The Middleman throws broadcast flag on ABC Family
By Darren Murph 
posted Jul 1st 2008 4:04PM
posted Jul 1st 2008 4:04PM
posted Jul 1st 2008 4:04PM
The percentage of returned gadgets that have nothing wrong with them.
Of the $13.8 billion worth of returned products in 2007, only 5 percent were because gadgets were actually broken, according to a 2008 study.
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Wasn't this issue patched already in Vista MCE? (last week actually). Does the patch not work, or is the only affecting folks who don't run WU?
A vista patch doesn't work on XP which is what that's a screenshot of.
Well I was affected by the broadcast flag using vista without the new update, but from what I have heard, the update doesn't seem to help and has caused quite a few other problems.
Oh, and I forgot to add that I am on a STB connected through s-video so the update wouldn't actually help me anyways.
No problem recording it on my Tivo HD on Comcast.
Recorded fine for me via Tivo HD on Cox with one Mcard. Not a bad show, either.
There needs to be a patch released to disable this "feature"
I'm getting the flag on AMC here in Portland, OR running mce 2005. Every movie I've tried to watch on the channel is blocked. Haven't bothered to call comcast yet, but not sure it'll do any good.
Judging by the shows, the broadcast flag seems more like a good taste filter than a recording restriction
Not many people understand the implications of what Digital broadcast is going to mean. You can now be (1) charged for everything you watch on a per-diem basis. and (2) You can be blocked from recording shows and broadcasts.
The analog shut down means getting screwed. But since everyone is asleep to this fact, I'll just quietly go about my business making arrangements in the background while you all are napping.
It's all a big conspiracy theory! :p
Yes - as with most upgrades - there are negatives along with the positives. It's just the way it is. If you look at it from Hollywood's point of view, though, they just see this as another positive.
Honestly, this does suck. It doesn't affect me at all, but I get pissed off for the people this happens to. You do everything legally and by the book and you still get shafted.
And you sound like a paranoid delusional. The vast majority of viewers don't use antenna, and the digital cut over only applies to OTA broadcasts.
Cable and satellite, the vast bulk of the market, have always been able to place controls on their content - even on analog cable.
That screenshot isn't vista. It's XP MCE.
That's not going to stop Engadget from taking a swipe at Vista. What's the big deal if you can't record some show. I use four rigs here and three of them are Vistas. I use three Linksys Extenders for Media Center and an XBOX 360. It's lacking features that I can think of and yes I've run into problems. The things I can do with all of these devices make me say WHO CARES IF IT ISN'T PERFECT!!!! Period. Q.