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RVU Alliance gets Motorola, Pace, Thomson and others to dream the multiroom dream

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 4th 2009 at 2:22PM


Chalk up a few more for the multiroom crowd, as the RVU Alliance (get familiar) has added some power names from the set-top box market to its roster as "Promoter" members. The new additions appear to set things up for compatible solutions from your cable or satellite provider arriving sooner rather than later, capable of streaming video and interfaces from set-tops to any screen in the house. Names like Motorola, Pace and Thomson have probably already graced your entertainment rack, while lesser known additions include Entropic Communications, maker of hardware for home entertainment networking, JetHead, focused on creating RVU client software, and set-top manufacturer NXP. Is hoping for a big splash at CES too much? We think not.

Pace and Rovi work together to make a standard set-top a true multi-room DVR

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 27th 2009 at 8:51PM

Pace DC900X DVR MoCA 1.1 NAS
There aren't many times where we're caught off guard by a new product enough to think, why didn't we think of that, but this is one of them. The set-top-box manufacture, Pace, has just launched one of the coolest multi-room DVR solutions we've ever heard of. Not only does it over come the limitations of other so called solutions by not being limited to two tuners (for the whole house), a 160 GB hard drive, copy control flags (it streams, not copies) and a scattered recorded TV list; but it doesn't require even a single extra wire to be run in your house -- no, it doesn't use WiFi. What Pace has done is to work with Rovi and load up new software on its standard dual tuner HD set-top, the DC700X. This new software paired with a MoCA 1.1 NAS (pictured above) makes every DC700X set-top in the house a multi-room DVR. If this sounds like what you've been waiting for, then you'll want to click through past the jump to learn all about it -- or just to see another picture.

UPDATE - Pace announced deals with Buckeye Cablevision, Mediacom Communications, NCTC and Sunflower Broadband to deploy this.

Continue reading Pace and Rovi work together to make a standard set-top a true multi-room DVR

Echostar might SlingLoad other manufacturer's cable boxes

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 3rd 2009 at 11:31PM


Even though some cable giants are already trying their hand at placeshifting with TV Anywhere, Echostar may be ready to leverage its technology by licensing the SlingLoaded feature to other set-top box manufacturers like Motorola, Cisco or Pace, according to Cable Digital News. With its tru2way cable box still notable lacking a distribution deal, this could be a way for Sling fans that don't want any additional hardware to get it in the home, but speaking of that T2200S (still not coming to retail channels according to Senior Product Manager P. Margit Tritt) the company's presence at The Independent Show also gave it an opportunity to feel out the needs of smaller cable operators. Either way, there's plenty of time before its planned Q4 2009 launch - go on, admit you're excited, we don't judge here.

Pace-built Comcast Digital Transport Adapter gets unboxed

by Darren Murph posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 12:48PM


We know, this whole "digital age" is quite confusing, but what you're looking at above is one of the first Digital Transport Adapters (a Pace DC50X) doled out by Comcast. First and foremost, this box has nothing to do with the impending analog shutoff of broadcast networks in February of next year; instead, Comcast (like many other programming providers) is choosing to push many markets to "all digital" in order to free up bandwidth currently hogged by analog stations. Enter the DTA, which is being used to allow older TVs to still receive channels without the need for a pricey HD DVR. Even the unboxer notes that it's pretty unimpressive, but check the gallery in the read link if you're so inclined.

[Thanks, cypherstream]

+Le Cube HD DVR brings a touch of class to Canal+

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 30th 2008 at 2:53AM


Apparently not happy with standard DVR offerings, Pace France delivered the slick +Le Cube exclusively for Canal+ and CANALSAT subscribers this month. Canal+'s first internal hard drive-packing HD DVR coming with 320GB of storage, Ethernet for downloading VOD and a 128 x 128 exterior LCD that senses if the unit is standing up or lying down and adjusts accordingly. Promising near-silent operation, multiroom streaming, catch up service and recommendations make sure it's got substance to go with style as Canal+ rolls out new offerings. Like the time it takes to change channels, we're not sure if the design of a STB is enough to change services for, but peep our gallery and imagine how that'd look next to your Armani HDTV.

Gallery: +Le Cube HD DVR

2012 London Olympics to push broadcast 1080p?

by Richard Lawler posted Oct 4th 2008 at 8:37AM

Good decision London, you will never top the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, so why not try pushing them on resolution. That's the potential idea coming out of a recent roundtable discussion at Rapid News TV. Reps from Tektronix and Pace cited interest from their customers in 1080p-ready equipment and the potential for an IBC 1080p feed in 2012 as reasons to believe, while the Tandberg rep -- from the company that previously predicted the onslaught of 1080p VOD via satellite -- was more concerned about finding enough bandwidth. Hit the read link for the full discussion, while we ponder a world where NBC could actually get 1080i right before going to 1080p, or least show the 100m final live, somewhere.

