The interface shown in the video looks exactly like the UI for a normal U-verse receiver. The only perceptible difference, of course, is the appearance of Xbox Live notifications.
[Thanks, cool8man]
The interface shown in the video looks exactly like the UI for a normal U-verse receiver. The only perceptible difference, of course, is the appearance of Xbox Live notifications.
[Thanks, cool8man]
Reader Comments (42)
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 6:44PM Frank the tank said
yea its also super easy to take out 50 dollars from my wallet and burn it.............
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:47PM cool8man said
@Usr666 I'd gladly pay the $50 if I could stop paying for the 5 boxes I'm currently renting each month from Verizon. Unfortunately I doubt Fios TV will ever be compatible with the Xbox 360 because it uses ethernet over coax (MoCA) instead of normal ethernet.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 10:01PM andysexton said
@cool8man Unlike Uverse, FIOS doesn't use MS's Media Room software for set top boxes and infrastructure. Moca makes no difference here.
But you can actually get a better experience on FIOS by using Windows Media Center in Win 7 with a cablecard tuner installed as hub and DVR, with 360s as extenders.
Reply
But you can actually get a better experience on FIOS by using Windows Media Center in Win 7 with a cablecard tuner installed as hub and DVR, with 360s as extenders.
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 9:42AM ytilanigiroon said
@cool8man
Does FiOS requite coax for each internet capable device? I have a feeling that - Media Room aside - if Verizon saw a great enough demand, they'd find a way to make it happen.
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Does FiOS requite coax for each internet capable device? I have a feeling that - Media Room aside - if Verizon saw a great enough demand, they'd find a way to make it happen.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 6:45PM AltairtheAssassinwhokillstuff said
Yo dawg I heard you like tv so we put a tv program on your tv so you can watch tv while you tv.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 6:48PM deddyluger said
i already have that remote
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:35PM Mystictrust said
@deddyluger They likely still make you buy the remote in the "hardware kit" without any discount for an existing one.
It's a very handy remote though, it is kinda nice they're offering it for those who don't have it / didn't know a remote existed by "forcing" it on them.
Reply
It's a very handy remote though, it is kinda nice they're offering it for those who don't have it / didn't know a remote existed by "forcing" it on them.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 6:55PM Mortegro said
Is this an extra feature for gold members if you buy the package deal/remote or do you still have to shell out for cable on top of this?
What if you have cable internet how does that factor in?
I admit, I would probably buy the remote if it meant I could watch TV from my Xbox.
I live in Boston and cable here is pretty expensive here but basic cable includes a lot of channels that I could potentially watch if this acted line a Line-In.
What if you have cable internet how does that factor in?
I admit, I would probably buy the remote if it meant I could watch TV from my Xbox.
I live in Boston and cable here is pretty expensive here but basic cable includes a lot of channels that I could potentially watch if this acted line a Line-In.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:05PM meatee said
@Mortegro
You're kinda looking at this backwards. All this does is allow you to use your Xbox as a secondary Uverse receiver. Uverse service has to be available in your area and you still have to subscribe to Uverse, plus have at least one normal Uverse set-top box in your house.
Reply
You're kinda looking at this backwards. All this does is allow you to use your Xbox as a secondary Uverse receiver. Uverse service has to be available in your area and you still have to subscribe to Uverse, plus have at least one normal Uverse set-top box in your house.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:10PM donatom3 said
@(Unverified) You have to have ATT Uverse already. There is a gateway in your house which actually delivers all the iptv content to your boxes. The gateway does all the streaming work in your house. It's the reason that if two tv's are watching the same channel it only counts as one stream.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:13PM donatom3 said
@Mortegro I was looking at it as a way to get rid of one of my $7 receiver fees, but with a $145 installation it makes absolutely no sense for me. It'll take 22 months to recoup the $7 monthly charge, unless I can get them to split that $7 over 22 months, I won't be getting it myself.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:58PM JonahStein said
@mietha
Actually, you guys it's worse than you think.
$55 gets you the mandatory "super-easy" installation (of loading a CD).
But the mandatory hardware kit will run you $99!
You do the math, I'll bet you get the same result I did: Waste-O-cash.
Reply
Actually, you guys it's worse than you think.
$55 gets you the mandatory "super-easy" installation (of loading a CD).
But the mandatory hardware kit will run you $99!
You do the math, I'll bet you get the same result I did: Waste-O-cash.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 6:58PM Uracat said
I didn't know people still watched TV.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:37PM Uracat said
@Yeah TB TV is a waste of time. I like to spend my hours with more productive tasks, like watching TV and practicing How Fast i can fold a shirt. I also enjoy the Occasional Sarsaparilla, but only if it's a full moon. Also a grat idea is to start your own boyband and make instruments out of oatmeal containers and Rubber bands. Some of the greatest music I've ever herd has come out of oatmeal instrament boybands, But don't take my word for it. There's a great book on the suject called. "Oatmeal Instruments" that I Believe everyone should check out. If you don't live near a library you can just write your own bok.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:08PM gangcar said
Wow, TV from a phone company! There's now way that can get out of control with hidden fees and taxes.
