Re: Feature requests(s)
jackcarp
Enthusiast - Level 1
I agree 20 hours of HD programing is a joke. I just came from Dish Network and am use to a quality DVR, I was very dispointed when I got back from vacation and found half of my programs didn't record because I ran out of room. The picture quality is great but lets get more HD record time. The picture quality dosn't matter if you don't get to see it.
Re: Feature requests(s)
nascar
Master - Level 1
We need to have the USB port enabled.  I would grab a 500 Gig HD and connect immediately!
Re: Feature requests(s)
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@nascar wrote:
We need to have the USB port enabled.  I would grab a 500 Gig HD and connect immediately!

Just enabling the port won't mean that it will recognize a hard drive.  That is additional firmware and then there are the RIAA/MPAA (content providers in general) issues requiring locking the drive to the STB and/or encryption.

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Re: Feature requests(s)
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2

@Keyboards wrote:

@nascar wrote:
We need to have the USB port enabled.  I would grab a 500 Gig HD and connect immediately!

Just enabling the port won't mean that it will recognize a hard drive.  That is additional firmware and then there are the RIAA/MPAA (content providers in general) issues requiring locking the drive to the STB and/or encryption.


 
Thats what I hear that it is a DRM issue. 
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Re: Feature requests(s)
nascar
Master - Level 1
Sure!  I know all that! But thanks for pointing it out to the less knowledgeable.  Smiley Wink
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Re: Feature requests(s)
speedo123
Contributor - Level 1

@nascar wrote:
Sure!  I know all that! But thanks for pointing it out to the less knowledgeable.  Smiley Wink
I guess I'm one of the "less knowledgeable" 'cause I'm not sure what "DRM" means.  Digital Recorded Media?
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Re: Feature requests(s)
tsk
Enthusiast - Level 3

DRM: Digital Rights Management.  Essentially copy-protection in the digital age.  Content owners don't want their products to be freely distributed without proper compensation while the public consumers want to be able to fairly make personal copies for personal use (IE: record a copy to a DVR for later viewing).  Movies copied to drives (both internal and external) need to be protected so that they can be viewed legally but can not be distributed illegally.

For more info check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

My understanding, however, is that with Motorola DVRs the issue is not with DRM but rather with handling connection/disconnection of external drives at possibly bad times such as when a movie is in the middle of being recorded to the drive as well as being able to reliably properly identify when a known drive is and is not connected.  DRM is already addressed for internal drives and should not be an issue here.

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Re: Feature requests(s)
IngredientX
Newbie

FWIW, the Scientific Atlanta DVR box I had with Cablevision tied your recordings straight to the box.  A recording made on one box could not be played on anything else, even a different Scientific Atlanta box.  The only way to get the recording off was to play it back real-time to an external device, like a VCR or a computer with a TV card (though the duplex functionality did make this easier; you could watch channel #1 while dumping the show with channel #2.  The channels went to two separate sets of output jacks on the back of the box).

If Verizon and Motorola do go ahead with allowing external devices, I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar arrangement. I know TiVo recordings are much more "open", but there is a precedent for some pretty restrictive DRM on external DVR drives.

Message Edited by IngredientX on 01-19-2009 06:07 PM
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Re: Feature requests(s)
thompa
Enthusiast - Level 1

The Verizon system is certainly lacking some features that I have grown to like in the UK.

 

  • the ability to set reminders which pop up onto the TV screen when a program is due to start (Virgin Media)
  • being able to set the DVR to record when away from home using either a PC connected to the internet or making a call on a cell phone (Sky and Virgin Media)
  • having a much larger library of programs to watch again... either on the internet or through FIOS (see the BBC iPlayer or Sky viewer)
  • show the length of programs recorded and space used (Sky)
  • When watching Wimbledon Tennis Tournament any of perhaps 8 courts can be selected for viewing live - wouldn't this be tremendous at the US open?

The BBC iPlayer is certainly a leap ahead of what Verizon offers in terms of being available on the TV through Virgin Media and on the Internet at the BBC web site to view past programs either on the computer or on the TV. Only problem is that it isn't available outside of the UK because of Performance Rights issues!
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Re: Feature requests(s)
Shabbis
Enthusiast - Level 2

TiVo has an external HD option, so why can't the Moto boxes?

They must have figured out the DRM and connectivity issues. 

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