Chris Lanier : Digital Media, CableCARD

CableCARD Opens Up, but Does the Marketplace?

chrisl — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:42:00 GMT

The news at CEDIA that CableCARD will now be open to all has got everyone worked up about Microsoft getting things right and that the platform is back where it needs to be. However, while the news of CableCARD getting unlocked from OEM only machines is fantastic I’m not sure it chances much in the marketplace.

First of all, AMD appears to be out of the marketplace which is actually a much bigger deal than people might think. While this hasn’t been confirmed, reports out of CEDIA showed that AMD didn’t have a lot to say about CableCARD in general. Most likely the only reason we are seeing updated firmware for current OCURs is because AMD never actually wrote the firmware for the cards, Digital Keystone did. Clearly competition is the best way to drive prices down, so AMD not focusing on the market isn’t a good thing.

The big news it Ceton will actually be releasing an MOCUR for retail consumption. This isn’t the BOCR I have talked about in the past (CableLabs still hasn’t published any specs for that), but it is the first MOCUR. My question here is what kind of distribution will Ceton be able to get? I’m not exactly expecting the card to show up at my local Best Buy. If CableCARD tuners aren’t going to be available at brick-and-mortar retailers the concept of the market opening up dramatically is still slim. Maybe Dell and HP get back into the market now that OEM BIOS isn’t required, but they seem to have a bad taste in their mouth from previous experiences plus selling the tuners with new PCs gets us right back to where we were before.

Price is another issue when we talk about expanding the current marketplace. Preliminary reports are that Ceton is currently targeting a price between $300-$600, which would be a huge upgrade from current AMD pricing, but this is still very costly when you consider 46 out of the 65 PCs Best Buy lists on their website cost $750 or less. Without a big retail partner Ceton will surely not be an AMD-sided production run which means prices are likely to be higher simply because economics of scale doesn’t work. Maybe if/when Hauppauge ships a CableCARD tuner the distribution side will be fixed (however, I don’t believe the HD PVR has retail distribution either).

There is still the possibility that Microsoft would market this for the living room, but that’s still highly unlikely. Trust me, the lack of cable HDTV isn’t the one thing that stopped Microsoft from ever marketing Media Center and Extender’s, and it surely won’t change that. Microsoft isn’t likely to ever market Media Center or Extender’s, or any pairing of the two.

It is no doubt the Media Center community will jump on this change, but do you believe Media Center is now in a better place to expand in the marketplace now that CableCARD is not locked to an OEM machine?

Microsoft Enhances the Digital Cable Experience and Names 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Winner

chrisl — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:14:00 GMT

Customers get new capabilities, more options, and a better digital cable experience in Windows Media Center.

ATLANTA, Sept. 9 -- Today at CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft Corp. discussed key Windows Media Center features for Windows 7 and announced a series of initiatives that enhance the digital cable experience in Windows Media Center. With the addition of native support for additional international broadcast TV standards, including QAM and ATSC, there will now be support for switched digital video (SDV), a new tool that will make it possible for end customers to add a digital cable tuner with CableCARD to their PC, and for existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as "copy freely" (CF). In addition, Microsoft and the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA) announced the winner of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, showcasing the many ways Windows Media Center can be used in a whole-home solution.

"We're continuing to work on creating opportunities for partners that will enable great entertainment experiences on the PC," said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president of entertainment client software for the TV, Video & Music Business at Microsoft. "Consumers understand that having access to content via the PC is critical when it comes to entertainment experiences, and with these announcements, we're underscoring our broader commitment to deliver a rich experience with Windows Media Center."

Switched Digital Video (SDV) Support Added for Windows Media Center

In response to customer requests and cable providers' deployment of SDV, Microsoft now supports SDV in Windows Media Center for Windows 7. In conjunction with a device known as a tuning adapter, supplied by a customer's cable provider, Windows Media Center and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD will be able to tune to SDV channels. Customers can enjoy SDV broadcasts on PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows 7 and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD.

End Customers Can Now Add Digital Cable Tuners With CableCARD to Their PCs

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC's ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer's PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

"We are excited that digital cable customers will now be able to take advantage of this new opportunity to bring great cable TV programming to the PC," said So Vang, vice president of OpenCable at CableLabs. "We are dedicated to helping customers get the most from their cable service, and this will be a great win for both the customer and the cable operators."

Digital Cable Customers Can Now Enjoy More TV Portability in Windows Media Center

Microsoft and CableLabs also announced that they worked together to enable digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as "copy freely" (CF). Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices and portable media.

Windows Media Center Features in Windows 7 Highlighted

Using new Windows 7 features such as Windows Touch, HomeGroup, Remote Media Streaming and PlayTo, sharing recorded TV, videos, music and pictures throughout the home, while on the road and to remote locations has never been easier. There is also support for the AVCHD format. This allows customers to view HD video from many popular HD video cameras.

In addition, support for the international broadcast TV standards that was released with the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 will also be included in Windows Media Center in Windows 7. This includes native support for both ATSC and QAM, the ability to remap channels, and support for subchannels.

New Firmware for ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners

In conjunction with the Microsoft and CableLabs announcements, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will be providing a new firmware update that is available to all ATI TV Wonder digital cable tuners being used with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. This firmware update will allow existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV marked as CF. Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices, and portable media. In addition, the firmware will contain support for SDV. When installed on a Windows 7-based PC with a digital cable tuner with CableCARD and a tuning adapter from a cable provider, it enables access to switched digital channels in locations where SDV has been deployed.

