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Ceton's Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now

Richard Lawler — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:01:00 EST

If you're a Windows Media Center fan and have been drooling over the treats Ceton showed off at CES like its mobile companion apps (whether on WP7 or other platforms like iPhone and Android) and Echo extender we've got good news and better news. The good news is that the apps have been rebranded simply as Ceton Companion Apps and they will be available for all Windows Media Center 7 users when they launch, spreading their guides, file browsing and remote DVR management options throughout the land. The better news is that you'll be able to get your hands on the apps and / or Echo extender relatively soon, since there are beta tests coming soon for both. While the app beta is planned to start May 25th on all of the previously listed platforms, the Echo extender will be a paid beta where users can keep the hardware once its over. More details on the latter should be available soon, for now interested users should hit the link below to get on the list or check out an... interesting promo video embedded after the break.

Gallery: Ceton announces multi-room DVR and Echo extender hands-on

Continue reading Ceton's Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now

Ceton's Media Center mobile apps are for all, app and Echo extender beta signups open now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton previews DVR companion apps on Android and iOS, teases Echo beta 'soon'

Richard Lawler — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:12:00 EST

A quick stop by the Intel pavilion here at NAB 2012 revealed our friends from Ceton hiding within, and even though we just saw the Q DVR and Echo companion extender on our last trip to Vegas a few months ago, there's a few new items to show already. As shown above, the mobile companion app that we had only seen so far on Windows Phone 7 is also up and running on Android and iOS. While the apps are still very early in their development they're already running smoothly with metadata provided by Rovi and the usual set of features for DVR scheduling and management. Each one is designed specifically for the platform it's running on, rather than pulling the same UI from one device to all. This seems like a good approach to us, but Ceton's looking for feedback from potential users about what they might prefer. Speaking of potential users -- all those interested in this hardware should keep an eye out as we're told that the plan is to have a beta for the DTS-compatible Echo extender "soon", likely within a few weeks.

Ceton previews DVR companion apps on Android and iOS, teases Echo beta 'soon' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:11:00 EST

What's the Echo Extender for Media Center got that no other Extender for Media Center has? Support for DTS surround sound, that's what. The catch of course is that the Echo is still just on track for "later in 2012," but the press release after the break is a welcome reminder that the first new Extender for Media Center since 2008 is actually going to happen. Unfortunately, there's still no new updates on price, availability or really anything other than the fact that you'll be able to enjoy your favorite content in surround sound that is encoded with DTS -- hopefully that's enough for now.

Continue reading Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound

Ceton's Echo Extender for Media Center will be the first to support DTS surround sound originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton's Q DVR companion app for Windows Phone gets detailed tour (video)

Mat Smith — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:53:00 EST

You might recall Ceton's Q DVR making its debut at the start of the year and now the beans have been spilled on the multiroom recorder's companion app. The Windows Phone 7 version separates out into home, television and recent screens. The home section houses galleries and search, while television will display scheduled recordings, channel guides and management options for those upcoming shows. Finally, the recent screen keeps tabs on what you've been watching or recording last, all done in that inimitable metro style. There's no launch date yet, but Android and iOS versions are also being readied for release. You can take a video tour of the features right after the break.

Continue reading Ceton's Q DVR companion app for Windows Phone gets detailed tour (video)

Ceton's Q DVR companion app for Windows Phone gets detailed tour (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton officially drops the InfiniTV 4 price to $199

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:37:00 EST

A device that was selling for around $600 on eBay just two years ago, is now officially priced at $199 -- the second $100 price drop in the past eight months -- and is available immediately from some of your favorite online retailers. That means both the USB and PCIe versions of the CableCARD tuner that can record four HD channels at once, cost a mere $50 per tuner. While this makes it the cheapest per-tuner CableCARD tuner ever available, the dual tuner Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650 at $149 retail ($112 street) still requires the lowest total entry cost into the PC CableCARD tuner market. We've come a long way since ATI offered a single tuner for $299, but the still-pricey cards make it easy to understand understand why TV manufacturers and other set-top box makers, like Boxee, can't hide the price of a CableCARD tuner in the cost of their products.