Up close and personal with the new Pace HD STBs

by Ben Drawbaugh posted May 20th 2008 at 10:54AM Featured Story


It's tough to get too excited about new cable STBs, but the latest crop do have some pretty cool features. The coolest new feature we noticed -- other than tru2way of course -- was the fact that the new line of Pace HD STBs have a built in DOCSIS modem. This will allow the STB to access the Internet, but also via the included Ethernet port on the back, you can say goodbye to your dedicated cable modem. Anytime we can get rid of yet another box and accompanying wall-wart, we're happy.

Gallery: Pace Aspen and Apache HD STBs

Pace unveils new MPEG-4 cable STB

by Richard Lawler posted May 18th 2008 at 1:47PM


The NCTA Cable Show kicks off today, and Pace Micro Technology is ready with a line of MPEG-4 capable set-top boxes aimed at provers in North and South America. Besides handling advanced compression technologies with ease, they'll handle all that switched digital video (SDV), all-digital network, DOCSIS channel bonding and tru2way support the kids are so into these days. Two way messaging (for updating ones Facebook status/Twitter/Plaxo) is also in the bag, oplus backwards compatibility with older networks. Pictured is the "Aspen" box, a dual-tuner DVR CableCARD host box, but expect Apache (HD, no DVR) and Denali (SD only, no DVR) flavors to also be tucked securely in a cable guy's truck near you when they launch later this year.

Gallery: Pace Aspen MPEG-4 cable STB

Fans react to 3D Mavericks / Clippers matchup

by Darren Murph posted Mar 27th 2008 at 11:02AM


Under normal circumstances, we tend to give 3D a hard time around here, but it's hard to deny the strides the technology has made of late in an attempt to move beyond being a gimmick and into a desirable product. It seems that hundreds of NBA fans that packed the Magnolia Theater just days ago were quite impressed with the first regular season matchup to be aired in 3D. Those in attendance were able to catch a commercial-free 3D broadcast of the Dallas Mavericks versus the LA Clippers courtesy of two Sony 4K projectors and a set of gaudy glasses. Unfortunately, we're not sure if the one-time event will blossom into something more, but feel free to tap the read link for more opinions and a couple more snapshots.

[Via AboutProjectors]

FSN Southwest preps first NBA regular season 3D broadcast

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 19th 2008 at 6:37PM

It's good to see those Brits aren't the only ones getting 3D HD sports action this season, as PACE is back and hooking its Fusion 3D tech to an NBA game yet again. For the first time during the regular season (after last year's All-Star Game and a Finals game) -- and unsurprisingly with a connection to Engadget HD friend Mark Cuban (where's our invite man?) -- the March 25 game between the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Clippers can be viewed live at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, or across town in the Magnolia Theatre with Sony's SXRD 3D projection system beamed onto an 18x42 foot screen for VIPs and 100 lucky fans who can win entry on mavs.com. Now if they could just find a way to simulate buying tickets for way over face value from eBay or StubHub in the theatre, it would be just like going to a real game.

Cavaliers fans to watch the finals in 3D HD

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Jun 8th 2007 at 12:20PM

FSN OhioThe best thing about using a series of games to decide the champion of a league is the fact that fans from both teams get to experience at least one home game. But even when your team is away, people often still gather and watch the game at the arena (if not on their big screen); and this year the Cleveland Cavaliers arena-goers are going to have a better viewing experience than most. Rather than watching the away games on the side of a building, though, they'll be catching the action in glorious three-dimensional HD -- with a little help from 3D motion imaging specialist PACE. The game will be captured with PACE's Sports Fusion 3D HD camera systems. Then using TI DLP projectors, it will be displayed on four 46-feet 3D screens. So, even if you aren't a basketball fan, if you're anywhere near the Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday at 9pm, you might want to check it out -- assuming you can even get in.

[Thanks, Andy M]

NBA's 2007 All-Star Game in HDTV... and 3D

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 12th 2007 at 10:30AM

If you can't afford a courtside seat at this weekend's NBA All-Star Game festivities, the league is testing a new way to "change the way we see the game" -- sans the chance of rubbing elbows with various celebrities. Guests in Las Vegas, will go to the Mandalay Bay hotel instead of the Thomas and Mack Center where the game is being played, and don special glasses to view view a 3D high definition version of TNT's broadcast of Saturday and Sunday night's activities. Five 3D camera systems have been installed around the arena by Pace, and according to the NBA's VP of operations and technology, the HDTV widescreen broadcast will allow them to avoid many cuts and camera movements, hopefully minimizing any shaky cam effect some complained about during the special SkyCam broadcast last year. If you can't make it to Vegas to check things out, you can still see this technology at work this season, as a similar broadcast during the NBA Finals is already planned. No word on plans for a "belligerent drunk" simulator, so either way we still have a long way to go towards simulating the real game experience in a theater and someday in the future, at home.

Read - Variety
Read - Broadcasting & Cable

Pace intros a new Free-to-air satellite receiver in the UK

by Matt Burns posted May 26th 2006 at 12:42PM

UK HDTV viewers now have a second way to receive their free-to-air signals. Pace has launched their own set-top box that will allow people to enjoy soccer football on the BBC. With all the issues Sky is having getting their HD boxes up this might be a great way to enjoy the worlds past-time. Users will need to point their dish 28.2 degrees East and of course have an HDTV. The box will sell for 299 pounds and be available later in June.




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