Moxi
Moxi was a line of high definition digital video recorders produced by Moxi Digital, Digeo, and then Arris Group. Moxi was originally released only to cable operators, but in December 2008 was released as a retail product, and removed from the market November 2011. The former retail product, the Moxi HD DVR, provides a high definition user interface with support for either two or three CableCARD TV tuners. Arris also offered a companion appliance, the Moxi Mate, which can stream live or recorded TV from a Moxi HD DVR.
- for the town in Sichuan see Moxi, Sichuan
  Moxi HD DVR (bottom) with Moxi Mate (top) | |
| Manufacturer | ARRIS Group, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Type | Digital Video Recorder |
| Release date | December 2008 |
| Operating system | Proprietary Linux |
| Storage | 500GB |
| Input | RF coax |
| Connectivity | HDMI, Component, Composite, S-Video, Ethernet |
| Online services | Moxi.com |
| Dimensions | 17"W x 3"H x 10.5"D |
| Mass | 15 lbs |
History
Digeo was founded in 1999 (originally under the name Broadband Partners, Inc.) by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, with headquarters in Kirkland, Washington. In the same year, Rearden Steel was started by Steve Perlman, founder of WebTV, under a veil of secrecy. In 2000, Rearden Steel was renamed to Moxi Digital while at the same time unveiling a line of media centers designed to bridge the gap between PCs and TVs.[1] Digeo, Inc. purchased Moxi Digital in 2002.[2] Digeo kept its own name but adopted the 'Moxi' name as its product family name. Most of Moxi Digital's staff were kept as well as its Palo Alto offices. Digeo also adopted most of the Moxi hardware, (originally focused on satellite consumer electronics) as well as some of the Linux extensions. These were merged into Digeo's own Linux-based infrastructure and cable-specific hardware, with Digeo's prized and Emmy award-winning user interface, now known as Moxi Menu, on top.
On September 22, 2009, the assets of Digeo, Inc. were purchased by Arris Group, a communications technology company specializing in the design and engineering of broadband networks. Arris is a developer, manufacturer and supplier of cable telephony, video and high-speed data equipment, as well as outside plant construction and maintenance equipment for cable system operators. Arris announced they would continue to develop and market the Moxi product line to both retail customers and cable operators.[3]
Retail DVR products
The Moxi HD DVR is a high-definition DVR with both 3-tuner and 2-tuner models available, although the 2-tuner model was produced only briefly before being updated. It was designed for use with cable television and supports multi-stream CableCARDs as well as channel scanning for unencrypted channels. Multi-room viewing is supported using a small (and less expensive) companion device called a Moxi Mate. The Moxi product line was released to retail in December 2008 [4] after many years of being available only to cable operators. From 2009, Arris offered multi-room packages.[5] Retail sales were suspended early in 2012.
DVR hardware
The Moxi HD DVR is a Broadcom BCM7400-based set top box designed to work with a Multi-stream CableCARD. Moxi features were added to the Arris Moxi Gateway and Moxi Player, for sale to cable companies only.
The hardware featured:
- Two or three HD tuners, allowing users to record two or three shows at the same time, depending on the model
- 500 GB storage, which equates to 75 hours of 1080 HD recording or 300 hours of SD (480i) recording[6]
- Dolby Digital surround sound
The Moxi HD DVR is compatible with eSATA external hard drives certified for DVR use. External drives allow users to extend their hard drive space. Currently, drives up to 6.5TB are supported.[7]
Moxi HD DVRs support 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p 24 and 30 Hz TV resolutions. Automatic resolution switching passes through the native resolution of source programming, which helps to preserve picture quality. Moxi products also support down-conversion to standard definition. Cross-conversion between HD signals (720p and 1080i) are very good. However, up-conversion from SD to HD introduces significant video artifacts, and 480p output produces a very soft picture. It is recommended that 480p not be used, and that any up-conversions are done by the display hardware rather than the Moxi.
