Jun 10
Jun 10
Comcast launching Xfinity-branded cloud-based home control, muni-fi services
Posted in: Today's Chili
Kabletown Comcast is taking advantage of the calm before the WWDC/E3 storm to announce two initiatives to help out ’round the home. First up, the company is adding a public WiFi channel to its newest Wireless Gateway hardware, enabling your home to become a muni-fi hotspot for roving Xfinity customers. Wondering how public usage might affect your personal bandwidth cap situation? Basically the way it works is if you’re a Comcast customer, you log in to the WiFi (on someone else’s modem) with your account username / password, and any bandwidth you use is counted on your account, not theirs. At the same time, it’s launching EcoSaver for Xfinity Home, a cloud-based home control solution that’ll turn your thermostat down (basically the existing Xfinity Home Secure offering, minus the alarm bits) when you’re out and about and freak out the kid you’ll pay to come house-sit during your vacation.
May 29
Comcast’s X1 remote app gains voice commands on iOS, Android update in the works
Posted in: Today's Chili
A little added interactiveness with living room essentials goes a long way. With that in mind, Comcast today announced it’s boosting its iOS X1 remote control with newly minted voice commands, something the company’s been working on since earlier this year. Xfinity TV subscribers using the X1 platform will now be able to search for content by (quietly) shouting different vocal orders at the application, including, but not limited to, things like “Record,” “Watch Gossip Girl“ or “Find the Yankees game.” While the new feature is only available on iOS at the moment, Comcast says its devs and engineers are “also working on voice control features for Android phones and for traditional remote controls.” The X1 app update doesn’t appear to be live just yet, but be sure to keep an eye on the App Store as it should be arriving pretty soon.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD
Source: App Store
May 09
Well, Comcast’s idea to charge users $10 a month for set-top Skype hardware went as well as you could have expected. If DSLReports’ sources are correct, the offering will be quietly retired on June 1st due to, surprise surprise, “low adoption.” If you were one of the few triple-play customers who ponied up for the gear, fear not, as the leaked internal e-mail says that existing users will continue to be supported. Given that you can snag subscription-free gear from Logitech, Biscotti and others, it’s no surprise to see Skype on Xfinity joining Cisco’s Umi on the island of misfit telepresence devices.
Filed under: Cameras, Internet
Source: DSLReports
May 01
Comcast gains 583,000 new subscribers, while revenues reach $15.3 billion for Q1 2013
Posted in: Today's Chili
Comcast had a dramatic Q4 last year when it announced the buyout of NBCUniversal for $16.7 billion along with the purchase of New York’s iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Still, it’s the cable TV and internet business that pays the freight, and that side of the Comcast’s operations didn’t it let it down in Q1 2013 thanks to a 6.4 percent bump in revenue to $10.2 billion along with 583,000 new subscribers. Other operations didn’t fare as well, as revenue for NBCUniversal dropped 2.4 percent to $5.3 billion, but the overall picture was still pretty sunny, as the communications giant saw an 11.2 percent increase in operating income over last year to $3.1 billion. If you want to see a breakdown by division, check the source for more.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Comcast
Apr 21
For those of you who are currently subscribed to Comcast’s Performance Xfinity Internet speed plans, you’re in for a treat. Comcast has decided to upgrade your data speeds at no added cost. Your download speeds will be increased from 15Mbps to 25Mbps, and your upload speeds will be increased from 2Mbps to 5Mbps. Comcast is upgrading its data speeds because it knows that there is a growing trend of consumers using more than one wireless device in their homes to access the internet.
This follows the same bonus that both Blast! and Extreme 50 Xfinity Internet subscribers were given. Last month, Comcast increased the download speeds for Blast! customers from 25Mbps to 50Mbps and their upload speeds from 4Mbps to 10Mbps. Extreme 50 customers had their download speeds increased from 50Mbps to 105Mbps, and their upload speeds increased from 15Mbps to 20Mbps, all for free.
These free increases in internet speeds should do well in keeping customers subscribed to Comcast’s internet speed plans. Comcast issued the same statement it made when it increased the data speeds for Blast! and Extreme 50 subscribers. It stated that as customer demands increase, it continues to increase its data speeds to allow users the best internet experience possible, no matter what they’re doing.
It’s easy to access your newly upgraded speeds. All you need to do is power down your modem by disconnecting it from its power source. You then wait 15 seconds before plugging it back in. After that, doing a simple speed test should show you an increase in your data speeds. Unlike the data speed upgrades for Blast! and Extreme 50 customers, you shouldn’t be required to upgrade to a DOCSIS 3.0 modem to access your speeds.
