I am confused on this IPTV thing for the 360. I live in Charleston,SC and only have a choice of Time Warner Cable or Sat...There is no AT&T or Verizon service anywhere close and haven't heard of any future plans. So will I be able to get IPTV, HD channels etc...How does that work. I guess I would just like some general info in IPTV and whether I will be able to take advantage of it. Would it be better then TWC!!

It's going to be months before we know the details, but what we know so far seems to hint at that all you'll need is a broadband connection and pay for the IPTV servie.

Most likely you will subscribe to IPTV instead of cable or Satellite. Right now hundreds if not thousands of broadband supplier lawyers are getting ready to rake in the $$$. Cable companies have been trying to block IPTV (Prevent content providers from using their pipes for IPTV) for years but there has never been a real threat of its success. Now it will be available to 10M+ on day one. I see the vacation home market for lawyers booming in 2007/2008.

Most likely you will subscribe to IPTV instead of cable or Satellite. Right now hundreds if not thousands of broadband supplier lawyers are getting ready to rake in the $$$. Cable companies have been trying to block IPTV (Prevent content providers from using their pipes for IPTV) for years but there has never been a real threat of its success. Now it will be available to 10M+ on day one. I see the vacation home market for lawyers booming in 2007/2008.

So I would have to have a 10+ meg DL connection with TWC and Road Runner to get this service. What if something doesn't get worked out to allow the IPTV providers to use TWC's lines??? I have this sick feeling that somehow I won't be able to take advantage of this service for sometime. Does IPTV offer local HD channels as well in most cases?

So I would have to have a 10+ meg DL connection with TWC and Road Runner to get this service. What if something doesn't get worked out to allow the IPTV providers to use TWC's lines??? I have this sick feeling that somehow I won't be able to take advantage of this service for sometime. Does IPTV offer local HD channels as well in most cases?


I believe he was refering to the xbox 360 install base with the 10M+.

It is a valid question though. Will we have to get beefed up broadband service to use the IPTV? How much bandwidth does an HD program use? My cable company absolutely rapes me on my internet connection. I pay more for the internet than the HD cable with 2 HD DVR's and premium movie channels.

I don't know the details, but I can't imagine this IPTV service will be HD... For a 1 hour HD show you are usually talking 3-4 GIGAbytes... DSL and cable modems don't have anywhere NEAR the bandwidth to be able to stream something like that live... You'd have to buffer for HOURS before you could start to watch the show you picked... not exactly most peoples idea of a good "TV" service. I don't even know if a high-end FiOS connection would let you stream HD... it's just TOO big...

No of course they could dramatically lower the resolution and increase the compression ala 'HD-Lite' but that would look like crap...

The only way I can see this working is for SD service only... wouldn't take TOO fat of a connection to be able to stream compressed 640x480 video on-demand.

I don't know the details, but I can't imagine this IPTV service will be HD... For a 1 hour HD show you are usually talking 3-4 GIGAbytes... DSL and cable modems don't have anywhere NEAR the bandwidth to be able to stream something like that live... You'd have to buffer for HOURS before you could start to watch the show you picked... not exactly most peoples idea of a good "TV" service. I don't even know if a high-end FiOS connection would let you stream HD... it's just TOO big...

No of course they could dramatically lower the resolution and increase the compression ala 'HD-Lite' but that would look like crap...

The only way I can see this working is for SD service only... wouldn't take TOO fat of a connection to be able to stream compressed 640x480 video on-demand.

And this is partly what I don't understand. I have one cable line running into my house. It supports 2 HD DVR's and my internet connection.

The cable line has enough bandwidth for me to record an HD movie on each DVR while watching different HD programming on each tv and surfing the internet. It seems to me that I don't need fiber running to my house to get more bandwidth. The cable line should have plenty. Why can't we get more bandwidth from the cable line to make this work?

Sorry for the noob questions on this and I realize that the broadband signal is on a different frequency, but should this really matter?

IPTV will be the internet provider. In essesnce, you will get Internet, phone, and television from one provider - ATT or Verison. It's all physically comes over the net, from highspeed lines provided by one of those companies.

Did they announce a timeframe for any of this?

