No one ever said that OpenCable means that every CE would have a permission to use whatever software they want to use. OpenCable means that a CE manufacturer can sell their certified digital cable ready bi-directional device like a dual-tuner DVR in reatil outlets. Only software that would be running on said retail device that would belong to a CE vendor would be their OCAP middleware stack. The cable company would then download their guide/user experience onto the box IF a user signs for the service. The guide software that runs on that box they have no say or control.
When you buy a DBS satellite receiver box from Dish or Directv at Best Buy or Circuit City, regardless of manufacturer of the box, they all run the same guide/user experience. This is similar.
Similar already works for cable modems. If you buy a cable modem at retail outlet and call your cable company to sign for their service, the cable company WILL download their signed firmware onto YOUR cable modem and download their configuration file that specifies the level of service you've signed up for. You have NO control nor can you overwrite their software.
Bottom line is that if you do not like that kind of arrangement no one is forcing anyone to get the box or sign up for the service. Rabbit ears are cheap and OTA programming is absolutely FREE.
"No one ever said that OpenCable means that every CE would have a permission to use whatever software they want to use."
The big difference between your examples and congress's goals (yes my interpretation) is that the cable modem has nothing to do with a end users experience online. They are free to choose any web browser or OS that they want. If the cable company controls the software the UI will be bad like it does now.
You are right we do have a choice, and that is why I was with Satellite for many years, but they too have moved away from giving the consumers a choice in what STB they want to use. (which is why I switched to cable to use the Series3) It has only been in the past few years that DirecTV has forced their crappy boxes on their customers instead of letting them choose.
The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service.
I love to tell the story about when I bought my first HD TiVo for $1000, after spending a month with a SA 8300HD. I told my wife it was the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV.
In the end I wouldn't care who controlled the software, if cable didn't make such poor choices in what software they deploy, but it's very obvious to me, that they don't have my best interest in mind.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex D. @ Jun 19th 2007 12:00PM
No one ever said that OpenCable means that every CE would have a permission to use whatever software they want to use. OpenCable means that a CE manufacturer can sell their certified digital cable ready bi-directional device like a dual-tuner DVR in reatil outlets. Only software that would be running on said retail device that would belong to a CE vendor would be their OCAP middleware stack. The cable company would then download their guide/user experience onto the box IF a user signs for the service. The guide software that runs on that box they have no say or control.
When you buy a DBS satellite receiver box from Dish or Directv at Best Buy or Circuit City, regardless of manufacturer of the box, they all run the same guide/user experience. This is similar.
Similar already works for cable modems. If you buy a cable modem at retail outlet and call your cable company to sign for their service, the cable company WILL download their signed firmware onto YOUR cable modem and download their configuration file that specifies the level of service you've signed up for. You have NO control nor can you overwrite their software.
Bottom line is that if you do not like that kind of arrangement no one is forcing anyone to get the box or sign up for the service. Rabbit ears are cheap and OTA programming is absolutely FREE.
Ben @ Jun 19th 2007 12:12PM
"No one ever said that OpenCable means that every CE would have a permission to use whatever software they want to use."
The big difference between your examples and congress's goals (yes my interpretation) is that the cable modem has nothing to do with a end users experience online. They are free to choose any web browser or OS that they want. If the cable company controls the software the UI will be bad like it does now.
You are right we do have a choice, and that is why I was with Satellite for many years, but they too have moved away from giving the consumers a choice in what STB they want to use. (which is why I switched to cable to use the Series3) It has only been in the past few years that DirecTV has forced their crappy boxes on their customers instead of letting them choose.
The bottom line is that there is no real reason not ot let TiVo's DVRs use VOD and the like and if cable was smart they figure out how to get me to give them $800 for a DVR and pay $20 a month for the service.
I love to tell the story about when I bought my first HD TiVo for $1000, after spending a month with a SA 8300HD. I told my wife it was the TiVo or I'd stop watching TV.
In the end I wouldn't care who controlled the software, if cable didn't make such poor choices in what software they deploy, but it's very obvious to me, that they don't have my best interest in mind.