Microsoft might not have hit on it in their Media
Center-less keynote, but there is one big change getting ready to happen. Well over a year after it was first spotted, Ceton
is out with the news that they will be shipping an MOCUR in 2009 (Via Media
Center Blog).
There are a few things that are unique to the Ceton MOCUR
over the current ATI OCUR. The first and
most noticeable is the ability to use a single M-Card and tune at up 6
channels. While most people know that
M-Cards can offer multiple streams, not many know they actually can be well
above two. Using a single M-Card and a
Ceton MCOUR with add-on tuners you will be able to record up to six shows at
once.
While you will still need a CableCARD Ready PC (sorry, no
home built) this tuner will be a welcome change from ATIs. Ceton will hopefully stay a-top their
firmware releases and ship the tuners with that relaxed
DRM support that ATI hasn’t bothered to get around to yet.
Sadly, this isn’t a BOCR (tru2way). CableLabs has
still not finished the specs for two-way CableCARD tuners for the PC. While not noted in the press release, Ceton
will hopefully
be providing support for SDV Adaptors which CableLabs has said will work
with OCURs but that a timeline for support has not been made public. If SDV support isnt planned on, this tuner
will be dead in the water. I’ve got to
believe that Ceton wouldn’t release the tuner at this stage without ensuring
SDV support.
Big hat tip to
the Media Center Blog
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at
http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/