What's Snapstream's position on CableCard

[tscales]

We know that MS has signed an agreement to support CableCards in Vista. I don't want to use MCE, and have a huge BTV investment.

Have I missed a comparable announcement from Snapstream?

[mockware]

Cablecard sounds like a nice option until you find out that regardless of what your computer can do, you are at the mercy of your cable company. I've heard some cable companies are refusing to install a card in anything but a TV since they are trying to force you to use their PVR service instead of another. Tivo is suffering the same fate.

[tscales]

Which is a serious FCC violation that should be reported.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by mockware

I've heard some cable companies are refusing to install a card in anything but a TV

And you probably got that from the overblown story of Time-Warner refusing to activate Tivo 3 boxes. Old news and they have corrected this since. However, it turned into an urban legend that won't stop.

The support of CableCard in Vista has some serious strings attached. I don't know if I'd go for it if BTV would support CableCard.

[btvfreak]

I'd go for it if Snapstream supports CableCARD in BTV.

[tscales]

Wouldn't we all, wouldn't we all. Interesting that no one from SS has chimed in.

[tannebil]

I've been watching the CC stuff from the Tivo perspective and it's hard to be optimistic about CC on a PC. Cablelabs only certifies complete solutions and required Tivo to remove a bunch of functionality that we take for granted with PCs. In particular, Tivo the ability to move video to another machine so a Tivo recording on a Series 3 is completely locked to that machine regardless of the material recorded, i.e. the limitation applies to both HD and SD material (Tivo has sharing functionality for SD in it's other models). The restriction might be eased in the future but might is a long way from is. My guess is that BTV or any other PVR vendor except perhaps Microsoft is going to be locked out of that market for a very long time.


I really hope I'm wrong as I'm going to get a Series 3 at some point and really want multi-room viewing to work. Plus I'd like to do cool stuff with BTV and my PC provided that I didn't have to buy a DRM-crippled, completely locked box to do it as that would be very uncool.

[chevyman601]

I would be happy with clear QAM support, that would have no restrictions because no CC would be involved.

[cfaslave]

I would be interested in cablecard if it were available on BTV.

I saw this post on www.floppyhead.com that I found interesting regarding MCE Vista and how much Microsoft has riding on CableCard working out

Is Microsoft’s Vista gambling too much on CableCARD?

Originally Posted by From the post

As much as the Series 3 Tivo has paved the way for Vista, it has shown the potholes facing CableCARDs. The cable industry is loathe to support it and is constantly fighting its implementation. Mainstream adoption of CableCARD is hardly guaranteed. All it takes is a cable company to exert alittle more influence over the FCC and suddenly Vista is not as attractive as a media center.

Interesting viewpoint. I wonder how much money/resources it is taking Microsoft and Tivo to be accepted for cablecard? I think the cable companies, networks, & cable channels are reluctant to go along with cablecard because they would rather totally lock down their content and not allow HTPC's access. As the political tide changes, things could indeed change in this arena.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by btvfreak

I'd go for it if Snapstream supports CableCARD in BTV.

So you're willing to give up a good chunk of the features you love (commercial skip, sharing, BTV Link, DVD burning, etc) just to have CableCard?

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by MarcP

So you're willing to give up a good chunk of the features you love (commercial skip, sharing, BTV Link, DVD burning, etc) just to have CableCard?

Lets put it this way. If I could have what I have now PLUS have CableCard as an alternative tuning option so I could have additional access to HDTV channels that I can't get any other way, I probably would say yes. Otherwise...... No.

Right now, I would rather SS focus on QAM tuning (for unecrypted channels) and on HTPC plugin "integration" capability. I do think CableCard might be a big selling plus for SS. MS wouldn't be spending a bundle on CableCard if it weren't expected to bring the masses.

[MarcP]

MS can go the CableCard route because they implemented their own DRM scheme and protective path in Vista.... and they're not afraid to use it. Microsoft likes DRM and they make no effort to hide that fact.

However, for SS to go down that path too, they will have to drop a lot of feature they advertise and bank on. Unless CableLabs dramatically lowers their requirements.. Something I don't expect to see for a long time, if ever.

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by MarcP

MS can go the CableCard route because they implemented their own DRM scheme and protective path in Vista.... and they're not afraid to use it. Microsoft likes DRM and they make no effort to hide that fact.

However, for SS to go down that path too, they will have to drop a lot of feature they advertise and bank on. Unless CableLabs dramatically lowers their requirements.. Something I don't expect to see for a long time, if ever.

You are correct of course. I think the article I referenced talks to this point a little at least. This is why I think SS should focus on the DIY HTPC'ers. Keep the basic program as simple for the common user as possible, but flexible enough for the more advanced DIY user to build upon (QAM support, Music plugin capability, DVD/Movie plugin capability, Photo plugin capability etc etc.) I know I keep harping on this, but I really think this is the best future for BTV.

Brent

[MarcP]

I agree with what you're saying, but also that BTV should be DRM-free. Going for CableLabs certification will most certainly remove that. People asking for CableCard support probably don't know the consequences of what they're asking for.

Unfortunately, I expect to see more of this in the future...

[ClamsTheCat]

I don't expect to hear anyone from SS speak on the issue in this thread. I expect we will get QAM when we get it, and not a minute sooner. I think they know what the customers want, but there are technical issues involved. I think we will see integration first, but probably in a 5.0 version we will have to upgrade to.

It is what it is. At least the DVD Library plug-in still rocks!