[via Business Wire]
Comcast upgrades speeds for Xfinity Internet Performance users for free is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apr 17
About a year and a half after Google announced its acquisition of Motorola, it’s closed a deal to sell the Motorola Home half to Arris. Motorola Home covers the company’s cable TV and internet device, which combined with Arris’ existing businesses creates what it’s calling “the Premier Video Delivery and Broadband Technology Company.” Meanwhile, Google keeps the Motorola Mobility half that covers its cellphones, tablets and of course, the related patents. The move cost Arris $2.2 billion in cash along with 10.6 million shares of its stock issued to Google. That’s on top of 10.6 million shares for Comcast in return for its $150 million investment, making them equal part (7.7 percent) owners with the folks from Mountain View. What does all of this mean? Your next cable-provided box will probably say Arris on it, and any faint dream of Motorola-built Android TV set-top boxes becoming widely available is officially over.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Google
Source: Arris
Apr 16
The folks at Bloomberg chatted with two sources said to be involved in some private talks that Twitter is undergoing with Viacom and NBCUniversal about offering their content on the microblogging service. The sources, who won’t named, said that discussions with Viacom concern displaying TV show clips and ads, but the subject of its talks with NBCUniversal weren’t specified.
The talks with NBCUniversal were said to be about content partnership, and so we assume it is also about displaying video clips in conjunction with advertisements. Such partnerships would bolster what the microblogging service has to offer, and will encourage users to hang around the site longer, using it for more purposes and to connect with more modern content.
As Bloomberg points out, Twitter already has partnerships with ESPN, Turner Broadcasting, and the Weather Channel, and its goal is to populate its service with more news and entertainment video content, according to the sources. The revenue that is generated by the video content will be split by the social network and the video clip’s broadcasting company.
Financial breakdown of how that split will take place wasn’t provided, however. It may not take too long to get more details on the alleged pending partnerships, with the sources saying that at least one of the deals could go through by the middle of May. Twitter and Viacom turned down Bloomberg’s request for a comment on the rumor, while NBCUniversal failed to get back to them.
[via Bloomberg]
Twitter reportedly in talks with Viacom and NBC over content partnerships is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Apr 15
The FCC permitted cable providers to encrypt basic cable towards the end of last year and now Comcast has detailed its plans for moving ahead with cable encryption. Those who do not use a CableCard enabled device or a Comcast set-top box will need to install an adapter so that they can keep watching encrypted cable. That is why Comcast has already begun telling its subscribers in some markets that it is going to encrypt cable over the coming months. Boxee TV users will also have an adapter available for them.
The adapter boxes for such customers will be offered free for two years, but they have to be requested during the period in which they’re being offered. Those who receive Medicaid have the option of five years. After the relevant time passes, the boxes will bear a monthly rental fee of $.50. The company has said that it will be rolling out basic cable encryption on a market-by-market basis over the next few months. Comcast says this move will provide greater convenience for their customers and will reduce the need for scheduled in-home appointments.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Taiwan Investigating Samsung For Using Dirty Advertisement Tricks Against HTC, Star Wars Guitars Places Millennium Falcon At Your Fingertips, 
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Apr 15
If you’re a Comcast cable subscriber, be prepared for yet another television transition. Comcast has made official its plans to begin encrypting its basic cable channels. Comcast has begun notifying its customers in select markets that they will need to order a digital adapter if they want to continue to receive basic cable channels through Comcast.
Of course, the biggest concern is whether or not customers will have to pay for the digital adapter. However, Comcast says that it’s making adapters available for free in some markets, and they will have an adapter that works with third-party set-top boxes. However, some users may have to pay for their adapter if Comcast doesn’t provide one in their location or for their specific device.
However, those using a Comcast set-top box or a CableCARD-enabled device won’t need the adapter, and those who need one will be able to get one for free for up to two years. After that, you’ll have to pay $0.50 per month per TV in your household. Only two adapters are aloud per household, though, so it seems you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket if you need a third or fourth.
As for when the encryption will officially begin rolling out, Comcast says that they’ll be rolling it out on a market-by-market basis in the coming months, meaning that some subscribers will get it before others. The company says that the transition to encrypted cable will provide greater convenience for customers because the encryption will reduce the need for in-home appointments.
[via GigaOM]
Comcast to encrypt basic cable channels is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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