EXCLUSIVE: AT&T HomeZone First Look

**lovswr** · 06-10-2006 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Scott Greczkowski

Because it requires AT&T / Yahoo DSL service. (This way when you do TV stuff your going through their own servers and not actually out on the internet. Basically AT&T / Yahoo Service is like a proxy server to the Homezone box.

So Scott, is this the box that is going to be used for project Lightspeed/Pronto? If it is prepared to be dissapointed with the actual real world results. Nevertheless, it seems the price, free (as not in beer) is right. At least Dish is trying. Once again, why am I & others (beyond fees) staying with DirecTV. As Ms Jackson said, what have they done for me lately!

**Foxbat** · 06-10-2006 10:34 PM

Isn't the Phone Jack on the back panel a little ironic? I mean, the thing needs to be connect via Ethernet to a high-speed DSL or Lightspeed connection, right? Hopefully, the DSL filter is built-in...

**PATONENOW** · 06-11-2006 12:01 AM

I suspect that there will be an announcement from both D* and E* that they have made agreements with AT&T which includes the internet as well. Each will use their satellities to furnish this and more are expected to sign on for more things. Some news has broken on this already in the SUNDAY paper. So what SCOTT has said seems to tie in to this or else is a completely different venture.
And this is the link to the articlle I refered to:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060611/...te_broadband_3

**Scott Greczkowski** · 06-11-2006 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by lovswr

So Scott, is this the box that is going to be used for project Lightspeed/Pronto?

No it's not, this has nothing to do with Lightspeed.

**jollygrunt** · 06-11-2006 02:08 AM

I'm looking forward to getting AT&T's Homezone, but I'm in no hurry. I still need to buy an HDTV set, but I won't be doing so until next year at the earliest.

**mdonnelly** · 06-11-2006 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Scott Greczkowski

No it's not, this has nothing to do with Lightspeed.

That's why I want it. Lightspeed won't get to me for years.

**Cornstalkk** · 06-11-2006 09:20 AM

Two questions that I hadn't seen answered.......

Will it work with Macs? Or is it Winblows only?

How does this work with your current receiver or does it replace it (I have a 622 also)?

**Brewer4** · 06-11-2006 09:27 AM

Whats funny is my Windows Media Center already does everything this does except native HD capturing from D* or E* (does do HD OTA). I love the idea of movies on demand but Movielink and CinemaNow charge way too much. Its pretty much across the board 5 bucks per movie (some older ones are lower) and I am not willing to do that. Would rather wait for my Netflix DVD to arrive. So nice unit but they gotta get movie viewing lower.

**spectrumsp** · 06-11-2006 10:16 AM

Scott...

Several quick questions...

How will the VOD be fed...thru the broadband, internet, or sat connection? (or all of the above...which would be nice aince I have Comcast)

Several individuals on this post have alluded to the fact that D* could also come aboard...is this true or does AT&T have an exclusive with E*?

What speed is the internet connector on the machine...100 or 1000 mps? If 1000 mps, then HD could be xmitted directly to home. (Hopefully they are planning for the future)

Are there any plans to be able to place this in a central home location and feed mobile units at several different locations...den, kitchen, bedroom, etc, via a home lan?

Is there a firewire connection someplace on the unit?

This could be the beginning of something great...

**tonyp56** · 06-11-2006 10:48 AM

Now if At&t just keep to their word that they are adding DSL service in my area soon. (I live less than a mile from where the cutoff is for DSL in town, I live outside city limits, so DSL is available in my town, just not that extra mile so I can have it, YET I hope) Anyways, after adding my XBOX 360, I am a fan of anything that hooks up to your network and lets you stream whatever to your TV.

I am sure you will have to be an AT&T Dish Network customer, not a AT&T customer, that happens to subscribe to Dish too. Though I guess no one will know for sure for a little while. This could be one reason why AT&T hasn't been selling/activating the 622 on their accounts. Because they knew they were coming out with something better and there was no need in selling something that they'd be replacing in a year or so for everyone.

My girlfriend already wants Vongo, but because of the FAP on satellite, we both know that we couldn't get it until and if DSL becomes available. We could do away with--at least in theory--Starz through Dish. $9.99 a month for on demand is better than even $8 through Dish (at least with Vongo I could--in theory again--watch what I want when I want, limited to the movies that Starz has rights to at that time of course, but I wouldn't be able to watch anything different on Starz either). And if we do get DSL and this ever becomes available in our area, I'll drop having Dish directly, and go with AT&T, I'd have one bill, and better boxes too.

This sounds good to me, just hope AT&T does it, and of course add DSL to my house so I can have it

. If they don't add DSL, then, I'd be very sad.

I've read on the net that project Lightspeed is still on track, that Homezone isn't a replacement or anything for Lightspeed. Apparently there where a few that tried to say Homezone was AT&T's replacement, because they had found out they couldn't do Lightspeed. My thought is this is a way for AT&T to give better coverage. Even if Lightspeed become reality, I doubt I'll ever see it here in Oklahoma, let alone in my small town/area. Homezone I hope gives them a way to serve the little people, without having to spend so much money. But I could be wrong