Consumer Electronics Babble To Each Other

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/30/hd-101-ir-blasters-hdmi-cec-rs-232-and-ip-control/' target='_blank'>http://hd.engadget.com/2010/06/30/h...and-ip-control/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The problem is the devices just aren't designed to work together, but that isn't because the industry hasn't tried. All the political reasons aside the technology to let your cable box carry on a two way conversation with your TV and other equipment does exist. So we're going to explain what's out there. If you've ever wondered how you can gain more control over your gear using everything from an IR blaster to sending TCP commands via IP, then read on."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1277924041.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>You would think that with the wealth of technology available to us, manufacturers would find a way to make all our gadgets talk to each other over a common medium.&nbsp; Unfortunately, that is not the case.&nbsp; TVs do not talk to Blu-ray players and PlayStations ignore amplifiers.&nbsp; There are quite a few ways that these devices can communicate and Engadget walks through the gauntlet of options.&nbsp; Sadly, with all these options, it is very unlikely you can find one control system to handle it all.&nbsp; It is almost enough to make me go for one of those All-In-One teleivsion sets that does most of what I want.&nbsp; Almost.</p>

[mrozema]

It can be done. I'd go with Crestron, personally. A small, yet very capable controller (model: QM-RMC) can be had for $300-$400 on eBay. It supports Ethernet, RS232 and IR. There are apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to interface with a GUI. There's also HTML-based GUI's and even a self-contained executable you can run from Windows.
The caveat is getting the software to program the control system and interface and finding the IR codes or programming your own.

This is my dream. Someday....;)

[Jason Dunn]

It's honestly quite pathetic how badly modern home entertainment devices interoperate - or, rather don't - in our modern age. :rolleyes:

[Hooch Tan]

Perhaps they are thinking of going about it in a completely different way. There definitely is a trend towards all-in-one devices. Look at the features being added to the Xbox 360 and PS3. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually become the only device that needs to be hooked up to the TV. In a typical household that is. With a single device, there's no real need for inter-communication!

[mrozema]

Perhaps they are thinking of going about it in a completely different way. There definitely is a trend towards all-in-one devices. Look at the features being added to the Xbox 360 and PS3. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually become the only device that needs to be hooked up to the TV. In a typical household that is. With a single device, there's no real need for inter-communication!
That would be a good move. Right now, all I have connected is my Xbox 360 and my home theatre receiver. Works fine for me.

[Hooch Tan]

It would not surprise me if cable and satellite companies started offering XBoxes or PS3s that have built in capabilities for playing their signals at some point. They already have accepted HD recorders, so it is only a small step. Maybe even partnerships with Sony or Microsoft would allow them to offer games in advance for download, etc.

[Jason Dunn]

That would be a good move. Right now, all I have connected is my Xbox 360 and my home theatre receiver. Works fine for me.

But without a Blu-ray player, you're not watching movies in HD...well, unless you download them from Xbox Marketplace. :eek:

[Jason Dunn]

It would not surprise me if cable and satellite companies started offering XBoxes or PS3s that have built in capabilities for playing their signals at some point. They already have accepted HD recorders, so it is only a small step. Maybe even partnerships with Sony or Microsoft would allow them to offer games in advance for download, etc.

Microsoft has been trying to do this for several years...I think it was CES 2008 when Microsoft announced a partnership with Comcast...the idea was to use the Xbox 360 as an HD TV tuner/PVR. It was massively capable, but no surprise, nothing ever came of it. Why? I think it's because the cable companies want to keep the $10/month (or whatever it is) flowing forever. I have no stats on this, but my gut tells me the vast majority of PVR owners don't drop the $500 required to buy it outright...they pay the monthly fee, forever. No cable company wants to give that up.

Someone needs to break the backs of the cable companies before anything will change. :mad:

[Hooch Tan]

Microsoft has been trying to do this for several years...I think it was CES 2008 when Microsoft announced a partnership with Comcast...the idea was to use the Xbox 360 as an HD TV tuner/PVR. It was massively capable, but no surprise, nothing ever came of it. Why? I think it's because the cable companies want to keep the $10/month (or whatever it is) flowing forever.

I can't see why Comcast did not just propose a "rental" XBox 360, or something similar. It would probably make sales since people are willing to pony up $10/mo for a standard PVR. With "streaming" gaming services though, it would be even easier for cable companies to offer it.

Someone needs to break the backs of the cable companies before anything will change. :mad:

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening, at least within the US and Canada. As long as the situation is a quasi-monopoly, and the barriers towards entry are high, it is unlikely we'd find someone willing to challenge them. And even if they did, like a city, the Cable company would step in and sue!