2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest Winner Announced

Microsoft, in collaboration with the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA), announced the winner of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest. The winning installation was submitted by Dustin Anderson, general manager at Vision Audio in Lubbock, Texas, who built a system with Windows Media Center at the core of the entertainment experience in an extensive whole-home installation for a customer in Odessa, Texas. The installation integrates six Windows Media Center-based servers, one Windows Home Server, five dedicated theater-style rooms, 12 media racks, 98 speakers, and 30 zones of distributed audio. The home includes products from key MCIA member companies such as Autonomic Controls Inc., Crestron Electronics Inc. and Niveus Media Inc.

The Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, now in its third year, encourages integrators to show off their talents by presenting their most unique and creative installations that leverage Windows Media Center technologies. Vision Audio's integration of the family's music, movies, videos and pictures, as well as the integration of Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server with the Crestron home automation system, and the large scope of the installation set it apart as the winner for 2009.

"We're thrilled to receive this recognition from Microsoft and the MCIA. The Windows Media Center platform has enabled us to be on the cutting edge of technology, which has provided us with critical business advantages during the economic downturn," Anderson said.

More information on the contest and images from the install can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/ultimateinstall.

Also on Display at CEDIA EXPO 2009

At the Microsoft booth at CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft will show additional hardware and software installations that enhance the digital cable experience. Demonstrations include these:

The new Zune HD portable media player using the Zune HD AV dock to display 720p content on an HDTV. The Zune HD and updated Zune PC software will launch on Sept. 15.
A home server powered by Windows Home Server software. The upcoming Windows Home Server Power Pack 3, currently in beta testing, will add enhancements for Windows Media Center. Power Pack 3 features include the option to move recorded TV content to the home server in a variety of resolutions, and the ability for users to see statistics about the home server through Windows Media Center.
A technology preview of the new Multi-Channel Cable TV Card from Ceton Corp., which enables PCs with Windows Media Center to play or record multiple live channels of premium HDTV at once, and stream live HD channels or recordings to multiple TV sets throughout the home, all with a single CableCARD.

OCURs Finally Approved for Tuning Adaptor Support

chrisl — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:07:00 GMT

While I still haven’t seen specs updated to confirm how I believe CableLabs would handle Tuning Adaptor’s with OCURs , I can confirm that the next firmware release (in theory 1.19) will support Tuning Adaptors as CableLabs has officially approved all ATI OCURs as Tuning Adaptor ready (hooray for me being wrong!). In addition the firmware should allow for less DRM on non-flagged CableCARD recordings. Expect more next week at CEDIA.

This is one of the very few predictions that Ben at Engadget HD made that I believe will come true.

Going Beyond The Enthusiast Market

chrisl — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:59:00 GMT

Charlie Owen, a former Media Center team member wrote a post this week about Media Center expanding its marketplace, specifically going from the current enthusiast market to a more mainstream market. Charlie analysis comes to the pretty simple answer of “It's possible, but highly unlikely at this point.”

I had previously come to this conclusion, but to me the real question is “will Microsoft attempt to develop for the enthusiast market?” Lucky for me, Charlie replied to my comment with exactly what I was expecting

Charlie: “No. That's because they have never done so. The enthusiast market is always a subset of the overall market any product targets. Put another way: Where the goal is making a profit you wouldn't sacrifice a broad market opportunity of 100 for the narrow enthusiast market of 10. Making a Microsoft-sized profit is different than making a profit if you were a much smaller company.”

In other words the future for Media Center is one or two options. Option 1: Microsoft stops development of Media Center (very unlikely). Option 2: Microsoft transitions Media Center to a market which has the possibility to create a “Microsoft-sized profit.” (Hint: TV on your PC) Re-quoting myself from early this year, the days of Media Center being billed as the do-it-all center of your home are over.

My opinion continues to be that Microsoft will focus more and more on the Xbox 360 as the center of the home. The benefits of the Xbox 360 over Media Center are almost endless from a business perspective. The massive amount of end users (an unquestionable 30 million, with 20 million of them being Xbox Live subscribers) means content providers are going to flock to the platform. Microsoft can sit back and rake in yearly recurring revenue from these 20 million Xbox Live subscribers along with the massive amounts of licensing accessories and the Xbox 360 brand. Media Center on the other hard makes Microsoft absolutely no money as it is a part of the standard Windows SKU (eg. No one except members of The Green Button ever purchased a Windows license just to get Media Center).

There are still people holding out hope for Media Center to become a platform for the home. The recent announcement that Dish Network will not be shipping their tuner anytime soon didn’t surprise me one bit. Why would Dish bother to continue with Media Center when it is pretty clear Microsoft is moving away from the consumer they thought they were buying into? This same concept is at play with Media Center Extender’s. There is still some hope that Toshiba will be releasing an Extender, but I think the concept that most people miss is that whether it gets released or not means little in the grand scheme of things. If Microsoft’s heart is not in providing a platform for the home, you can really know going into your purchase that you’re going to end up disappointed at some point.

The biggest question mark might be Windows Home Server. For years I have said the concept of including Media Center in Windows Home Server is pointless and does nothing to expand the current market. If HP ditched Extender’s and CableCARD due to poor sales, why exactly would they have the least bit of interest in shipping a Media Center+Home Server box? If OEMs are not interested, why is Microsoft going to develop it?

