Post by dkennedy on Dec 2, 2005 10:42:23 GMT -5
Microsoft Making PC Platform Digital Cable Ready
CableLabs Deal Will Enable Windows Media Center-Based Computer
Products to Tune into Digital TV Programming
December 2, 2005
By Alan Breznick, editor, Cable Digital News
In a major breakthrough on the convergence front, Microsoft Corp. and CableLabs have struck a deal that will allow computer users to watch digital and premium cable programming, including high-definition TV (HDTV) shows, on their PCs for the very first time.
Concluded last month after more than two years of "extensive evaluation and technical reviews" by both parties under CableLabs' OpenCable project, the pact will let PC users view one-way digital and premium cable programming on their computer monitors without having to hook up cable set-top boxes, starting next fall. Computers running Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center operating system will function just like conventional TV sets, taking standard video and audio signals from the coaxial cable line and delivering the programming to computer users.
Instead of relying on separate set-top boxes, the Media Center PCs will come equipped with slots for removable CableCARD security modules, just like today's fledgling digital-cable-ready TV sets. Cable operators already offer the CableCARDs to their subscribers at little or no cost thanks to an FCC directive that is designed to boost competition and foster innovation among consumer electronics manufacturers.
The landmark deal, while certainly significant for the cable industry, has major implications for Microsoft. Seeking to break out of the traditional "computer" model, the software giant has been heavily promoting Windows Media Center as a way to use PC hardware and software to expand into entertainment-centric devices and applications. The company's goal is to convert the PC platform into a virtual set-top box and home media server, reducing TV sets to mere monitors.
"We really believe the PC is a great platform for entertainment," said Justin Hutchinson, group product manager of Microsoft's Windows Client division. "It really lets you take the content into your home... This opens up a whole host of possibilities."
As part of this effort, Windows Media Center software includes its own electronic program guide that allows users to record and play TV shows. It also plays DVDs, downloaded audio and video content, and such personally created content as photos and videos. Microsoft even offers a Media Center remote control. In addition, recorded TV programming can be transferred to laptops or portable media players for mobile viewing.
In the not-too-distant future, Windows Media Center products will undoubtedly ship in an actual set-top box form-factor sold at retail. Until then, Microsoft's new Xbox 360 game console is designed to help bridge the gap. Using "Media Center Extender" technology and a wired or wireless home network, an Xbox 360 can be connected to a Media Center PC, enabling all the content on that PC to be accessed through a TV set linked to the game console.
Their broader strategic plans aside, Microsoft executives said they pushed for the CableLabs agreement because they see strong consumer demand for watching TV programs on PCs today, thereby turning computer monitors into second TV screens in the home or office. Company officials note that they have now sold more than 4 million Media Center Edition licenses to over 130 PC manufacturers throughout the world.
"Support for digital cable is one of the most requested features" from both computer manufacturers and consumers, Hutchinson said. "They want access to digital cable and high-def...We know people want this."
CableLabs and Microsoft officials said the agreement will allow PC makers to manufacture digital-cable-ready computers in time for the 2006 holiday shopping season. In line with this goal, Microsoft executives said they have already begun talking to major computer makers about integrating the cable-ready features into their next-generation gear.
As noted earlier, the pact will also let cable subscribers view digital and premium programming on other consumer electronic devices linked to the Media Center PCs, including Microsoft's new Xbox 360 video game consoles. Microsoft launched the latest version of its popular Xbox console with great fanfare just before Thanksgiving.
Beyond desktop PCs and Xbox game machines, the deal could open the door for the cable and consumer electronics industries to put digital and premium cable programming on portable media players. Beating cable operators and fellow satellite TV provider DirecTV to the punch, EchoStar Communications recently introduced a line of three portable media players for its DBS subscribers.
"It's the leading edge of more networked devices in general," said Don Dulchinos, senior vice president of advanced platforms and services for CableLabs. "Now we can start thinking about portable devices."
Like the first generation of digital-cable-ready TV sets using CableCARDs, the Media Center PCs will only be able to access one-way digital cable programming. They won't be able to display two-way digital services, such as pay-per-view events, electronic program guides and video-on-demand (VOD) movies and shows. So, until Microsoft gets two-way approval from CableLabs, Media Center PCs will not be able to act as true set-top box replacements.
But Microsoft and CableLabs executives said the deal should help clear the path for a broader, bi-directional digital cable agreement between the cable and consumer electronics industries. "It's a great step," Dulchinos said. "We think the next step is a truly two-way deal."
As the first agreement to enable the delivery of digital and premium cable programming to a device that's not TV-related, the Microsoft-CableLabs deal also breaks new ground on the thorny digital rights management (DRM) issue. The two partners said Microsoft is now working closely with CableLabs to "document final approval" of Windows Media DRM as a content protection technology for one-way OpenCable devices.
Beyond Windows Media, the OpenCable architecture will permit the use of other companies' DRM systems as well. "It's not an exclusive arrangement," Hutchinson noted. "The process is designed to be DRM-agnostic."
Indeed, CableLabs officials said they hope the DRM licensing agreement with Microsoft will serve as a model for similar pacts with other computer hardware and software developers. The roster of possible candidates includes Apple Computer, RealNetworks, Linux and Sony, among other companies.
CableLabs said it will host interoperability events to allow tech vendors to test their products using the novel PC delivery approach pioneered by Microsoft. The R&D consortium also intends to stage more formal certification tests in the future.
In another glimpse of things to come, LG Electronics has introduced the first digital video recorder (DVR) with the Microsoft program guide, called the LG LRM-519. Like the Xbox 360, the LG DVR can be hooked up directly to Media Center PCs.