IPTV will be the internet provider. In essesnce, you will get Internet, phone, and television from one provider - ATT or Verison. It's all physically comes over the net, from highspeed lines provided by one of those companies.



Already get all 3 from TWC..

And this is partly what I don't understand. I have one cable line running into my house. It supports 2 HD DVR's and my internet connection.

The cable line has enough bandwidth for me to record an HD movie on each DVR while watching different HD programming on each tv and surfing the internet. It seems to me that I don't need fiber running to my house to get more bandwidth. The cable line should have plenty. Why can't we get more bandwidth from the cable line to make this work?

Sorry for the noob questions on this and I realize that the broadband signal is on a different frequency, but should this really matter?


I'd like to know how fast it is also.. Because you can also start an HD video from I-Control and it will start playing right then and you can even fast forward.. So does anyone have an idea on what the KB/S is..

Microsoft currently has 3-5 providers lined up with 11 more in the wings (testing). AT&T is one of the major IPTV partners they have. They will role this out at the end of 07 and rumor has it that it will only be a few markets. This makes sense given that the phone companies need to build out the infrastructure to support the bandwith. For now, you can basically ignore this as a great feature for the future. But it probably won't impact you for another year or so.

the whole IPTV for xbox made me curious as to what it was about as it looked nice but i am not sure if IPTV will be available in my area.

anyway, here is a link to MS iptv home page
microsoft tv: iptv edition (http://www.microsoft.com/tv/IPTVEdition.mspx)

i'll try to see if it mentions anything about bit rates and etc.

Ok so if I have comcast cable internet will I be able to sue the IPTV functions on the 360?

Ok so if I have comcast cable internet will I be able to use the IPTV functions on the 360?

This seems pretty ambitous and, I might add, unnecessary.

First, MS states that HD content requires 7-9 Mbps. How many of us have a connection like that right now?

Second, how many Tv providers do we need? In my market there is Satellite (Dish and Directv) Cable, and FIOs. Why do we need another? I know that MS has a lot of money and has to be taken seriously, but they are in for a big fight here.

i have Verizon FIOS interet and they are coming for "tv" in 2 weeks. do they offer IPTV? and if they do you can just use the 360 as a cablebox (assuming i'd want to in the first place).

or is this more "on demand" IPTV where you use marketplace to download shows to watch and such (like ondemand from cable tv today)

i don't understand whatsoever the IPTV thing.

#18

I think IF your Verizon offered IPTV the idea would be that you could save on the STB rental and use the 360 as a cable box/DVR/guide etc. I don't know if Verizon offers this though.

I'm also pretty sure its streaming TV through an internet connection over TCP/IP, a hard drive would only be needed for DVR functions (recording shows etc.).

I think it would come in on a new. dedicated line just for the IPTV service but I could be wrong there, its new to me as well.

This seems pretty ambitous and, I might add, unnecessary.

First, MS states that HD content requires 7-9 Mbps. How many of us have a connection like that right now?

Second, how many Tv providers do we need? In my market there is Satellite (Dish and Directv) Cable, and FIOs. Why do we need another? I know that MS has a lot of money and has to be taken seriously, but they are in for a big fight here.

It is my understanding that AT&T will not be competing directly with Verizon FIOS service at all.

I believe Verizon is only laying Fiber in those areas that are considered their traditional footprint area where they are the local exchange carrier. I believe AT&T will be doing the same, that is only laying Fiber in those areas that are traditional AT&T footprint areas where they are the LEC. So, most folks eventually will have the additional choice of FIOS or Homezone service to go along with the two Satellite companies and local Cable company, but not both.

thanks.

This seems pretty ambitous and, I might add, unnecessary.

First, MS states that HD content requires 7-9 Mbps. How many of us have a connection like that right now?

