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Nuance adds Rovi's metadata to Dragon TV, becomes annoyingly good at TV trivia

Daniel Cooper — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:33:00 EST

Nuance, of Dragon TV fame announced today that it was licensing Rovi's (formerly known as Macrovision) metadata for its talky-TV platform. Once integrated, the application will be able to marshall far more information than it currently can -- enabling it to give answers to queries like "Who plays Chuck on Gossip Girl?" That said, we're not holding out much hope that it'll be able to answer our question about which guy from CSI played that bad guy in that movie we can't remember the title of, or something.

Continue reading Nuance adds Rovi's metadata to Dragon TV, becomes annoyingly good at TV trivia

Nuance adds Rovi's metadata to Dragon TV, becomes annoyingly good at TV trivia originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rovi sues Amazon and IMDb for infringing TV guide patents

Michael Gorman — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:08:00 EST

Rovi sounds friendly enough, but the company used to be called Macrovision -- and the infamous DRM provider just sued Amazon's IMDb.com last week for infringement of five TV guide patents. The patents came along with Rovi's acquisition of Gemstar, and they cover everything from interactive program guides to purchasing products on-demand to scheduling recordings from a computer -- a huge range that seems to hit everything from QVC to the Xfinity TV iPad app. That probably explains why Rovi says it has deals with everyone from Apple to Yahoo -- between its TV listings products, recent purchase of a sizable video library, and the current litigation with IMDb, it appears that the company is serious about leaving its DRM-centric roots behind and moving into internet content distribution.

Rovi sues Amazon and IMDb for infringing TV guide patents originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rovi TV Guide widget debuts on Samsung HDTVs

Richard Lawler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:18:00 EST

The agreement between Rovi (formerly Macrovision) and Samsung for EPG data has taken an odd turn with the debut of the TV Guide widget for Samsung's Yahoo! Widget enabled HDTVs. Check the pictures to get an idea of what it looks like, though with host of these televisions likely hooked up to satellite or cable boxes, the usability of these abbreviated "what's on" listings when another click of the remote would bring up a guide that will actually tune to those stations. Still, check the pics for an example of the flexibility of the widget platform, including the option to load up Daily Hotlists from Rovi's editors daily, complete with personal profiles but aren't exactly satiating the appetite we've developed for the Liquid guide demoed earlier this year.

Continue reading Rovi TV Guide widget debuts on Samsung HDTVs

Rovi TV Guide widget debuts on Samsung HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid"

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:17:00 EST

Hold on to your hats folks because the company that we love to hate is turning over a new leaf by kicking off its old DRM shoes and leveraging its acquisition of Gemstar in a big way. What we mean is that this is the first time in the history of Macrovision that we can remember being excited about an announcement; and boy does it make perfect sense that it comes with a new company name. Rovi's first consumer product should be available in various HDTVs next year, and among the new jazzed up looking guide you can expect a full DLNA client that is designed to be a single access point for all of your content. This includes internet sourced content like Slacker radio, YouTube XL, BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand, and CinemaNow; as well as anything you might have on your PC like pictures, music and even videos. Add in a little social networking from sites such as Flixster and we might have ourselves a new way to watch TV. No word yet on what new TVs will feature Liquid, but we'd expect to hear more at CES '10. The full release is after the jump.

Gallery: Rovi's Liquid guide

Continue reading Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid"

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid"

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:17:00 EST

Gallery: Rovi's Liquid guide

Continue reading Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid"

Filed under: Industry, DVRs, Set-top boxes, Tuners

Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio to use Macrovision's program guide software

Richard Lawler — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:03:00 EST

In some non-delay related Vizio news, it's just signed up with Macrovision in a multiyear deal to use its program guide (IPG) tech. We don't know which flavor of new technology it might be using (we've recently seen Macrovision's Passport tru2way guide software as well as its prototype Neon embedded software, built to pull Internet content in alongside regular TV programming) but either would be lovely to see on the Connected HDTV when it debuts later this year.

Gallery: Macrovision shows new Passport tru2way guide and iGuide multi-room viewing

Gallery: Macrovision "Neon" IPG

Filed under: Displays, Others

Vizio to use Macrovision's program guide software originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paramount licenses BD+ DRM from Macrovision

Richard Lawler — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:42:00 EST

Looks like Fox won't be the only one using BD+ soon, now that Paramount has licensed it, along with a few other DRM tools like RipGuard and ACP from Macrovision. There's no indication when, or even if Paramount will use the technology on its titles and the press release from Macrovision focuses on its ability to protect video over Internet, cable and satellite. As it is, we're sure Slysoft appreciates all the effort, but it's the people who legally buy their movies that might need a firmware update just to play Transformers 2.

