TW new software

[pacca]

This morning TW transmitted new software to my box,lots of changes ,the guide is different.One thing I notice is on sd channels,I used to have grey bars on each side,now there black,anybody else have this new software?

[kevbeck122]

My parents got it and I played around with it a little.  In the bill it said they were going to be part of a test for this new software.  My mom wasn't too happy because she lost her games on channel 1200 :rofl:

I think it was already discussed on this forum some time ago that eventually it would be rolled out in our area.

[Gregg Lengling]

I had already started this thread yesterday at http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/forums/showthread.php?p=35312#post35312

This was an invite only affair for Beta testing.  I've got it on my one box...they didn't flash the DVR though.  The box they flashed is in my bedroom so I haven't played with it too much yet (will later on tonight) but so far I like the interface better than the current.

[gparris]

Questions:
These new screens....are these including the caller ID function for those with Digital Phone as found in other TWC regions?
Also, is this new setup paving the way for our upcoming switched digital video that is supposedly coming before the end of the year (supposed to be by end of October as a target)?

[pacca]

yes they have the caller ID,I dont know what you mean by switched digital video?

[kevbeck122]

Rather than sending out all channels at once like TWC does now, switched video only sends out the channel that you're watching.  It saves bandwidth, which allows for more channels to be added.

[LoadStar]

With "Switched Digital Video," the digital channels sort of behave like on-demand video, in that they aren't actually "broadcast" by the cable company until someone requests them.

For instance, if no one in the entire cable system is watching G4TV, the channel isn't broadcast... when you tune to that channel, the cable box sends the request for the channel, which "turns it on" at the cable company side.

While good from the aspect of having more bandwidth made available for stuff like HDTV, this would be bad in that it would kill the current generation of cablecard (cablecard is unidirectional in it's current implementation - it has no way of making the request for the channel).

[LoadStar]

Rather than sending out all channels at once like TWC does now, switched video only sends out the channel that you're watching.  It saves bandwidth, which allows for more channels to be added.

While simultaneously killing the current generation of cablecard...

[kevbeck122]

Yeah I'm not looking forward to it.  Too bad there's no way to upgrade current hardware to CC 2.0.

[pacca]

With this new "upgrade" cablecards wont work??

[kevbeck122]

The current version of cablecards won't work, but the new cablecard 2.0 will whenever it's released.

[LoadStar]

The current version of cablecards won't work, but the new cablecard 2.0 will whenever it's released.

That is, IF this new software is prepping for SDV. I haven't seen any confirmation of that.