Continue reading Ceton officially drops the InfiniTV 4 price to $199

Ceton officially drops the InfiniTV 4 price to $199 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Premium cable TV comes to XBMC, GoodPlayer and more via InfiniTV 4 tuner

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:47:00 EST

In the olden days of CableCARD circa 2004, only a select few devices and software could leverage the card's power to watch premium cable TV, but not today. Today just about any adventurous dev can take advantage of the fact that an OCUR is a network tuner and access premium cable TV -- as long as the content is marked Copy Freely, that is. The latest to unleash that power is XBMC which also helps extend the functionality to iOS via GoodPlayer and Buzz Player as well as any UPnP client with the help of a Serviio media server. Essentially this custom code is acting as a middleman, but fulfilling the dream that any software could directly control and stream from a CableCARD tuner like the InfiniTV 4 is within reach. The only drawback left is that even with the current sale price of the InfiniTV 4 at $199, it still isn't as low as the cost of entry of something like a ClearQAM tuner.

Premium cable TV comes to XBMC, GoodPlayer and more via InfiniTV 4 tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Connected Electronics Show

Ross Rubin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Compared to CES 2011, which featured an explosion of tablets and high-powered smartphones poised to jump on emerging 4G networks, this year's edition of Gear and Gloating in Las Vegas was a more muted affair when it came to mobile devices. Sure, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile trotted out a few devices and there were even a few standouts, such as the Transformer Primesque Lenovo IdeaTab S2 with its its docking keyboard as well as the heavily promoted Galaxy Note, coming soon the U.S. after launching in Europe.

Continue reading Switched On: Connected Electronics Show

Switched On: Connected Electronics Show originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up

Richard Lawler — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:46:00 EST

The Consumer Electronics Show is always a big deal for HDTVs and the devices that plug into them, and the 2012 edition was no different. With the majority of households already owning an HDTV, manufacturers are pressed to convince you to upgrade, and are pulling out all the stops. We've got new display technologies like OLED, 4K and Super Hi-Vision, plus more 3D and internet connected features than ever. DVRs and media streamers haven't slowed down either, so while some services focused on eliminating the set-top box, those that remained either shrunk (Roku) or added features (Boxee, TiVo, Ceton -- pictured above). The pace of the announcements made it nearly impossible to keep up with everything going on last week, so we've wrapped everything up in one neat summary available after the break.

Continue reading CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up

CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on)

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:01:00 EST

The company that has almost single handedly spurred the golden age of CableCARD has found a new way to deliver its technology to consumers with a 6 tuner multi-room DVR with a 2TB hard drive, codenamed Q, and its companion extender, codenamed Echo. No word on the price of either but both are expected to ship in 2012.

While the Q and Echo might look like Microsoft Media Center, they aren't. Based on the Windows 7 Embedded platform, the Q picks up where Microsoft left off but still leverages the great DVR functionality and free guide data. In addition to being used as an extender for the Q, the Echo is also a fully compliant Extender for Windows Media Center. The Echo will support both ethernet and MoCA for communication to the source and has HDMI-CEC for control as well as an included remote. When used with the Q, it will extend the entire Q experience, including streaming sources and enhanced search that facilitates content discovery. Speaking of the Q, that slot up front is a Blu-ray drive and in addition to being able to play Blu-ray Discs, the plan is to integrate as many streaming sources as possible (no partners to announce yet, though). The Q will also work with other Extenders for Windows Media Center, like the Xbox 360, but while the custom themes are there, the other streaming options aren't. Ceton has even developed a Windows 8 Metro and Windows Phone 7 app to extend the Q experience to the handhelds -- iOS apps are on the road map. These apps are primarily designed to be companions to the Q's search and discovery features, but will provide access to content via WiFi.

Gallery: Ceton announces multi-room DVR and Echo extender hands-on

Continue reading Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on)

Ceton previews multi-room DVR and Echo extender (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: HDTV and home theater

Richard Lawler — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

For a crowd-pleasing holiday gift, it's hard to do better than a TV (or something that plays on or plugs into a TV), so naturally we're here to help you out once again. Of course, this is an ever-changing industry segment, but we've got you covered -- regardless of whether you need a flat panel or a projector. If you're out shopping for someone that has (or wants to) cut the cable, or someone that has every channel, there's something for you. Of course, we'd also recommend keeping a close eye on the tablet and gaming categories too, but companies like Roku, Samsung and Ceton are making sure you have all kinds of options dedicated purely to video. Give them a look after the break.

