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Comcast Offers Trial Of Microsoft TV Software
Anonymous Howard writes "Designtechnica has a news article about Comcast and Microsoft announcing an agreement to test digital TV services using the "Microsoft TV Interactive Program Guide (IPG)". The trial is scheduled to start this fall using Motorola DCT2000 set-top boxes. The software is designed to help network operators get more value from on-demand and other digital TV services." There are some more details in an article over at CNET News.
At least Microsoft couldn't possibly make an EPG more unstable than Sky TV in the UK.
Right?
By value, they mean that they can shove more advertising down your throat. More value for them. They already have ads on the sides where valuable information could be kept. Noooo, we'd hate to sacrifice a little bit of money in order to make this a great service. Now they can have ads come up in the middle of the screen, "Would you like to see more information on the Pepsi(TM) that you just saw Britney Spears drinking?" And that could redirect you to some websites with more popups and annoying shit that people who just learned how to flip channels, won't know how to deal with.
Cumcast has such potential as to what they really could be providing to thier customers. The bandwidth that they have, and the possible services that they could be providing to customers is endless. Instead they just look at inital costs, and just how can they squeeze another penny out of you with out spending anything. So, no there is NO benefit to cable customers.
I can't believe that people put up with the current Cumcast Digital Cable. Hell, half the channels aren't digital, and the other half are so impossible to find using the program guide. Where is my option to turn off the channels I don't have? Where is my favorites menu? The interface is a piece of crap and the cost of the service is absolutely outrageous. Basic expanded cable TV itself is $38.00/mo. I can get the same from Dish for about $25.00/mo. Oh yeah thats with a REALLY cool reciever box, ALL digital channels, and no advertising on the program guide. I'm sure DirecTV has very similar pricing plans, as I know that nobody is nearly as expensive as Comcast.