two-way features for CableCARD 2.0. So the S3.5 or S4, whatever, which does CC2.0 will need to support OCAP, unless the proposals change before being finalized, for VOD, PPV, etc.
TiVo is locked out of satellite, and OTA is a small market. TiVo’s only hope in satellite is if they win their suit against Echostar on appeal, and Dish decides to just license the software to settle. Or, maybe, if Liberty swings DirecTV back to TiVo.
OK, that is big news. I think we have something to grill them on at CES next week. ;-)
So it sounds like they’re putting their software on the OCAP ‘virtual machine’ in Java, but NOT putting the OCAP virtual machine in their software. Though they may have to do that at some point if CC2.0 goes forward with the requirement to use it for PPV, etc.
I have only had a Moxi HD from comcast for about a month and it has a few problems.
#1 they did not tell me that I am a Beta tester and that all the user ports are dead.
#2 it locks up and I have to turn off the power to reset it.
#3 it studders.
#4 it has pixelation attacks and some so bad you can only give up watching.
#5 when a program is recorded the show starts one minute to soon and stops one minute to soon.
#6 Hard drive says it is full when it is not???
Does anyone know how much they are paying me to do this testing and were do I send the reports?
Thank you
Mac – Mac4TBH@hotmail.com
UPDATE:
They exchanged the Moxi box for another and two days later I called them. I requested a 6414 or a 6416 and to make this short I now have a working 6416III and after one week it is working just fine. Rummer has it that they are “soon” to make a change…
now back to my easy to see and use menus and HD TV shows.
Mac4TBH@hotmail.com
BTW I have used the internet to FIX problems that I have had under my HMO therefore posting what others do to me gets results.