US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > [X1] The New X2 - The "Evolution" of the X1

[X1] The New X2 - The "Evolution" of the X1

Comcast Corp.'s plans for a new IP-capable video gateway and a cloud DVR service were among the topics MSO execs discussed Monday during an internal video broadcast to introduce employees to the company's new corporate branding.

Comcast cable-unit CEO Neil Smit noted during the talk that a new device called the X2 is in testing, "looks fantastic" and will offer more personalization, according to a Twitter user, who confirmed he was privy to the contents of the broadcast....

A Comcast spokeswoman confirmed that the X2 came up during the broadcast, but would only say that the product represents an "evolution" of the X1, a hybrid QAM/IP platform with a cloud-based user interface.

What are they smoking? The X1 is in less than 1% of their install base and they are working on a sequel to something that never came out? Lol, it's like Activision working on Call of Duty Black Ops 7, coming soon Summer 2016! Lol!
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"The relationship between what we see and what we know is never settled..."

Given the time it took "Xcalibur" (now named "X1") to make it to market, it will probably be a while until we see the X2 released.

reply to telcodad

reply to telcodad
its not like these rollout fast, so yes they are always working on the next product/enhancement.
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I'm better than you!

I think part of the reason Comcast is rolling out this new platform is to make it easier to update the software. Right now Comcast has so many different boxes and architectures that getting software to run on all of them must be a nightmare. Once Comcast has their subscriber base on a more consistent platform, the development cycle should accelerate.

We hope...

An article on the LRC site yesterday with the latest update on the "X2" development:

Comcast's 'X2' to Get Personal With the TV
By Jeff Baumgartner, Light Reading Cable - February 26, 2013
»www.lightreading.com/middleware-···40149445

X2?? Hell, most subs can't get X1! LOL..
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Yesh

reply to telcodad
I love my X1 but damn do I want the X2 now! Cloud Based DVR?! /DROOL

reply to telcodad
Will that X-2 have the capability of working with the older boxes so Comcast won't have to replace all the boxes that are now in customers homes ?There was an article somewhere about cloud based capabilites being brought to older boxes.

Well, it says it that article:

[Rachel] Lee [Comcast's senior director of product management] told Light Reading Cable that the enhanced, more personalized X2 guide is made to run on devices that support the first iteration Comcast's cloud-based guide. For now, that includes the Pace plc-made XG1 HD-DVR and the RNG150N client box.

Previously, Comcast has said that they plan on supporting the X1 guide on the latest Cisco (RNG150 & RNG200) and Motorola (RNG spec'ed?) boxes, so the X2 should be able to run on those too.

reply to FifthE1ement

reply to JoeSammamish

reply to JoeSammamish

I get conflicting information. The internal OS on the Cisco RNG200N says SA8600HDC which comes up as
Processors
Application/CPU: 700 MHz (1000 MIPS)
Video/Graphics: Dual 400 MHz VLIW CPUs
Audio: 250 MHz DSP CPU
DOCSIS CPU: 333 MHz CPU
Network CPU: 400 MHz CPU
»www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collate···625A.pdf

Where as the Cisco website itself says the Cisco RNG200 says
Processors
Application/CPU: 600 MHz (800 MIPS)
Video graphic: Dual 400 MHz VLIW CPUs
Audio: Dual 250 MHz DSP CPUs
DOCSIS: 200 MHz CPU
»www.cisco.com/web/consumer/produ···ications

Came across this as well. »www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collate···-AAG.pdf ASIC ?

In the context of the usage here ASIC is effectively just a synonymous acronym for SoC (system on a chip). Technically ASIC stands for Application Specific Integrated Circuit. So it's no help. It's just another generic term for their cable box CPU.

As I said, Cisco is being very vague about what they actually use in their boxes. I can't find anything specific outside of that one press release PDF for their new residential gateway.

Any SA/Cisco region user want to open up their RNG200N and look around? LOL

Another hint that pretty much any box labeled RNG150 is Broadcom based in in this news article from May 2012
»www.multichannel.com/content/cab···tops-too

quote:

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But at some point, Comcast plans to deploy the X1 guide and applications to set-top boxes based on Broadcom's BCM7420 system-on-a-chip. The MSO has 7 million to 8 million such boxes in the field, which conform to its RNG 150 gateway specification, Werner said, adding, "It remains to be seen how fast we move on those."

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quote:

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A more unexpected development with implications for the overall North American cable industry is the announcement of the ability of Comcast's RNG150n's to function as an RDK-based thin client to the X1 multimedia home gateway. While the Broadcom announcement applies specifically to new shipments of RNG150n's based on the BCM7125, Comcast has promised separately to bring the X1 guide experience (delivered via the RDK) to its 8-million unit installed base of RNG150n's based on the BCM7420. The implication is that Comcast should be able to extend the service life of its existing RNG150n's by turning them into thin clients connected to an X1 or XG5.

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The TiVo Premier specs for comparison are
CPU: Broadcom BCM7413 400MHZ dual core 1100 Dhrystone MIPS vs. TiVo HD's 400 DMIPS

Some people may be familiar with the performance of the HD GUI running at 1100 MIPS on the BCM7413 so that's what to expect.