Moxi Mate hardware
The Moxi Mate is the multi-room extender for the Moxi HD DVR released in August 2009.[8] It is a small, silent set-top box that connects with the Moxi HD DVR over the home network, so users can browse and play live TV as well as recorded programs in other rooms. The Moxi Mate can also play media files available from the home network or the Internet using the same interface as the HD DVR. The Moxi Mate previously retailed for $299 but is no longer available for sale. Moxi features have been added to the Arris Moxi Gateway and Moxi Player, components of the ARRIS Whole Home Solution which is not a retail product (for sale to cable companies only)
Moxi Menu
The Moxi DVR features a user interface called the Moxi Menu. The Moxi Menu is presented fully in HD. It has a horizontal band that makes up the top level of menu choices. As users select a category on the horizontal band, choices within that category expand in a vertical list. When the user selects an item such as a channel or a piece of media, a popup menu gives them choices for that media, such as watch or record. The available choices vary depending on the type of item that is being accessed. If the user holds down an arrow button on the remote while navigating the menu, the menu scrolls by more quickly. A TV window in the upper right corner continues playing content while the menu is accessed.
The Moxi Menu includes two weeks of television programming information. There are a few ways to access live TV channels and television guide data. One is a more traditional Channels menu that allows viewing shows by channel. Moxi also provides an assortment of category menus that only contain certain types of TV shows, such as HDTV, Movies, Sports, Kids, News, and Music. Also, a Favorites category automatically populates with the channels watched most frequently.
By default, users can view program titles for multiple TV channels simultaneously, but, except for the currently selected or displayed channel, only for one time slot at a time. For the currently selected or displayed channel, the next three shows and their times are displayed in a paddle off to the right side of the vertical list. To see more time slots, users can use the BACK and NEXT buttons on the remote to scroll through time slots (this works on all menus) or can double press the askew 'square' button on the top row of the remote to view a more traditional TV channel grid guide (this only works for the Channels menu). While watching full-screen TV (with the Moxi Menu hidden), the Moxi Flip Bar (a bar that pops up on the bottom of the screen) provides programming information and ability to change channels by using the arrow keys on the remote.
Moxi can perform the following searches for TV programs: title, keyword, and category. Shows that broadcast in HD are recorded in HD as well. The DVR provides automatic conflict resolution when too many shows are scheduled to record. Users can choose to record single episodes or entire series, single timeslots or first run shows only. Recordings can be extended at the beginning or end of the scheduled timeslot. Recorded shows are accessed through a horizontal category called Recorded TV, where users can watch, delete, or protect their shows.
Moxi Menu provides access to parental controls through the settings category. Users can lock shows by TV, movie rating or channel. On Demand and Pay-Per-View purchase options can also be restricted.
MediaLink
Moxi's Media Link application uses DLNA-compliant servers on your computer to stream music, photos, and videos to your TV.[9] Any DLNA server will work with the Moxi HD DVR, but TwonkyMedia Manager, Tversity Media Server, Windows Media Connect, and PlayOn are fully tested. PlayOn also provides the ability to access user's Hulu and Netflix accounts, as well as particular YouTube videos.
Games
A variety of single and two player games can be played with the remote. They range from casino favorites to arcade classics to intuitive family games. They have been optimized for the Moxi remote control, and are designed to be played with the arrow keys and OK buttons. Game titles include: Solitaire, Battleship, Checkers, Video Poker, Blackjack, Bijoux, Blast It, Tomato, Invasion Wave and Bowling. The Moxi-exclusive Tomato game allows you to throw a virtual tomato and watch it splat on anything that appears on your TV screen.
Moxi.com and Remote Scheduling
The Moxi HD DVR uses an online service called Moxi.com to receive its television guide data and other online services. On first setting up a Moxi, the user is required to register the device at Moxi.com to configure television guide settings and other online services. Moxi.com also provides a central location for users to manage their Moxi devices and features.
Using Moxi.com, users can access TV listings via the internet and remotely schedule TV recordings. Users can also review the list of recordings on their home DVR and see a list of previously scheduled and upcoming recordings. The online scheduling service supports realtime conflict resolution; so if a new recording is scheduled from the web that conflicts with an existing recording, the user will be given the same resolution options they would receive if they were interacting with the DVR directly.
SuperTicker
One of the more innovative interactive TV widgets, the Moxi SuperTicker, provides one-touch access to weather, sports scores, news, and other information. It appears as an info crawl at the bottom of TV, with the actual TV video scaled down so that no actual video content is obscured. Unlike bound tickers, Moxi's SuperTicker(TM) stays on the screen when you change channels. Customers can use the arrow buttons on the remote to navigate through SuperTicker(TM) content and lock on a specific topic, such as a current football game. A customer can also display the full text of any displayed headline.
