How's Patrick?

[illuscon]

Has anyone kept up with Patrick Cosson to see how he's doing? I was at his LinkedIn page and it hasn't been updated since he was forced out of VUDU. He was an honorable, stand up guy and a few us who were early adopters were concerned.

[larrs]

Re: How's Patrick?

When did this happen? Where did he go? Is this bad news for Vudu?

Inquiring minds want to know...

[bitnetmonkey]

Re: How's Patrick?

It appears he did update his page:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/patrick/cosson

New Company:
http://www.glidetv.com/

[NA9D]

Re: How's Patrick?

When did this happen? Where did he go? Is this bad news for Vudu?

Inquiring minds want to know...

Patrick Cosson was the early VP Marketing. He is responsible for the initial way the product came to market.

The other "Patrick" known here on the forums was a Senior Product Manager. It is my understanding that he recently left Vudu as well.

[kevivoe]

Re: How's Patrick?

So we know who is gone, it might be easier if we knew who is left.

I want to know future plans to boost audio, at least to DD+ and then TrueHD and DTS-MA. Is there a plan for an HDMI 1.3a box? These questions are holding me back from buying box #2.

[NA9D]

Re: How's Patrick?

So we know who is gone, it might be easier if we knew who is left.

I want to know future plans to boost audio, at least to DD+ and then TrueHD and DTS-MA. Is there a plan for an HDMI 1.3a box? These questions are holding me back from bying box #2.

Well, I think your wait will be a while. Why?

1.) The Broadcom chip in the current box does not support TrueHD and DTA-MA AFAIK. And I think to output any of those, you'd need HDMI 1.3a anyhow. I think you need that to output DD+. The downstream audio is encoded in DD+ as it makes the DD5.1 stream more efficient. But I also believe the chip can only output DD5.1.

2.) It is unlikely that the higher audio formats would be supported anytime soon, anyhow. The bandwidth requirements for supporting multiple high def audio streams is significant. Vudu would have to support normal DD5.1 streams as well so now you are adding multiple audio streams that could take up as much as the video stream. Since 98% of the market can't utilize the higher end streams, it doesn't make sense to add them anyhow.

3.) I doubt an HDMI 1.3a box will be hitting the market any time soon. I read somewhere that the next rumored product is going to be lower tier than the current BX100. I read that some place and that is not a statement of anything that I know.

The cost to develop and test new hardware is significant. Software is much easier. Vudu has enough on their plate right now and needs to build a solid user base first before expanding the hardware too much. They need to start turning a profit first, IMHO. Other software needs are such things as some sort of off-box user storage, playing other user media files, instant HDX, etc.

Bottom line: You'll be waiting a LONG time for that HDMI 1.3a box methinks...

[Citizen Erased]

Re: How's Patrick?

3.) I doubt an HDMI 1.3a box will be hitting the market any time soon. I read somewhere that the next rumored product is going to be lower tier than the current BX100. I read that some place and that is not a statement of anything that I know.

Makes sense. Allow external storage and then start shipping a cheaper box with a smaller hard drive. 80GB should be enough for rentals if they can also fit the database and the reserved space for p2p activity.

[Rusdude]

Re: How's Patrick?

Patrick Cosson was the early VP Marketing. He is responsible for the initial way the product came to market.

The other "Patrick" known here on the forums was a Senior Product Manager. It is my understanding that he recently left Vudu as well.

Didn't know the "other" Patrick -- the one who wrote VUDU blog -- had left.

[aaronwt]

Re: How's Patrick?

Even a lower tired product could have HDMI 1.3.

I know if they do introduce a box with HDMI 1.3 and the ability to bitstream the DD+, I will buy at least one.

Well, I think your wait will be a while. Why?

1.) The Broadcom chip in the current box does not support TrueHD and DTA-MA AFAIK. And I think to output any of those, you'd need HDMI 1.3a anyhow. I think you need that to output DD+. The downstream audio is encoded in DD+ as it makes the DD5.1 stream more efficient. But I also believe the chip can only output DD5.1.

2.) It is unlikely that the higher audio formats would be supported anytime soon, anyhow. The bandwidth requirements for supporting multiple high def audio streams is significant. Vudu would have to support normal DD5.1 streams as well so now you are adding multiple audio streams that could take up as much as the video stream. Since 98% of the market can't utilize the higher end streams, it doesn't make sense to add them anyhow.

3.) I doubt an HDMI 1.3a box will be hitting the market any time soon. I read somewhere that the next rumored product is going to be lower tier than the current BX100. I read that some place and that is not a statement of anything that I know.

The cost to develop and test new hardware is significant. Software is much easier. Vudu has enough on their plate right now and needs to build a solid user base first before expanding the hardware too much. They need to start turning a profit first, IMHO. Other software needs are such things as some sort of off-box user storage, playing other user media files, instant HDX, etc.

Bottom line: You'll be waiting a LONG time for that HDMI 1.3a box methinks...

[NA9D]

Re: How's Patrick?

But since the Broadcom chip does not support HDMI 1.3a, it would require a completely new architecture. It's not likely that you'd want to redesign a completely new architecture for a low tier product when you already have a hardware base established. This is particularly true for the fact that most people who would buy a low tier box hardly know what HDMI is let alone HDMI 1.3a or the equipment to take advantage of it.

A new architecture and new processor might mean completely new firmware. So then Vudu would have to maintain two sets of firmware which also adds to cost.

Rather I'd see a low cost box as one with a smaller hard drive, maybe less memory, lack of a port for the IR controller, perhaps no component output, maybe no USB, etc.

[DCa71]

Re: How's Patrick?

But since the Broadcom chip does not support HDMI 1.3a, it would require a completely new architecture. It's not likely that you'd want to redesign a completely new architecture for a low tier product when you already have a hardware base established. This is particularly true for the fact that most people who would buy a low tier box hardly know what HDMI is let alone HDMI 1.3a or the equipment to take advantage of it.

A new architecture and new processor might mean completely new firmware. So then Vudu would have to maintain two sets of firmware which also adds to cost.

Broadcom has been in the set-top-box business for a long time and it is core to their strategy. They (as well as their competitors) always try to maintain as much compatibility as possible between chip generations, because they know that they will keep many of their customers captive due to the huge cost of designing firmware from scratch. So it is very likely that future generations of Broadcom STB chips will use the same CPU core and architecture as the current one.