Intel CE Media Processor Slips Into Next-Gen Comcast Set-Top Box

Intel CE Media Processor Slips Into Next-Gen Comcast Set-Top Box

Friday, June 17, 2011 - by Ray Willington
Comcast was always a major player in the cable / ISP space, but now it's almost unfair. These guys have managed to coerce even a monstrous company like Intel to team up with 'em, with their newest Xfinity TV set-top box being powered by none other than Chipzilla herself. Intel's CE media processor has been kicking around in one form or another for a few years now, but mostly it attracted attention at trade shows rather than consumer halls. But with media, content and streaming becoming such hot topics, the whole industry is ripe for an explosion in these kinds of chips.

Comcast will be relying on Intel-based set- top boxes, engineered by Pace, in a next-gen Xfinity TV market trial. Why? Comcast hopes that these will add to the overall experience, which uses a new guide and user interface to make the television more interactive, personal and social. The company is using Intel’s processors in new set-top boxes in its Augusta, Ga. market trial of Xfinity TV, but there's no telling if it'll spread elsewhere soon.


Is this the first step to Intel busting out their own HTPC? We doubt it, but hey, what's life without pipe dreams?
Via: Business Wire | News Archive | Tags: Comcast, Internet, cable, ISP, Xfinity
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By omegadraco on Jun 17, 2011

It is nice to know that these boxes will be more powerful so they can be the center of the entertainment center. Comcast needs to get their heads out from where the sun does not shine though and update some of their older markets as well as figure out a way to make there pricing structure better. Why should be pay $110 a month when we can get almost the same content on the web for about $20 a month. It almost feels similar to the Apple tax (because it's easy).

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By AKwyn on Jun 17, 2011

omegadraco:

Why should be pay $110 a month when we can get almost the same content on the web for about $20 a month.

Because they're the biggest cable company and as such they charge a high-price for their cable TV.

The web; Comcast has tried all that they can to stop web content in it's tracks. We're lucky that the FCC imposed limits on Comcast preventing it from influencing Hulu so it can't use it to effect their bottom line (IE their cable TV business.).

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By Kiristo on Jun 20, 2011

Presently overseas, but I have no intention of getting cable when I return to the US this fall. The only thing I watch live on TV is football. Probably will just get the internet and NFL network package to stream games online. Really don't want to pay for all those tv channels I'll never watch.

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