CableLabs Deal Will Enable Windows Media Center-Based Computer
Products to Tune into Digital TV Programming
December 2, 2005
By Alan Breznick, editor, Cable Digital News
In a major breakthrough on the convergence front, Microsoft Corp. and CableLabs have struck a deal that will allow computer users to watch digital and premium cable programming, including high-definition TV (HDTV) shows, on their PCs for the very first time.
Concluded last month after more than two years of "extensive evaluation and technical reviews" by both parties under CableLabs' OpenCable project, the pact will let PC users view one-way digital and premium cable programming on their computer monitors without having to hook up cable set-top boxes, starting next fall. Computers running Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center operating system will function just like conventional TV sets, taking standard video and audio signals from the coaxial cable line and delivering the programming to computer users.
Instead of relying on separate set-top boxes, the Media Center PCs will come equipped with slots for removable CableCARD security modules, just like today's fledgling digital-cable-ready TV sets. Cable operators already offer the CableCARDs to their subscribers at little or no cost thanks to an FCC directive that is designed to boost competition and foster innovation among consumer electronics manufacturers.
The landmark deal, while certainly significant for the cable industry, has major implications for Microsoft. Seeking to break out of the traditional "computer" model, the software giant has been heavily promoting Windows Media Center as a way to use PC hardware and software to expand into entertainment-centric devices and applications. The company's goal is to convert the PC platform into a virtual set-top box and home media server, reducing TV sets to mere monitors.
"We really believe the PC is a great platform for entertainment," said Justin Hutchinson, group product manager of Microsoft's Windows Client division. "It really lets you take the content into your home... This opens up a whole host of possibilities."
As part of this effort, Windows Media Center software includes its own electronic program guide that allows users to record and play TV shows. It also plays DVDs, downloaded audio and video content, and such personally created content as photos and videos. Microsoft even offers a Media Center remote control. In addition, recorded TV programming can be transferred to laptops or portable media players for mobile viewing.
In the not-too-distant future, Windows Media Center products will undoubtedly ship in an actual set-top box form-factor sold at retail. Until then, Microsoft's new Xbox 360 game console is designed to help bridge the gap. Using "Media Center Extender" technology and a wired or wireless home network, an Xbox 360 can be connected to a Media Center PC, enabling all the content on that PC to be accessed through a TV set linked to the game console.
Their broader strategic plans aside, Microsoft executives said they pushed for the CableLabs agreement because they see strong consumer demand for watching TV programs on PCs today, thereby turning computer monitors into second TV screens in the home or office. Company officials note that they have now sold more than 4 million Media Center Edition licenses to over 130 PC manufacturers throughout the world.
"Support for digital cable is one of the most requested features" from both computer manufacturers and consumers, Hutchinson said. "They want access to digital cable and high-def...We know people want this."
CableLabs and Microsoft officials said the agreement will allow PC makers to manufacture digital-cable-ready computers in time for the 2006 holiday shopping season. In line with this goal, Microsoft executives said they have already begun talking to major computer makers about integrating the cable-ready features into their next-generation gear.
As noted earlier, the pact will also let cable subscribers view digital and premium programming on other consumer electronic devices linked to the Media Center PCs, including Microsoft's new Xbox 360 video game consoles. Microsoft launched the latest version of its popular Xbox console with great fanfare just before Thanksgiving.
Beyond desktop PCs and Xbox game machines, the deal could open the door for the cable and consumer electronics industries to put digital and premium cable programming on portable media players. Beating cable operators and fellow satellite TV provider DirecTV to the punch, EchoStar Communications recently introduced a line of three portable media players for its DBS subscribers.
"It's the leading edge of more networked devices in general," said Don Dulchinos, senior vice president of advanced platforms and services for CableLabs. "Now we can start thinking about portable devices."
Like the first generation of digital-cable-ready TV sets using CableCARDs, the Media Center PCs will only be able to access one-way digital cable programming. They won't be able to display two-way digital services, such as pay-per-view events, electronic program guides and video-on-demand (VOD) movies and shows. So, until Microsoft gets two-way approval from CableLabs, Media Center PCs will not be able to act as true set-top box replacements.
But Microsoft and CableLabs executives said the deal should help clear the path for a broader, bi-directional digital cable agreement between the cable and consumer electronics industries. "It's a great step," Dulchinos said. "We think the next step is a truly two-way deal."
As the first agreement to enable the delivery of digital and premium cable programming to a device that's not TV-related, the Microsoft-CableLabs deal also breaks new ground on the thorny digital rights management (DRM) issue. The two partners said Microsoft is now working closely with CableLabs to "document final approval" of Windows Media DRM as a content protection technology for one-way OpenCable devices.
Beyond Windows Media, the OpenCable architecture will permit the use of other companies' DRM systems as well. "It's not an exclusive arrangement," Hutchinson noted. "The process is designed to be DRM-agnostic."
Indeed, CableLabs officials said they hope the DRM licensing agreement with Microsoft will serve as a model for similar pacts with other computer hardware and software developers. The roster of possible candidates includes Apple Computer, RealNetworks, Linux and Sony, among other companies.
CableLabs said it will host interoperability events to allow tech vendors to test their products using the novel PC delivery approach pioneered by Microsoft. The R&D consortium also intends to stage more formal certification tests in the future.
In another glimpse of things to come, LG Electronics has introduced the first digital video recorder (DVR) with the Microsoft program guide, called the LG LRM-519. Like the Xbox 360, the LG DVR can be hooked up directly to Media Center PCs.