Cable companies should only be providing the data. I want to be able to walk into best buy and look at cable boxes by tivo, sony, panasonic, toshiba, etc and pick the one that I like the best based on hardware, speed and interface knowing that whatever box I pick will be able to decode whatever cable companies feed no matter where in the US I am.
Why is this so freaking difficult? They need to start acting like phone companies, just provide the data feed, let me buy the phone that I want.
Michael, with OpenCable you would be able to walk in to Best Buy and buy a box from Tivo, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, Motorola, SA, etc. That's the whole premise for the Separable Security Mandate by FCC and Congress. Once you bring that box home you would be able to sign up for service and get a CableCARD from your cable company to decrypt video. Only caveat is that your local cable company will flash their guide onto your box. Its nothing personal, its business. Don't want to use cable company guide, don't sign up for their service.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael @ Jun 19th 2007 11:36AM
Cable companies should only be providing the data. I want to be able to walk into best buy and look at cable boxes by tivo, sony, panasonic, toshiba, etc and pick the one that I like the best based on hardware, speed and interface knowing that whatever box I pick will be able to decode whatever cable companies feed no matter where in the US I am.
Why is this so freaking difficult? They need to start acting like phone companies, just provide the data feed, let me buy the phone that I want.
Alex D. @ Jun 19th 2007 1:18PM
Michael, with OpenCable you would be able to walk in to Best Buy and buy a box from Tivo, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, Motorola, SA, etc. That's the whole premise for the Separable Security Mandate by FCC and Congress. Once you bring that box home you would be able to sign up for service and get a CableCARD from your cable company to decrypt video. Only caveat is that your local cable company will flash their guide onto your box. Its nothing personal, its business. Don't want to use cable company guide, don't sign up for their service.