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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..."

125 comments

  1. Actual Fag Post on the Internet by Original+AIDS+Monkey · · Score: -1

    "new to area...horny, very....need to spread a smooth hispanic or white ass and slip some hot black cock into it and pump a poz load in it....."

    http://cp.barebackcity.com/showmessage.asp?2573

    --


    =======
    P.S. Bite! You've been bitten by the Original AIDS Monkey! You have AIDS now!
    1. Re:Actual Fag Post on the Internet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      I that Katz?

    2. Re:Actual Fag Post on the Internet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
      Maybe.

      Not suprisingly Michael is also featured on that site.

  2. For gawds sake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Linux, Linux, Linux FUCKIN LINUX!

    I'm sick of hearing about the piece of shit.

    1. Re:For gawds sake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Then make this your Slashdot front page.

  3. Um.. ahh... first... post? by Subjective · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Hmm. Didn't ever see me doing this.
    Cool, though

    Seems like too much special hardware for something that for most features, software will do nicely

    --
    My other .sig is also this bad
    1. Re:Um.. ahh... first... post? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why Designing new hardware, just wait until Microsoft releases the new X-BOX. It has just the hardware you need for your Linux Multimedia Home Entertainment System. Ready-to-go and sponsered by BillyBoy

  4. And no ogg?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's linux for gosh sakes! There's no reason not to.

  5. in honor of tonight's 300th Simpsons Episode... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mmmmmmm....

    Linux Entertainment System, kghallll......

  6. No .ogg out of the box?? by Agent+Green · · Score: 1



    At least it's linux, so adding codecs should be relatively simple. ;)

    --
    // Agent Green (Ian / IU7 / KB1JQO)
    // IEEE 802.3: All 10base Are Belong To Us
  7. Screenshots of the inside? by chrisseaton · · Score: 5, Funny

    We call screenshots of real things "photographs".

    1. Re:Screenshots of the inside? by Subjective · · Score: -1, Troll

      In Soviet Russia, software screenshots YOU!

      Just another step on the road to trolldom...

      --
      My other .sig is also this bad
    2. Re:Screenshots of the inside? by ndogg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, you old people are weird. I bet you still watch movies on "VHS" too.

      --
      // file: mice.h
      #include "frickin_lasers.h"
    3. Re:Screenshots of the inside? by Berzelius · · Score: 1

      I guess this depends on the 'matrix' you live in ...

  8. schweet... das multimedia box by Xpilot · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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
    1. Re:schweet... das multimedia box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Its die Multimediabox
      Glaub mir, ich spreche deutsch seit 29 Jahren.
      Joerg

    2. Re:schweet... das multimedia box by i+chose+quality · · Score: 1

      Und ich glaube, Du hast bei "it's" das Apostroph vergessen! Glaub mir, denn mein Deutsch wird erst seit ca. 13 Jahren durch Englisch beeinflusst. (natural speaker)

      "suess, die Multimedia-Box" wäre korrekt / would be correct

      --
      the computer is online
      i am not at it
      what a waste of ressources
  9. Awesome! by TopShelf · · Score: 3, Funny

    This will be perfect for my multimedia David Hasselhof collection...

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
    1. Re:Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
      Brilliant post. Too bad you don't have the +1 Karma bonus so more people might read it.

      Maybe you should consider this "premier" slashdot account on eBay.

    2. Re:Awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anything that enhances my David Hasselhof listening experience is A Good Thing(tm). "Hot Shot City" is particularly good; with this it will now be even better.

  10. There you go shitheads by MAKE+IT+STOP+ARRGGHH · · Score: -1

    Yeah like this is going to do anything for anyone. What a complete waste of time, just like dipshit hippy protestors. God willing, the next time all those doped out leftists gather in the same place we'll nuke it.

    --
    Chicken nanny devils are taking over the world.
  11. Hey... by j0nkatz · · Score: -1

    This thing would look great sitting next to my Indreama gaming console!

    --
    Don't mod me, bro'!!!!
    1. Re:Hey... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about my Nokia Media Terminal?!

  12. Legality of playback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I noted with some interest that this thing will play DVDs under Linux. As sucky as it is :-( , this isn't legal; like Redhat with MP3, this is a high profile target that needs the same walking on eggshells approach. All existing DVD playing software for Linux uses the illegal DeCSS codec, and I need hardly mention that the Linux kernel itself is currently in violation of the DMCA w.r.t media systems, as it has no TCPA to prevent criminally stolen movies from being played.

    1. Re:Legality of playback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      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.

    2. Re:Legality of playback by JonWan · · Score: 1, Redundant

      I need hardly mention that the Linux kernel itself is currently in violation of the DMCA w.r.t media systems, as it has no TCPA to prevent criminally stolen movies from being played.

