Posts with tag echostar
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 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 Jan 31st 2008 1:57PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, TiVo
If you've been getting whiplash watching the legal battle between TiVo and EchoStar over PVR-related patents, you're not alone. The two companies have been duking it out for years now. Sometimes TiVo seems to be up while EchoStar is down, and sometimes the tables seem to flip.
The latest twist came today when the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
issued a ruling that (mostly) favors TiVo. In a nutshell, a lower court had ruled that EchoStar was violating a series of hardware and software patents held by TiVo. The appelate court upheld that decision insofar as it relates to the software patents. But today's ruling reverses the decision regarding the hardware patents.
While that might seem like mixed news for EchoStar, the ruling upholds the damages issued by the district court, since the damages were not calculated claim by claim. If memory serves, those damages are about $88 million.
[via
Zatz Not Funny]
Posted Jan 13th 2008 11:27AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: HDTV, PVR Wire, Hardware
You may already know that it's possible to tune into crystal-clear high definition by using the 21st century version of bunny ears. While most people get their HDTV from cable or satellite providers, local television stations around the country are broadcasting HD signals out over the airwaves. And if you've got an HDTV or one of those newfangled adapter for an old fashioned TV you can get excellent picture quality for free, assuming you can live with just a handful of TV stations.
But if you want to use a PVR to record these free HDTV signals your options are limited. You could build your own PVR, but that will cost you at least a few hundred dollars, as would a TiVo HD or Series3. Now it looks like another option is on the horizon.
EchoStar is planning to release the TR-50, a standalone unit similar to the company's ViP 722 PVR, except that it includes ATSC and NTSC tuners for recording over the air TV, not satellite television.
The TR-50 will come with a 7-day electronic program guide, although it's not clear whether there will be a monthly subscription fee. For that matter, there's no word on how much the box will cost or when it will be available.
The TR-50 includes component, composite, and HDMI outputs, and an Ethernet port for accessing internet video and for scheduling their recorders over the internet.
Posted Jan 9th 2008 10:00AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, PVR Wire, Hardware
Echostar, the company behind the Dish Network and the Slingbox,
is offering digital TV converters for $39.99. With the
$40 coupon the government is offering for those with older sets that still use rabbit ears, the converters would end up being free.
Originally, the converter boxes were going to be offered between $50 and $70. Echostar is offering the converters at a discount in the interest of obtaining new customers and spreading their brand name.
Obviously, it's a good idea. I can't think of a single person who would pay $50 for something they could get for $40. It is a free-market situation that would warm the heart of most libertarians.
Continue reading EchoStar offering "free" digital TV converters
Posted Sep 27th 2007 8:00AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Hardware
Sling Media officially launched SlingPlayer for Symbian phones today. That means Slingbox users who have Palm, Windows Mobile, or Symbian phones can stream live TV over the internet from their home to their phones.
The Symbian version of the SlingPlayer software has
been available to beta testers for the past few months. The application is designed to work with Nokia N75, N95, and E65 phones, but may also run on other phones using the Symbian operating system. You'll need a Wi-Fi or 3G internet connection in order to stream video at a decent rate.
SlingPlayer Mobile software usually costs $30, but Sling Media is also announcing a partnership with Nokia to offer the application free to all N95 users. Of course, the software is useless if you don't shell out the $130+ to get a Slingbox, so the move makes good marketing sense from Sling Media's perspective. In fact, we wouldn't be too surprised to see the company negotiate similar deals with other companies to build a market for Slingboxes.
On the other hand, once
EchoStar completes its acquisition of Sling Media, the company might not have to work so hard to build brand recognition.
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 Aug 17th 2007 10:59AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite, Hardware
EchoStar has
upgraded its line of DISH Network personal video recorders. The
ViP722 is a multi-room dual-tuner high definition recorder, much like the ViP622. You can watch HDTV in one room while viewing standard definition programming in another.
In fact, the ViP722 is pretty much exactly the same box as the ViP622 except it's black and comes with more storage space. The new box packs a 500GB hard drive, which is enough to record 350 hours of standard definition or 55 hours of high definition programming. That's compared with 30 hours of high definition recording on the ViP622.
There's no reason to call DISH for an upgrade if you've got the older box though. This week DISH issued an update that lets you plug in an external hard drive for extended storage. The update is good for both ViP622 and ViP722 boxes.
Posted May 26th 2007 10:41AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, TiVo
Looks like Forgent could be in for another unpleasant court battle. The other day, we told you that Forgent had
lost its patent lawsuit against EchoStar. Forgent claims that pretty much every major personal video recorder on the market is violating its patent for computer controlled video systems that can play and record at the same time.
While a number of companies have reached out of court settlements with Forgent, EchoStar fought it out in court and won. TiVo's going a step further, and suing Forgent before the company can sue TiVo.
On May 17th,
TiVo filed suit asking for a ruling showing that TiVo's technology does not infringe on Forgent's patent. While it might look like the move is a reaction to the EchoStar ruling, TiVo filed its lawsuit about a week before the courts ruled in that case.
Forgent says it's made about $28 million from settlements with other PVR companies, but almost half of that money was eaten up by legal costs.
[via
TiVo Lovers]
Posted May 23rd 2007 3:59PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Cable/Satellite
EchoStar/Dish Network has
won a patent lawsuit filed
last year by Forgent. The company had claimed its patents described how to build a computer controlled video system that can play and record video at the same time. In other words, they wanted royalties from anybody who had ever built a personal video recorder.
A Texas jury disagreed, finding in favor of EchoStar and denying Forgent's request for more than $200 million in damages.
Forgent had sued companies including Comcast, Time Warner and the Washington Post company. A number of those companies had reached settlements with Forgent, but EchoStar V.P. David Moskowitz said that he's pleased the jury has upheld the satellite broadcaster's view that the patent was invalid.
Posted Feb 21st 2007 5:15PM by Matt Crape
Filed under: Showtime, PVR Wire
CED Magazine is
carrying a piece about a continued joint partnership between Showtime and EchoStar which will give birth to Showtime Interactive 2.0. The concept behind the deal is to create a zone accessible via EchoStar PVRs where users can go to get exclusive material.
So far it looks like there will be the usual kind of stuff, like interviews with various celebrities, "the making of" style of videos as well as extras for some of the original content that Showtime puts out.
Continue reading EchoStar and Showtime bump Showtime Interactive up to 2.0
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
Posted Apr 16th 2006 2:06PM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Industry, PVR Wire
The first blow in Tivo's
patent infringement case against
EchoStar has been dealt, and it's EchoStar taking it on the chin, at least for now. A federal jury awarded Tivo
$73.9 million, a decision EchoStar plans to appeal. I'll admit right up front that I don't have enough technical
expertise to say what was actually invented by Tivo and what technology was already in place beforehand, but EchoStar
claims the patent is too broad. Meanwhile, Tivo has extended it's partnership with DirecTV, which currently accounts
for the majority of Tivo subscribers. As part of the deal, the two companies have agreed not to file patent claims
against one another.
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