Thank you AT&T for providing me with moderately functional services which could be provided by a number of other vendors for less money.
Thank you AT&T for providing me with moderately functional services which could be provided by a number of other vendors for less money.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:12PM donatom3 said
@gangcar Uverse service was cheaepr for our household than DirecTV or the cable company. Also the taxes and fees are less than their phone service since they're not dealing with federally regulated fees. It's actually the best and most reliable TV service I've had so far. DirecTV and Dish beat it in HD quality, but in features, price, DVR ability and speed of the settop Box, uverse has them all beat.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:22PM Yeah TB said
@donatom3 True story. When my family switched from Comcast, we went with U-Verse first because it was the best bang for your buck. If it didn't have the limit of only 4 total shows being watched / recorded at once, we would have stuck with it. Other than that and no OnDemand for ABC, NBC, CBS, etc, I loved U-Verse for the week we had it.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:57PM Duke said
@gangcar we switched from comcast to them recently and like the service, which is cheaper too. Also, on demand quality appears less fuzzy to me. Regarding this news- the install fee is bs and kills my interest in it. Cable is too expensive as it is for such add on charges to be acceptable.
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Posted: Oct 12th 2010 7:11PM Ballistic H said
Or I could watch TV on the internet for FREE.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:15PM Bman said
And it only took 3 years from when I first wanted this, hopefully more providers will have this option in another few years :( screw it google tv here I come
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 8:33PM anoteoftruth said
We already have this in Canada with Telus... It's been out for a couple months I think now. It basically looks the same as this.... as Microsoft partnered to make it happen.
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 9:11PM ApolloWasReal said
From what I've seen, U-verse uses standard MPEG-4 over standard RTP/UDP/IPv4/Ethernet. That combination is supported by VLC, which would be able to play U-verse streams -- IF they weren't encrypted. Which they are.
AT&T has gone out of its way to make U-verse look just like a cable system -- no better, and worse in some ways (like the inherent limits on the number of channels you can watch or record at once). You'd think they'd try to compensate for this by giving you features unavailable in any cable system, such as the ability to watch TV on any ordinary network-connected computer. But NO! I have to rent a box from them and use an ordinary TV, or maybe, just maybe do the same with an Xbox 360 and an installer visit and an extra charge.
Why do they keep shooting themselves in the foot?
AT&T has gone out of its way to make U-verse look just like a cable system -- no better, and worse in some ways (like the inherent limits on the number of channels you can watch or record at once). You'd think they'd try to compensate for this by giving you features unavailable in any cable system, such as the ability to watch TV on any ordinary network-connected computer. But NO! I have to rent a box from them and use an ordinary TV, or maybe, just maybe do the same with an Xbox 360 and an installer visit and an extra charge.
Why do they keep shooting themselves in the foot?
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 11:44PM Whoppinberg said
Three months later: "This feature is for GOLD LIVE accounts only".
Posted: Oct 12th 2010 11:45PM Red Son Rising said
so no kinect functionality? bummer if thats not supported eventually
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 12:12AM njnightmare said
If you keep your xbox 360 all day watching this u-verse tv i think it will explode.. will not buy that
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:04AM poddie said
I love all of the people commenting on these stories who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, but feel free to condemn it as worthless or a bad idea.
There is a very good reason many of you are completely unaware of Uverse... it is unavailable still in many areas because it hasn't been rolled out to you yet (similar to FIOS, except Uverse is actually making an effort). So why would they market something to you that you can't get?
The real value of Uverse compared to cable is its centralized DVR. Every receiver in the house had all the shows that have been recorded avaialble to it, with no waiting. This is what they call "whole house DVR". It's basically very similar to MS Media Center, but without the hassle of CableCard or the need to run a full PC 24/7 as a TV server.
Yes, there are certain drawbacks, like the limit on the streams. But the internet speed provided by them is very good (if you don't have really old wiring in your house at least).
Eventually they will provide DVR "trick play" like ff and rewind on any of the receivers. They have been pretty much rolling feature after feature from Media Center into Uverse since it's inception.
For many people (like my small family of two plus a baby libing in a new home with a fiber connection) this is the ideal service. For many others, it's not. But why the rush to judgement and snide remarks against something you know nothing about?
One more thing... for those of you who don't understand why people want TV service, I can only offer this: many of us don't live in a 10 foot square college dorm room with no TV other than our PC. We have media rooms and family rooms, and watch TV from several differant locations. The younger generationn seems obsessed with the idea that just because they don't do something, nobody does.
There is a very good reason many of you are completely unaware of Uverse... it is unavailable still in many areas because it hasn't been rolled out to you yet (similar to FIOS, except Uverse is actually making an effort). So why would they market something to you that you can't get?
