OK Andorid TV seems likely. And yes, the tier for MVPD's is most likely what Dish will implement. My guess as to what the H3+ is this:
It's all about viewing programming from the INTERNET. As you recall, I was whining about only being able to watch ONE live streaming channel on the entire Hopper 3 network (channels such as some of the HBO/Cinemax channels and Stadium and BNC as examples). I think this is a step in the direction of Dish leveraging the less expensive and superior PQ of providing more LIVE streaming channel via the internet instead of its satellites. Dish will certainly need its sats for rural users for the time being and until fast internet comes to rural America, but Dish is clearly planning a long-term future via the internet.
I think the H3+ will likely replace the Hopper 3's current MoCA 2.0 with its much faster 10Gbps MoCA 3.0 that can allow for MULTIPLE LIVE streaming channels and Dish On Demand streaming and traditional on-demand services such as Netflix, etc., and it can handle/provide for MULTIPLE streams all at the same time to be viewed at the H3 and all clients, along with any satellite channels in the delivery and MoCA 3.0 net, as well. The only real limitation in speed or bandwidth would be your ISP's speed, and right now some ISPs are providing anywhere from 200Mbps to 400Mbps or even 1Gbps, and that leaves the MoCA 3.0 plenty of room for satellite channel delivery to the Joeys. In fact, there will be plenty of room on the MoCA 3.0 for just about anything extra, such as any necessary commands or other data to or from the H3 for whatever features it may provide.
I notice the H3+ with S/PDIF and HDMI out, so that suggests that this module can be connected to any OTHER TV than at an H3, and the H3+ is capable of doing its job also functioning as something of a Hopper with PIP features or Hopper like experience at a second or 3rd, etc. TV, or like a much more brainier Joey that also adds enhancements to the entire Hopper network.
I remember Charlie Ergen having said at a Quarterly Conference some years ago, "If I were building Dish Network today, I would not be investing in satellites."
I think the H3+ is Dish's move away from sats in very LONG road ahead--of course, sats are needed for the time being and years to come, but given the new push to get decent speeds out to rural areas, I don't think Dish sats will be needed by the end of this decade, and Dish may even make the bold move, before this decade is out, to abandon its satellite service altogether simply due to cost (Dish can not be forced to maintain sat services, but they can get a subsidy from the US Govt to do so, or be allowed to merge with DirecTV--if a merger is wanted by DirecTV owners) and just be all internet delivered. HOWEVER, unlike the clumsy all on-line service by DirecTV--of many names--Dish will be integrating such on-line delivery into its current sat systems and services and in time, it will be a transition we will hardly be aware is occurring to a near 100% delivery of programming via internet.
It is clear Dish in NOT building any new satellites--unless I have missed something--and they are more likely to lease or even buy existing DBS sats (such as DTV sats that DTV no longer needs) to segue into something other than satellites, and I can tell you the PQ and decrease in reliability (I can only presume they are just overloading their transponders with data at compressions that cause moments of lost picture and pixelation on the WA) sure indicates they are at or near the limit in terms of bandwidth, and a disaster when the all spotbeam at 110 comes to end of life, and yet no new Dish sats being built, nor am I aware of ANY DBS sats being built today (let me know if I am wrong on that). Dish decided long ago that internet is where they are going with Dish--forget about Sling, the Dish on-line service will be superior in features.
In the future, all one would likely need for Dish service is the H3+ itself, as Dish satellites die and wind down, and new comers will likely have their DVR in the cloud--OR even current sat customers will be offered CLOUD DVR for all the LIVE streaming channels, as part of the natural transition. There is a cost to building and always having to replace (and, in some cases, pay shipping costs) the DVR hardware boxes when the vast majority of the time it is merely the HDD that needs to be replaced (cost of HDD is a headache, as well) when the DVR is otherwise perfectly fine. Getting rid of the physical DVR itself must surely be Dish's long-term goal. Let's face it, we are talking about cost-cutting Charlie. When the DBS sats die, he will announce that Dish has "moved on--unless the US Govt. want to pay for continued sat services or allow us to merge with DirecTV." Is Dish positioning itself for such a situation to force matters to sooner than later?
That is all speculation and could all be WRONG. I'm willing to bet I got a few things on the mark, but probably missed the mark on a great many other things about the Hopper 3 Plus. I await the public release on this Hopper 3 Plus, but it sure seems like it won't be very soon.
