The service, which will be initially rolled out in Boston, will have the following features:

In conjunction with the X1 service, Comcast is also introducing an X1 app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It allows you to control X1's online guide with touchscreen gestures. For example, you can swipe the screen of your device to page through the guide on your TV screen. You can create favorites and shortcuts, too, as well as pause On Demand content by shaking your device.

Other features of the app include using a device's virtual keyboard to search for programming, filtering content by genre and HD format, controlling a DVR, and interacting with X1's social media tools and apps.

"The X1 platform makes the TV smarter, richer and more personalized --and that's only the beginning," Comcast Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services Marcien Jenckes said in a .

"Our goal is to leverage this platform to redefine the entertainment experience for our customers," he continued. "X1 is a giant leap forward, essentially transforming our video product from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to innovate faster and more aggressively."