Continue reading Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: HDTV and home theater

Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: HDTV and home theater originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB tuner now shipping, offers infinite entertainment for $300

Amar Toor — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:16:00 EST

It's a little bit behind schedule, but the Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB has finally begun shipping, nearly ten months after it was first unveiled. Originally scheduled to ship on September 19th, this external CableCARD TV tuner is now available from Amazon, New Egg and other retailers for $300. For that price, you'll be able to record four HD shows at once, stream live shows to your PC or TV and access all your photos, music and Netflix account from a single device. Interested? Hit up the coverage link below to grab one for yourself.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB tuner now shipping, offers infinite entertainment for $300 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB tuner priced at $299, ships September 19th

Richard Lawler — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:13:00 EST

Once its certification was official we knew a release date for the Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB was just around the corner, and today the company announced it expects to start shipping the external CableCARD TV tuners September 19th. Starting tomorrow, customers can preorder for $299 from Cannon PC and Fluid Digital, with other retailers like Amazon and Newegg getting stock later in September. Also, the price on the existing internal PCIe model has officially dropped to $299, no rebate necessary. The market is suddenly full of options for the HTPC enthusiast looking to get some premium cable TV channels on their Media Center PC, check the press release after the break and let us know if this one catches your eye.

Continue reading Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB tuner priced at $299, ships September 19th

Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB tuner priced at $299, ships September 19th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB is CableLabs certified, almost ready to go

Richard Lawler — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:49:00 EST

Not finding the current CableCARD tuner options satisfactory? Perhaps the Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB will fit the bill. We first got our hands on it at CES (along with the InfiniTV 6) in January and the company tweeted tonight that it is now CableLabs certified. There's still no word on details like ship date and pricing, but with regulatory hurdles cleared it should be shipping very soon. Check a few more hands-on shots in our gallery.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB is CableLabs certified, almost ready to go originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner adds $100 instant rebate, new retailers

Richard Lawler — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:56:00 EST

While there's no official price drop yet, Ceton has officially authorized several new retailers for the InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner, and announced partnerships with several new retailers. The shocking price drops spotted over the weekend seem to have mostly dried up -- the $282 eBay auction shows 3 left, Amazon's super low offer has disappeared, Buy.com is sold out and Erwin Computer's price is up to $278. However, the addition of new retail partners means snagging a card for $299 is easier than ever, and while that may not put some Hamiltons back in your pocket it should at least provide some peace of mind.

Continue reading InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner adds $100 instant rebate, new retailers

InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner adds $100 instant rebate, new retailers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner prices are dropping, down to $256 shipped from $399 previously

Richard Lawler — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:14:00 EST

Whether it's due to pressure from SiliconDust's HDHomeRun Prime or as a result of simplified hardware is unclear, but Ceton's InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner is now available for as little as $256 shipped. Forum posters at Missing Remote noticed a $282 fire sale for the HTPC cable TV adapters going on eBay Friday, before prices dropped precipitously at Buy.com ($264), and an Amazon third party ($265). Lesser known Erwin Computers currently claims the lowest price, while Ceton's official Amazon listing and those of other resellers like Cannon PC and Fluid Digital remain at the $399 MSRP -- for now. The choice is yours -- wait for official word and to see if prices drop any lower or click the buy button now and get some (network sharable) cable TV reception for your computer in time for the second episode of Teen Wolf on MTV.

InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner prices are dropping, down to $256 shipped from $399 previously originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharing your InfiniTV 4 over the network is now a wizard away

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 09 May 2011 06:00:00 EST

The only thing better than an HTPC with a CableCARD tuner is multiple HTPCs with multiple CableCARD tuners. Neither is exactly inexpensive, so it makes sense that you'd want to somehow share the love between PCs. Now while all CableCARD tuners for Media Center are technically network tuners, actually connecting to another PC via the network wasn't possible in the old CableLabs spec. Of course specs don't deliver by themselves, and now Ceton's stab at tuner sharing is officially available in the way of a Network Tuner setup Media Center plug-in. Once you upgrade the firmware of your InfiniTV 4 and install the app, you can launch it from within Media Center and easily configure which tuners will be used locally and which will be used remotely. Then you re-run the wizard on the remote PC and record away. Of course it is a bit more involved than that and still isn't the dynamic tuner pool that many long for, but click on through to learn why.

Continue reading Sharing your InfiniTV 4 over the network is now a wizard away

Sharing your InfiniTV 4 over the network is now a wizard away originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 May 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on and unboxing the InfiniTV 4 v2

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 04 May 2011 21:22:00 EST

There isn't much new about the second generation of the InfiniTV 4, but that didn't stop us from appreciating the new box and revised design. You have to look pretty hard to find the differences because while they're there, they are subtle. The card is slimmer and obviously simpler, and Ceton went with a new dongle connector that now sits flush with the plate and doesn't get in the way anymore when switching it to low profile mode.The original card had a bit of a identity crisis with Ceton brands on the front and back, but the new one is InfiniTV all over. Obviously the biggest improvement is Ceton's new found ability to produce enough of these cards to meet demand, but we'll be putting it through it's paces just in case while we wait for the other anticipated CableCARD tuners to hit the street.