Most people underestimate the OEMs when talking about Media Center. OEMs are really responsible for Media Center from start to finish from a customer’s perspective. HP and Dell have shown they have little interest in Media Center by either discounting CableCARD PCs, killing off Extender’s, and even in HPs case killing off their HT-styled z-series Media Centers. Dish Network and DIRECTV are just as important and have shown that they are increasing less interested.

Microsoft’s latest attempt to make a market for Media Center has been the custom integrator channel, and some have big expectations for what Microsoft might have in store. Sadly most of the possibilities have already been proven false, and based on what I’ve been told from those in the industry interest in Media Center in the custom channel is dropping fast. I’m interest to see how much longer Microsoft attempts to push into the market. With their partner OEMs such as HP, Linksys, Dish Network pulling out these leaves the custom OEMs like Niveus Media and Life|ware to pick up the slack. Unfortunately there is only such much they can do. If Microsoft’s commitment in the channel falls it might be the end of the custom market experiment.

So once again the question is what’s next. Recently there have been some great new bloggers show up in the Media Center community with some great suggestions. I’m done with suggestions. Microsoft knows exactly what we want, let’s not pretend they don’t. The issue is it is no longer in their best interest to pursue most of it. What’s next? Who knows. All I want at this point is for Microsoft to publicly provide a roadmap for what Media Center is to become.

CableCARD Takes First (Unofficial) Step to DIY PCs

chrisl — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:50:00 GMT

A fair amount of headroom has recently been made for CableCARD support on non-OEM machines. CableLabs regulations have limited only Microsoft approved OEMs to build and sell CableCARD machines using well outlined stipulations including a special BIOS and additional product key.

Smart thinking guy’s at The Green Button cracked open the public CableLabs specs to find out more. As I’ve talked about before, the BIOS is actually a OSFR table which in theory can be put in any motherboard BIOS. Turns out Asus might have shipped a revision of their P5K with the table present and populated. Two fun threads to follow for more are here and here.

Now, getting the BIOS "hacked" doesn’t mean too much. The hard part of this equation is the OCUR PID that will be much harder to hack. Right now people are recycling their Dell XPS 420’s PIDs to home build a custom CableCARD mahine.

I will caution everyone, Microsoft and CableLabs are supposed to have a method to remotely disable this stuff and your PC is also supposed to check every so often to ensure everything is cool. If you spend a lot time and money getting into something like this and one day it just breaks don’t get too mad.

Ceton Gets Official with Industry First MOCUR

chrisl — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:47:00 GMT

Microsoft might not have hit on it in their Media Center-less keynote, but there is one big change getting ready to happen. Well over a year after it was first spotted, Ceton is out with the news that they will be shipping an MOCUR in 2009 (Via Media Center Blog).

There are a few things that are unique to the Ceton MOCUR over the current ATI OCUR. The first and most noticeable is the ability to use a single M-Card and tune at up 6 channels. While most people know that M-Cards can offer multiple streams, not many know they actually can be well above two. Using a single M-Card and a Ceton MCOUR with add-on tuners you will be able to record up to six shows at once.

While you will still need a CableCARD Ready PC (sorry, no home built) this tuner will be a welcome change from ATIs. Ceton will hopefully stay a-top their firmware releases and ship the tuners with that relaxed DRM support that ATI hasn’t bothered to get around to yet.

Sadly, this isn’t a BOCR (tru2way). CableLabs has still not finished the specs for two-way CableCARD tuners for the PC. While not noted in the press release, Ceton will hopefully be providing support for SDV Adaptors which CableLabs has said will work with OCURs but that a timeline for support has not been made public. If SDV support isnt planned on, this tuner will be dead in the water. I’ve got to believe that Ceton wouldn’t release the tuner at this stage without ensuring SDV support.

Big hat tip to the Media Center Blog

Ceton Announces Development of Next-Generation Cable TV Card for PCs Running Windows Media Center

chrisl — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:27:00 GMT

(Via Media Center Blog) LAS VEGAS, NV -- 01/08/09 -- Ceton Corp., a Seattle-area technology company, today announced the development of the next-generation Ceton cable TV card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs. PCs incorporating the Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card will be able to natively support high-definition pay TV including premium cable TV channels, without the need for a separate cable set-top box, including playing or recording up to six simultaneous high-definition TV channels using a single multi-stream CableCARD(TM) and single RF connection.

The Ceton solution also enables standard- and high-definition cable programming to be securely distributed from a Media Center PC to multiple TVs throughout the home via Media Center Extenders while preserving the encryption and digital rights of the content. The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card was developed using Microsoft Corp.'s broadcast TV platform capabilities in Windows Media Center and conforms to the CableLabs® OpenCable(TM) OCUR and DRI specifications.

"PCs running Windows Media Center are a great platform for enabling a wide variety of really useful whole-home entertainment options," said Gary Hammer, president and CEO of Ceton Corp. "The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs not only brings pay TV functionality of the set-top box inside the PC in an easy-to-set-up and very cost-effective way but it also enables unique capabilities such as whole-home distribution of premium HD TV content with up to six tuner support with a single multi-stream CableCARD."

"Microsoft is pleased to see Ceton deliver this new hardware solution built on the robust capabilities of Windows Media Center and its broadcast TV platform," said Geoff Robertson, General Manager of Windows Media Center for Microsoft. "Ceton's digital cable tuner will bring multi-stream pay TV services to Windows Media Center-enabled PCs and multiple connected Media Center Extenders."

