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Echostar
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satellite
sling modem
EchoStar Sling Modem Finally Official
The Sling Modem cable modem + Slingbox device we saw back in January is finally launching. The first network to carry it is EchoStar, which has a really tight relationship with Sling seeing as it purchased them last fall. With this, you'll be able to use the same box for your cable internet to surf and stream video to your portable devices. We're always happy when we can make two gadgets into one.
espionage
This is classic corporate espionage/sabotage at its finest. Dish Network is accusing News Corp.—which used to have a 39 percent stake in DirecTV and still provides its security tech—of hiring hacker Christopher Tarnovsky to break into Dish's network, steal the security codes, and use them to make pirated cards to flood the black market. It sounds insane, but Tarnovsky admitted in court he was paid James Bond villain style, with $20,000 cash payments mailed from Canada hidden inside "electronic devices."
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News Corp. Hires Hacker to Break Into Dish Satellite Network, Steal Security Codes for Pirate Cards
This is classic corporate espionage/sabotage at its finest. Dish Network is accusing News Corp.—which used to have a 39 percent stake in DirecTV and still provides its security tech—of hiring hacker Christopher Tarnovsky to break into Dish's network, steal the security codes, and use them to make pirated cards to flood the black market. It sounds insane, but Tarnovsky admitted in court he was paid James Bond villain style, with $20,000 cash payments mailed from Canada hidden inside "electronic devices."
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tivo
Tivo Defeats Echostar for Stealing DVR Patent in Epic Court Battle Once and For All
Two years after initially smacking down Echostar (now just Dish Network) in court for stepping on its patent for a "multimedia time warping system" (aka a DVR) Tivo has clinched
700mhz
Dish's Surprise 700MHz Win Means What?
Dish Networks, sat TV provider, has won a block of the 700MHz band in the FCC's recent auction. Given Dish's primary business is television from the heavens, one has to wonder what they're up to. At first, I thought internet, as DirecTV has. But the analysts say that the tiny corner of the band that Dish bought is actually not suitable for 2-way communication, and is better for broadcast. Maybe they're planning to pipe their channels over the airwaves. That could be useful in portables. [Yahoo]
home entertainment
EchoStar Splits, Sling Media Could Reap the Benefits
According to a recent SEC filing, Sling Media's parent company, EchoStar, has formally changed its name to the DISH Network —a move that better aligns the company with its core satellite TV service. A spin-off company called EchoStar Holdings was also formed and, as part of the move, it will be taking over the Sling Media brand. What does this mean for Sling Media and their popular line of Slingbox products? More »
patents
Patent Office Re-Koshers TiVo's Time Warp Patent Over EchoStar
TiVo already stomped EchoStar out in court a year and a half ago in a patent dispute over TiVo's "multimedia time warping system." Refresher: EchoStar cobbled together its own DVR setup, TiVo sued and won. EchoStar appeals to the US patent office for a review of TiVo's patent. Today: The PTO finds TiVo's patent to be valid in a decision that's "final and not appealable by EchoStar." Still left on the fight circuit, however, is the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, but the PTO's decision for TiVo makes it all the more probable they'll uphold the original ruling and injunction against EchoStar. TiVo's take after the jump. [Flickr] More »
sling media
Sling Media to be Acquired by EchoStar for $380 Million
Sling Media, the company that brought you the Slingbox and SlingPlayer software, has been bought by EchoStar. The corporation, which owns the DISH pay-TV network, has valued Sling Media at $380 million, and the sale should take place before the end of the year. Full press release is below. More »
wimax
DirecTV and EchoStar Partner For WiMAX Internet Access
This deal between DirectTV, EchoStar (DISH's parent), and Clearwire (a WiMAX service provider) seems to be the first big solid WiMAX push in the US, if everything goes to plan. In the agreement two big satellite TV providers will get a broadband service of their own—something they apparently think they need to compete with cable and DSL—and Clearwire's WiMAX will get some large exposure to the public. More »
home entertainment
AT&T Launches HomeZone, Yawn
AT&T announced today the launch of their Homezone satellite TV service. Included in the service is the Homezone DVR (pictured). It can record regular DISH Network satellite feeds—you can also schedule recording via the Internet. The big kicker of the service is a movies-on-demand download service. This service is being powered by Movielink and individual new releases will rent for $4.99. More »
wireless
DirecTV, Echostar to Introduce Broadband Service
WildBlue Communications has announced a partnership with EchoStar and DirecTV to sell satellite broadband service. WildBlue is generally known for targeting rural areas where tradition cable or DSL broadband access is limited. They currently serve about 60,000 customers throughout the U.S. and will be looking to gain a lot more from DirecTV's 30 million subscribers. No money terms have been arranged yet, but the agreement will make WildBlue the satellite-broadband service provider for DirecTV and EchoStar for five years. Good news for people living in the middle of nowhere. Time to ditch cow tipping for something a bit more educational, like MySpace whoring. More »
home entertainment
TiVo Beats EchoStar's Butt
TiVo went up against EchoStar in a patent infrigement lawsuit and won, with a jury awarding TiVo $73 million in damages. Why the lawsuit? When EchoStar put together its own digital video recorder for its Dish Network, TiVo cried foul, saying that its patent for a "multimedia time warping system" was violated by EchoStar's DVR. More »
home entertainment
