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Multimedia Home Entertainment System for Linux
An anonymous reader writes "A group at the University of Saarland in Germany has been busy
developing a Linux-based networked multimedia home entertainment
system. The project consists of two parts: the
Network-Integrated Multimedia Middleware
(NMM), to provide a common framework for audio and video playback
using open source software, and the
Multimedia-Box,
a Linux box outfitted to be a TV receiver (digital and analog), video recorder, and a
CD-, DVD-, and MP3- player using the NMM. Screen shots of the
inside
of the Multimedia-Box and the
user interface
are available, as well as videos and a
detailed description
(PDF) of the hardware and software used throughout. Can't wait to
stick one of these on my network..."
A project like this is more worth my time than modding X-Boxes (which are too pricey outside of the US).
"Backups are for wimps. Real men upload their data to an FTP site and have everyone else mirror it." -- Linus Torvalds
The hardware looks big and ugly. My media center Linux box is smaller and nicer looking than the one they are using. I mean really what does a media center need a floppy drive for?
The software looks nice though. I'll have to see if I can try it. Their software looks nicer than mine. Will have to see how it stacks up as far as functionality.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
Just because Linux starts expanding into new markets doesn't mean it will start failing in the server market. I think this is a good thing. The more uses Linux has, the more ways it can be marketed to people, and the more people will use it.
DeCSS is legal in the country where I live...
Also I cannot imagine how movies could be "criminally stolen", since making copies for personal use of copyrighted works (except software) is legal in many countries.
That is, the interface (to its credit!) looks a lot like MythTV. That's important because it means the control interface could be used on a variety of low-res output devices, like those little LCD panels for the car. (How much do those cost these days?) Interfaces built on the assumption of a high-res monitor degrade poorly, but this one looks well done.
:)
:) -- easy enough to add audio playback formats. I'm sure that these could sell well at a price close to $400. If the developers are reading, I'm offering :)
Wrapping it all up in guaranteed-working hardware etc is a smart idea of the sort that people have been whining for it for a long time. Glad these guys actually did it
Some wishlist items for the next generation:
1) provisions for monitor-less use as a car entertainment system (there are EPIA systems which I think would have enough power to do what this box does, and I believe there are 12v power supplies for them, too).
2) I don't see anything on there about Ogg playback (or FLAC for that matter), and these would both be necessary features in the perfect Anything Box. I don't have any music in FLAC yet, but I know I will in the near future.
Those are pretty trivial complaints, of course
timothy
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
Exactly, I figure if people spend time making their software pretty, they spent no time making it do stuff
The great advantage of having a reputation for being stupid: People are less suspicious of you.
what kernel are you running on it? I've been researching the XPCs but have heard about lockups w/kernels post 2.4.17... thx.
Theres a couple of reasons, the first is pure geek - "I bet I can make my box into a complete entertainment system" the second is also pure geek "My Linux Entertainment Unit is better than your Linux Entertainment unit".
Seriously though competition is good. With different groups competiting for the same market you can be sure that the cool features will be coming thick and fast.