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.

Comments

Hmm

[B3ryllium]

And here I thought that VCRs would only generate Blue Screens before and after a movie started ... This brings them a whole new potential career - displaying blue screens in the middle of movies!

i see butterflies

[stonebeat.org]

oh wait it is just my TV.... where is my channel changer

Mommy! Why's the TV screen all blue?

[Limburgher]

And what's a fatal kernel error?

Clippy

[Anonymous Coward]

"I see you are trying to watch Jerry Springer, would you like some help?"

Re:Clippy

[Yanna]

Even more dreadful:

"I see you are trying to watch some porn, would you like some help?"

I will now have nightmares...

The reason this is a bad idea

[piecewise]

Quite frankly, the news media should be ashamed for not picking up on some of the sub-clauses of the Comcast/Microsoft agreement.

I mean, come on. The television *must* start up to Channel 447 - "Gates Gone Wild, Doggie Style."

It's just another ridiculous Microsoft ploy.

Re:The reason this is a bad idea

[H310iSe]

Actually, it will until the first Media Center virus comes out (these things will have some virus vector, right?) - then the ONLY channel you will get is the happy-little-tree-painter-guy (with the afro-like hair) or, maybe, to the aljezera network (that would be kinda funny). Maybe a virus that just, occasionally, changes the channel to Pat Robertsons Christian Crusade, then back again. A playful virus.

Actually, I'm getting kind of excited. This could be fun, exposing someone's TV to an IRC based chanel changer and let other people channel-surf for them.

Re:Mommy! Why's the TV screen all blue?

[arcanumas]

Ofcourse this will happen only in the beggining.
As people get used to MS quality products it will be more like :

Mommy the TV crashed again? Shall i reboot?

Anyone else parse that as,

[DoomHaven]

"Comcast Offers 'Trial Of Microsoft' TV, Software"?

Re:Anyone else parse that as,

[iabervon]

These Law & Order spin-offs just get lamer and lamer...

Ugh... This crap again.

[piecewise]

I'm assuming the Microsoft version will have soo many more channels than Apple's, but Apple's channels will be of higher quality.

Whatever.

Microsoft TV

[Eberlin]

I see you're trying to watch CNN.
Would you like help getting to MSNBC?

Seriously, though, is this where X-Box was supposed to go? Or how does this eventually integrate with the Media PC (I think that's what it's called.)

Hmmm, wonder what kind of privacy anomalies this introduces in the future. Think of all the tv viewing data it could phone home with!

Like the TWC boxes didn't already suck

[ThatDamnMurphyGuy]

It's hard to imagine the TWC cable boxes getting any worse. I had their digital package/receivers for about 3 years, and the damn things locked up and rebooted on their own all the time. That's of course, when the entire network or onscreen guides weren't down all weekend.

At least now I'd get a BSOD to go along with the fun.

o great...

[dema]

i wont be able to watch the simpsons anymore cause ill get the blue screen of death on tv. like the computer wasn't enough.

MS Bob

[Anonymous Coward]

Rumour has it that there are plans to turn MS Bob into a pay per view Chipendale.

I can see it now...

[acousticiris]

After you get the software update for your cable box, you'll have to dial an 800 number, read off a 700 digit code and they'll give you an activation sequence. Then, once you decide to replace your television, you'll have to pay for all of the movies you watched on the previous one all over again.

Or no, better yet. Someone will write a virus that takes advantage of a security hole in the software resulting in your cable box being a participant in a DDoS attack... All this while my Tivo hums along unaffected because it's running Linux :-).

Welcome to the new Microsoft Bob Network! Did you forget your parental block password? Here, have a new one!

Sorry guys, I had to get it all out.

I KNEW IT

[leifm]

Finally I have the chance to spit out my MS-Comcast and the XBOX taking over the console market theory. Comcast is the country's largest cable provider, and 3rd in ISPs I believe. Comcast + Microsoft = loss leader XBOX/set top box, which means soon MS(soon) owns the console market and has a new media distribution platform in the living room, and it's all on a controlled piece of hardware so they can DRM all they want. Brilliant!

Now I will go actually read what this article says...

Just what I've always wanted!

[seraph93]

Now, instead of paying money to have my intelligence insulted by some noisy box in the living room, I can pay even more for the priviledge--but now I'll have a Microsoft-blessed user interface! Sweet! I can't wait to see the new season of Who Wants to Breed With a Mongoloid? now that I know I'll be able to click through a EULA first!

My favorite quote from the article: "Comcast's selection of Microsoft TV demonstrates the industry's desire for cost-effective, scalable software platforms that help it get the most value from its hardware and infrastructure investments."

That's just too funny, all by itself. I really can't add anything to it.

Re:Mommy! Why's the TV screen all blue?

[tds67]

A fatal kernel error is either popcorn that didn't pop, or death by heart attack from eating to much Kentucky Fried Chicken (TM).

I can see a good benifit of this

[Anonymous Coward]

Now it will make it easier to descramble porn channels.

Microsoft X

[OeLeWaPpErKe]

Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Internet
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Server Editions (or enterprise etc)
Microsoft Hardware (mouse etc)

Microsoft Games
Microsoft Console
Microsoft XBox

Microsoft Windows Media
Microsoft Cinema
Microsoft TV
Microsoft Media PC (ms tivo might be better)

No, mr judge we're defineately not using our influence in some market to expand in other markets, as that would be against the law. (v0.9b had a problem but they patched it)

what's up next ?

With that headline...

[Stalemate]

I first thought comcast was going to be offering some channel similar to Court TV dedicated to showing Microsoft trials.

The "Value" of free.

[Anonymous Coward]

"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."

And with a nifty smartcard programmer. The service is an even better deal.

Re:Mommy! Why's the TV screen all blue?

[El]

Uh, wouldn't the chicken result in a Colonel error???