Gallery: Hands-on and unboxing the InfiniTV 4 v2

Hands-on and unboxing the InfiniTV 4 v2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 21:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton InfiniTV 4 tuners now available on Amazon

Richard Lawler — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST

Ceton's supply of InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuners must be running strong now, as it's finally available through another retailer -- some tiny outfit called Amazon. The MSRP is still $399 just like everywhere else but as usual Prime customers can score cheap/free shipping. Let's see how waiting on that HDHomeRun Prime feels now that the buy button is this close.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 tuners now available on Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuners feature a simpler (to make) design

Richard Lawler — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:10:00 EST

It appears we have a new design to thank for solving the long wait times for InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuners. Keen eyes will note in these pictures from Missing Remote that the newer cards have a much simpler layout (compare to our original hands on) that VP Jeremy Hammer says is easier for the company to manufacture. Most electronics products go through production revisions that make them simpler and cheaper as time goes on and these cards are no different. The new cards have actually been shipping for some time, while we haven't heard anything about a change in MSRP it's good to know we can expect the supply to keep flowing steadily in the future.

New InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuners feature a simpler (to make) design originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD backorders are finally cleared, order away

Richard Lawler — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:57:00 EST

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we published our review of the InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner from Ceton, although it's probably easier if you've been waiting all that time to get one in your HTPC. Those days should be long gone now however, as Missing Remote points out the order fulfillment thread on The Green Button indicates a slew of satisfied customers have been getting their packages recently. Retailers CannonPC and Fluid Digital are both indicating they're caught up with back orders and have the cards in stock, so if only the prospect of a long delivery wait has been stopping you from purchasing, it's time to buy. Of course, as is the way of things, by now you're probably waiting around for the HDHomeRun Prime -- good luck.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD backorders are finally cleared, order away originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InfiniTV 4 USB CableCARD tuner hands-on

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:32:00 EST

We ran into the Hammers from Ceton Corp at CES and they revealed their latest products to us; the InfiniTV 4 USB and the internal InfiniTV 6. The InfiniTV 6 is basically the six tuner version of the InfiniTV 4 that we like so much, what we don't like is that there's no mention of price or availability -- we'd guess $500 or $600 and sometime during the middle of 2011. The more interesting revelation was that of the InfiniTV 4 USB, which you see pictured above. It also doesn't have a price yet, but it does record four HD shows at once like its internal brother, has a real nice feel to it, and looks really, really cool. We were curious to know how many of the InifniTV 4's have been sold to Windows Media Center users, and while exact figures weren't forthcoming, we were told "thousands and thousands." At this point Ceton is still focused on eliminating its four month order backlog and will turn its attention to brining new products to market after that.

Gallery: InfiniTV 4 USB hands-on

Gallery: InfiniTV 6 hands-on

InfiniTV 4 USB CableCARD tuner hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gateway Media Console with CableCARD and Windows Embedded Standard 7 hands-on

Vlad Savov — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST

Microsoft's working hard to get people believing in its Windows Embedded Standard platform as a real set-top box contender and one of its vanguard devices is the above Gateway Media Console. It's still a concept product in the Acer / Gateway labs, but what it promises to deliver makes us wish it hurries up and makes the leap to retail nice and quickly. Based around a Sandy Bridge Intel CPU, this machine runs Windows Media Center and gives you access to all the internet-connected content that you can enjoy on your Windows 7-equipped PC, but it also boasts a InfiniTV 6 CableCARD tuner that permits up to six HD broadcast TV streams at a time. Those can then be networked out throughout your house -- whether over a wireless or wired connection -- and then recorded on whatever laptops, desktops or other Windows devices you have lying around the house. The end result is that the kids can be recording a pair of channels upstairs in their bedroom while you watch the football game in the living room and your mother-in-law enjoys whatever she's into down in the basement -- all coming in from the same, single coax cable plugged into the Media Console. There's a hidden optical drive as well and Microsoft tells us this thing could range between $500 and $700 when it does eventually make its way out for sale.

