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!

Re:Hmm

[jafac]

As an owner of a DishPlayer 7200, which ran this software - I can affirm - while it doesn't BSOD, up until about a year ago, this software was rife with serious, serious, issues. Every update they put out kept making the problems worse and worse. But finally, it seems they got it right. It's a slow box, but it's reasonably stable now.

The thing is, it was the WebTV client that caused most of the havoc, but I didn't even subscribe to WebTV - I was in it for the PVR functionality.
Supposedly the OS is a stripped-down FreeBSD. But that's just hearsay from DBSForums.

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...

Will it mean...

[rekkanoryo]

Will it mean that instead of having only the current half-hour's programming shown in the interactive guide alongside ads, there will no longer be ads, leaving room for an hour and a half's worth of programming information? If not, it's no better than the worthless crap they're serving us in the DCT boxes now. Everyone I know that has digital cable from Comcast doesn't want to see ads, they want to see an interactive version of the TV Guide Channel.

Re:Will it mean...

[rekkanoryo]

Well, I suppose you have me on that point. But we'd (all the Comcast customers I know) would rather see the left-side ads gone and replaced with more programming information. Faster response times on the button pressing would be nice too.

The feature I would really like to see is the ability to customize the size of the text on all the "interactive" stuff. While I feel the text is too big and bold-faced, my parents would like to see it bigger. Also, being able to customize the colors for the guide would be nice; my parents have difficulty reading the white text on green background for the sports shows, and I'd prefer to see anything and everything on the PPV channels in purple like our old TV Guide channel had. The best thing, however, would be the option to turn off the display of programming information for non-PPV channels that are not in the package you're currently subscribed to. It's frustrating and difficult to remember the 45 channels I don't have because I pay $60/month for the service instead of $90.

But that's just me...

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!

Ads, Ads, Ads

[felonious]

If anyone out there really thinks there will be no ads then they are in complete denial. As long as humans inherit this earth and view tv in all it's various forms then there will be advertising. It might be passed off as programming but it's still an ad.

TimeWarner is apparently giving it a go too ...

[molarmass192]

more info

Guess AOL and MS are all buddy-buddy now that the whole Netscape "misunderstanding" is behind them.

"Value"

[Wesley Felter]

The software is designed to help network operators get more value from on-demand and other digital TV services.

Is there any benefit to cable customers? Is this basic program guide any different from the basic program guide that's built in to all digital cable boxes?

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.

Microsoft always delivers!

[wfberg]

Like in 2000?

For Microsoft, It's "Inactive TV" (businessweek)

And 2002?


Microsoft likely to miss key test on interactive TV(and they did)(zdnet)

DCT Software

[Detritus]

The current DCT software sucks. Every time you hit a button on the remote, you have to wait for the lousy software to (slowly) execute the command and refresh the screen before pressing another button. The vaunted EPG (electronic program guide) is a joke. It only shows half an hours worth of programs. They waste big chunks of screen space on ads. For a box that supposedly costs $750, they could have hired some real programmers to write the code.

Re:DCT Software

[Lumpy]

first off get a clue the DCT 2000 and 3000 have very VERY slow processors in them AND they are busy doing many other things.

Before you spew pure crap from your mouth please get a clue as to what you are talking about.

The DCT 5000 is much faster because it has a much faster processor, more ram and can multitask because many of the subsystems are seperated and based on newer technology.

Cable descramblers are not changed every 7 minutes to the latest technology they are based on something that works and from 1997-1998.

If you can do better, go make your own cable box... IE: put up or shut up.

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:great...and still no TiVo from Comcast...

[phillymjs]

In 1997, Microsoft invested $1B in Comcast.

With that kind of money talking, Comcast could give a shit about TiVo, shareholder or not.

~Philly

Again.

[AntiOrganic]

Though I already expected to see this many blue-screen "jokes" and anti-MS zealotry, I have to admit that while Microsoft's security is questionable, so far they've done a damned decent job of creating stable operating systems. This computer has, as of this writing, been up for 27 days without a reboot (XP Professional) and I never had a problem on my old iPaq either before I sold it. Windows Server 2003 is very much a step in the right direction too, ousting much legacy code responsible for instabilities in the past.

While I hate to further Microsoft's aims, as a matter of principle, if it does the job better and cheaper than other competing software for digital cable boxes, why not use it? If there is a cost savings, it will certainly trickle down to you as the consumer of said service.

Re:Again.

[GlassHeart]

While I hate to further Microsoft's aims, as a matter of principle, if it does the job better and cheaper than other competing software for digital cable boxes, why not use it?

You should always use the product that is better or cheaper, or both. However, you need to be smart in making that determination. First of all, "better" is not determined by a list of features. The same feature can be implemented in entirely unusable ways. Secondly, "cheaper" does not refer to the price on the tag, either, but the total cost of ownership. For example, if Microsoft lowers the price of XP to $30 in order to crush a new OS rival selling at $50, you should not take the bait. The long term cost (after the competitor is crushed) is worse products and services, and higher prices.

Re:Again.

[LinuxHam]

If there is a cost savings, it will certainly trickle down to you as the consumer of said service.

You're obviously not a Comcast customer. Hell, you may not even be a consumer in the real world making a statement like that.

Microsoft software vs. cable set-top box software

[Amit J. Patel]

The cable set-top box I have (AT&T digital cable) is really awful.

• It misses keypresses -- the receiver light blinks, so the hardware received the keypress, but the software just ignores it.
• It's really slow -- you can see the text being drawn on the screen
• It's buggy -- the wrong show sometimes gets described, which is really amusing/annoying when I'm watching Discovery Channel and the program guide shows the description of an adult movie.
• It's ugly -- but maybe I've been spoiled by the less harsh colors and more readable text used by TiVo.

