Verizon launches the three-channel DVR Verizon has a fiber-based IPTV system, which uses MPEG-2 video.
This description of an installation may give you an idea why the FIOS system will cost Verizon billions more than the SBC/AT&T approach: plain old twisted pair, plus advance modulation and advance video compression.
The DVR is the thing Verizon packs full of DRM that allows the home office to take over your system, block content, etc?
Mark knows better than me, of course, but I think that's just a super version of the regular set top box. It sits between your TV and the outside world. But your internet connection is split off the same pipe before it gets to that box. So it only has a supervisory role with respect to things you access through your TV. (Your internet data can of course be filtered by them too, since your connections are going through their servers - but they would do that in their data centers.)
Jim's right. It's a super STB. It does disk caching (Tivoing) for the satellite TV sets. It's unclear what the connection is between the base unit and the satellites.
Sometimes this is done via composite video over RF -- i.e., the base unit decodes and puts its output(s) on one or more TV channels that can be routed around the house. Not stated, but implied, is that this unit outputs the compressed bitstream that is processed by satellite decoder boxes. The physical medium is not described. My guess: IP over ethernet.
The box also acts as a server for photos, music, etc. This is a convenience feature for lo-tech consumers. I believe it's intended to make the box "sticky", i.e. to cut down on churn in the customer base. For sophisticated consumers, the home server feature is a useless gewgaw.
The "reg'lar internets" would be a separate service over the FIOS infrastructure. Any blocking or throttling of content enhancing the internet experience would occur in the metro network rather than in the customer premise equipment.
>>they would do that in their data centers
will do that
>>would occur in the metro network rather than in the customer premise equipment
will occur
Signed, a pessimist
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This description of an installation may give you an idea why the FIOS system will cost Verizon billions more than the SBC/AT&T approach: plain old twisted pair, plus advance modulation and advance video compression.
- mark 8-15-2006 10:41 pm
The DVR is the thing Verizon packs full of DRM that allows the home office to take over your system, block content, etc?
- tom moody 8-15-2006 10:48 pm
Mark knows better than me, of course, but I think that's just a super version of the regular set top box. It sits between your TV and the outside world. But your internet connection is split off the same pipe before it gets to that box. So it only has a supervisory role with respect to things you access through your TV. (Your internet data can of course be filtered by them too, since your connections are going through their servers - but they would do that in their data centers.)
- jim 8-15-2006 11:09 pm
Jim's right. It's a super STB. It does disk caching (Tivoing) for the satellite TV sets. It's unclear what the connection is between the base unit and the satellites.
Sometimes this is done via composite video over RF -- i.e., the base unit decodes and puts its output(s) on one or more TV channels that can be routed around the house. Not stated, but implied, is that this unit outputs the compressed bitstream that is processed by satellite decoder boxes. The physical medium is not described. My guess: IP over ethernet.
The box also acts as a server for photos, music, etc. This is a convenience feature for lo-tech consumers. I believe it's intended to make the box "sticky", i.e. to cut down on churn in the customer base. For sophisticated consumers, the home server feature is a useless gewgaw.
The "reg'lar internets" would be a separate service over the FIOS infrastructure. Any
blocking or throttling of contentenhancing the internet experience would occur in the metro network rather than in the customer premise equipment.- mark 8-16-2006 12:37 am
>>they would do that in their data centers
will do that
>>would occur in the metro network rather than in the customer premise equipment
will occur
Signed, a pessimist
- tom moody 8-16-2006 12:43 am