Motorola Archive

  • Comcast to roll out more MPEG-4 starting with 3D

    Comcast to roll out more MPEG-4 starting with 3D

    Posted on June 18, 2010 | No Comments
    Motorola MPEG4 set-top box
    And you 3D haters thought that nothing good could come of 3D technology, then we find out that Comcast is finally putting its 10 million MPEG-4 compatible set-top boxes to use -- although ESPN is only sending out ESPN 3D as MPEG-4, the Comcast's Media Center is sending out two streams -- the original and the transcoded MPEG-2 variety -- to its facilities around the country. The local Comcast office picks which to send out your way for now (which caused lots of issues on launch day since most didn't realize their MPEG-2 only box wasn't compatible) but that changes in August when all 3D signals will be sent via MPEG-4 and those with older boxes will just have to upgrade to enjoy their new 3DTV -- so much for the benefits of frame compatible 3D. MPEG-4 is a win win for consumers and the cable provider, as it takes less bandwidth on the providers network and uses less space on those pitiful 160GB cable DVRs.

    Comcast to roll out more MPEG-4 starting with 3D originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Motorola’s split plan calls for a debt-free, cash-heavy mobile unit

    Motorola’s split plan calls for a debt-free, cash-heavy mobile unit

    Posted on June 18, 2010 | No Comments
    Moto's composed of a number of fairly distinct divisions that produce vastly different kinds of hardware for different industries; some are cash cows, others -- namely the handset and set-top box units -- aren't. It looks like the company is preparing a pretty radical plan for its upcoming split that would call those underperforming divisions to get most of the cash reserves and almost none of its debt. Actually, neither Motorola Mobility nor Motorola Solutions (as they'll likely be known) will see much of the combined company's current debt load, as they're currently undertaking a massive debt buyback; afterward, Mobility will allegedly be cut a check for somewhere between $3 and $4 billion to go about its high-stakes business in the ultra-competitive smartphone game. The idea is to position both post-split companies with as much leverage as possible for acquisitions and low-cost borrowing. Solutions shouldn't have a problem, as its businesses already generate the overwhelming majority of Moto's cash -- but for Mobility, this should give the lil' sprout the best chance it has for survival.

    Motorola's split plan calls for a debt-free, cash-heavy mobile unit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Motorola’s 4 tuner DVR for Japan

    Motorola’s 4 tuner DVR for Japan

    Posted on May 31, 2010 | No Comments
    Motorola VIP2060
    If there was any doubt that cable operators were to blame for the crappy set-top boxes most people use -- and not Motorola or Cisco -- then this VIP2060 puts it to rest. This DVR will likely never see the US shores with its four tuners and 500GB hard drive because that would be just too awesome. Add in the box's ability to tune IPTV, satellite and over the air signals and it really makes it a dream box that we'll never get. Of course all these specs don't shed any light on quality of the software and since the box is unobtainable, we're going to just believe that the software is dreaded, because that is what its going to take to get us through this post.

    Motorola's 4 tuner DVR for Japan originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 31 May 2010 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Comcast Cisco/SA markets are finally getting the iGuide

    Comcast Cisco/SA markets are finally getting the iGuide

    Posted on May 19, 2010 | No Comments
    SaraComcast iGuide
    Although only about 25 percent of Comcast markets use Cisco/SA equipment, there's good news for the minority as Comcast is finally rolling out the iGuide to you. We're not saying we're fans of Comcast's iGuide, but if you've been using the SARA guide for the past few years we don't have to tell you that anything is an upgrade. This project has been in the works for five years and just goes to show how slow the cable set-top box upgrade process is. To make matter worse, about 60 percent of Comcast Motorola customers already have access to a more advanced A28 iGuide that isn't available to Cisco/SA boxes yet, but this older version will work with the new EBIF based interactive features we've been seeing recently. In either case, we couldn't see using either for even a day and although we're not the biggest fans of TiVo, it is easy to see why some are when you consider the competition.

    Comcast Cisco/SA markets are finally getting the iGuide originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 19 May 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Motorola rolls out the latest HD DVR, the DCX3501-M

    Motorola rolls out the latest HD DVR, the DCX3501-M

    Posted on May 11, 2010 | No Comments
    Motorola DCX3501-M
    Lots of news coming out of The Cable Show this week with the latest being a new HD DVR from Motorola. The DCX3501-M features a 500GB hard drive, MoCA 1.1, eSATA and is Energy Star 2011 compliant. All of that equals a box that is probably way better than anything anyone's ever gotten from a cable company. Personally, 500GB and two tuners wouldn't be enough for our household, but with built in multi-room support and a functional eSATA port, things get more interesting. Of course we'll all have to wait until at least the 3rd quarter of this year before there's a chance our cable company will start deploying these, but in the meantime you can click through and read the full press release.

    Motorola rolls out the latest HD DVR, the DCX3501-M originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 11 May 2010 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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