Although I'm not generally a big fan of Microsoft software, in this case I'd put my bets on Microsoft's software being better.

Amit

It's about time they do something

[Alien Venom]

Anyone who has Comcast knows that channel switching and doing stuff on that box is damn slow.

You'd think that for as much as one pays for digital cable, they could have ad-free channel browsing -- but no.

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?

[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).

Is it only me

[falcon5768]

But does anyone else see this as becoming increasingly dangerous. Microsoft has managed to delve out into just about every marketplace imaginable, with many of their efforts (.net, MS TV or whatever they are calling that set top browser now) failing and only surviving by getting more and more money shoved into advertising or other peoples pockets to force their way into the marketplace.

I mean honestly, many of Microsoft's products are sub-par at best (Even though I hate it, I will give them credit for both Windows and the x-Box) yet we are constantly forced to use it either because there is no other way, or more likely cause its cheaper, and or because other companies force us to (how often are we forced to use IE cause it wont load properly any other way!)

I mean yeah maybe Im a bitter Apple guy who cant leave the past alone, but even if I wasn't I think I would still be worried about a company who's had more anti-trust suit levied on it than sharks have teeth getting even more access to what I see and hear on TV.

We joked about it in another thread here, but think about it, what if when going to CNN a pop up screen said, "I see your going to CNN would you like to go to MSNBC instead." I mean thats an extreme case but there is nothing stopping them, the government has done a poor job at best, CHRIST even their computers are full of Microsoft's software.

OK I will stop ranting now!

I can see a good benifit of this

[Anonymous Coward]

Now it will make it easier to descramble porn channels.

A Few DCT Facts

[Barovelli]

hmm is my IP showing?

• The programming guide currently in use is by PreView, it gets loaded into the DCT at the local cable system (it's not built in). DCT2000s have 2mb RAM, the more channels in a system, the less room for info (or ads -ha ha)
• The boxes also seek out new firmwares upon power up. Ever plug one in, see a picture, then have it shutdown? New firmware (Welcome to DCT Update . . )
• Channel switching is quicker on later models. The 5100s are darn quick.
• I am not a big fan of of the tiny writing or ads in the guide, but at least it helped convince my family that we needed a big screen TV to read them.

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.

I hope it has defects

[Felinoid]

You know every time Microsoft comes out with something (Like the X Box) I'm hoping it has bugs.
The X Box couldn't have survived unless it was good. Your first entrence into a market is going to key your future in that market.

The entertainment industry is very nasty about quality control. You don't "make due" with a sucky TV show. You switch channels or turn the TV off. It's something you CAN live with out and if it sucks well.. you will.

So if the X Box had Microsofts typical "Crash and burn" style... We wouldn't have our favoret little Linux console now would we?
The funny part is the only defect we found so far is the one that let's us install Linux.

I don't feel fear about this. It's that whole irrational hate of all things Microsoft that comes when people make webpages for IE7 instead of for web browsers.
When I get e-mail in Microsoft word instead of PDF or better yet TEXT.
Or any other occasion when someone says "Well just use Windows."
Makes me just want to start kicking the person in the groin and say "Well just get a sex change".

But you do realise it's not actualy Microsoft but some irrational idiots who do this.

Note that Microsofties say "Just use Windows" not "try" or "Give it a chance" but "How dare you NOT use Windows.." and it's even more blasphamy to use Linux. You'll get a while speal about how "Linux will never be useful as a desktop" for saying "I use" not "Please try"
Linuz Zellots however are "Try Linux it MIGHT work for you." and GIVE you a CD.

I've seen Linux zellots compaired to Amiga fanatics and Mac zellots by Microsofties and it really bugs me how much they forget of the Amiga and Mac counterparts.

Amiga: Anytime someone comes up with some new technology "Amiga did it first".. While true it's still quite an acomplishment to bring those Amiga features to other platforms.
Mac: Woah be it to anyone who mentions the Mac was designed to be user friendly.
People early on took this to mean the Mac isn't powerful but it has proven itself quite powerful.
Still today Mac users will lynch anyone who mentions the downsides of the GUI. (Any GUI)

I'd say Linux Zellots are quite mild.
But that dosen't mean slamming everything Microsoft puts out is exactly ummmm....

Is it even right to call them Linux Zellots when they'd support APPLE, BeOS, OS/2 or Palm over Microsoft?

Anyway just becouse Microsoft puts it out dosen't mean it's going suck.
Just the irrtaional little Anti-Micro side of me hopes it will.

Microsoft TV Foundation

[jea6]

http://www.microsoft.com/tv/ and don't forget to check out their ridiculous promo videos.

Re:M$ + Comcast =? reverse-engineering platform

[Wumpus]

probably a RISC

Definitely not a RISC.

RAM

Could have fooled me...

Could the MS IPG SW be a starting point for hacking these cheap embedded video processors to some open source OS, like Linux, QNX or *BSD?

Not without a significant investment in headend hardware and a lot of reverse engineering (unless you're already an authorized developer for the platform, in which case you're probably sick of it by now). Those things are as closed as they get - the MPEG hardware won't do anything but decode MPEG coming from the RF connection, the firmware is prorietary, the hardware specs are ridiculous. Getting code to even run on the box is an unbelievably painful chore.

And, assuming you manage to hack a box and get it to run your code - it's going to be pretty much useless without a server at the headend sending it data.

These things are useless. If you want to work on a box with similar hardware specs, get a 68k based Palm device, and have fun. At least you'll have a decent amount of memory to play with.

And QNX isn't open source. So there.

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

[El]

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