The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs is expected to be available bundled with Windows Media Center-enabled PCs from leading manufacturers in 2009.

About Ceton Corporation

Ceton Corporation is a Seattle-area technology company that is developing the next-generation of in-home digital entertainment and communication solutions. Combining stellar hardware and software engineering capabilities with market-making, patent-pending technology, Ceton aims to help unlock the potential of the digital home to unleash a new generation of in-home connected entertainment and communication services for PC and device makers, software developers and consumers. More information about Ceton and its solutions is available at http://www.cetoncorp.com.

Short Bits: SideShow Remote, Big Screen Savings, Video Testimonial Program, More

chrisl — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:44:00 GMT

Ricavision is officially dead now, but Phillips is sort-of taking their place with the SRM7500 SideShow Remote. Hardly the eye candy that the Ricavision was, but at least it is shipping with a much lower price tag. Clear downside here is the screen which will limit functionality.

The Holidays are here and that means deals for you on Media Center plug-ins. Up until January 15 you can save up to 40% off on Big Screen applications.

Speaking of deals, how about getting a free DV cam? Microsoft has launched their Media Center Consumer Video Testimonial Program at The Green Button (you need to be logged into your TGB account to see this). Microsoft will send you a $140 Flip Camera (not sure about model, but my guess is this one) for you to make a quick 2 minute video about your life using Media Center. You send them the video on CD/DVD along with the camera back, and they send you a brand new Flip Camera for you to keep!

NCTA says there are officially 374,000 CableCARDs deployed in third party devices (eg. TiVo, Media Center, HDTVs, etc). You can compare that to the 9.76 million CableCARDs deployed in the boxes leased by Cable Providers.

CableLabs Confirms Tuning Adaptor Support in Media Center (Kind of)

chrisl — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:20:00 GMT

Good news, OCURs (can) support Tuning Adapters. Bad news, OCUR is an open spec and the fact that they “can” doesn’t mean a whole lot. CableLabs recently addressed the issue (PDF)with the two fantastic (ok, maybe not) bits of information below. Pair that with Microsoft’s own fantastic response from a few months ago and the bottom line is not to expect a Tuning Adapter mixed with an OCUR any time soon.

If things work the way I think they will then we are waiting for one of two things to happen.

Possibility A: CableLabs updates the specs for the TA/TR to clearly state that it can work with OCURs using the PC as a hub. ATI provides a firmware update for the OCURs to work and Microsoft updates Windows and Media Center to allow it to work.

Possibility B: ATI or some other company releases new OCURs (eg. New hardware) with the correct firmware upgrades and USB port configuration to work with the current TR specs. Microsoft provides an update for Media Center because CableLabs is suggesting it will be needed.

Judging by CableLabs verbiage in the below statements, I think a bit more than a Tuning Adapter connecting to the PC is involved. It isn’t a good sign when the main entity behind these things is saying that a timeline for development hasn’t been identified. Stay tuned for some other changes CableLabs is making.

Can existing DTVs, STBs or OCURs by upgraded to support the Tuning Adapter?

“Existing one-way products that already include an USB port may be able to be upgraded by the manufacturer to support the Tuning Adapter. Some manufacturers have announced plans for much upgrades. For more information, check with the manufacturer of your unidirectional Digital Cable Product.”

Will the Tuning Adapter work with a Vista PC that is equipped with a Digital Cable Tuner?

“The TRIF specification is designed so that it can also with a Vista PC that is equipped with a Digital Cable Tuner. However the timing for the development, availability and support of compatible products depends upon the PC and OCUR manufacturers’ schedule, as well as necessary upgrades provided by Microsoft.”

Microsoft Releases October Media Center Updates

chrisl — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:11:00 GMT

October 2008 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista (KB955519)

Fixes an issue in which you cannot seek through recorded TV shows on Windows Media Center systems that have digital cable tuners. Additionally, the recorded TV shows display the incorrect length.
Fixes an issue in which Windows Media Center Extenders cannot re-connect to a host computer after the host computer resumes from the suspend mode or the sleep mode.
Fixes an issue which is introduced by KB950126. In this issue, a video that is paused may resume if you minimize or maximize the Windows Media Center window or if a screen saver starts.
Implements support for Digital Rights Management (DRM) free copy for digital cable tuners that have the latest digital cable tuner BIOS that support DRM free copy.
Expands the solution that was introduced in KB950126 to improve the experience of recording analog TV broadcasts to include set-top box scenarios. Previously, some analog TV broadcasts were blocked with the "protected content" message.

October 2008 Cumulative Update for Media Center TV Pack for Windows Vista (KB956147)

Addresses an issue in which Windows Media Center Extenders cannot re-connect to host computer after the computer resumes from the suspend or sleep mode.
Improves the experience of recording analog TV broadcasts to include set-top box scenarios. Previously, some shows were blocked with "protected content" messages.
- Note: This solution does not apply to configurations that use analog TV over digital cable tuners. The BIOS for the digital cable tuners provide content protection.
Addresses an issue in which incorrect PlayReady API is called.
Addresses an issue in identification of systems with the Windows Media Center TV Pack installed for server-related content.
Addresses an issue with certain extensibility applications that pass the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) protocol-based URLs.
Addresses an issue with .wtv files that are listed as unsupported file type after the third-party decoders are installed.
Addresses an issue with Terrestrial Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB-T) digital TV signal when it uses component or composite output.