Second, how many Tv providers do we need? In my market there is Satellite (Dish and Directv) Cable, and FIOs. Why do we need another? I know that MS has a lot of money and has to be taken seriously, but they are in for a big fight here.
any new FIOS (verizon fiber optic) install is gonna be over 12Mbps... i'm locked at 20Mbps downstream ;) they're pretty much the entire state of NJ which is a lucrative customer base.

i agree it's ambitious but then again at $10/mo for a box rental this could gather some support, especially for kids bedrooms, etc.

i think MS should have explained IPTV however as if they're promoting something as a feature or marketable item, people need to comprehend what it is to begin with :)

thanks.


any new FIOS (verizon fiber optic) install is gonna be over 12Mbps... i'm locked at 20Mbps downstream ;) they're pretty much the entire state of NJ which is a lucrative customer base.

i agree it's ambitious but then again at $10/mo for a box rental this could gather some support, especially for kids bedrooms, etc.

i think MS should have explained IPTV however as if they're promoting something as a feature or marketable item, people need to comprehend what it is to begin with :)

i live in toms river and we are 1-2 years away from fios, same with about half of NJ

i live in toms river and we are 1-2 years away from fios, same with about half of NJ
sorry but major markets in NJ are there... toms river is loaded with seniors and summer/weekenders. sorry too if you're in the pine barrons :)

the half that's important to verizon's business is fiber'd now or ASAP (look it up yourself) ;)

This sounds interesting but something I doubt will be available to the majority.. There's alot of people on other forums hyping this up to be a killer to Cable and Sat. companies but really people need to just wait and see..

big picture overview

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iptv

I think the major advantage nobody is talking about is cost. It wouldn't make sense for IPTV to cost the same as satellite or cable, otherwise why would anyone make the switch? I'm guessing its going to be dramatically cheaper.

Well this IPTV is going to be useless for alot of the install base for a long time. I live in Charleston, SC ..There is not even a sign of AT&T or Verizon coming anywhere close as it is only TWC and Comcast.So this whole announcement is pretty weak and I think is a little frustrating if it only targets portions of the installed base.

Now it will be available to 10M+ on day one.
Not unless those 10M+ don't want to record much with their tiny HDDs or choose to upgrade to the rumored 120GB drive. Maybe they'll offer a package with the upgraded drive.

I assume that Microsoft's partnership with ATT means that the service will be available first in the former Bell South's territories. I assume that Microsoft would eventually have to partner with regional Internet providers throughout the country in order to offer the service in a given area.

I am sceptical but I have to admit that I like the idea of a "one box" soluition to TV/DVD/HD-DVD/HDTV/DVR. Think of all the wires that you would be able to eliminate! We are not there yet. Maybe soon.

I will get there one way or the other. Once cable card 2 is available, I will build a box that does all of this.

Here is something that doesn't make sense to me. If I was going to get an IPTV service from Verizon or ATT, wouldnt they already GIVE ME A SET TOP BOX? Why would I need a 360 for this? The only reason I can see doing it is if they are charging upfront for the set top box as opposed to a small rental fee.

For the ones that asked yes this service wil offer HD channels. If ou look at this video it even showed discoveryHD.

http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=32742

Problem is do I want my 360 running 12 hours a day or more when DVr'ing? I have a launch 360 still working, but I don't use it all that much. Given the problems we've seen with the 360's Overheating and Red Ring of Deathing, do I want it to be my Entertainment Hub? I say no to the Current version, now if they come out with the rumoured upgrade with HDMI and a 120gb HD (a neccessity) and it proves after 6 months it's more stable than the original versions, then I might consider it.

I am confused on this IPTV thing for the 360. I live in Charleston,SC and only have a choice of Time Warner Cable or Sat...There is no AT&T or Verizon service anywhere close and haven't heard of any future plans. So will I be able to get IPTV, HD channels etc...How does that work. I guess I would just like some general info in IPTV and whether I will be able to take advantage of it. Would it be better then TWC!!

Most likely this will be at&t (please note AT&T no longer exists) U-verse (https://uverse1.att.com/launchAMSS.do)or rebranded Uverse. Thus it will be availble in old Amieritech, Bellsouth, Pacbel, & Southwestern Bell local exchange areas. If you are in what used to be Bell Atlantic, Nynex, Southern New England Telephone, US West or basically any area that was not one of the original RBOCS that I listed in the first sentence then it probably will not be availble.

MS writes the software for the U-verse package. U-verse uses ADSL2+ at the present, but should a cable company ever decide to go that route, the software changes should be minimal.

I would suspect that anybody on cable would not be able to get this at first, as I am sure that all the cable companies would not look kindly on you dropping your existing cable TV package for MS IPTC & they will probably take active steps to prevent this on their closed, private cable plants.


