Last month a temporary kibosh went into effect for OEMs shipping PCs with ATI CableCARD readers, due to inconsistency in their performance.

Last night, we got the long-awaited firmware update from ATI. Next week, we'll report our finding as we use the firmware to test Sony's new XL3 as well as update our other CableCARD systems:

·Dell XPS 410

· Velocity Micro CineMagix Grand Theater

According to ATI representatives, "there were reports that some customers lost premium content when they switched channels from digital to analog and back to digital. " For those who picked up a CableCARD action before the drought (Velocity Micro claims to have sold out inventory, but is expecting a new shipment this Monday), we got word from Velocity Micro and Sony that the firmware update will be posted on their website as early as this Monday.

-Post By PJ Jacobowitz