Flickr, Rhapsody, and FineTune
The Moxi HD DVR supports the free online photo-sharing service Flickr. Because of this, users can post pictures on Flickr and then view those photos on their Moxi HD DVR by adding their Flickr account through Moxi.com. Multiple Flickr accounts or members can be added, so it is possible to browse publicly shared pictures from many people's accounts quickly and seamlessly. The Moxi also allows users to choose the format pictures will be viewed in; with current options being a slideshow or a mosaic.
The online music services Rhapsody and Finetune are also supported by the Moxi. Finetune is presented in a walled-garden style web browser while Rhapsody is fully integrated into the Moxi Menu. A single Rhapsody account can be registered on a user's Moxi.com account and this will allow use of the Rhapsody features on all devices on that account. Rhapsody featured music, playlists, and channels can be listed; among other things. A search interface is also provided.
MoxiNet
The MoxiNet feature provides both a walled garden experience with content designed for the television and the ability to bookmark particular Web sites for display on the TV.
Cable DVR products
Moxi Cable HD DVRs have been available for several years and have been used by cable operators long before the retail product line was released.
Hardware and feature availability
There are multiple models of Moxi Cable HD DVRs currently in the marketplace. Moxi's cable offering involves a software platform and management and distribution portal that can be ported to a range of hardware devices. This software platform includes the range of Moxi functions and features, as well as the flexibility for MSOs to offer different subsets for individual markets.
On Demand and Pay-Per-View
Moxi cable's interface allows you to browse, preview and purchase On Demand programming. Users can surf through On Demand titles in a designated menu category, or find On Demand titles included within the search and browse results alongside Pay-Per-View (PPV), live TV and recorded show listings. Parental Controls can be applied to On Demand and Pay-Per-View the same way they are applied to regular channels.
Photos
The Cable DVR photo features differ from retail. Cable DVRs features one-touch import of photos from memory cards, which stores photos on the media center hard disk drive. Photo albums can also be imported from a digital camera via the USB port. Once imported, users are able to view the photo albums in a full screen slideshow. It supports most memory card formats, including CompactFlash-I, CompactFlash-II, Smart Memory, Memory Stick, MicroDrive, Multimediacard and Secure Digital Card.
PC Link
Instead of MediaLink, the cable DVR features PC Link, which uses the Windows Media Connect application on a PC to stream music and photos to the Moxi Cable HD DVR. Files appear alongside locally stored media, and have an icon that distinguishes them.
Jukebox
The cable Moxi Jukebox allows users to copy music from CDs to the hard drive so that the CD can be taken elsewhere. Music is organized into genre, artist, or album view.
Awards
Emmy Awards
2005 Advanced Media Technology Emmy
The Moxi Media Center was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Creation of Non-Traditional Programs or Platforms.[10]
2004 Best TV User Interface
Digeo, Inc. was awarded an Advanced Media Technology Emmy for its innovative Moxi Media Center User Interface, called the Moxi Menu. The Moxi Menu's dual-axis navigation puts content choices on the menu's top level, minimizing the number of clicks a user needs to go through. In addition, the Mini-TV window allows viewers to watch programming while surfing through the menu.
See also
References
- CNET: Rearden Steel unveils multimedia system
- New York Times: TECHNOLOGY; Interactive TV Deal Unites Moxi Digital With Digeo
- ARRIS Purchases Digeo, Inc. in Cash Transaction
- Engadget HD: 500GB Moxi HD DVR now available, really
- Burns, Matt (November 10, 2009). "ARRIS outs a 3-tuner Moxi HD DVR, drops prices across the board". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- Suciu, Peter (October 16, 2009). Boylan, Chris (ed.). "Moxi HD DVR Review". Big Picture Big Sound. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Moxi® HD DVR" (PDF). ARRIS. 2009.
- Engadget HD: The Moxi Summer update brings the Moxi Mate, SDV support and more
- Engadget HD: Moxi's spring updates brings PlayOn, DLNA and a little home automation
- "NATIONAL TELEVISION ACADEMY ANNOUNCES EMMY WINNING ACHIEVEMENTS: HONORS BESTOWED AT 57TH ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING EMMY AWARDS" (Press release). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2011.