Gallery: Gateway Media Console with CableCARD and Windows Embedded Standard 7 hands-on

Continue reading Gateway Media Console with CableCARD and Windows Embedded Standard 7 hands-on

Gateway Media Console with CableCARD and Windows Embedded Standard 7 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon FiOS Simulcrypt rollout will break most CableCARD tuners

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:08:00 EST

There comes a time in any electronic gadget's life when it becomes useless and although it's inevitable, the length of the useful lifespan can vary greatly. In recent years firmware updates have really helped extend the life of devices, but when the manufacturer has no financial incentive to support older products, it can mean a premature end (at least from the customer's perspective). Well after three years that time has apparently come for FiOS TV subscribers who own ATI Digital Cable Tuners (and many other CableCARD devices). Now before you get too up in arms about this, it isn't really Verizon's fault, you see said company wants to be able to use Cisco and Motorola devices in the same area and this means it needs a tech called Simulcrypt. This is good for most customers as it will likely bring better prices and selection. And although this is a CableLabs certified technology, a firmware update is required to ensure the device handles the encryption properly. So while a company like Ceton or TiVo has already released updates for its devices, ATI and other TV manufactures have long since given up on the CableCARD market, and hence, supporting any legacy devices. The only good news is that you now have the perfect excuse to justify replacing your obsolete device. Don't like this option? Well you can get a FiOS DVR (with it's 2002 circa 160GB HDD) or just file a complaint to the FCC -- this won't do much, but might make you feel better.

[Thanks, Scott!]

Verizon FiOS Simulcrypt rollout will break most CableCARD tuners originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CableLabs amends OCUR spec, tuner sharing and MythTV are on

Ben Drawbaugh — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:21:00 EST

We told you that CableLabs had received a few requests to amend the OCUR spec that dictates what a CableCARD tuner for a PC can and can't do, and as expected the organization that many love to hate has come through -- we, expected it anyways. The first change is the most significant which is that each tuner in an OCUR can be paired with different PCs at the same time. This lets you buy one quad tuner and use it on four HTPCs simultaneously; one tuner per PC (a single tuner can't be shared simultaneous though). When we originally asked CableLabs about changing this they said, maybe, but it'd take three to six months to run through the process. The other change we're glad didn't take forever to become a reality is the one that stated that even Copy Freely content had to be transmitted securely, which meant that Windows 7 Media Center was the only way to watch any CableCARD tuner stuff, and while there isn't much encrypted QAM content out there marked Copy Freely, MythTV and SageTV fans will have access to at least some premium HD content. This isn't as big a deal as changing the meaning of Copy Once to something less draconian, it is welcomed news for those who just received their InfiniTV 4 (pictured above) and felt constrained by the old rules. We're sure there could be considerable time between when the change is made official and when the firmware is released to the public, but hopefully Ceton and SiliconDust don't waste any time making it happen.

CableLabs amends OCUR spec, tuner sharing and MythTV are on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InfiniTV 4 quad CableCARD tuner is shipping

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:42:00 EST

After a very long and wait since the pre-orders began, we just got the official word that the long sought after quad CableCARD tuner, the InfiniTV 4, is on US shores and has cleared customs. The bad news is that the manufacturing troubles aren't completely over yet and there aren't enough to fill all the pre-orders. If you had enough insight to be the first to get your order in though, you'll be receiving yours next week. In the meantime you can get started on the installation instructions on Ceton's site by first running the Digital Cable Adviser and then running the driver installer (coming soon) while you wait. You may also want to go ahead and schedule your truck roll as this toy isn't very useful without a CableCARD, and most cable companies won't let you install the CableCARD yourself. This is certainly the best news for HTPC fans since Microsoft announced the end of the OEM PC CableCARD requirement and although $400 is not the cheapest way to get a DVR, it is one of the only ways to record four HD premium channels at once.

InfiniTV 4 quad CableCARD tuner is shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton's InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner delayed again

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:46:00 EST

Oh man this sucks -- just got word that Ceton has once again delayed the release of its InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner. Originally the ability to record four HD channels at once with a single card was going to be delivered in 2009, then it was delayed until the 1st quarter of 2010. The card did go on pre-order in the first quarter, but the ship date was delayed until May 31st. Now with only a week until that date, although the card has already received CableLabs certification, the sad news is revealed that due to some unobtainable flash memory chips and other components, the wonder card will probably ship by the end of June -- but at this point no new hard date is being given. Obviously delays like this aren't good for anyone and although we think the device is worth the wait, the fact that the one and only ATI CableCARD tuner for PCs has been discontinued, HTPC fans are certainly feeling the hurt. Full newsletter with all the bad details after the jump.

