Comcast Pushes New X1 Features

Comcast has rolled another batch of upgrades and enhancements for its cloud-based X1 platform, including two centered on search and discovery.

Following the debut of Kids Zone, a features that presents content that is rated and reviewed by Common Sense Media for age-appropriateness, Comcast has enhanced it with integrated search. That will let kids “search safely and independently within Kids Zone for their favorite TV series, movies and channels” using the remote, Peter Nush, vice president, product management at Comcast Cable, explained in this blog post.

X1 has also added Spanish to the voice control feature of a new remote that’s now in about 1.5 million Comcast subscriber homes. Comcast, which is distributing about 70,000 new voice remotes a week, said the device now works with commands in Spanish, noting that the feature still carries the beta label.

Comcast has also introduced an enhanced music video search function, while the Comcast Labs unit is kicking the tires on a new playlist editing tool that lets customers rename and reorder their selections.

Comcast has deployed X1 across its footprint, and about 25% of its video sub base is now on the platform. The MSO recently ratcheted up deployment to 40,000 X1 boxes per day, up from a previous level of 25,000.