CableLabs loosens up tru2way licensing

With the problems that CableCARD ran into, CE company reticence to adopt the new tru2way standard is understandable. But CableLabs has gone a ways toward not repeating past mistakes in its updated tru2way licensing agreement. First and foremost, CE companies will be able to "self-certify" their products. This is great news for manufacturers and consumers alike, and could solve issues stemming from the previous requirement that all gear must be submitted to CableLabs for certification. Altogether, the changes show a "kinder, gentler" face of CableLabs, which seems to get the hint that more cooperation with companies that actually make goods for consumers is a good thing. For its efforts, Samsung has put its name on the dotted line of the new agreement. We like what we're seeing with tru2way, and hope to get more hands-on impressions at The Cable Show later this month. Who knows, maybe roll-your-own tru2way HTPCs could be around the corner!

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2008 12:55AM]

Hasn't Cable Card, or whatever it is called now, already destroyed its credibility with consumers? I remember when my parents wanted to buy an LG television with a built in cable card and DVR a year ago. I talked them out of it, thank God. Why would anyone buy a device with this crap in it?

No more consumer adoption for you, changing standard b-stards.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2008 12:54PM]

I have two CableCard TVs at my house and my father has two at his house. Charter charges $2 a month for CableCard and $10 a month for an HD box. SDV is not used so I get all the HD channels. My newest TV even has TV Guide On Screen. It is better to have a TV with a CableCard slot even if it is not used yet. You aren't locked in to having to rent a cable box. .

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2008 5:08PM]

Hi Steve,

Reticence... ??? Wow you are wild. Do you actually use that word in everyday speak? Be honest, did you open the thesaurus on that one?
I guess using the word reluctance or unwillingness would be too hard to use in that sentence, huh? Whew...

I'm not asking for 4th grade, but come one Steve, I had to Google it to find out what the hell it meant and even then I ask why bother using such a term that's clearly way down on the list or words that we all use in our lives. Too funny. Thanks, Steve Jr.

[(Unverified) Posted May 8th 2008 5:20PM]

Man, first I get dinged for going too low-brow:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/12/lg-next-in-line-to-buy-lcds-from-sharp/comments/10974965/
and now I get it from the other side!
Maybe "reluctance" would have been a better choice, especially since it's linked. But look at it this way -- you can come to EHD and learn about gear and new words, too!