Continue reading Ceton's InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner delayed again

Ceton's InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner delayed again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 May 2010 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner review

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST

We don't review many HTPC tuners around here because honestly they usually aren't that interesting; you plug them in and they either work or they don't, what else is there to really say about 'em? But every so often something totally different comes our way, something that does get us excited. The first HDHomeRun was one of those and the new InfiniTV 4 from Ceton easily qualifies. We mean who wouldn't get excited about being able to record 4 HD shows at once and from any channel you want? This is especially true when you consider how difficult it's been for HTPC fans to record premium content until now. Well it seems that for HD loving HTPC fans, your time has finally come, now anyone can build there own DVR that can do things that no other DVR can -- when the tuner starts shipping in May that is.

Gallery: Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner review

Continue reading Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner review

Ceton InfiniTV 4 CableCARD tuner review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton's quad CableCARD tuner for Media Center available for pre-order

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:23:00 EST

That's right, you can now reserve your place in line to be the first to record four HD cable shows at once on your Windows 7 Media Center. The bad news is that ship date for the InfiniTV 4 is now May 31st. Ceton wasn't willing to share a specific reason for the 60 day delay, but we suspect CableLabs is to blame -- Ceton refuted this and insisted CableLabs has been very helpful, but we don't buy it. The other big news -- for those that were concerned with noise or fitment options -- is that the latest version of the PCI-E card pictured above no longer includes a fan. The InfiniTV name was the result of over 1000 submissions to Ceton's naming contest, of which Gary Petro came up with winner -- the name is not to be confused with Comcast's XFINITY. Future tuners in the line will share a variation of the name, so the dual external tuner would be the InfiniTV ex2 -- for example. But Gary isn't the only one receiving a free tuner, as two more submitters were deemed worthy. Rus Sanchez submitted 94 different product names, while Charles Fraser earned his free card with the funniest submission; Wicked Super, Super Duper, and Super Duper Alleyoopder. The last bit of news out of the Kirkland startup is a littler clarification in regards to the network capabilities of the card. Although you can share the tuners with a small form factor PC on the network, the bad news is that it gets paired per CableCARD, so all four tuners have to go to the same PC. Oh we almost forgot, the best news of all is that we received our review sample, so stay tuned for a full run down.

Ceton's quad CableCARD tuner for Media Center available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton CableCARD tuner briefly appears on Amazon flying the InfiniTV flag

Richard Lawler — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:34:00 EST

It's gone now, but for at least a moment there was an opportunity to pre-order Ceton's quad-tuning CableCARD solution for Media Center PCs on Amazon, a sure sign that it is moving even closer to reality. Branded the Ceton InfiniTV (not to be confused with XFinity) 4 digital cable tuner card, the read link is the now-busted address for your F5ing pleasure -- do it too much and you'll go blind.

Ceton CableCARD tuner briefly appears on Amazon flying the InfiniTV flag originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton's CableCARD tuner to work over the network too

Richard Lawler — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST

Weighing yet to be released CableCARD on PC products against each other? Add this tidbit to the comparison: Ceton's MOCUR should work as a networked tuner, according to a post by VP Jeremy Hammer on The Green Button forums. His post indicates that, like the HDHomeRun CableCARD, Ceton's product will be available to other PCs by bridging it with the host computer's Ethernet card, and not blocked as it was with ATI's product. That might help to smooth the $399 price tag when it goes on sale soon, for those still stuck on reply hit the forums with your questions or check out our CES hands on for another look.

[Thanks, @brennokbob]

Gallery: Hands-on with the low profile Ceton quad CableCARD tuner

Ceton's CableCARD tuner to work over the network too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with the low profile Ceton quad CableCARD tuner

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:51:00 EST

We caught up with Gary Hammer from Ceton this morning and snapped some pictures of the low profile quad CableCARD tuner that will be the first version to reach consumers. The card includes a little RG6 dongle so that it'll fit in either a full or low profile PCI-E slot and will be available late in the first quarter for $399 -- an exact date wasn't given, but we believe this means March 31st. The other new tidbit is that there is a new fan on the card that helps keep things cool. The tuner will at least be available for purchase on Ceton's new website via Amazon, but we're told there's plenty of interest from other retailers to carry the product when it launches. Ceton's intention is to offer this to the mainstream, so the initial product will be in a retail package and will also be bunlded with new PCs. We tried to get Gary to tip his hat in regards to other configurations that might reach the market and although he's on the same page with our dreams, he wanted to focus on the initial offering for now, but did promise multiple configurations are in the works and expected in 2010.