Now Verizon is doing the right thing, fiber to the home. U-verse is the cheap way, fiber to the node & then copper twisted pair to your house. at&t will eventually upgrade to fiber to the home, but they caved in to Wall Street .. If you look around the net there are lots of problems, not the least of which is that the MS software does not scale well. I'm unsure, as of yet, if this will sucedd on the 360, however it is an exiting idea.

sorry but major markets in NJ are there... toms river is loaded with seniors and summer/weekenders. sorry too if you're in the pine barrons :)

the half that's important to verizon's business is fiber'd now or ASAP (look it up yourself) ;)

You know, I spent two years at Ft. Monmouth, & lived in Eatontown. I realize that basically everybody wants to live at the extreme Northern or Southern end of Jersy, but I could never figure out why. Personally I hated to got north of Red Bank. :cool:

edit: Did that highway ever get finished all the way down to Avon-by-the-Sea?

The Xbox 360 IPTV will only work if your service provider is using Microsoft as their middleware vendor for their IPTV implementation. It just so happens that AT&T/U-verse is.

Just having a fast Internet connection, even if it is fiber, isn't going to cut it.

Don't confuse the 360 IPTV service with the movie/TV series download service that Microsoft recently rolled out. The latter works for everyone with a decent Internet connection, the former only works if your service provider has implemented Microsoft's IPTV solution.

You know, I spent two years at Ft. Monmouth, & lived in Eatontown. I realize that basically everybody wants to live at the extreme Northern or Southern end of Jersy, but I could never figure out why. Personally I hated to got north of Red Bank. :cool:

edit: Did that highway ever get finished all the way down to Avon-by-the-Sea?
probalby not but i haven't been down there in a few years.

The Xbox 360 IPTV will only work if your service provider is using Microsoft as their middleware vendor for their IPTV implementation. It just so happens that AT&T/U-verse is.

Just having a fast Internet connection, even if it is fiber, isn't going to cut it.

Don't confuse the 360 IPTV service with the movie/TV series download service that Microsoft recently rolled out. The latter works for everyone with a decent Internet connection, the former only works if your service provider has implemented Microsoft's IPTV solution.
what IPTV implimentation does Verizon TV over IP (fios) use?

Word from the MS booth indicates you'll need AT&Ts new 35Mbps service. This would allow 2HD and 2SD signals across at the same time. Of course, none of this is on an offical press release and is just hearsay. link (http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/01/09/rumor-xbox-iptv-may-not-be-so-grand/)

Looks like MS wanted to make a grand announcement at the beginning of the war to keep people unsure if they are unsure right now. I just don't see this being a reality for most people until the end of the 360 cycle, if then.

here is something from MS TV website listing multiple partners, not all will be compliant obviously
http://www.microsoft.com/tv/CustomersAndPartners.mspx

If I had 35mbps connection I surely wouldn't be on the 360 :)

what IPTV implimentation does Verizon TV over IP (fios) use?
They also use Microsoft.

Second, how many Tv providers do we need? In my market there is Satellite (Dish and Directv) Cable, and FIOs. Why do we need another? I know that MS has a lot of money and has to be taken seriously, but they are in for a big fight here.


A) how much do YOU pay for 100+ channels of tv?
B) How many HD channels do you get?

I live in San Diego and here it is:

A) too much
B) not too much

so that is a very perfect and rational reason why we need more choices.

Word from the MS booth indicates you'll need AT&Ts new 35Mbps service. This would allow 2HD and 2SD signals across at the same time. Of course, none of this is on an offical press release and is just hearsay.

Looks like MS wanted to make a grand announcement at the beginning of the war to keep people unsure if they are unsure right now. I just don't see this being a reality for most people until the end of the 360 cycle, if then.

Basically, what is being said is that if you have a IPTV provider using MSTV as their middleware, such as AT&T, you could use an Xbox360 in lieu of a STB. The STB runs a Windows System on a chip. As such an Xbox, or PC could run a IPTV client as well.

However, I have seen the Motorola STB and it is quiet and has no fans so I am not really sure why I would use my Xbox360 to replace it. It's too loud.