I think we all knew something was up after seeing Wired magazine ads in consecutive months without a product announcement. In fact, the whispers were speculating that the Home Cinema edition had been scrapped. Well… I’ve received confirmation that both retail Moxi DVRs are still in play, but on hold until early next year:
While we are certainly disappointed about this, we want to make sure our first entry into the retail space is one that delivers the best consumer high-definition entertainment experience possible. We are really excited about the new developments we are building into the Moxi Menu and the advanced (dare I say bleeding edge?) hardware platforms we have chosen for both the Moxi Multi-Room and Moxi Home Cinema HD DMRs, but as you know, while using the latest and greatest technology means the consumer gets a more future-proofed product, it also requires a little more work.
I’m sure Digeo’s upset in missing the holiday sales season, but delays in this industry are typical. (Where’s the Kindle?) Frequently, it’s something as mundane as not completing software or hardware engineering as expected. In this case, it could also be a certification issue or a rethinking of strategy in light of the aggressively priced TiVo HD ($250). In fact, when I sat down with Digeo reps in July, they were still working out their marketing strategy (bundle or not bundle Moxi Mate, bundle or not bundle DVR service) and lining up retail partners. Regardless, I’m looking forward to seeing the Moxi Multi-Room CableCARD solution – CES in January should be fun.