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Comments on news posted 2008-10-16 12:08:00: Back in January, the cable industry announced Tru2way, a re-imagining of OCAP technology that's intended to integrate set-top box functionality into TVs and other devices. ..

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AuthorAll Replies


MystBlade
Premium
join:2002-10-21
Lacey, WA

I would love this

My HD Comcast Box is bulky and is not very attractive. Intergrated with the TV would be fantastic!!! Sign me up, oh and take that rental fee out of my bill

Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

HTPC

I would like to see a device that can be installed into a Home Theater PC to work with the DVR functionality.


kfsutops
Premium
join:2002-08-19
Tampa, FL

Of Course Boxes will Still Be Around

The cable companies will never get rid of the boxes. I pay close to $20 per month for an HD DVR. Why would the get rid of that revenue stream?
--
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots"


Tomek
Premium
join:2002-01-30
Valley Stream, NY

CableCard

Wasn't that better design?
My TV is cableCard compatible and I'm just waiting to get my hands on that. The drawback is that I cannot schedule recordings, but in theory cableCard should be universal and used in various devices.
--
Semper Fi


CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12

reply to kfsutops

Re: Of Course Boxes will Still Be Around

said by kfsutops:

The cable companies will never get rid of the boxes. I pay close to $20 per month for an HD DVR. Why would the get rid of that revenue stream?
The revenue stream from leasing boxes is more or less recouping the cost of maintaining them, purchaseing them to lease and processing them.
The real revenue stream is Impulse PPV and added value to the product such as VOD, the interactive guide, etc.

So cablecards arent really going away. A smarter way to use them is all that was needed.

DVRs incorporated into TVs is also coming up next. However, If youve ever purchased a TV/VCR combo back in the day and had the VCR crap out its the same thing. Just a lot more expensive.

Its a neat product, has a cooler interface and is convenient. We have one in our offic.

But it IS a lot of money to spend just to avoid having a cable box.. especially with high end set ups were the cable box is sitting right with the home theater system taking up just as much room as all the other AV equipment.
--
CableTechs.org/"Horrible People with Integrity"

AVonGauss
Premium
join:2007-11-01
Boynton Beach, FL

reply to Tomek

Re: CableCard

In theory, you would be correct. CableCard has a few limitations as well - no support for OnDemand and no direct support for SDC (switched digital video) are two of the first that come to mind. The SDV tuner may allow some CableCard enabled devices to operate correctly, but right now TiVo is the only major manufacturer that I have seen stating they will support the SDV tuner for existing customers.

OCAP (tru2way) is a lot more than just a cable box tuner inside of a TV, if you really want to know more about it, you can read the Wikipedia entries about the subject as a starting point and make your own choice.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tru2way
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCable_···Platform

Everybody, except for maybe the manufacturers and MSOs, want to get rid of the cable box. However, this unfortunately is a bit more than that and quite frankly not something I am exactly jumping on getting personally. As far as fees associated with the device, I haven't heard any announcement from Comcast either way. Last I read, there were "per subscriber" licensing fees involved with the technology so I don't know that I would exactly assume that you can have all the OCAP (tru2way) TVs you want without paying additional per device (outlet) fees. If it comes out to a fee (or outlet fee) for using your own purchased TV, it might not quite take off the way they are hoping.

OCAP (tru2way) is an attempt to turn your TV in to a multimedia platform similar to your computer, unfortunately in this case it is a platform that will still be controlled by the cable operator and their advertising partners.


Comcablrtl

join:2003-10-25
Midwest

reply to CableTool

Re: Of Course Boxes will Still Be Around

New tru2way TV designs do not feature integrated hard drives. For the reason that you mentioned (TV/VCR combo) the hard drive will connect to the back of the TV. By having it externally affixed, the TV would avoid excessive heat, and the repair/replacement of a faulty hard drive would be consumer friendly. Look for several new advances and applications of tru2way in the first and second quarter of 2009.


Caddyroger
Premium
join:2001-06-11
To the west

I will not be buying a Tru2way

I bought a new tv last year so it will be awhile before I buy a Expensive set. Now if a 32 in or 36 in comes down to around $600.00 I'll may buy one for my bed room.
--
Caddy

GTFan

join:2004-12-03

Cablecard still needed for tru2way

tru2way still requires a Cablecard, and therefore (possibly) a truck roll with associated install charges. Given the cable company reluctance to deal with them properly so far (because you're not renting their box), expect this to have problems too.