Gallery: Hands-on with the low profile Ceton quad CableCARD tuner

Hands-on with the low profile Ceton quad CableCARD tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton's quad CableCARD tuner for Windows Media Center gets a price

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:36:00 EST

We love Windows Media Center but without access to our favorite HD content it just isn't that interesting. So obviously we got excited when we first learned that Ceton planned to release a PCI-E card that would allow us to record four HD shows at once with a single CableCARD, but the question has been, how much? Now we knew it'd be cheaper than the $1200 that ATI would charge us for four digital cable tuners but according to Dave Zatz the yet to be announced price is $399. In addition, he has learned that Steve Balmer will demo the card in the big CES keynote Wednesday -- which of course we'll be covering live. This leads us to believe that there might be some other good news for Media Center fans, and since we're dreamers, we're hoping for some new Extenders for Media Center.

Ceton's quad CableCARD tuner for Windows Media Center gets a price originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are CableCARD tuners for Media Center sold out everywhere?

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:39:00 EST

It figures that Microsoft would finally give DIY Windows Media Center users the ability to add a Digital Cable Tuner with CableCARD to their PC and now the devices are no where to be found. Since these devices were never actually available to the public, they've always been a little hard to come by, but we have seen 'em for sale from Dell as well as from Cannon PC and even on Sony's site. This entire situation only makes us even more sure that ATI's days in the Digital Cable Tuner business are numbered. What we mean is that there is no doubt that ATI knew this was coming to Windows 7 long before we did, so any company who actually wanted to sell something would have actually had them available at retail by now. One thing is for sure, there is a pent up demand for CableCARD tuners in the Media Center community and a more affordable, more available, option can't get here soon enough. While we wait for the 1st quarter of 2010 to come, you can pay through the nose for one on eBay in the meantime.

Are CableCARD tuners for Media Center sold out everywhere? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A brief history of Ceton and its 6-tuner CableCARD HTPC tuner

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:26:00 EST

The Seattle Times sat down with Ceton, and the entire Hammer family that founded the company, and uncovered some pretty interesting details about the Kirkland, WA startup. Lucky for Windows Media Center fans -- when Gary and Pamela Hammer's son Jeremy graduated from college with a engineering degree, the entire family decided to start a new company, which designed the first multi-stream CableCARD tuner for HTPCs. Without going into all the details here, we did enjoy learning about the origins of the company as well as the fact that a yet to be announced dual tuner version of the quad tuner card should sell for less than $300. We've been excited about this product since CES 2009, but as we get closer and stories like this surface we can hardly contain our anticipation.

Filed under: Industry, Media PCs

A brief history of Ceton and its 6-tuner CableCARD HTPC tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget HD Podcast 155 - 09.15.2009

Trent Wolbe — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:12:00 EST

CEDIA is over so there no better time to wrap up the news than with the Engadget HD Podcast. If you love Media Center, you'll love this episode as we dedicate more than half the show to the topic. We talk new tuners, cost of admission, as well as what might still be announced between now and the official launch of Windows 7. Next up we hit our second favorite topic with Blu-ray's Managed Copy and other Blu-ray player hardware like thee 400 disc Blu-ray changer. We round out the show with a quick chat about HDMI over IP (not just CAT5), the Panasonic 3D demo, the NFL Redzone channel and finally we talk up our reader meetup plus a few reader questions.

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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Steven Kim, Richard Lawler

Producer: Trent Wolbe

Program
00:01:15 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 154
00:03:25 - Video: Dish Network Media Center tuner in action
00:08:36 - Ceton is set to take over the CableCARD PC tuner market
00:33:32 - Poll: What's the most you'd pay for a quad HDTV tuner with CableCARD?
00:35:00 - Windows 7 to get a better version of Netflix than Vista
00:38:55 - Hauppauge to expand its offerings to include a CableCARD tuner
00:41:44 - DirecTV's CEDIA booth was all about multi-room viewing
00:51:14 - Video: First working Blu-ray Managed Copy demo
00:55:45 - Video: Sony 400 disc Blu-ray changer with Gracenote in action
00:58:45 - Video: Vudu on the LG BD390 Blu-ray player
01:01:08 - Panasonic including DivX Plus HD (MKV) support into next gen Blu-ray players, TVs
01:02:10 - Apple TV junkies left out of new iTunes Extra special features
01:05:45 - Panasonic Full HD 3D experience eyes-on
01:13:07 - Just Add Power introduces Projector Connector HDMI-over-IP solution
01:16:23 - It's game day, who's got the NFL RedZone Channel?
01:19:14 - Thanks to Atlanta for the great reader meetup

LISTEN (MP3)
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LISTEN (OGG)

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget HD Podcast 155 - 09.15.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: What's the most you'd pay for a quad HDTV tuner with CableCARD?

