> Sony's support is key because they had been leading a counter-OCAP > effort called DCR+, which was simply the latest flavor of Microsoft's > decade-old attempts to keep Java out of the living room by focusing on > protocols rather than API's. With Sony onboard tru2way (and Tivo and Bill, DCR+ is not an attempt to keep OCAP out of the living room (or put protocols in), nor is it a Microsoft idea, nor was it particularly supported by Microsoft. The problem with OCAP, for a TV manufacturer, in a world where a consumer has many different sources of content available to them (even when they subscribe to Cable), is that in order to have access to the whole range of cable content, the cable operators (via OCAP, licenses, etc) >>--prohibit--<< any additions to that content/environment. Furthermore, if you put masking tape over the brand name on the bezel, and connect 10 different OCAP sets to cable, you won't be able to tell the difference between them - they'll all look and act 100% the same. It is not possible to have a guide/etc which gives, on one screen (or even in one 'mode'), access to cable linear, SDV, VOD, and PPV --and also-- YouTube, iTunes video, stuff recorded on another device on your home network, Hulu, etc etc etc. Yes, it's possible to do everything BUT cable in one 'mode', and everything cable in a cable mode', but that's a bastardized half solution. The DCR+ proponents argue that it should be possible to build a TV which does the above, and it should be possible to build an OCAP TV and it should be possible to build a TV which does both (depending on what the consumer wants). If the cable operators, via OCAP, are able to provide a compelling experience, consumers will buy OCAP TVs or rent OCAP STBs. If CE manufacturers are able to provide a compelling experience (which possibly makes disparate content sources available in a convenient way), then consumers will buy those sets. If both, then both. Which is better for consumers? Competition between content access environment, with the free market driving the experience better and better ... or a cable-controlled, content-segmented, completely undifferentiated experience? Should consumers only have choices between Comcast/Comcast UI, DirecTV/directv ui, Dish/dishui, Fios/VZ ui? Or should consumers have choices between (Comcast, DirecTV, Dish, Fios) * (Panasonic, Sony, Pioneer, LG, Samsung, Tivo, Sharp, etc. etc. etc). Should there be only competition between vertical services (and none horizontally)? Or should there be vertical and horizontal competition? What's better? -----Original Message----- From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bill Sheppard Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 1:24 PM To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [opendtv] Re: Sony, six cable companies adopt two-way CableCARD tech Craig Birkmaier wrote: > At 12:20 PM -0400 5/29/08, Manfredi, Albert E wrote: >> This is what Michael Powell was trying to make happen. This should also >> work with so-called switched video. >> >> It seems inevitable that other companies will also sign on, and will >> then also have a voice in the evolution of this standard. > Does this really matter anymore? > > Panasonic has had an agreement for more than a year - last I looked it > has not resulted in any meaningful products. There are a lot of moving parts here, but Sony coming on board is a significant event. Yes, Panasonic has had an agreement for several years, but they can't release product until a)the OCAP spec is sufficiently mature, b)the cable operators have upgraded their head ends and other operational systems to support OCAP, and c)they have one or more cable operators who are willing to support their efforts with marketing dollars. Panasonic can put tru2way (the consumer-facing brand for OCAP) devices on the store shelves, but without significant consumer education it's likely few people would buy them. It's been said that Comcast has budgeted $50M this year to promote Panasonic (and perhaps Samsung) tru2way TV's at retail this fall, meaning you'll likely see lots of advertising regarding the benefits of tru2way and I surmise price incentives so that a tru2way TV is no more expensive than the comparable model without tru2way support. Sony's support is key because they had been leading a counter-OCAP effort called DCR+, which was simply the latest flavor of Microsoft's decade-old attempts to keep Java out of the living room by focusing on protocols rather than API's. With Sony onboard tru2way (and Tivo and Intel having previously announced their support) the DCR+ group is unlikely to maintain enough critical mass to distract the industry's efforts from achieving a single standard platform. Further, it would appear from details coming out around Sony's announcement that the MoU formalizes a method by which the CE vendor and the cable operator can each present their own "face to the consumer" on the same device, i.e. the cable operator's guide with whatever content (and restrictions) they provide, and the CE vendor can support whatever capabilities and content they are able to deliver independently of (or in cooperation with) the cable operator. With internet connectivity (i.e. DLNA support, YouTube, etc.) increasingly built-in to TV's, the availability of a standard platform to deliver this content should accelerate development of a marketplace independent of the cable operator. Finally, what is now essentially a unifed CE voice (without the distraction of DCR+) may well provide the focus required to gain DirecTV, Dish, AT&T, and Verizon's support of a common OCAP-ish platform. Which, having spent the last eleven years at Sun in pursuit of this goal, would delight me to no end! Bill -- *Bill Sheppard* Chief Digital Media Officer Client Software Group *Sun Microsystems, Inc.* 4220 Network Circle M/S USCA22-316 Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA Phone/Fax: +1 408 404-1254 Email bill.sheppard@xxxxxxx ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.