Posts with tag DISH
Posted Jun 1st 2008 9:01AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, TiVo
You didn't think the legal battles between DISH and TiVo
were actually over, did you? TiVo may have won the last round, which means that the PVR technology DISH had been offering customers infringed on TiVo patents. But TiVo officials have also apparently been going around making claims that DISH's
new software also infringes on TiVo patents.
Rather than wait for TiVo to file another suit, DISH has
taken its own legal action by asking a court to rule that the company's new software does not violate TiVo's patent. On the one hand, this obviously shows that the company is confident its new software will stand up against any challenges. On the other hand, DISH PVR users won't have peace of mind until this whole court battle is finally worked out. Any day now, a court could order DISH to just shut off the PVR functions of DISH set top boxes. So it'd be nice if the whole thing were just over with.
[via
EngadgetHD]
Posted May 14th 2008 4:27PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, Hardware
Sling Media first announced the SlingModem in January, and we haven't heard much about the product since. Now it looks like Sling will be showing off the device at The Cable Show next week.
The box will basically have most of the features you'd expect from a Slingbox (ie: you connect it to your TiVo, cable box, or other device to stream live or recorded TV over the internet) plus a built in cable modem. The SlingModem is targeted at cable service providers who might want to offer the box to customers. Odds are you won't be able to pick up a SlingModem at your local Best Buy anytime soon.
The continued development of the cable-only SlingModem shows that Sling's parent company EchoStar was serious when it spun off the DISH Network satellite network as a separate division.
[via Gizmo Lovers]
Posted Apr 21st 2008 8:27PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Industry, PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, Hardware, TiVo
Remember how DISH Network quickly responded to the latest (and possibly final) twist in the TiVo v. Echostar patent dispute by saying that customers would not be affected since all DISH set top boxes
had received software upgrades? Yeah, that wasn't entirely true.
Now DISH is letting us know that there are actually a few boxes that not received the upgrade treatment. The four boxes in question are all on the older side and odds are you weren't going to get one installed when you signed up for DISH service anyway. But the company is letting installers know that the VIP 721, 921, 942 and Homezone 1022 models are to be pretty much taken out of service. If you've already got one of these in your house and service has already been activated, it sounds like you shouldn't be affected.
[via
Engadget and
CNet]
Posted Apr 11th 2008 1:48PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, TiVo
It looks like the long-running patent dispute between TiVo and Dish Network could finally be drawing to a close. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal District today
denied a motion from Dish (formerly known as EchoStar)
to rehear the case. TiVo
released a statement saying that the company is "pleased," and that the "ruling brings us closer to resolution of Echostar's infringement."
What does that actually mean? Well, it could mean that Dish Network will have to shut off service to all of tis current generation digital video recorders until the company can develop a new version that does not rely on TiVo's patented technology. It also means Dish could wind up owing TiVo a fine of nearly $90 million.
It's not clear at the moment if TiVo will negotiate any sort of arrangement with Dish that will let Dish customers keep their PVRs. It's possible, but at this late point in the game, it's just as likely that TiVo will just gloat.
Update: Dish says it
has already rolled out new technology that does not infringe on TiVo's patents, which means current customers should not be affected.
[via
Thomas Hawk]
Posted Mar 17th 2008 9:53PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, TiVo
You didn't really think the patent dispute between TiVo and Dish Network (formerly known as EchoStar) was over, did you? Well, apparently some lawyers at Dish Network didn't think so either, because they've
filed a petition to have an appeals court hear the case over again.
Earlier this year, that federal appeals court
upheld a lower court ruling that found EchoStar had violated several TiVo patents. But Dish is claiming that one of TiVo's witnesses in the case made inconsistent statements, and that the case should be reheard.
So that means the two companies could be headed back to court for the umpteenth time. While each side has undoubtedly spent a bundle on legal fees, nearly $90 million is at stake.
Posted Sep 25th 2007 1:15AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite
EchoStar Communications, the company behind the Dish Network satellite service has agreed to
buy Sling Media for $380 million. Sling Media is the maker of the popular Slingbox place-shifting device.
Over the past few years, the Slingbox has become synonymous with place-shifting, much the way some people refer to generic PVRs as TiVos. The difference is that Sling Media doesn't face much serious competition yet. While Monsoon Multimedia, Sony, and Orb do make products that compete with the Slingbox in one way or another, place-shifting isn't built into generic set-top-boxes from Motorola or Scientific Atlanta yet.
By acquiring Slingbox, EchoStar is in an excellent position to be an early player in the place-shifting game. The company can continue to sell standalone Slingboxes to non-satellite customers. And EchoStar can integrate Sling technology into its existing products, putting the company far ahead of the competition when it comes to place-shifting.
EchoStar was among the earliest investors in Sling Media, which was founded 3 years ago. What does this mean for future Sling products? It's hard to say, but we're pretty sure EchoStar can pump an awful lot of money into research and development. And it's not like Sling Media was resting on its laurels. The company has put out a number of updates to its original place-shifting Slingbox line, and has a new SlingCatcher device that will bring internet video to your TV set scheduled for release soon.Posted Feb 4th 2007 12:07PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite
Sure, Microsoft's built CableCard compatibility into Windows Vista, but what have they done for Satellite television customers lately? Well, apparently, Microsoft is working with both
DirecTV and
Dish Network on cards that would allow home theater PC users to receive satellite signals directly through their computer.
Microsoft and DirecTV first announced they were working on HTPC cards over a year ago, but the first news that Dish Network was involved in similar talks came out of CES this January.
Continue reading Dish working on HTPC cards
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