Seagate Expands DVR Capabilities
CE leader demonstrates compact DVR platform, external DVR storage, new DRM capabilities at NCTA
Seagate (NYSE: STX), the world's leading maker of DVR Hard Drives, today will exhibit its new class of add-on DVR storage devices designed to plug easily into properly equipped digital video recorders (DVR) and set-top boxes. At the National Show (Booth 5664) in San Francisco, Seagate will demonstrate its External DVR Hard Drive plugged into the Scientific-Atlanta Explorer(r) 8300(tm) Series DVR. The drive features up to 400GB of additional television storage in a single plug-and-play box - the highest capacity in the industry - and offers 1394, USB, or the new high-performance eSATA interface. Seagate offers its External DVR Hard Drive to cable service operators who want to provide add-on storage to their compatible cable DVR set-top boxes. Interested consumers and cable subscribers should check with their cable service provider regarding compatibility and availability.
Seagate will also demonstrate an entirely new concept for inside-the-box DVR storage that enables smaller, simpler, cooler-running and more cost-effective DVR designs. Based on Seagate's industry-leading technology platforms, and with a new 2.5-inch form factor that can offer up to 120GB of internal DVR storage, products based on this platform can be made available to interested DVR and set-top box manufacturers. Seagate is the only hard drive maker today offering this option for a new DVR platform.
In addition, Seagate today unveils a new application of its DriveTrust technology that enables cable service operators and DVR makers to lock external storage devices to a specific DVR or other device. This helps implement more robust digital rights management solutions for set-top boxes and enables a more rapid roll-out of better, easier-to-use entertainment storage technologies to consumers. Seagate DriveTrust technology enables a variety of hard drive-based protection and privacy solutions.
Expandable DVR storage
As subscribers become more comfortable with their DVRs and home media centers, more content will fill up these devices' internal drives. High-definition services can consume about six times more storage capacity than standard television consumes on DVRs. With Seagate's new External DVR Hard Drives, subscribers can easily expand the storage capacity of their compatible DVRs, enabling them to keep the same DVR longer as they upgrade capacity. The drive offers up to 400GB of additional TV storage in a single plug-and-play box. On compatible DVRs, additional drives for even more storage can be daisy chained and stacked or placed side-by-side.
Manufacturers of set-top boxes, DVRs and home media centers are looking for an efficient way to upgrade and expand the capabilities of their products. Seagate offers cable MSOs a comprehensive business model that can enable service operators to provide external DVR storage service to subscribers with minimized startup time, investment, and inventory commitment.
Based on its successful and award-winning design for PC-based external backup and storage, Seagate's partnership with service providers goes far beyond providing the External DVR Hard Drive unit:
* Product customization - many aspects of the External DVR Hard Drive's industrial design can be customized to maximize a service operator's brand image.
* Technology flexibility - Seagate also offers a variety of capacity points and compatible interfaces including 1394, USB and the new high-performance, low-cost eSATA interface, and can assist with the development of features such as content protection and enhanced video streaming.
* Outsourcing efficiency - service operators can utilize the call centers of the world's leading hard drive company to outsource any or all customer support for these external storage units, including pre-sales support, order-taking and product fulfillment, 24x7 technical support, and warranty service. This eliminates the need to train customer support staff on hard drive technology, reduces inventory exposure, and speeds time to market.
Seagate will also demonstrate an entirely new concept for inside-the-box DVR storage that enables smaller, simpler, cooler-running and more cost-effective DVR designs. Based on Seagate's industry-leading technology platforms, and with a new 2.5-inch form factor that can offer up to 120GB of internal DVR storage, products based on this platform can be made available to interested DVR and set-top box manufacturers. Seagate is the only hard drive maker today offering this option for a new DVR platform.
In addition, Seagate today unveils a new application of its DriveTrust technology that enables cable service operators and DVR makers to lock external storage devices to a specific DVR or other device. This helps implement more robust digital rights management solutions for set-top boxes and enables a more rapid roll-out of better, easier-to-use entertainment storage technologies to consumers. Seagate DriveTrust technology enables a variety of hard drive-based protection and privacy solutions.
Expandable DVR storage
As subscribers become more comfortable with their DVRs and home media centers, more content will fill up these devices' internal drives. High-definition services can consume about six times more storage capacity than standard television consumes on DVRs. With Seagate's new External DVR Hard Drives, subscribers can easily expand the storage capacity of their compatible DVRs, enabling them to keep the same DVR longer as they upgrade capacity. The drive offers up to 400GB of additional TV storage in a single plug-and-play box. On compatible DVRs, additional drives for even more storage can be daisy chained and stacked or placed side-by-side.
Manufacturers of set-top boxes, DVRs and home media centers are looking for an efficient way to upgrade and expand the capabilities of their products. Seagate offers cable MSOs a comprehensive business model that can enable service operators to provide external DVR storage service to subscribers with minimized startup time, investment, and inventory commitment.
Based on its successful and award-winning design for PC-based external backup and storage, Seagate's partnership with service providers goes far beyond providing the External DVR Hard Drive unit:
* Product customization - many aspects of the External DVR Hard Drive's industrial design can be customized to maximize a service operator's brand image.
* Technology flexibility - Seagate also offers a variety of capacity points and compatible interfaces including 1394, USB and the new high-performance, low-cost eSATA interface, and can assist with the development of features such as content protection and enhanced video streaming.
* Outsourcing efficiency - service operators can utilize the call centers of the world's leading hard drive company to outsource any or all customer support for these external storage units, including pre-sales support, order-taking and product fulfillment, 24x7 technical support, and warranty service. This eliminates the need to train customer support staff on hard drive technology, reduces inventory exposure, and speeds time to market.