Cannon PC Selling Standalone Internal/External Digital Cable Tuners

chrisl — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:31:00 GMT

For the longest time SonyStyle.com was the only place that you would buy standalone Digital Cable Tuners. However a month or so ago Sony pulled out of the market and only started selling refurbished tuners at a discount. However, most of those refurbs didn’t ship with a power supply, adding additional cost and headaches for buyers trying to find someone at Sony who cared or knew what CableCARD was.

With Sony’s exit Cannon PC now aims to fill the void left by Sony by offering both internal and external Digital Cable Tuners online for $300 and $315 respectfully. The usual disclaimers apply about them only working with CableCARD-ready PCs, but this should give HP and Dell owners a nice choice for purchasing extra tuners.

Short Bits: CableCARD, Media Center Show

chrisl — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:42:00 GMT

Ed Bott has a great post on why CableCARD will never be mainstream. Not only is the process of getting a CableCARD and having it paired a problem, but the lack of troubleshooting information (or rather the need for troubleshooting at all) on the PC side of things means CableCARD is likely to never to mainstream. Ed’s suggestion to fix this is transition Media Center to a standalone STB type system (which is everyones solution to everything). I’m not sure that would fix the issues with CableCARD, but the transition away from the standard PC is a whole different topic.

On this week’s Media Center Show Ian Dixon has Microsoft’s Kevin Collins talking about all the news from CEDIA, and Intel's Greg Schlechter who serves as a director of the newly announced Media Center Integrators Alliance.

Hurricane on the way!

Microsoft Showcases Windows Media Center Momentum at CEDIA EXPO 2008

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:19:00 GMT

From distributed HD entertainment to automation and control, Windows Media Center is at the center of an ever-expanding ecosystem within the custom installation channel.

DENVER — Sept. 4, 2008 — At CEDIA EXPO 2008, Microsoft Corp. announced expansive growth of the Windows Media Center ecosystem, the formation of an exciting new industry alliance composed of some of the custom channel’s top brands, the winner of the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, and numerous partner innovations supporting the Windows Media Center in the custom installation channel. CEDIA EXPO 2008 is an annual show for the residential electronic systems industry put on by the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association.

“In the wake of Microsoft’s increased engagement with the custom installation channel, a broader ecosystem has developed based on Windows Media Center,” said Kevin Collins, director of the Custom Installer Channel in the Connected TV Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “We are thrilled with the level of innovation on the Windows Media Center platform that hardware and software companies are showcasing at CEDIA EXPO.”

Hardware Expansion

The merit of Windows Media Center as a custom installation solution is stronger than ever, as illustrated through announcements from multiple channel partners highlighting support for up to eight CableCARD tuners and up to 10 Extender for Windows Media Center devices. This increased capacity allows Windows Media Center technologies to address the demands of more sophisticated projects. With the wide range of products and custom configurations that use standard interfaces, integrators can delight their customers with unique installations while using familiar components and subsystems. Adding to the growing demand for centralized home storage, multiple OEMs are previewing new hardware based on Windows Home Server that provides integrators with a solid whole-house solution to store and access their clients’ music, photos and videos from either an entertainment server running Windows Media Center or Extender for Windows Media Center devices.

“Our channel partners are driving compelling new entertainment and control solutions to maximize the success of custom integrators,” Collins said. “The collaboration of some of the most forward-thinking companies in the consumer electronics category and their implementations of media center technologies are fulfilling the long-standing vision of the connected home.”

Among this week’s significant partner announcements are the following:

Autonomic Controls Inc. will introduce new control modules enabling two-way integration of Windows Media Center and iTunes into Remote Technologies Inc. T4 and K4 remote controls.
Fluid Digital will promote the integration of Microsoft’s Windows Media Center TV Pack to enable an enhanced TV viewing experience, native support for four digital cable tuners, an enhanced electronic program guide, and the ability to share nonprotected digital cable content across Microsoft PlayReady technology-enabled PCs and portable media devices.
Exceptional Innovation will preview its new High Density TV initiative that introduces exciting new ways to distribute entertainment and control around the home. The new Life|media 810 digital entertainment server features eight TV tuners and supports 10 extenders while providing 12 terabytes of hard disk storage to deliver consumers a robust solution for storing, managing and viewing high-definition (HD) content throughout their home. Exceptional Innovation will preview the new Life|ware Digital Media Manager for simple, seamless content sharing from one media center device to another. Exceptional Innovation will also announce support for the Windows Media Center TV Pack in several Life|media media servers; on-board digital amplification through Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) in the new LMS-170 series; and Blu-ray support on multiple LMS units.
NiveusMedia will unveil the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition. Based on the Windows Home Server platform, it offers up to 16 terabytes of scalable storage. In addition, Niveus will announce support for up to 10 Extender for Windows Media Center devices and eight CableCARDs when using the most powerful Niveus media server, the Pro Series n9. Niveus will also introduce upgrades to both the Niveus media server line and the Niveus Movie Library movie management tool.
S1Digital LLC plans to launch its new P500 Media Centers, which include advanced features such as up to four digital cable tuners (for use with CableCARD) and a QAM/ATSC tuner to give customers the capability of watching and recording up to five simultaneous cable TV channels including HDTV and premium content, Blu-ray playback with Profile 2 capabilities, and up to 3 terabytes of internal storage. All S1Digital media center solutions include the Windows Media Center TV Pack to provide customers with an enhanced entertainment experience. S1Digital also plans to launch the WHS500, a one-rack Windows Home Server, designed specifically for the custom installation channel. The WHS500 is a powerful network storage device with 4-terabyte capacity for storing movies, music, photos, home videos and other media, providing centralized access of content.
Inteset LLC will unveil its new TeraRAID XV-NAS, which will offer 15 terabytes of enterprise-level, A/V-style storage and automatically replicate the Inteset Media Library across multiple homes with access from the Web. Inteset will also be demonstrating the addition of full Blu-ray to its popular, proprietary Movie Collection, which has the ability to store, search and play back movies seamlessly within the Windows Media Center interface. The system will scan the inserted DVD or Blu-ray disc to identify and retrieve full profile information from Inteset’s all-new movie database.
Samsung Electronics America Inc. will showcase the new Samsung MediaLive Extender for Windows Media Center, which delivers digital entertainment including HD content, photos, music, feature films, home movies, and live and recorded TV, from any hardware running Windows Media Center to the big screen of a Samsung HDTV via a wireless or wired home network. With distribution that includes the custom installation channel, MediaLive is a powerful solution in the offerings for Extender for Windows Media Center devices.
Cannon PC announced that it will begin shipping the Windows Media Center TV Pack, which adds native support for up to four TV tuners (including digital cable tuners), ClearQAM (unencrypted digital cable) tuners, sharing of unprotected digital content via Microsoft PlayReady technology-enabled PCs and more, with its line of Media Center PCs beginning in early September. Cannon PC also announced that it will offer integrators two form factors of the popular Windows Home Server to provide homeowners with a new solution for centralized storage, remote access and much more.