      Since when does Windows(tm) stop you from playing "stolen" movies? Isn't that what most people use to violate copyright with?

    3. Re:Legality of playback by MoonFog · · Score: 5, Informative

      Where is DeCSS illegal ? DeCSS is perfectly legal when using it to play DVD's you own on your Linux box. At least here in Norway, as the trial against Jon Johansen stated a couple of months ago.

    4. Re:Legality of playback by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      I've never heard anything about the DMCA requiring all digital media to be played on "trustworthy architectures." There have been a couple of attempts to pass legislation like that, but it's never gone through.

      Memes are weird. I've noticed that a lot of people think that every time someone sues over copyright infringment, they're invoking the DMCA. Sure, the DMCA is a really obnoxious, overreaching law. But a lot of its critics don't understand what it's actually saying.

      --

      You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

    5. Re:Legality of playback by Meowharishi · · Score: 0

      Sir you are correct. Criminal Linux programmers have once again attempted CRIMINAL THEFT from the entertainment industry. This product should be stopped and all programmers and engineers thrown in jail for a good long time. I for one am sick and tired of seeing pathetic attempt after attempt to steal intellectual property from the rightful owners. Soon with enough legislation this awful trend will subside!!

      --
      mje0w!!!1!
    6. Re:Legality of playback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is legal where I live. If it isn't on your small country I think you should do something to change the situation instead of whining.

    7. Re:Legality of playback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Too true... :(
      Each time some long haired hippy zealot installs DeCSS, they're stealing from hard working artists in a manner which is just as bad, if not worse than walking into a record store and walking out with CDs under their jacket.

    8. Re:Legality of playback by Conor+Turton · · Score: 1

      DeCSS is only illegal in the US. All your points about Linux kernel being in violation of the DMCA etc shows just how much of an OPRESSED COMMUNIST STATE the U.S has become. Perhaps they could erect a statue of Stalin outside of the RIAA headquarters and Adolf Hitler outside of Congress..

      --
      Conor "You're not married,you haven't got a girlfriend and you've never seen Star Trek? Good Lord!" - Patrick Stewart
    9. Re:Legality of playback by scharkalvin · · Score: 3, Informative

      I need hardly mention that the Linux kernel itself is currently in violation of the DMCA w.r.t media systems, as it has no TCPA to prevent criminally stolen movies from being played.
      The Linux kernel does not in anyway perform any act that will allow you to play stolen movies. It does not circumvent any protection put in place by the makers of DVD hardware to prevent you from unauthorized viewing of DVD's.
      You need additional software to do that (the same is true of the Windows OS). Do not make the false claim that the Linux kernel violates the DMCA, it does NOT, you need to install DeCSS to do that. DeCSS will run fine under the Windows OS as well. Just because no one has offered a legal, licensed DVD player (for encrypted disks, un-incrypted disks may be legally played anywhere) for linux, does not mean that one could not be produced. And there ARE hardware solutions that available for playing DVD's on linux that ARE legal (at least as long as the hardware protections are not circumvented by the driver).

    10. Re:Legality of playback by evilviper · · Score: 1
      Where is DeCSS illegal?

      In the USA, thanks to the DMCA. There is a proposal to amend the DMCA to make provisions for fair-use, but until (and if) that it passed, it is illegial to use a program such as DeCSS.
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    11. Re:Legality of playback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NorWegians = fagg0rtS

    12. Re:Legality of playback by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      Perhaps they could erect a statue of Stalin outside of the RIAA headquarters and Adolf Hitler outside of Congress..

      We will, only we'll use the visage of George W. Bush, a real American hero.

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    13. Re:Legality of playback by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      shows just how much of an OPRESSED COMMUNIST STATE the U.S has become

      In Soviet Russia there was no copyright. Intellectual property even more so than other property is against the basic tenets of communism.

      Perhaps they could erect a statue of Stalin outside of the RIAA headquarters and Adolf Hitler outside of Congress..

      And the two opposites poles (Stalin vs Hitler) will cancel each other out, resulting in a middle-of-road democracy??

    14. Re:Legality of playback by JonWan · · Score: 1

      Do not make the false claim that the Linux kernel violates the DMCA, it does NOT, you need to install DeCSS to do that. DeCSS will run fine under the Windows OS as well.
      (There, the "bold" makes it easier to see)

      It seems you replied to the wrong post. I quoted the original and got modded down. I simply made the point that Windows(tm) was used as an OS to make copyright violations more than Linux. You're right, the OS shouldn't have anything to do with do with this, at least until Windows DRM(tm) is in full force.

      mod away I got plenty....

