cisco-related stories
Posted May 19th 2008 10:25AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, Hardware, TiVo

Motorola and Cisco are showing off Switched Digital Video tuning adapters at the Cable Show. Basically Switched Digital Video is a next generation content delivery system that will allow cable networks to send you more high quality video. But current generation CableCARD equipped boxes like the TiVo HD can't handle SDV. That's where these tuning adapters come in.
EngadgetHD snapped a few photos of a Motorola adapter hanging out with a TiVo HD set top box if the press shot above isn't doing it for you. Cable companies should be able to get their hands on the boxes in July, and at some point down the road your local cable provider might make the box available to you.
TiVo has already modified its software to support the Motorola and Cisco boxes. But I'm assuming that the next generation TiVo set top box will included integrated support for SDV so you won't need an external box at all.
Update: EngadgetHD also has a "hands on" with a
non-working prototype of the new Cisco box.
[via EngadgetHD and Zatz Not Funny]
Posted Jan 14th 2008 4:56PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, Hardware
It's been over a year since Cisco acquired set top box makers Scientific Atlanta, but the upcoming
8500HDC DVR series is the first line of set top boxes we've seen that will bear the Cisco name instead of Scientific Atlanta.
The boxes will come in several flavors, including the 8550HDC with analog and digital tuners, and 8540HDC digital tuner box. Each box will be internet capable, with support for things like viewing online media and sharing photos and video on multiple devices connected to a home network. It looks like you should also be able to access digital media stored on a PC connected to your home network.
No word on when the new boxes will be available, but it's a safe bet you'll be able to get them sometime later this year from your area cable provider, not your local Best Buy.
[via
EngadgetHD]
Posted May 14th 2007 4:13PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Hardware

Cisco is planing a
new set top box that looks like it could give TiVo a run for its money. The unit will feature a personal video recorder, wireless networking, and possibly the ability to stream photos and movies from a PC to your television set.
Cisco has made some big name acquisitions recently, including companies like Linksys, Scientific Atlanta and KiSS Technology. In other words, they've got one of the leading personal video recorder makers, one of the leading networking companies, and a startup that handles networked DVD players capable of sharing media throughout the house.
On the one hand, it sounds like Cisco's new box will kind of rock. On the other hand, there's no word on the pricing yet. If the company can get a low cost box to market before
TiVo releases its rumored low cost unit, it might stand a chance.
What's interesting is that Scientific Atlanta provides set-top-boxes to a number of cable companies around the country, so it sounds like Cisco may actually be competing with itself by releasing a consumer oriented product.
[via
Gizmodo]
Posted Aug 19th 2006 10:03PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Cable, Celebrities
This season's premiere of Dog the Bounty Hunter had Dog and his crew flying to San Francisco to capture a suspected drug dealer named Samu Savea who had been eluding them for years. He was rumored to be playing on a semi-professional football team called the Daly City Renegades. Dog's team staked out the practice field, and spotted one player who they thought was Savea, but was actually Simaile "Cisco" Lutu, a nightclub promoter. Dog's son Leland was the first to approach Lutu, but it was soon revealed he wasn't the man they were after. Now Lutu has filed a lawsuit against Dog and his bail bonds company. He claims he was handcuffed and held at gunpoint by police officers on two separate occasions following his encounter with Dog.
I actually saw the episode in question, and what puzzles me is that the lawsuit claims Lutu asked not to have his image shown on television. That may be true, but during the scene on the practice field he was doing everything he could to be seen on camera, and so did many of his teammates. At the time, it appeared that he was absolutely enthralled with the idea of being the center of attention on a popular reality program. Dog also says that Lutu called him after the show aired and thanked him because all the girls loved seeing him. It will be interesting to see if this lawsuit actually goes anywhere.
[via TV Filter]
Related:Duane "Dog" Chapman and son arrested in HawaiiPosted Feb 2nd 2006 3:49PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, PVR Wire, Site Announcements