I've been waiting for this for a while and I can't wait to get my hands on one. ATI is previewing the OCUR or open cable uni-directional receiver that will let Vista receive digital cable to the PC. Right now you can only get HDTV over the airwaves but with OCUR, you'll be able to use your cable provider's cable cards and get HDTV and digital cable content on your Vista PC. I'll be stopping by the booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center for sure to check it out.
2006 International CES demonstration heralds new era in media PCs
MARKHAM, Ontario, Jan 05, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ATI Technologies Inc. (TSX:ATY) (NASDAQ:ATYT) today announced a
preview of the revolutionary (HD) digital cable PC receiver. Available
later this year, the ATI OCUR (open cable uni-directional receiver)
product will allow Media Center PCs that run on the forthcoming
Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, to receive High Definition
premium digital cable TV content on the PC, ushering in the next level
in functionality and opening new avenues for PC entertainment. The new
device will also offer traditional analog TV and free-to-air HD
broadcast reception to the PC. ATI demonstrated this new technology at
the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January
5 to 8, 2006.
The ATI OCUR product opens a crucial barrier to making the PC
ubiquitous for the ultimate entertainment PC. According to the
Consumer Electronics Association, almost 68 per cent of the North
America market is served by cable operators(1), and now these end
users will be able to access premium content. This new OCUR product is
designed to support any cable television system in North America on
the PC.
"We're working with Microsoft and other industry leaders to drive
Media Center PCs to be more intuitive, powerful and robust than
standalone consumer electronics devices," said Godfrey Cheng,
director of marketing, multimedia business unit, ATI Technologies
Inc. "The forthcoming OCUR PC receiver is powered by ATI's Avivo(TM)
technologies which means that not only will the Media Center PC have a
new level of functionality but also the highest available video
quality. ATI is proud to work with Microsoft to demonstrate this new
OCUR PC receiver for a new era of media PCs."
"Microsoft strives to provide our customers with the most
compelling TV experience possible on Windows Media Center," said Dave
Mendlen, director of Windows Consumer Marketing at Microsoft Corp.
"We're excited to work with ATI on this project, based on the
company's industry-leading expertise in both multimedia PC solutions
and the digital TV marketplace."
ATI will exhibit its solutions at International CES 2005 at booth
30779 at the South Hall, Upper Level, Las Vegas Convention Center,
January 5 to 8, 2006.
Microsoft Windows Media Center delivers advanced computing plus
easy-to-use integrated digital entertainment, including live and
recorded television, movies, music, photos and radio, that consumers
can enjoy when and how they want. It provides a central hub for
digital entertainment and productivity, accessible on either a PC
monitor or TV display, using a single remote control.
