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Shaw Cable Again Blocks Firewire On Canadian Set-Top Boxes

Posted by timothy on from the now-that's-value-added dept.

WestCoastSuccess writes with this excerpt: "A year and a half ago, Canada's Shaw Cable began encrypting channels with the '0x02' flag. This flag has the effect of making the IEEE1394 (Firewire) output useless to customers who use third-party PVRs (such as the excellent MythTV, for example). After complaints to the CRTC and Industry Canada about this practice, the encryption flag was dropped on most channels and the Firewire connection again functioned. Until last night, that is."

9 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. why isnt this story tagged by JeanBaptiste · · Score: 5, Funny

    evilbit?

  2. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by revoldub · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm assuming that your comparison of TV and cigarettes would in turn imply the comparison of internet and crack.
    Sure anyone can go without TV, but NO INTERNET?!?!?! ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY MAN!??!? I GOTTA HAVE MY INTERNET!

  3. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by lumenistan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Meh... it's not that bad. I haven't been on the internet now for months, and I don't miss it one bit. :p

  4. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by mldi · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm assuming that your comparison of TV and cigarettes would in turn imply the comparison of internet and crack. Sure anyone can go without TV, but NO INTERNET?!?!?! ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY MAN!??!? I GOTTA HAVE MY INTERNET!

    I know that can seem tough too, but after awhile you don't even realize it's there. I've been free of the 'net for about 3 days now, and.... oh CRAP!

    --
    If you aren't suspicious of your government's actions, you aren't doing your job as a responsible citizen.
  5. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's nice how you admit that checking slashdot and keeping up with news are separate things.

  6. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by Flere+Imsaho · · Score: 2, Funny

    Cocaine and hookers, you mean - don't forget the pron ;-)

    --
    It gripped her hand gently. 'Regret is for humans,' it said.
  7. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by Weedhopper · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't forget the porn? What did you think I meant by the internet?

  8. Re:It's like quitting smoking. by hampton · · Score: 2, Funny

    Obligatory Onion:

    Area Man Constantly Mentioning He Doesn't Own A Television

  9. Mass extinction by Arkofjoy · · Score: 2, Funny

    It is a little known fact that the dinosaurs had neither the Internet nor Mobile phones. And that my friends is why they are EXTINCT. They couldn't check their horoscopes, went out when there was a meteor storm and BAM. mass extinction
    Think about it. We could end up going the same way.