2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest

Microsoft will announce the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest winner at a special event on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. MDT. This year’s contest saw a significant increase in the number of submissions as well as the design quality and level of integration delivered through the Windows Media Center platform. Now in its second year, the Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest encourages integrators to show off their talents by presenting their most unique and creative installations that leverage Windows Media Center technologies. More information on the winning install will be available at http://www.microsoft.com/ultimateinstall.

Media Center Integrator Alliance

Announced yesterday, Microsoft has joined Intel Corporation, HP, Life|ware, NiveusMedia, AMD and Crestron Electronics Inc. in the foundation of the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to driving the adoption and awareness of the media center ecosystem in the custom installation channel. MCIA members will share best practices, establish standards, and develop education and certification tools for technologies using Windows Media Center. The new alliance hopes to attract the interest, acceptance and participation of many more companies to contribute to a unified industry-based voice within the ecosystem.

“We’re excited to see how channel awareness has grown and the implementation of Windows Media Center technologies in product offerings has expanded over the past 12 months,” Collins said. “We expect the momentum to continue to drive adoption of the ecosystem and build a network of enthused, satisfied consumers.”

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Niveus Supports Ten Extenders and Eight CableCARDs From One Niveus Media Server

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Simultaneous HDTV viewing, recording, and distribution in up to eleven zones!

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Niveus Media is invigorating the whole-home TV viewing experience by announcing that select Niveus media servers will simultaneously support up to eight digital cable (CableCARD) tuners and ten Media Center Extenders. Announcing availability concurrently with the introduction of the 2009 Niveus media server line, boasting impressive enhancements in processing and performance, Niveus now doubles the capabilities of the Niveus Entertainment System.

“Niveus has nurtured the digital cable functionality and compatibility since early 2007 and is proud to be one of the first to support both eight CableCARDS and ten extenders,” states Tim Cutting, Niveus CEO and Co-Founder. “By doubling the performance of the Niveus Media Server, we can now support even the largest installations.”

The ability to access a robust DVR library and distribute all live and recorded HD content to eleven independent zones will be supported by Niveus’ most powerful media server, the Pro Series n9, set to be released in Q4 2008. The n9 will feature a next-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, for the ultimate in high-definition, multi-zone entertainment.

Pairing the n9 with four Niveus Digital Cable Receivers, an external, dual CableCARD tuner device, allows cable subscribers to simultaneously view and record eight standard definition or HD programs. Leveraging the increasingly popular Extender for Windows® Media Center platform, users can now stream these eight digital cable signals along with ALL other HD content in up to eleven zones.

“We are very excited to see Niveus maintain their cutting edge product offerings by expanding their product line to address the increasing demands of the custom installer channel,” states Kevin Collins, Director – Custom Installer Channel, Microsoft. “Providing installers with the option to scale up to eight tuners and ten extenders is a testament to Niveus’ dedication to expanding the media center ecosystem.”

As the Niveus Media Server continues to offer unprecedented multi-zone and multi-user functionality, the need for ample storage is greater than ever. To support growing collections of HD content, Niveus has introduced the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition which is based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform and boasts up to 16TB of scalable storage.

Support for eight CableCARDs and ten extenders will be available in Q4 2008, with availability of the 2009 Niveus Media Server – Pro Series n9.

For more information on Niveus Media, Inc., please visit www.niveusmedia.com.

Niveus Media’s 2009 Media Servers Boast Progressive Processing Power and Enhanced Multi-Zone Capabilities

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Featuring HDMI 1.3, next-generation Intel processing, specialized Seagate hard drives, and upgraded cooling solutions for impressive multi-zone performance.

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Niveus Media unveils its 2009 line of media servers, enhanced to provide an incredibly robust entertainment experience in as many as eleven independent zones. All Niveus media servers, including the passively cooled Summit Series’ Rainier and Denali Limited Edition and the rack mountable Pro Series, have been upgraded to incorporate bleeding-edge technologies for the most powerful Media Center performance.

