If you’re reading this blog you’re probably not a person still using an antenna with an analog-only TV or receiver who will be in need of a converted box come February, 2009. But perhaps you know some poor benighted individual who is still living with NTSC-only antenna television, who will be out of luck without a converter box. In that case, Dave Zatz over at Zatz Not Funny is giving away his DVTPal review box. Good luck!

Following up on his initial hands-on post, Dave Zatz has received his own DTVPal and he’s shot some unboxing and setup video.

The Dish Network DTVPal, formerly the known less snappily as the TR40, is getting closer to launch. Dave Zatz, of Zatz Not Funny, got some hands on time with the DTVPal and the new retail packaging. He has photos of the packaging, unit, and remote, as well as some of the screens. He also has one of the retail DTVPal on top of the TR40 prototype that was displayed at CES, showing just how much the unit has shrunk - quite a bit.

Friday marked a status conference between TiVo and Dish Network/EchoStar before the trial judge (transcript is here, thanks to Mainer_Ayah at InvestorVillage). Nothing was really accomplished, they’ll meet again on September 4th for a contempt hearing on the injunction against Dish Network. And it looks like the court will not be considering Dish Network’s claim of a workaround with their new software. The court will also consider enhancing the damages awarded to TiVo.

And, seemingly in response to the court not considering their workaround, Dish Network & EchoStar filed suit against TiVo in a Delaware court, asking them to find that their new software does not infringe on TiVo’s ‘389 patent. A victory would allow them to continue selling DVRs with the new software without threat of further litigation. However, it seems highly unlikely that the case will reach the court in Delaware before the Texas court meets again in September. So it isn’t clear what, if any, impact this will have on the existing case.

Multichannel News has some good coverage of the situation.

DISH Network has launched a website for their DTVPal Digital-To-Analog Converter set-top box, the STB formerly known as the TR40. A prototype was shown as CES in Sling Media branding, but it looks like they’ll be marketing it as DISH Network. Which actually seems a little confusing to me, as people associate DISH Network with satellite, and might not understand this is a terrestrial ATSC converter box. It is unclear if the DTVPal may yet also show up in Sling Media and/or EchoStar branding.

According to the website the DTVPal will be available for order in ‘late June’, though prices are not yet listed. It is a very simple device. It has one input - antenna coax, two sets out outputs - one RF coax modulated for channel 3 or 4 and one composite video with stereo audio, and one power connector. For such a simple device the remote has a number of buttons, but the image is too small to make out what they’re all labeled. Though they have loaded the box with a number of extra features, which probably explains the buttons. Among the features are an EPG, closed-caption decoding, parental controls, an event timer to auto-tune scheduled programs, and a program search function.

No word yet on the DTVPal DVR, which seems to be the new name for the TR50 OTA DVR shown at CES. It is looking like ‘DVTPal’ will be the new branding for OTA ATSC devices from EchoStar.

Disclaimer: I’m currently employed by Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar, who produces the DTVPal for DISH Network. Convoluted enough? It’s like Dark Helmut and Lone Starr.

Responding to TiVo’s recent filing, Dish Network has made their own filing. As expected, they maintain that they are in compliance with the injunction due to their software update. Links to all of the sections of the document can be found at InvestorVillage. They can also be downloaded as a single 10MB zipfile. A collection of all the documents from the case can be found here, via InvestorVillage.

TiVo made a filing with the court yesterday in their case with EchoStar, and it has been posted over at InvestorVillage. Here’s the first part of their filing:

Dear Judge Folsom:

Pursuant to the Court’s April 23, 2008 Order (Docket No. 822), plaintiff TiVo submits two topics of discussion for the status conference on May 30, 2008: (1) Enforcement of the Court’s Permanent Injunction, and (2) Determination of the damages TiVo sustained during the stay of the injunction. The issues relating to each topic are set forth in Section B of this letter.

To provide prompt resolution of these issues, TiVo requests:

• A hearing at the earliest possible date to determine whether EchoStar should be held in contempt for its failure to disable the DVR functionality in the Infringing Products and for its placement of new infringing DVRs (and new EchoStar products that are only colorably different); and

• Permission to serve limited discovery to obtain additional information before determining the damages TiVo sustained during the stay of the injunction, and, if necessary, bringing a motion for an order to show cause why EchoStar is not in contempt for the continuing use of the Infringing Products, changed only by downloading modified, but still infringing, software (and new EchoStar products that are only colorably different).

TiVo is also prepared to address any questions that the Court may have about the pending Bill of Costs that TiVo submitted on September 22, 2006, which is awaiting resolution. TiVo’s requested costs total $333,600.03.

The Honorable David Folsom

There is a lot more in the complete filing, so check it out if you’re interested. TiVo does not agree with EchoStar that the latter’s software update has eliminated the infringement:

On May 12, 2008, EchoStar made its modified source code available for review by TiVo. EchoStar also waived privilege and produced to TiVo three opinions of counsel relating to EchoStar’s modified software. After review of the software that EchoStar provided and the opinion letters, TiVo does not believe that the modifications avoid infringement.

So the saga continues, despite recent analyst speculation that Dish Network is close to settling with TiVo.

Thanks to reader Jack for the heads up on the post.

EDIT: Here’s a link to the full filing with exhibits, as a PDF. Created and posted by ‘Mainer’ from the InvestorVillage boards.

Disclaimer: I’m currently employed by Sling Media, which is owned by EchoStar.

Western Digital already has eSATA MyDVR Expander models for Cisco/Scientific Atlanta DVRs and TiVo, and now they’ve released a USB model for Dish Network DVRs. The $149.99 500GB USB drive adds up to 60 hours of HD capacity or 300 hours of SD capacity to the Dish Network ViP Series HD DVR.

Picked up from The Gagdetress.

Dish Network just held a ‘Team Summit’ and some interesting news is making its way out. SatelliteGuys.us posted a report from the General Assembly which includes an overview of upcoming Dish Network DVRs, including what I think is the most interesting - the 722s, with built-in Slingbox!

Then Mark and Leslie introduce something that blows me away… The 722s. Its a 722 with Sling technology built in. Besides having Slingbox technology built in it also has Clip and sling which will let you send clips to friends. The 722s has a totally new interface, it has a guide with channel logos plus a totally new UHF remote, which features a touchpad and a trigger below it. This s a amazing unit. The front of the 722s also features al touch technology with no buttons and is backlit instead of using LCD’s. They are looking at having 1TB drive at launch, however 500 GB will be used by Dish and the DVR will come loaded with name HD movies preloaded on the drive. The 722s also has a built in browser (although Jackson said it will only go to certain sites and will be tightly integrated with Yahoo.)

But it is more than just a Slingbox with Clip+Sling - it is a SlingCatcher too!

Out comes Sling CEO Blake Kerkorian and he talks about the Slingbox and talks a little more about the 722s. The 722 will be able to do Clip & Sling and Slingcatcher, plus it will be able to run more applications as well.

So it is a Dish PVR, Slingbox, and SlingCatcher all in one. And from a follow-up post in that thread, it will be an HD Slingbox, like the upcoming Slingbox PRO-HD.

This isn’t really surprising in general, since EchoStar purchased Sling Media last year, but I think this is the first time we’ve heard of this as a real product and not just speculation. And being a SlingCatcher too wasn’t something I’d seen discussed before. The built in web browser is interesting, though it is a shame they have it restricted. (And I’d presume that only works for boxes connected to broadband, same with the Slingbox capability.)

That’s not all they talked about at the summit. The 700MHz spectrum Dish picked up at auction recently was mentioned, unsurprisingly, as a carrier for Dish Mobile. So you’ll be able to access D