DirecTV "suspends development" on HDPC-20 tuner
File this one in the category of "Oh, no they didn't!" Sadly, it seems they really have. DirecTV has sent out an email stating the following: "DirecTV has suspended the development of the HDPC-20 tuner project that was designed to integrate DirecTV service into Windows Media Center after assessing the impact of missing the August 2008 release of Windows Media Center update and considering timing of the next release." The note goes on to say that both the satcaster and Microsoft understand that folks are clamoring for an easy way to get DirecTV content on the PC, and that both companies are "continuing to explore ways to integrate DirecTV service with Windows-based PCs in the future." And to think, that hands-on we got late last month just might be the last you ever see of this promising little box. Why... just, why?
[Via Gearlog, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
[Via Gearlog, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
























Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alton @ Dec 9th 2008 3:48PM
Ben could not do this post, he was to busy crying...
Ben @ Dec 9th 2008 4:01PM
Actually I'm still in denial, but the real reason I didn't do this post was because I was busy working on something else (not engadget related).
Alton @ Dec 9th 2008 4:03PM
Ben did DirecTv contact you directly? According to Chris's post they contacted some bloggers directly
Justin N. @ Dec 9th 2008 4:19PM
Who's up for a Dumpster Diving trip to recover the "destroyed" testing units? I'm sure there's some Engadget Reader out there who could piece them together into working condition again.
Jonathan @ Dec 9th 2008 6:23PM
I just died a little inside!
Alton @ Dec 9th 2008 4:00PM
I died a lot inside. Wife and I have been trying really hard to get all of our bills paid off. We will be done next year right before football season starts. My first reward was going to be to upgrade my current VMC OTA setup to Windows 7 + Directv Tuner.
Media Center + Sunday Ticket = Fail
Alex @ Dec 9th 2008 4:06PM
CURSES! This is so weak.
The Fuzz 53 @ Dec 9th 2008 4:09PM
WTF?!
Joel @ Dec 9th 2008 4:59PM
I hear there may be some action on the Dish front.
Justin N. @ Dec 9th 2008 4:16PM
Gee, thanks you guys (DirecTV and MS). Many of us have been waiting for a true Satellite TV Tuner for years now, and were looking forward to ditching our subpar Cable TV service for it. Well, the ball is in Dish Network's court now, I suppose. H.264/MPEG-4 support is inevitable for Windows 7, so I sincerely hope someone is working on a Tuner for it, with or without Microsoft's support.
I want High Quality HDTV on my PC without forking over large sums of cash for a "Certified" PC. Is that so much to ask?
Ordeith @ Dec 15th 2008 5:33PM
I was on DirecTV a while back and let the service lapse. I was seriously considering renewing when this product became available.
The longer it takes, the longer DirecTV is without at least this one subscriber.
I guess the number of people that would sign up for the service with the availability of this product is too low for them to ever release it.
Oh Well.
WebDev511 @ Dec 9th 2008 4:17PM
This SUX!
I wonder if this is related to DirecTV going back to TiVo for their software?
Well it sux unless they come out with a revised piece of hardware to do the job. Some sort of connection between a Media Center PC & DirecTV box?
The Fuzz 53 @ Dec 9th 2008 4:20PM
Here's the real question. Why aren't there any HDTV capture cards with HDMI/Component inputs? I have my SD Directv box hooked up to PC via S-Video using an IR blaster that works perfectly fine. Why can't somebody make a capture card that takes the signal from an HD source?
jrog @ Dec 9th 2008 5:05PM
there is a box. It's the HD-PVR from Hauppauge. It's actually quite awesome, but it's h.264, which isn't supported in Windows Media Center. It works in SageTV and has since May. I prefer the Vista route with the XBOX 360 as of now, but I did use the HD-PVR to record 1080i from my cable boxes before I downsized my cable package.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jan 7th 2009 11:26AM
i have a very similar set up that i've been working on since christmas. it records and every thing but not perfectly yet. i have it connected via S-Video as well since that seems to be the best option right now.
im not completely sure, but i think that the Component and HDMI feeds are encrypted some kind of way so they cant be recorded. im almost certain about HDMI being like that but not positive on Component. you should look into a capture card that does Component though since Component and HDMI do the same things (and look very comparable to the untrained eye).
Zarlof @ Dec 9th 2008 4:23PM
I hope that Microsoft and Direct TV realize that users will be forced to go to something that does work and is not limited to the the provider and or the operating system. I can only speak for myself but I think that it is time to get rid of my Windows based DVR with three Xbox 360 HD extenders. I think I will look into the Haupague HD-PVR and maybe a Linux based OS that supports H.264. I had such high hopes for Bill and his crew. I am tired of waiting!
Zarlof
xemumanic @ Dec 9th 2008 4:30PM
All I can say is.............are these guys freaking morons? They KNOW how much people want this, and they can it?
There's gotta be more to this. This has got to be, bar-none, the biggest boner move I've seen this year.
Alton @ Dec 9th 2008 4:45PM
Oh and a big FU to MS also. I can't imagine when engadet went to the ehome team for the tour they didn't already know the DirecTV tuner was dead. You could have at least but a paper bag over the tuners so everyones dreams didn't get crushed even harder...
joek112 @ Dec 9th 2008 6:52PM
Wow, in reading the actual message from DirecTV via the read link really takes away all hope of this ever coming out. My nearly two buzz, originating from CES 2006 has now been killed (12/9/2008). WAY TO GO DIRECTV for being a BUZZKILL!
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyoooooooouuuuuuuu dummies!
kcmurphy88 @ Dec 9th 2008 6:30PM
Let's put a positive spin on this. Since DirecTV is reestablishing its TiVo connections, maybe they were unhappy with the current direction and want *cough* someone else *cough* to make the PC device.
Mike @ Dec 9th 2008 11:58PM
Really disappointing, I guess this will keep me in the 12% of OTA only people in the US. Somehow I manage to entertain my family of 5 for "free" each month, let's hope DISH delivers the goods.
artifex @ Dec 26th 2008 12:33AM
I'm considering going to FTA to supplement my OTA. There's all kinds of odd stuff going on with that, right now. And there are definitely DVRs out there for it already.
oon2ooo @ Dec 10th 2008 9:15AM
HAHAHA! EAT IT MS/Ehome! I hope they feel like they just got punched in the nuts. I left the media center community after the TV Pack debacle and subsequent delay of the Direct TV service. Upped my cable bill to $150 for the works and learned to deal with the god awful UI. Seems like that decision's has finally been vindicated. Oh and BTW until things can do On Demand, this whole media center PC as a one stop set top box galore is useless. This concept is dead in the water. Thanks content owners/cable cos!!!
mitchelljd @ Dec 10th 2008 12:07PM
oh well, i hope that directv released tivo in hd shortly, and the new device will be able to connect to your mac or pc. and be able to backup program onto hard drive or disc. even blu-ray.
sorry to those who wanted this pc add on . kinda lame they are dropping it just at release time
Griffon @ Dec 11th 2008 3:13AM
Here they have a huge customer base of people wanting, waiting, to give them MONEY and they do this, again. Either they have really lazy PM's who can't show the demand or completely retarded management. This is not rocket science, get device, attach device, store data on HD, retrieve data to view.
danno @ Dec 16th 2008 12:08PM
why bash on MS for this?
MS isn't stopping the project, in fact hey are continuring to add the needed support for this scenario and are continuing to work with DISH on thier tuner. As for why DirecTV would punt/postpone this, perhaps it has something to do with the economy and the need to focus on a smaller number of opportunities...