Tomek
Premium
join:2002-01-30
Valley Stream, NY

reply to AVonGauss

Re: CableCard

Looks like OCAP is a part of CableCard 2 standard, so in the end is the same thing. We will see what will happen.

Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Full Chicago area?? as Chicago has 5+ comcast zones?

Full Chicago area?? as Chicago has 5+ comcast zones.

And some don't all the full hd line up and other still have more along then others.

Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

reply to kfsutops

Re: Of Course Boxes will Still Be Around

said by kfsutops:

The cable companies will never get rid of the boxes. I pay close to $20 per month for an HD DVR. Why would the get rid of that revenue stream?
They will just start makeing you pay cable card, outlet fees, mirring fees, guide data fees, and more.


Rob
In Deo speramus.
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:3

reply to kfsutops

said by kfsutops:

The cable companies will never get rid of the boxes. I pay close to $20 per month for an HD DVR. Why would the get rid of that revenue stream?
Revenue stream? ha.


DaveDude
No Fear

join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
kudos:1
Reviews:
·ViaTalk
·Vonage

reply to GTFan

Re: Cablecard still needed for tru2way

said by GTFan:

tru2way still requires a Cablecard, and therefore (possibly) a truck roll with associated install charges. Given the cable company reluctance to deal with them properly so far (because you're not renting their box), expect this to have problems too.
Tru2way can talk directly with the cable system, unlike cablecard only accepts data in. So alot of install issues will probably go away. The problems with cablecards today is that they cant request data down, it has to sent to them. The new method 2 way, the data will request any missing data. I am sure Comcast will find a way to mess it up.
--
“Say no to fear. Don’t let anxiety crush your life. Live life free and unfettered.”


magnushsi

join:2002-11-06
Cedar Springs, MI

reply to AVonGauss

Re: CableCard

Some corrections: Cable cards have ALWAYS had support for onDemand and SDV. The devices that they are sometimes plugged into, do not. Due to reverse path tuners, etc. The recently released tuning adapter/resolvers are not for cable card deficiencies, but the host (Tivo) they are plugged into.

And once again, cable companies would LOVE to get rid of every cable box. Hence the network DVR development, etc. Cable boxes cost MSO's way more than they make in rental fees.

Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

reply to DaveDude

Re: Cablecard still needed for tru2way

Do they need to have the right card?

Will the cards need to be reset before install?

Are they one way dumb mode and they need a hit before they request anything.

Will they be forced updates and forced tv firmware updates?

Will you need to have the cable guy do a firmware update on your tv before install as the tv may have older base software and the cable system has moved to a newer build.

How fast will they have to fix security bugs.

# No tuner access when TV is off
Will that be a issue?

A box that is not part of tv is a better IDEA for DVR's and so you don't have ship your tv out when the cable co software f* it up.


swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

reply to AVonGauss

Re: CableCard

said by AVonGauss:

OCAP (tru2way) is a lot more than just a cable box tuner inside of a TV ... OCAP (tru2way) is an attempt to turn your TV in to a multimedia platform similar to your computer, unfortunately in this case it is a platform that will still be controlled by the cable operator and their advertising partners.

This is the problem with "Tru2way": it gives the cable company control of any device that supports the technology, including TV displays and DVRs.

The providers talk about it in public in terms of benefits to subscribers - compatibility and so forth. But once it is widely deployed, they'll start using it:
* to prevent recording
* to prevent changing the channel or muting the volume when advertisemnts are showing
* to restrict output resolutions
* to make the TV incompatible with competing providers' signals (or hold it hostage for a termination fee)
* and other abuses.

Some may see this and say, "no, that's not the intention" - such people have believed the hype. If the companies have power over your electronics, they will inevitably abuse it.

said by Wikipedia article on OCAP :
The Consumer Electronics Association and other groups argue OCAP is intended to block features that compete with cable company provided services and that consumers should be entitled to add, delete and otherwise control programs as on their personal computers.

And their televisions and recorders as well. The only acceptable arrangement is that each party (content provider and subscriber) is in control of the equipment it owns.

cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

i sense lots of FUD in the above post.



i1me2ao
Premium
join:2001-03-03
TEXAS

1 edit

new charge

the below fee will be used to upgrade home office of comcast

non converter box tv must pay 9.99 plus city,federal,county,street tax. just announced..

the above is a joke that will probaly come true..
--
»www.thereligionofpeace.com/

fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3

reply to cornelius785

Re: CableCard

said by cornelius785:

i sense lots of FUD in the above post.
Why is that? .. is it because the truth gets in the way of your pre-mature celebration of freedom?

Nothing above he said wasn't theoretically true as some of it has already been discussed.

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