Today Microsoft announced a few new CableCard features that will be available in Windows 7 Media Center.
The biggest (in my opinion anyway) is that Microsoft and CableLabs have come to a new agreement around how end users can get access to the technology. Previously the only option (other then a recently discovered hack) to use a Digital Cable Tuner was to buy a pre-configured system from an OEM, this left the DIY & smaller system builders out. Today’s announcement will allow end users and small OEM’s to add Digital Cable Tuners to their systems. To enable this functionality Microsoft will release a utility that checks the system to make sure the end user will have a good experience while using the tuners on their system, if the system passes the test it will enable Digital Cable Tuner support in Media Center. What that utility actually checks is unsure, my guess is it checks for an HDCP display and display adapter, along with CPU and memory.
Another big announcement was the support for Switched Digital Video (SDV). Like other CableCard based systems the user will need to get a tuning adapter from their provider. The only bad thing about this is that the tuning adapters work in such a way that you’ll need an adapter for each tuner you have, someone like me who has 7 CableCard tuners this will add a lot of equipment to my setup.
Last but certainly not least is the relaxed DRM we’ve been hearing about since the release of the 2008 TV Pack. This will allow shows that are flagged as Copy Freely to be played back other Media Centers in your home. This will allow users to share recordings from local stations, premium stations such as HBO or Showtime will still be encrypted.
To enable all of these features updated firmware for ATI’s Digital Cable Tuner is required. Microsoft said this should be released before Windows 7 GA on 10/22.
The full press release can be read here.