“To accommodate the variety of installation applications and performance demands, we’ve upgraded all of our media servers to offer Niveus Authorized Dealers the preferred range of configurations,” states Brian Paper, Vice President Operations and Co-Founder of Niveus Media. “With a selection of form factors, processing power, audio and video solutions, and storage capacities, Niveus has a superior solution for today’s multi-zone scenarios.”

Significant upgrades across the Niveus Media Server line include: HDMI 1.3 support for high-definition audio codecs and the utmost in connectivity and new Seagate Pipeline HD™ hard drives for unprecedented acoustics, reliability, and video streaming performance.

Now completely fanless and utilizing an external power supply, the 2009 Niveus Media Center – Rainier Edition is optimized for the coolest and quietest performance and offers: up to 1TB of internal storage; Niveus Pro Audio featuring 8 channel analog & digital out and 116db signal-to-noise ratio; and, most notably, the new Intel® G45 Express Chipset with Intel® Clear Video technology, a videophile-worthy integrated graphics solution providing major advancements in video performance and responsiveness, enabling crystal clear 1080p video.

The rack-mountable Niveus Media Center – Pro Series line, scheduled to be available Q4 2008, features enhanced cooling technology, allowing for improved airflow and cool and quiet performance in demanding rack-mount scenarios. The Pro Series will also offer: up to 4TB of internal storage; a 32GB dedicated solid state drive (for the operating system); Niveus Pro Audio featuring 8 channel analog & digital out and 120db signal-to-noise ratio and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio; and Nvidia’s GeForce Series 9 graphics featuring PureVideo™ HD technology for high quality video scaling up to and beyond 1080p. For advanced power, Niveus intends to utilize the Intel® Core™ i7 processor for the ultimate in high-definition, multi-zone entertainment.

“Intel is excited about Niveus incorporating both the onboard G45 graphics solution into its Rainier Edition as well as their future intention to offer the Intel Core i7 processor with the Pro Series,” states Jeff McCrea, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Consumer PC Group. “Niveus continues to leverage the Intel platform to deliver astounding multi-zone entertainment.”

For 2009, the flagship Niveus Media Center – Denali Limited Edition has undergone a complete facelift, adding even more sophistication to this award-winning media server. Internally, the Denali Limited Edition has been refined to incorporate: 2TB of storage; a 32GB dedicated solid state drive (for the operating system); a slot load Blu-ray Disc player; Niveus Pro Audio featuring 8 channel analog & digital out and 120db signal-to-noise ratio and support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio; and Nvidia’s GeForce Series 9 graphics featuring PureVideo™ HD technology for high quality video scaling up to and beyond 1080p. Denali Limited Edition now represents one of the quietest, most powerful media servers on the market.

All Niveus media servers are capable of storing, managing, and distributing high-definition TV, music, movies, photos, and more, and can be easily integrated with premier home automation solutions.

Niveus’ 2009 product line will be available in Q4 2008.

For more information on Niveus Media, Inc., please visit www.niveusmedia.com.

Niveus Media @ CEDIA: Movie Library, 8 CableCARD, 10 Extenders, Home Server

chrisl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Niveus Movie Library Goes Primetime!

Version 1.5 is enriched to offer high-res cover art (including Blu-ray) and support for a wider catalogue of movie sources, such as disc-in-drive… and more!

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Designed exclusively for Niveus Media customers, the Niveus Movie Library is a robust movie management tool that aggregates an entire movie collection into one distinct and intelligent interface. Upgraded to accommodate a growing number of movie sources, Niveus Movie Library 1.5 now features: disc-in-drive support; a 10’ interface for backing up movies to the Niveus Media Server; and expanded metadata with high resolution cover art (including Blu-ray!).

“Niveus Movie Library 1.5 represents the original vision of this product,” states Tim Cutting, CEO and Co-Founder, Niveus Media. “Coupling our new storage server, Cargo, with the enhanced Niveus Movie Library, our customers can now back up, download, store, and access their entire movie collection through the easy-to-use Niveus interface.”

Read Full Press Release

Niveus Supports Ten Extenders and Eight CableCARDs From One Niveus Media Server

Simultaneous HDTV viewing, recording, and distribution in up to eleven zones!

Read Full Press Release

Niveus Media’s 2009 Media Servers Boast Progressive Processing Power and Enhanced Multi-Zone Capabilities

Featuring HDMI 1.3, next-generation Intel processing, specialized Seagate hard drives, and upgraded cooling solutions for impressive multi-zone performance.

Read Full Press Release

Introducing The Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition, Powered By Windows Home Server

Store and protect unlimited HD content with up to 16TB of scalable storage, remote accessibility, and seamless integration with the Niveus Movie Library.

Denver, CO – CEDIA Expo 2008 – September 4-7 – Booth #850 – Niveus Media introduces the Niveus Storage Server – Cargo Edition, a powerful storage device based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, designed for the custom install channel. Featuring up to 16TB of scalable storage, Cargo provides a seamlessly integrated and flexible storage solution for the perpetually growing HD digital content market.

As Niveus continues to enhance movie integration with the increasing functionality of the Niveus Movie Library movie management interface and availability of VideoGiants Collections premium movie packages, it has become essential to offer a robust storage solution that can house a user’s expansive HD movie collection. Cargo is the ultimate add-on to the Niveus Movie Library, enabling secure storage of thousands of movies, complete with expanded metadata and high-resolution cover art.

