HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "COMCAST"Receive High-Def Disc News via RSS

Verizon Patents a DVR That Watches You

Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Tags: Verizon, Comcast, Google (all tags)

The device uses a microphone and camera to track your actions for advertising purposes.

We've all heard that old conspiracy theory that the government watches us through our TVs but, up until recently, the technology hasn't even been in place to allow that. Verizon's new patent reveals that it's not necessarily the government that wants to spy on our personal habits – it’s the advertisers.

Verizon's patented DVR includes both a camera and a microphone so that your activities can be monitored. The DVR is programmed to recognize certain behaviors and target advertising to those participating in them. The patent suggests two such options. The sounds of an argument could prompt ads for marriage counseling while sounds of "cuddling" – the parentheses are theirs – would trigger ads for contraceptives.

Verizon isn't the first company to patent this kind of products, but like Comcast and Google before them, they've yet to actually turn it into a real thing.

Source: Electronic House

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Verizon Patents a DVR That Watches You

Tue Dec 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Tags: Verizon, Comcast, Google (all tags)

The device uses a microphone and camera to track your actions for advertising purposes.

We've all heard that old conspiracy theory that the government watches us through our TVs but, up until recently, the technology hasn't even been in place to allow that. Verizon's new patent reveals that it's not necessarily the government that wants to spy on our personal habits – it’s the advertisers.

Verizon's patented DVR includes both a camera and a microphone so that your activities can be monitored. The DVR is programmed to recognize certain behaviors and target advertising to those participating in them. The patent suggests two such options. The sounds of an argument could prompt ads for marriage counseling while sounds of "cuddling" – the parentheses are theirs – would trigger ads for contraceptives.

Verizon isn't the first company to patent this kind of products, but like Comcast and Google before them, they've yet to actually turn it into a real thing.

Source: Electronic House

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.


Cable is Still Dominating the VOD Market

Tue Sep 25, 2012 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Comcast, Cable, VOD (all tags)

The internet is catching up, but cable and satellite operators still own the majority of the market.

The National Polling Data group has revealed the numbers for VOD rentals and there's no question about who is in the lead. During the first half of 2012, cable and satellite absolutely dominated with a 48% share of the market. Over half of that was Comcast.

The highest VOD provider that wasn't TV or Satellite was iTunes with 8% and numbers dropping from there.

Of course, part of the reason for the difference is that subscription based video seems to be favored online, with more folks hitting up Netflix for their content than renting individual titles from Amazon and Vudu.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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Cable is Still Dominating the VOD Market

Tue Sep 25, 2012 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Comcast, Cable, VOD (all tags)

The internet is catching up, but cable and satellite operators still own the majority of the market.

The National Polling Data group has revealed the numbers for VOD rentals and there's no question about who is in the lead. During the first half of 2012, cable and satellite absolutely dominated with a 48% share of the market. Over half of that was Comcast.

The highest VOD provider that wasn't TV or Satellite was iTunes with 8% and numbers dropping from there.

Of course, part of the reason for the difference is that subscription based video seems to be favored online, with more folks hitting up Netflix for their content than renting individual titles from Amazon and Vudu.

Source: Home Media Magazine

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.


Comcast Will Introduce 305Mbps Internet Speeds over Verizon FiOS Lines

Mon Jul 23, 2012 at 02:00 PM ET
Tags: Verizon, Comcast, FiOS (all tags)

This puts Comcast on top of Verizon in terms of speed, but not by much.

Ahh, the blazing fast speed of FiOS. While most folks are stuck with sub-20Mbps internet speeds, FiOS customers are able to get themselves a ridiculously fast connection. Verizon's top tier package puts you at an impressive 300Mbps.

Comcast, which is using the same fiber optic lines as Verizon, is upping that speed ever so slightly. Comcast's new tier comes in at 305Mbps – a difference you won't even notice, but that technically means they can say "faster than Verizon." There's no word yet on the rollout date.

Source: Engadget

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TiVo Teams with PayPal to Let You Buy Products Directly From Your TV

Wed Jun 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Tags: PayPal, Comcast, TiVo (all tags)

PayPal is also talking to Comcast about integration of the service.

The folks at PayPal and TiVo are teaming for a very interesting concept. TiVo's interactive ads – already a part of the service – will now allow you to buy the product they're advertising without ever having to leave the comfort of your couch.

It's a cool idea, but there's something so inherently dangerous about setting this up. Have you ever had one of those nights where you're sitting at home flicking through channels late at night and you decide that it would be really cool to buy swords but you thought "hey, I don't want to walk all the way to the computer"? Well, buying those impulse items just got easier.

Source:Engadget

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TiVo Teams with PayPal to Let You Buy Products Directly From Your TV

Wed Jun 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Tags: PayPal, Comcast, TiVo (all tags)

PayPal is also talking to Comcast about integration of the service.

The folks at PayPal and TiVo are teaming for a very interesting concept. TiVo's interactive ads – already a part of the service – will now allow you to buy the product they're advertising without ever having to leave the comfort of your couch.

It's a cool idea, but there's something so inherently dangerous about setting this up. Have you ever had one of those nights where you're sitting at home flicking through channels late at night and you decide that it would be really cool to buy swords but you thought "hey, I don't want to walk all the way to the computer"? Well, buying those impulse items just got easier.

Source:Engadget

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.


Cable Companies Join Together to Offer Shared Wi-Fi Hotspots

Mon May 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM ET
Tags: Comcast, Time Warner (all tags)

The new initiative will give you access to hotspots from cable services you don't subscribe to in addition to the one that you do.

The latest move from some of the biggest cable providers around - Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable – marks a union that will benefit consumers in a very welcome way.

If you subscribe to any of these cable companies, you'll be able to access Wi-Fi hotspots from any of the others. For example, if you're a Comcast subscriber and the only hotspot around is from Time Warner, you'll be able to connect up and access.

The initial rollout is happening in New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, and Philadelphia. Affected hotspots will be branded with the CableWiFi name.

Source: Engadget

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Comcast is Testing Tiered Pricing for Data Limits

Mon May 21, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Comcast, XFINITY, Data Limits (all tags)

Two possible approaches are being put into place, both of which charge extra for more usage.

Comcast has been under fire recently, not just for its bandwidth caps, but for the practice of only tracking data use for non-Comcast Xfinity streaming platforms. Comcast denies the cause and effect relationship, but the company's most recent data cap announcement comes right on the heels of a complaint from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

Comcast is currently rolling out two different test pricing plans. The first would raise the cap to 300GB and then charge customers $10 for every 50GB they're over. The second would simply create tiers and put customers into those tiers based on usage.

Source: Home Media Magazine

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WatchESPN Now Streaming to Comcast Customers

Wed May 09, 2012 at 12:12 PM ET
Tags: ESPN, Comcast, XFINITY (all tags)

You'll be able to check it out on your computer or your iPhone, but other streaming devices are not supported.

If you're a Comcast subscriber and a sports fan, you'll be happy to know that WatchESPN is now available for Comcast customers. You can download the free app for your iPhone or navigate over to the Xfinity site and enjoy all the live ESPN programming you like. If you want to access any other way, like your Android phone, then you're out of luck for now.

Comcast customers always seem to get the short end of the streaming stick. It takes Comcast just a little bit longer to let streaming access through, and even then they try to restrict viewing to their own Xfinity service instead of allowing direct access.

Source:Engadget

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