Dave Zatz

SDV USB Dongle Details Emerge

Mari’s leveraged her Motorola connections and dug up some USB SDV “tuning resolver” details: Working prototype produced in only four months Committed to deployment by end of Q2, 2008 Boxes provided by MSO, pricing undetermined Motorola’s form factor similar to small DCT700 cable box (shown above) Initial implementation does not support VOD, but it could … Read more

Details on TiVo Series 4?

TiVo just released their third quarter earnings. In addition to the typical net loss ($8.2 million this time around), some interesting details on a future TiVo box have emerged:

TiVo and the cable industry have come to an agreement on a blue-print for a retail TiVo DVR using the cable industry’s OpenCable Application Platform that will have full two-way cable service functionality. While the technical specifications are still being worked out, such a set-top box will mean TiVo subscribers will be able to get full access to cable VOD and other two-way cable services. This could also mean that a standalone TiVo offering could fully substitute for a cable operator set-top box. This understanding was communicated yesterday to the FCC through an ex parte filing by TiVo.

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Verizon FiOS TV 2.0 Q4 DVR Update Rollout Begins

I’ve just received word that Verizon’s eagerly anticipated Q4 FiOS TV 2.0 update has started rolling out. Tampa Bay, Fort Wayne and Pittsburgh customers may have received the refreshed software as early as this morning, and all other Interactive Media Guide (IMG) regions will receive it over next several weeks. The update consists primarily of … Read more

TiVo & Nero Collaborate on PC DVR Software

This can’t be good news for Beyond TV, SageTV, and ReplayTV… TiVo’s entering the PC software DVR market (!) with Nero at an unspecified time and price. A few years ago, perhaps before current CEO Tom Rogers took the helm, PC DVR software was alluded to at a conference call – But I had assumed … Read more

SageTV HD Extender STX-HD100 Details Emerge

After months of hearing their customers clamor for more juicy information and photos of the upcoming SageTV HD Extender, SageTV posted many STX-HD100 media extender details on the forums yesterday.Like Microsoft’s Media Center extenders that were sold for the old XP version of Media Center, the STX-HD100 is made specifically to stream content from a … Read more

PSP Game Download Store Launches

I was fired up when I read about Sony’s new PSP web-based game download service last week. In fact, I’d expected Sony to take advantage of the PSP’s WiFi connectivity much earlier to provide both game downloads and video downloads, leveraging their catalog of movie and television content. But, therein lies the rub… The new … Read more

The NCTA & TiVo Confirm SDV Dongle For 2008

TiVo and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) have confirmed a switched digital video (SDV) dongle is in under development which will allow retail CableCARD devices (like the TiVo HD and Series3) to receive SDV digital programming: The adapter will work on any Unidirectional Digital Cable Ready Product (UDCP) that has a USB connector … Read more

TiVo Gets Canadian Retail Presence

TiVo, Inc. long ignored the Canadian marketplace. In fact, likeĀ the Australians, the Canadian marketplace consisted of imported boxes to be hacked for free (and local) guide data. More recently, TiVo did make legit service and guide data available to Canadian customers – though I believe units were only available for online ordering or required a … Read more