Audio Video News

The Xcalibur box can search live TV, on demand, and recorded material including web material. No, it doesn't offer the same broad selection of web video that you'd get on a PC or other browser-equipped device. But Comcast people say the selection will broaden over time as the device moves from the current testing stage to more widespread use.

The Wall Street Journal describes the interface as "fluid and graphical. A menu displays a strip of images representing recently watched channels and programs, which expand when selected. A redesigned 'guide' displays a cleaner grid of programs by network and airtime so that it's possible to watch TV on part of the screen while browsing."

In late November Comcast began offering on-demand movie titles from every major studio day and date with the films' DVD debut in its Pittsburgh and Denver markets for $4 per viewing. On-demand video availability for major movies has typically lagged 30-45 days behind the DVD release, creating an exclusive window for DVD sales and rentals, which has certainly not helped on-demand's popularity. If this practice extends beyond these markets and to other cable and satellite operators it seems likely that DVD sales will continue to erode.

If you're a Comcast subscriber and an iPad user, make sure you download the XFINITY TV app. While not the streaming app widely hoped for, it's at least partially there. The killer feature is that it lets Comcast subscribers stream TV to their iPad from anywhere there's a WiFi signal. No 3G streaming yet. Before you get too excited, there's some limitations.