comcast

Comcast cuts down log-ins to keep cord from getting cut

"If your programming isn't on every screen, you are missing an entire generation," Chief Executive Brian Roberts said last month at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association conference.

With such high stakes, Comcast is smoothing out snags that could gives subscribers any reason turn to an online alternative, like Netflix or Amazon Prime Streaming, on their computers or Internet-connected devices.

Comcast launched Home Pass to allow subscribers of its Xfinity TV and Internet service to watch TV shows and movies on their home network without signing in.

It means customers accessing the Xfinity.com/TV website from … Read more

Is cable holding back superfast broadband adoption on purpose?

The cable industry insists that it's ready and able to compete with Google Fiber when it comes to delivering ultra high-speed broadband.

Indeed, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts last week showed off a 3Gbps cable broadband connection at the industry's annual trade show in Washington, D.C. That's three times faster than Google Fiber, which itself is nearly 150 times faster than the current average broadband connection in the U.S. Armed with that capability, he confidently welcomed Google's challenge to deliver ultra high-speed broadband to consumers.

"I hope there's a demand for (Google Fiber),&… Read more

Comcast ditches the DVR for cloud recordings

CNET Update is posting to Myspace:

In this episode of Update:

- Learn how Comcast and other cable providers are updating set-top boxes and channel guides.

- Give your smartphone more camera with the Galaxy S4 Zoom coming out later this year.

- Prepare for Google Maps to get more social, now that Google bought the app Waze.

- Rock out with music stations and GIFs on Myspace's new iPhone app.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for a breakdown of the big stories, hot devices, new apps, … Read more

Comcast's new set-top box moves DVR to the cloud

In its battle against the growing trend of cutting the cord, Comcast instead wants TV viewers to ditch the DVR.

The cable TV giant on Tuesday took the wraps off X2, an upgrade to its X1 entertainment platform, which includes a new compact set-top box that will store recorded programs in the cloud. The box doesn't even have a hard drive for local storage, resulting in a form factor three times smaller than conventional boxes, and 50 percent less power consumption.

Expected to be available to consumers later this year, the new set-top box also includes voice-activated control, allowing … Read more

The 404 1,274: Where Microsoft makes the same mistakes (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Amazon's Kindle Worlds will pay writers to write fan fiction.

- Hire your favorite musician to write you a song .

- And now a reading from the worst fan fiction I've ever read.

- Follow Russ Frushtick on Twitter.… Read more

Social TV app NextGuide goes from mobile to the Web

While most companies are making the jump from Web to mobile, NextGuide, the app that tells you when and where your favorite shows are on, has decided to go the opposite way. The social TV guide for iOS is now available on the Web.

NextGuide Web has the same functions as the iPad app and aims to bring together live TV and streaming videos. Users can pick their favorite shows and keep track of when, and where, the shows are available online or on TV.

"There's a lot of confusion around TV," said Jeremy Toeman, the CEO … Read more

How to pad a recording using the Xfinity TV Remote app

With opening day a mere three days away, and the second weekend of the NCAA tournament under way, there is much in the way of great sporting events to consume in the coming days and weeks.

If you find yourself at work or otherwise away from your Comcast, er, Xfinity cable box and realize you forgot to record a game, fear not: you can set a recording using the Xfinity TV Remote app for iPhone or for Android. I would always recommend adding some extra time to your recording, but the process is a bit more involved with the mobile … Read more

Comcast scoops up rest of NBC Universal from GE

Comcast now owns all of NBC Universal.

The cable company shared the news in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, revealing that it completed its acquisition of the 49 percent of NBCU held by GE.

To finance the purchase, Comcast said it spent $10 billion in cash (of which $3.2 billion came from NBCU), $725 million in preferred stock, $4 billion in securities, $750 million in cash funded through a commercial paper program, and $1.25 billion in cash from NBCU's credit facility.

Comcast also announced that it now owns certain properties at NBCU's … Read more

Comcast to buy GE's stake in NBC for $16.7 billion

Comcast Corp. is going to buy all of General Electric's remaining stake in NBCUniversal for $16.7 billion, the cable giant announced today.

NBCUniversal will also buy its facilities at 30 Rockerfeller Plaza and CNBC's headquarters in New Jersey for $1.4 billion. The deal is expected to go through by the end of March.

Comcast already owns 51 percent of NBCUniversal since its purchase of the majority stake from GE went through in 2011. Comcast is the largest cable provider in the U.S.

Today's announcement comes well before the agreed deadline for Comcast to buy … Read more

Comcast takes $150M stake in set-top box maker

Comcast has agreed to buy a stake in set-top box maker Arris for $150 million.

Arris announced the agreement yesterday to sell roughly 10.6 million shares of its common stock, valued at $150 million, to Comcast. The deal will be completed in conjunction with Arris' purchase of the Motorola Home business from Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Google, that was worth $2.35 billion.

As a result, according to the statement, Comcast and Google will each own about 7.85 percent of outstanding Arris shares once the takeover is completed. In addition, as part of the Motorola Home business … Read more