Comcast Testing Super Set-Top Box That Does Cable TV and Web Video [Comcast]

Comcast subscribers in Augusta, Georgia are currently playing guinea pig for a new set-top box that allows them to watch internet video along with regular TV (and search seamlessly across both.) But should one cable box have all that power?

The service, codenamed ” Spectrum” and ” Xcalibur,” is among the experiments the cable giant is conducting as it looks to the longer term and the inevitable convergence of TV and internet. Consistent with the WSJ , the most recent boxes can access a ” smattering of Web video” and some social networks, though they don’t offer full web browsing like Google TV. Still, the net video served by the recent boxes, in addition as live TV, DVR and OnDemand content, is fully searchable with a new ” fluid and graphical” interface.

I’m of two minds about this! On one hand, I’ve got it in my head that it’d be really cool to observe Vimeo videos on my TV; on the alternative, I know there’s no way in hell that Vimeo is included within the ” smattering” of web videos Comcast’s deigning to serve to my TV. And that’s essentially the rub here- cable companies , whose dinosaur boxes occupy some space in all of our TV rooms, have unparalleled access to place internet on our TVs with little headache or hardware. But that’s going to be the web on their terms, and we’ve seen how they’re not afraid to throw their muscle around to offer protection to their interests.

Comcast says they’re uncertain if or once they’ll launch the mega-boxes, though it’s hard to imagine that serving up simply enough internet content to keep the Google TVs and Apple TVs and Rokus of the area out of living rooms isn’t element of their master plan. A minimum of there’s that fluid interface to peer forward to! [ WSJ ]

Image credit: Mr. T in DC

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This post is tagged: augusta georgia, cable companies, fluid interface, graphical interface, internet content, Social Networks