Samsung unveiled a unique set-top box a couple days ago a Christmas in August event in New York. The Home Media Center includes bi-directional cable reception, an SD and HD PVR, music playback, image playback, and VOIP (voice over IP) cable telephony functions.

The Home Media Center is based on Digeo’s Moxi menu interface software and X-Stream x86 processor. The first iteration of the Home Media Center will be distributed on a lease-basis through cable partners, but Samsung is hoping to have a retail version of the device as early as late 2006, after dual-tuner capability has been enabled for bidirectional CableCARD devices.

“Cable in general is a very important issue for us, in terms of trying to enable cable’s quadruple play,” said Stepen Goldstein, Samsung digital set-top box group’s business development manager. “We are one of the few companies that are building everything from an HD DVR Home Media Center to stringing up Wrath servers to enable 4G Networks. These are all things that cable operators are either looking at or currently deploying.”

The interesting part in there is the bidirectional CableCARD support. CableCARD’s main problem is that it is unidirectional. I use Rogers, for example. Why would Rogers want to support CableCARD if they can’t sell their customers and video-on-demand (VOD) or pay-per-view (PPV) programming? It’s just not in their best interest. So I don’t expect CableCARD support from Rogers anytime soon. But CableCARD-Host Interface License Agreements is bidirectional, so those kinds of things should be possible. “Samsung is working to develop fully integrated bidirectional digital CableCARD-enabled televisions that will receive interactive cable television, voice and data services, as well as outboard set-top devices with similar functionality”.

Link: TWICE - Samsung Readies 2-Way Cable Products