Rarely do I give Comcast praise, but today I feel I must. The cable company monopoly will be adding six new HD channels to its catalog in March, just in time for my birthday, and they’re good ones! Well, most of them.
Those of you who are still using standard definition need to seriously think about your futures. You’re holding the rest of us back, and I’m starting to think it’s time to cut the dead weight.
After the jump, the new channels, and what I think about them! Because it’s Friday and you care!
Animal Planet HD: Shows about people who talk to dogs, in High Definition!
Discovery Channel HD: We have something similar now, but I’m stoked to see Mythbusters in HD every day.
Learning Channel HD: This channel used to be good, now in HD! HD!
Home and Garden HD: I don’t care, cuz I own neither, in HD! HD! High-Definition!
Food Network HD: That’s right, the gourmand’s version of the Playboy network in 720p. HD! Hi-Def!
Sci Fi HD: Oh, yes, you heard me. You heard me in 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, and saw it in High-Definition HD Hi-Def HDTV!
Comcast has promised 60 channels of HD programming by the end of the year, and is on pace to make good on that promise. Go, Comcast!
[Thanks for the tip, Paul!]
“Comcast has promised 60 channels of HD programming by the end of the year, and is on pace to make good on that promise”
But will they provide a software update that might utilize that USB jack on the back of the moto box to offload some of the HD content that is going to fill that DVR drive? PLEASE? PRETTY PLEASE????
You can currently use the firewire plug on the back to offload onto your computer. There are various tools out there, Google is your friend. :)
Silly me would like a supported solution that will go direct to an external HD.
John Eddy: Silly you indeed. Why would you want it just going to a backup HD? Last I checked they didn’t have OS’s or screens to watch them on. Or is it that warm fuzzy feeling that you get inside whenever you know you own something but can’t use it in any easy way? I’l bet thats what it is you little silly pants!
i don’t have a desire to watch my recordings on other devices, I just want to be able to expand my space for storing those recordings… in fact, I prefer watching them on my large lcd tv with 5.1 rather than a laptop or desktop.
John: I know I’ve seen tutorials on the Web about how to upgrade your Comcast DVR. It’s just a standard HD in there, so should be doable. Maybe a future Help-Key will address ths?
Can you use the firewire plug on the back to hook up to an external HD?
I’ve seen them too, but again, I’d rather a Comcast supported solution. I’ve had to swap out my DVR 3-4 times in 2 years. Being able to move recordings off of it so that I can at least save those shows that I haven’t watched yet, as well as just plain ol’ having a buttload more space, is my goal.
Hacking it myself is fine, however, considering the box/software is a POS as it is, I don’t want to always be wondering ‘So, is it the cable box that’s futzed right now, or is it the hack I did…’
What about Portland? They’ve been promising us new channels forever, but I haven’t seen anything since they added NFLHD.
Hahaha! 6 Channels?!?! I have 65 channels right now with Directv and I am very happy. Plus I get NFL Sunday Ticket in HD whihc I could never get on cable. Plus I pay less than Comcast customers do plus I can record more content on HD-DVR because I have an expandable hard drive connected to it. Good luck with Comcast.
So I have a question. I have that same exact box – is there any way I can hook up an external Hard Drive for added space? The amount it can carry now is seriously a joke.
Marc M. – it is not totally live yet but you can get an internal hard drive and buy a drive enlosure and hook up the external drive to the E-sata connector. Also you can buy an external drive and get an esata cable. I am getting a 1tb drive with enclosure and that will get me roughly 166 hours which is plenty for me. Its about 3 times more than what I can currently with the internal drive.
Awesome, I’m definitely going to try that ASAP. Let us know if you try it and it works!
Meh, Home and Garden? That deserves a post? I think not. However, Discovery Channel is HD is TOTALLY worth a post. But everything else… I say “Ni” to you.