BijanBlog

Tivo running on Motorola boxes soon

A little birdie (in the know) told me last week that TiVo's port onto the Motorola 6412 is finally getting closer. This is the box that comcast uses to deliver their HD DVR service.

And the best part is that New England is going to get the Tivo upgrade first. Wahooo! It will be an optional service that subscribers can choose over the default DVR service.

I can't wait. I'm a big fan of Comcast (cable modem rocks, HD is stunning and we enjoy their VOD) but the current DVR software has problems. The ads in the guide are clunky and the software locks up or sometimes just doesn't work at all. And Tivo's search feature and season pass are light years ahead of the software in the Motorola box.

I was traveling last week and Lauren had more problems with the Motorola box. Here's the voicemail I received (transcribed by Simulscribe) from her.

I think Comcast is going to be very successful with the Tivo HD DVR product. And there is a ton of pent up demand.

Tivo HD DVR combined with VOD should be awesome.

Time Warner Cable Internet Video Trial

It looks like Time Warner Cable is ending their internet video trial. Does anyone know if this service was simply broadcast or unicast over the internet.

I have a feeling it was simulcast.

I'm trying to get more information from TWC subscribers that used the service.

Amazing, hell froze over

  Hell Freezes Over 
  Originally uploaded by billums.

With all of the noise/news coming out of MacWorld and CES I somehow missed this important FCC decision.

I never thought this would actually happen.

Conditional access systems, historically integrated into the set top box, seems to be really opening up.

Last week the FCC denied additional blanket waivers on the subject and hopefully we'll see better consumer choice on the hardware and software that connect to the cable network inside our homes. TiVo Series 3 and Moxi are just the tip of the iceberg now.

While MSO's have been fighting this for a long time I think this is going to benefit everyone including MSO's. In the United States, cable is really the best network.  New business models will evolve with an open device. It's opportunity for everyone.