[Via Video Business]

Filed under: Blu-ray

Paramount licenses BD+ DRM from Macrovision originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision shows new Passport tru2way guide and multi-room features

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST

At the Cable Show this week Macrovision is showing off its new tru2way Passport software, which we have to say is pretty cool looking. Of course it isn't the coolest looking software we've seen, but it is the best looking tru2way option so far and at least it is widescreen. But maybe in what might be bigger news to Comcast ~~fans~~ customers around the country -- or anyone who uses the Passport of iGuide software really -- is the that like the Passport tru2way software, the new Passport and iGuide software will also support multi-room viewing. So you'll finally be able to have your content follow you around the house and automatically pick up where you left off. Unfortunately like other solutions based on the Motorola boxes it's limited to two tuners throughout the house -- because a DVR can only act as a server and not as a client -- and we'd bet our old friends at the cable company will continue to only offer DVRs with puney 160GB hard drives, which really makes it hard for most families to get by with a single DVR.

Gallery: Macrovision shows new Passport tru2way guide and iGuide multi-room viewing

Filed under: Industry, DVRs, Set-top boxes

Macrovision shows new Passport tru2way guide and multi-room features originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision pushes "Neon" TV Guide

Richard Lawler — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:41:00 EST

For 2009 CES Macrovision's showing off its new project "Neon", embedded TV Guide software for CE manufacturers it's pushing as an all-in-one homepage for digital content. Not only ready to help users find and watch regular TV shows, it's built for pulling in content from the Internet or locally connected PCs. Of course, among the nice features like Smart Recommendations and rich program descriptors / cover art of TV shows are bits like space for ad graphics loaded at the whim of the manufacturer. Check out the gallery for a preview and hope that gray box on the side isn't too annoying.

Gallery: Macrovision "Neon" IPG

Filed under: Displays, Set-top boxes, Others

Macrovision pushes "Neon" TV Guide originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study finds that one-third of consumers copy DVDs

Darren Murph — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:33:00 EST

'Round these parts, we prefer to read the fine print first, so it should be noted that none other than Macrovision -- you know, the firm that purchased the now-cracked BD+ DRM scheme for $45 million last year -- financed this here study. According to poll results from US and UK consumers, around 1 in 3 individuals admitted to "making copies of pre-recorded DVDs in the past 6 months, up over a quarter from the previous year's study." Predictably, males aged 18 to 24 were most likely to wear an eye patch and own a DVD burner (if you catch our drift), and while revenue loss due to illegal copying is certainly a valid concern, researchers did find that 62% of American respondents (and 49% in the UK) were duping flicks they already owned. Arrr!

[Image courtesy of George Dillon]

Filed under: Industry, Other formats

Study finds that one-third of consumers copy DVDs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision to scrutinize Sunflower Broadband in-guide advertising

Darren Murph — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:25:00 EST

With Disney creating a dedicated lair for biometric testing of advertisements and Backchannelmedia pushing its own TV-to-internet ad platform, we aren't too surprised to see Macrovision teaming up with Sunflower Broadband to gauge the effectiveness of yet another advertising alternative. As part of the collaborative effort, EPG usage patterns of an "anonymous sample of Sunflower customers" will be collected and scrutinized in order to "gain insight into how consumers use i-Guide and interact with their DVR, on-demand services and in-guide advertising." In essence, the data will be used to "develop more effective consumer marketing tactics" and understand how subscribers "engage with interactive guide advertising." In-guide advertising? We hate to even think it, but really, what's next?

Filed under: Misc, DVRs, Set-top boxes, Cable, Advertising

Macrovision to scrutinize Sunflower Broadband in-guide advertising originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 May 2008 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The real reason it took so long to crack BD+

Ben Drawbaugh — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 08:57:00 EST

When SlySoft announced last week that it'd finally unlocked BD+ content, it got a lot of news coverage -- even some in the mainstream media. But what didn't get discussed was the fact that SlySoft didn't get it done by the end of 2007, as previously promised. Well Ars took the story one step closer and among other things uncovered the real reason -- no it wasn't because it was so 'hard' -- it took so long. Peer van Heuen, SlySoft head of HD technologies said in a post that "it was decided for strategic reasons to wait a bit for the outcome of the 'format war' between HD DVD and Blu-ray." We bet Macrovision wished it'd waited a bit longer before dropping $45 Million purchase on another piece of useless DRM.

Filed under: Blu-ray

The real reason it took so long to crack BD+ originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision purchases BD+ DRM for $45 million

Richard Lawler — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:08:00 EST

Macrovision just announced it has purchased the Self-Protecting Digital Content technology that forms the basis of Blu-ray's BD+ DRM system. If you're wondering, that would be the same BD+ technology that went from "impenetrable for 10 years" to "cracked" just last week. 18 months ago, Macrovision hoped to avoid becoming irrelevant by including its analog content protection in the AACS spec used by both formats, but is taking over Blu-ray's digital content protection with the $45 million purchase from Cryptography Research. We're wondering how these latest vulnerabilities will affect Macrovision's plans to commercialize the technology through licensing, since one of BD+'s strengths is an ability to address "emerging" security threats.