The real value of Uverse compared to cable is its centralized DVR. Every receiver in the house had all the shows that have been recorded avaialble to it, with no waiting. This is what they call "whole house DVR". It's basically very similar to MS Media Center, but without the hassle of CableCard or the need to run a full PC 24/7 as a TV server.
Yes, there are certain drawbacks, like the limit on the streams. But the internet speed provided by them is very good (if you don't have really old wiring in your house at least).
Eventually they will provide DVR "trick play" like ff and rewind on any of the receivers. They have been pretty much rolling feature after feature from Media Center into Uverse since it's inception.
For many people (like my small family of two plus a baby libing in a new home with a fiber connection) this is the ideal service. For many others, it's not. But why the rush to judgement and snide remarks against something you know nothing about?
One more thing... for those of you who don't understand why people want TV service, I can only offer this: many of us don't live in a 10 foot square college dorm room with no TV other than our PC. We have media rooms and family rooms, and watch TV from several differant locations. The younger generationn seems obsessed with the idea that just because they don't do something, nobody does.
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 1:27AM Tony D said
To be honest that was kind of cool. I love the part where you get your alerts while watching TV. Hopefully there is a shut off option. This thing needs picture in picture for gaming and TV imagine that, that would be awesome.
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 4:20AM Istari Spartan said
Slightly off topic.
Why when you alrady pay for sky tv in your house, can't you get all the channels you're already paying for on your 360? and why can't you record programs when you have a harddrive??
Why when you alrady pay for sky tv in your house, can't you get all the channels you're already paying for on your 360? and why can't you record programs when you have a harddrive??
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 11:13AM B0FF said
@Istari Spartan
Not sure if that was rhetorical or not, but I'll try and answer it anyway!
Sky Player (on the 360) only shows a select few channels from Sky. Not sure if you have to pay extra to watch channels you already pay for, as I've never used it. Don't know why they don't just give you access to whichever channels are in your Sky package, but I think it's something to do with CHA-CHINGGGGG!
As for recording to HDD, all of the streams are compressed and encrypted. There is however software out there that will let you do it 'unofficially'. Quite why Sky won't allow you to just record stuff onto HDD is probably to do with licensing issues and CHA-CHINGGGG!
Short answer: Money.
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Not sure if that was rhetorical or not, but I'll try and answer it anyway!
Sky Player (on the 360) only shows a select few channels from Sky. Not sure if you have to pay extra to watch channels you already pay for, as I've never used it. Don't know why they don't just give you access to whichever channels are in your Sky package, but I think it's something to do with CHA-CHINGGGGG!
As for recording to HDD, all of the streams are compressed and encrypted. There is however software out there that will let you do it 'unofficially'. Quite why Sky won't allow you to just record stuff onto HDD is probably to do with licensing issues and CHA-CHINGGGG!
Short answer: Money.
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 6:33AM zigg said
Initially I was really happy about this feature set and looked forward to it, since Media Room was first announced. Then I saw that it became available in EU with SkyTv and then in Canada with Telus.... finally they announced it would be coming to the States.
I had already told my wife when it comes out we'd get a second 360 and maybe even a 3rd. But the fact that you have to pay 150 bucks for a software patch, remote and dongle is beyond me. I already have that remote in addition to a Harmony 360 remote. The software patch sholud be provided via download over Xbox LIVE through a redemption code. The dongle is the only thing I could see paying for - so if they wanted to charge $50 for that, fine.
This video is a slap in the face, "super-easy install."
All this does is make me wonder if someone can reproduce the dongle and copy the CD. I am not a fan of piracy, but I seriously hope someone does this. I feel so violated... I need a shower
I had already told my wife when it comes out we'd get a second 360 and maybe even a 3rd. But the fact that you have to pay 150 bucks for a software patch, remote and dongle is beyond me. I already have that remote in addition to a Harmony 360 remote. The software patch sholud be provided via download over Xbox LIVE through a redemption code. The dongle is the only thing I could see paying for - so if they wanted to charge $50 for that, fine.
This video is a slap in the face, "super-easy install."
All this does is make me wonder if someone can reproduce the dongle and copy the CD. I am not a fan of piracy, but I seriously hope someone does this. I feel so violated... I need a shower
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 10:05AM alakai said
I think the concept of utilizing the 360 as a full media center is great- Netflix, Windows Media Center, and now Uverse. My main concen is paying for a $99 setup kit which includes a CD, dongle and $20 xbox remote that I'll never use (love my Harmony remote), not to mention an extra $55 for installation. I can understand $99 for a self install kit, but $145 for setup doesn't seem to be worth it. especially for existing customers.
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 10:56AM karmaghost said
If an image has "play" button on it, it sure as hell better "play" when i click it.
Posted: Oct 13th 2010 2:22PM djamatik said
please bring netflix to the xbox 360
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