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:55:00 EST

Let's be clear right up front, we're not asking you how much you want to pay because we already know the answer; as little as possible. We want to know, what is the most you would pay. Now before you answer, lets put this into perspective. A dual tuner TiVo HD costs $300 at retail (plus subscription), a Moxi is $800 and the old ATI single CableCARD tuners were $300 -- so unlike the Ceton tuner, you'd have to rent four CableCARDs instead of just one. So keeping all that in mind, what is the most you'd pay for a single PCI-E card that could turn your Windows 7 PC and Xbox 360 into the best premium content HD DVR today?

View Poll

Filed under: DIY, Polls, Media PCs

Poll: What's the most you'd pay for a quad HDTV tuner with CableCARD? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hauppauge to expand its offerings to include a CableCARD tuner

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:46:00 EST

The tuner company that we never seem to be able to pronounce correctly is planning on adding a digital cable tuner with CableCARD to its lineup. No word on price or availability but the initial seemly over ambitions timeframe was this year. Our friends at Geek Tonic were able to confirm the the company's plans for the new tuner, but also learned that there is little hope that the new device will make it to market before the Ceton tuner, and in fact the actual release is still undeterminable. The good news is that there will be some competition in the PC digital cable tuner market which is always a good thing, in fact at this point we wouldn't be surprised if Avermedia was the next to throw its hat into the mix.

[Via GeekTonic]

Filed under: Media PCs, Cable

Hauppauge to expand its offerings to include a CableCARD tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton is set to take over the CableCARD PC tuner market

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST

We can't say we saw this coming, but a little technology company we never heard of until CES '09 is going to not only be the first to market with a multi-stream quad tuner CableCARD device, but will probably be the only one for some time. It is for good reason too, as Ceton (pronounced sē-tən or seaten) has been able to pick up where AMD left off with its ATI Digital Cable Tuner for Windows Media Center and improve it in the best way we can think of. This startup seems to have some special sauce that no one else has, we can't even start to think of how hard it would be to decrypt four HD streams at the same time and re-encrypt them at the same time -- and apparently that is just the beginning. We say this because we sat down with Gary Hammer, the president and CEO, and to say he is on the same page with the Media Center market, is an understatement.

Gallery: Ceton CableCARD tuner

Continue reading Ceton is set to take over the CableCARD PC tuner market

Filed under: Features, Media PCs, Cable

Ceton is set to take over the CableCARD PC tuner market originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with the Ceton CableCARD tuner

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:48:00 EST

We learned all about it this new tuner first thing this morning and were very pleased to see a "technology preview" of the card in action at the Microsoft's booth. As expected, it is a single PCI-E card that uses one multi-stream CableCARD and offers the ability to record four HD channels at once. The tuner shows up as a single network adapter in Windows and still uses UPnP like the currently available ATI tuner does. The configuration and diagnostic interface included tabs for each individual tuner and apparently two Tuning Adapters -- unfortunately there wasn't a working demo of the SDV tuning in action. And in case you are wondering, we did ask about the price and as you might expect we were referred to Ceton for specific product questions. We do already have an appointment with them tomorrow, but we'd be surprised if they were ready to tell us.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Ceton CableCARD tuner

Filed under: Features, DVRs, Media PCs, Cable

Hands-on with the Ceton CableCARD tuner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ceton CableCARD PC tuner details emerge

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:35:00 EST

There's no press release or anything, but an eagle eyed blogger noticed that the FAQ for highly anticipated multi-stream CableCARD tuner for Windows Media Center on Ceton's site has been updated. Among the new details is the fact that there will be multiple offerings -- as apposed to just the one version announced at CES -- which will include 2, 4 and 6 tuner versions. The card has also been adapted to work in a low-profile PCI-E form factor, but no word if all three iterations will be available in the shorty version. The bad news is that the new release date has been pushed back from 2009, until the first quarter of 2010. Of course the new tuners also won't be restricted to the OEM requirement and will of course work with Tuning Adapters to add SDV support. The quad steam version is currently geting its stamp of approval from CableLabs so it'll be out first, but we're very saddened to tell you that there is still no word on the price. While we wait for price and availability though, you can look forward to our hands-on just as soon as we work our way to the Microsoft booth at CEDIA.

[Via GeekTonic]

Filed under: Media PCs

Ceton CableCARD PC tuner details emerge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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