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Macrovision purchases BD+ DRM for $45 million originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision, the original DRM company, replies in open letter to Jobs

Ryan Block — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:03:00 EST

Thanking Steve Jobs for his Thoughts on Music isn't exactly how we'd expected a letter to start by Fred Amoroso, CEO of Macrovision, the original DRM company whose fair use crippling technology dates back all the way to 1984 (no joke). The latest in a litany of responses to Jobs's recent open letter, with pleasantries dispensed Amoroso cuts to the chase in a pro-DRM rant at times rank enough to turn a few Engadget editors' stomachs, with crowd pleasing points such as DRM is an "enabler" (certainly not for customer satisfaction), that it "increases not decreases consumer value" (huh?), and that by having no DRM on our digital media, we "will unnecessarily doom all consumers to a 'one size fits all' situation". (Are you laughing yet?) Despite a very pointed and well written argument in favor of "transparent, interoperable and reasonable DRM", Amoroso's restrictions-laden vision cites no facts or figures to support his conclusions -- not even shaky and questionable numbers like Steve cited in his Thoughts. Luckily for Jobs, Amoroso is even magnanimous enough to take the burden of FairPlay off his hands: "We offer to assist Apple in the issues and problems with DRM that you state in your letter. Should you desire [Steve], we would also assume responsibility for FairPlay as a part of our evolving DRM offering and enable it to interoperate across other DRMs, thus increasing consumer choice and driving commonality across devices." Sorry, we were too busy laughing at your pomposity, what was that you said, Fred?

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Macrovision, the original DRM company, replies in open letter to Jobs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Come together... but not in 2007

Ross Rubin — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:14:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:

This week brought news that copy protection powerhouse Macrovision had continued its acquisition streak by purchasing Mediabolic for $43.5 million. Neither company is a household name, but both provide ingredient technologies for the digital home. Macrovision's offerings have been used to deter copying since the days of videotape and in Mediabolic's short history it worked with consumer brands such as Pioneer, Maxtor (now Seagate), and HP. With Mediabolic's assets, Macrovision will seek to appeal to both ends of the tug of war between device manufacturers and content owners. It hopes to use Mediabolic's modular system for handling the messy plumbing involved in distributing content around the home or from the Net as bait to support rights-managed content.

On one hand, the timing of the announcement seems primed for what will be the best year ever for the digital home at CES. The best news will be around home network bandwidth. After many political battles and their resulting delays, high-speed wireless networking in the form of 802.11n as well as a viable wired alternative in HomePlug AV will finally arrive in 2007, as will the simpler high-speed wireless connections enabled by Wireless USB. To the extent that Windows is used as a platform for serving or enjoying home media, the imminent arrival of Windows Vista will improve those experiences.

Continue reading Switched On: Come together... but not in 2007

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

Switched On: Come together... but not in 2007 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More red flag fun from TiVo and Macrovision

Paul Miller — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:22:00 EST

The continuing challenge that Macrovision seems to have with flagging TiVo content has claimed another victim. A harmless and potentially terribly boring flick from 1968 called "A Flea in Her Ear" has been flagged to expire within 24 hours of its first viewing once recorded to your TiVo in a totally legit manner. We're sure TiVo has some lame excuse this time like "broadcast noise" or something else totally irrelevant (the recording was, once again, made by a cable subscriber), and yes, we're sure nobody is terribly choked up about not being able to keep this flick around forever and ever. But it still threatens to uproot a very cornerstone of our freedom, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of TiVo. Thomas Jefferson would be totally ticked off.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

More red flag fun from TiVo and Macrovision originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macrovision inks deal to put ACP in AACS

Richard Lawler — Tue, 30 May 2006 14:22:00 EST

After at one point it seemed like Macrovision would be rendered irrelevant by AACS, they are now a part of it. Perhaps in a move to justify stalling the implementation of ICT, AACS LA will include Macrovision's analog content protection technology in their next update. This isn't that surprising as ICT or no, the analog hole is still a major concern for content providers, in fact Macrovision VP Adam Gervin predicted this back in 2004 (he also predicted that high definition DVD formats would be very slow to take off, DVDs had 5 years of growth left in them and that AACS would be cracked). Of course, one has to wonder how this will affect Toshiba's HD DVD player and PC Blu-ray drives that are already on the market.

Filed under: Misc, Sony, Toshiba

Macrovision inks deal to put ACP in AACS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 May 2006 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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