Comcast said Monday that it will soon launch its X1 cloud-based DVR user interface in Boston for Xfinity, and tipped its next-generation "Dayview" UI, which will provide a Metro-inspired look at all of the services Comcast offers.
Monday's announcement gives more details on the X1 service that Comcast has been promising Xfinity customers for months. The new UI will only be available to Triple Play customers - those who get voice, TV, and Internet. The X1 interface will roll out to other markets later this year, Comcast said.
Comcast will also integrate X1 into an iPhone app, it said, which will replace the slow virtual keyboard Comcast currently integrates into its current DVR UI.
Comcast designed the X1 UI to be a cleaner, more organized look at the content it offers. It also takes advantage of the cloud, providing up-to-date information to its subscribers and recommending shows it thinks the viewer would like to watch.
For example, the X1 UI integrates traffic and sports applications: the first provides live traffic information, apparently sourced in part from Google; while the sports app places related information, including live scores, in a box to the right of the action. Other integrated apps include Pandora, while Facebook and Twitter support have also been included.
"The X1 platform makes the TV smarter, richer and more personalized – and that's only the beginning," said Marcien Jenckes, senior vice president and general manager of video services for Comcast Cable, in a statement. "Our goal is to leverage this platform to redefine the entertainment experience for our customers. X1 is a giant leap forward, essentially transforming our video product from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to innovate faster and more aggressively."
From a hardware perspective, the accompanying set-top box will include tru2way capabilities, basically another name for the service that underlies the interactive capabilities. The remote control, however, will be RF-based, and not require line of sight, Comcast said.
Project Dayview: A View of Your Day
In February, Comcast said it would begin adding home security services, adding another layer to its existing triple play services. (Comcast has also begun adding cellular service via Verizon, and joined a nationwide consortium of cable providers to share Wi-Fi hotspots.)
Dayview, which Comcast will demonstrate this week, integrates alerts, appointments, texts, emails, voicemails, and DVR data; plus a customer's Xfinity home alarm system status, lights, thermostat/room temperatures, and security video feed. All will be accessible on the TV, tablet, PC, or phone, Comcast said.
The interface (see slideshow for more) seems to be inspired by the "Metro" tile-based interface to be found in the upcoming Windows 8 OS. Viewers will be able to slide from tile to tile, with an overview of their agenda, traffic, and other information, then drill down for more information. That information will also be available as a "screensaver," which will dynamically change to show traffic in the morning, for example, then the primetime lineup in the afternoon.
Customers will also be able to store their video and photos on the TV by syncing with third-party sources, Comcast said.
Comcast made the announcements at The Cable Show, taking place this week in Boston. For more, see the slideshow above.
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