As we collectively move towards the more efficient whole-home DVR model, Verizon has announced plans to launch a FiOS TV “media server” in late 2012. With such a long gestation time, they’re not quite ready to reveal their hand. Yet, I’d expect at least three tuners and 1TB of storage (compared to the DirecTV HR34‘s 5 tuners, 1TB or the TiVo Elite’s 4 tuners, 2TB). Of course, along with such a beefy centralized unit Verizon will introduce small form factor extenders to sprinkle throughout one’s home. And, as you can see in the video above, one of their marketing points is improved energy efficiency. Lastly, Verizon continues breaking new ground with their television-as-an-app initiative, potentially fed via the aforementioned media server – with references to tablets and the Sony PS3 possibly joining the Xbox as IPTV set-top box replacements.
Update: Verizon tells me to expect 6 tuners (!) and that recording capacity is still being determined but they’re leaning towards 1TB at this point.
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Wouldn't it make more sense to use WiFi instead of all those big green arrows for connectivity?
It seems those big green arrows would really clutter up a home. And what happens if a child or pet accidently bumps into one of them? Do they become the Incredible Hulk?
(Finally, from recent experience, doesn't it seem that FiOS is just as good as TiVo in their reliability of vaporware releases that hit the market six to twelve months later than promised.?)
Yeah, I was intending to put a snarky comment in there about expecting it in 2013 but I'm hopeful they'll share some pre-production/tentative specs with me and therefore restrained myself. ;)
Cool video. I love the idea of eliminating as many set-tops as possible and streaming everything from my media server. I wonder if VZ will add the capability for an extender to take over a tuner in the media server to allow pausing on the remote set-top. That appears to be something that a lot of users want to do based on discussions over on the RCN DSLReports forum regarding the TiVo whole-home solution. TiVo is supposedly working on this Remote Recording Start (RRS) feature and it will be available to RCN customers mid-2012.
As far as power consumption is concerned I don't think that is the primary driver in my mind. Eliminating cords and clutter is a bigger driver for me.
Does it look like VZ is sticking with Motorola for the media server? It will be interesting to see what the Google acquisition means, if anything, from a Motorola offering perspective. I'm sure Google will want to roll-out Google TV to VZ customers as an extender as well.
My girlfriend constantly complains about the functionality of her current whole-home DVR solution on Verizon FiOS. She loses connection from her media server unit to her extenders all the time and has to refresh the connection to see her recordings.