Read Full Press Release

Microsoft Addresses CableCARD SDV Issue

chrisl — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:05:00 GMT

Today Microsoft made public their intensions to support Switched Digital Video (SDV) within Windows Media Center. While details are limited, Charlie Nilsson, Program Manager for the NetOps TV Team at Microsoft posted on The Green Button about the issue.

Charlie says “We [Microsoft] are working to enable support for the CableLabs SDV Tuning Adaptor for Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuners, ensuring that Windows Media Center users will be able to access switched content.”

As I’ve said many times the current Tuning Adaptor specs offers no way for Microsoft to cleanly support SDV without new CableCARD tuners that offer the correct USB port configuration. Some (mainly Ben at EngadgetHD) have argued that Microsoft can just use a USB port on the PC to accomplish this, however without CableLabs changing the specs it cannot happen.

Given Microsoft’s plans for Tuning Adaptor support are still in their infancy, I wouldn’t expect much else to come for several months. This issue will require a few changes including a software update for Media Center, a specification rewrite from CableLabs, and possibly new CableCARD Tuners if CableLabs isn’t redoing the specs for such a solution.

Maybe, just maybe I'll be wrong about this and everyone can have working SDV within Media Center! Being wrong isn't so bad when good comes out of it.

Short Bits: Life|ware & Niveus at CEDIA

chrisl — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:32:00 GMT

This edition ripped straight from CE Pro…It seems Niveus Media is done with pushing their recently developed Niveus EDGE Extender. The might have been Xbox 360-based Extender (sans gaming) is out and the HP MediaSmart Connect is in. Interesting turn of events for something that must have taken a lot of time and money to complete.

Niveus is also updating their Movie Gallery adding support for better metabase, higher resolution cover art, and a 10-foot disc ripping client which seem popular these days.

Life|ware is also set to make a splash at CEDIA with a new iPhone control application that can be programmed directly using Life|ware’s programming tools. Exceptional Innovation will also be launching a new media server that integrated Media Center (CableCARD as an option), a 5.1 surround-sound amplifier, and ZigBee controller all into a single server. Models with dual CableCARD will likely run just under $4,000.

Niveus Media Teams Up With ADI To Deliver Media Servers To Custom Electronics Installers

chrisl — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Award-winning Niveus Media Server – Vail Edition integrates technologies to provide a high-performance entertainment experience.

Milpitas, CA – August 27, 2008 – Niveus Media is teaming up with ADI to distribute the newest Niveus Media Server – Vail Edition to custom electronics installers across the country. This media server will allow dealers to provide a scalable, energy efficient solution to access, store, manage and distribute digital content throughout a home.

“ADI is a highly experienced vehicle with a proven track record for providing innovative products and impeccable service to dealers,” said John Trimbach, Vice President Sales, Niveus Media. “We’re extremely confident ADI will provide first-class distribution for Vail, while providing increased brand awareness for Niveus.”

Referred to as “Sierra” in the pre-release beta version, Niveus’ award-winning Vail Edition media server is based on Windows Vista® Home Premium featuring Windows® Media Center.

Key Features:

Pictures & Videos – Digital photograph and video collections are securely stored while offering easy viewing access throughout the home.
Music – CD collections are merged with downloaded tracks to create a uniform and all-encompassing music library.
Movies – Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD support and an abundance of classification capabilities offer a comprehensive, extremely intuitive, and completely unique movie experience.

The Vail Edition is engineered with the proprietary Niveus ConvergencePanel™ high-performance audio and video ports to ensure a simple installation and seamless integration into the home network. With Vail, ADI dealers now have direct access to Niveus Media’s lowest power consuming and most compact media server to date, which easily integrates with many security and home automation products currently available through ADI.

In a sleek and slender chassis, the CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Award winning Vail Edition incorporates: powerful Intel® processing; an optional Blu-ray Disc drive; Seagate® hard drives; Nvidia’s GeForce Series 8 graphics featuring PureVideo™ HD technology; and proprietary Niveus technology.

All Vail Editions sold through ADI will be bundled with an exclusive content package from MusicGiants, the authority in HD music and video downloads. Vail includes the proprietary HD Media Store which enables instant access to MusicGiants, and includes 2 HDNet films and credit towards the purchase of MusicGiants downloads.

“As a distributor, we are committed to providing our dealers with access to cutting-edge technology from industry-leading vendors,” said RJ Hirshkind, Senior Product Manager for A/V at ADI. “We are excited to offer the Niveus Media Server at our branches, and help dealers provide completely integrated home entertainment solutions.”

For more information on Niveus Media, Inc., please visit www.niveusmedia.com. For more information about ADI, visit www.adilink.com.

CableCARD to Get Relaxed DRM

chrisl — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:47:00 GMT

It has always been hard to stomach the DRM variations that CableLabs has set up between OCURs and UDCP devices like TiVo’s. TiVo gets the ability to have non-DRM recordings if the content provider hasn’t flagged the broadcast at all whereas Media Center with CableCARD has to protect everything no matter what. This discrepancy might is ready to change.

CableLabs recently unwrapped an update to the OCUR specs in which they appeared to have removed the “Requirement to Protect Output of Content with No Protection Flags.”

Hard to say whether you will need the Windows Media Center TV Pack to take full advantage, but based on what S1Digital is planning to ship it would appear that at least at first the TV Pack will be required. There will also have to be a Digital Cable Tuner update that would most likely allow shows not marked as copy protected to skip the WMDRM process within the tuner.