Samsung today announced the availability of its OpenCableTM High Definition DVR for tru2wayTM digital cable deployments. Tru2wayTM refers to interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network. Cable operators have committed to deploy support for the tru2way platform in service areas covering more than 90 million U.S. homes by the end of 2008.

The SMT-3090 has...

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Will this work as well as CableCards?

Is this "Multistream CableCard" the long promised 2-way addressable version of the existing CableCard technology? If so, let's hope that they are better thought out and perform more consistently. The current CableCard products are functionally practically worthless when they work at all.

I am very pleased with the three cable cards I have. The problem is not cable cards or the cable card standards; the problem is standards, standards, and standards at the cable company along with a huge level of ignorance when it comes to installing them.

Richard,

You are right about the cards. I was referring to the lack of functionality in these cards rendering them worthless to most new TV buyers. I sell HDTV product nationwide for a major retailer, and once customers find out that they are unable to access on-demand movies or the DVR capabilities without purchasing a separate DVR, virtually all of them lose any interest in the cable card feature. which brings me back to my initial question:

Is this "Multistream CableCard" the long promised 2-way addressable version of the existing CableCard technology?

The two way function has to do with the receiver, not the cards. ALL cable cards have always supported two way. Based on this press release either Samsung is applying their own marketing term to what already exists or have piggy backed some features using the standard.

CableCARD Basics
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2007/01/cablecard_basics.php

Includes a link to the originator if you want to study the specs.

Thanks, Richard. That is some terrific information.