  13. Ugly hardware.. by MikeFM · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.
    1. Re:Ugly hardware.. by SN74S181 · · Score: 1

      You're telling us you don't store your .mp3 songlists on 5-1/4" floppy diskettes?

      Get with the program, dude. Retro is kool!

    2. Re:Ugly hardware.. by MikeFM · · Score: 1

      Silly me.. and here I was packing my computers with 120Gb drives.

      Now here is a nice problem for us. How many HD 5.25" floppies would it take to store a terabyte of data? How many cubic feet of space would they take up? How heavy would they be? How long would it take to hand swap through all those floppies? :)

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
    3. Re:Ugly hardware.. by SN74S181 · · Score: 1

      The more interesting problem:

      How many more thousands of hours will a 5.25" diskette last than a 120GB drive?

    4. Re:Ugly hardware.. by DanCo · · Score: 1
      [Checks current inventory]

      Let's see -

      ~200 20 year old 5.25" floppies -- ~30 still work 5 20 year old 20MB HDDs -- 5 still work

      Hardly conclusive, but if you extrapolate it out and blow it way the hell out of context, I'd say that hard drives will last longer than 5.25" floppies. Then again, my storage method for the floppies is something like this - "Wasn't there a sleeve for this sucker? Oh well - I'll just cram it back in the box without a sleeve/cram it in the box with another disk that has a sleeve..."

      --
      It's not my fault - greatness was thrust upon me.
    5. Re:Ugly hardware.. by SN74S181 · · Score: 1

      So you're saying you threw away all the defective 20MB HDDs and you kept the bad floppies?

      Also, it's a good bet the 10 year old hard drives(you don't really have all those 20 year old HDDs, do you? It must be cool to have some of the biggest 8" hard drives ever made!) were built one HELL of a lot more reliably than current hard drives. The imparative for the HD manufacturers now is to make them cheap and high capacity. If they last too long, too much money was spent producing them....

    6. Re:Ugly hardware.. by MikeFM · · Score: 1

      Shit, most the time by the time I take a new floppy out of the box they aren't even any good any more. I have so little need for such small amounts of storage that the damn things go bad before I use them. I don't remember floppies going bad so quickly in years past but I buy different brands of floppies, try different computers, different OS's, etc and sure enough the floppies go bad. I have my old floppies stored pretty well and almost none of them work fully. If there are multiple files on the disk usually some will work and some won't.

      I have 10yo hdd's still in active use. Most I've found last 5-7 years but a few have made it to 10 years. I think I have only one with a hdd that is older than that and still functional. I think it's an 8086 but I'd have to check. I don't really care how long an hdd lasts as long as it is at least 3-4 years. By the time it's getting old drive space has gotten so much cheaper that it's not a problem to toss the old drive. It's easy enough to copy over a hdd to a new hdd - a lot easier than copying 150,000 floppies.

      Be a stud - use punch cards. Punch cards don't go to hell if properly stored.

      --
      At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
    7. Re:Ugly hardware.. by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      I mean really what does a media center need a floppy drive for?

      Because you can stick SmartMedia, like you use in your digital camera, inside an adapter that lets it interface with a 3.5" floppy drive and look at your photos on your media center.

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    8. Re:Ugly hardware.. by DanCo · · Score: 1

      Nah - I only had 5 of the 20MB HDDs to start with, still have all of them. Keep in mind -- 2003-20=1983, so they're only 5.25" wide and single height. I agree with them being reliabile and well-built; I have a stack of hard drives that are in the 5-10 year old range that are dead, but not one of my drives > 15 years has died, not ever.

      --
      It's not my fault - greatness was thrust upon me.
  14. Will this kill Linux ? by Krapangor · · Score: -1, Troll
    Linux has a reputation as a rock-stable, high quality professional server system. Also the Linux admin crowd is well known to be creative, intelligent, professional and reliable. This is the main reason for Linux raising market share in the server business.
    However with more and more game applications like Quake and such mutlimedia entertaintment stuff appearing on Linux this all might change. People will regard it as a toy system of some CS students from Finland and chease to take it seriously. It don't have to mention the obvious effect and the open source community and the freedom of information at whole.

    Really I doubt that such "applications" are a good idea. I won't be surprised if Microsoft is sponsoring them with Windows pushing more and more to the server market.

    --
    Owner of a Mensa membership card.
    1. Re:Will this kill Linux ? by Subjective · · Score: 1

      That's silly. Microsoft is pushing 'Microsoft Flight Simulator' and stuff like that

      Besides, all the free software *nix movement has been called silly and amatuer and anything during its entire life, and that didn't kill any of it.

      --
      My other .sig is also this bad
    2. Re:Will this kill Linux ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      If their server is running Linux, then I'd say yes, it has already killed Linux. (Here's a mirror).

    3. Re:Will this kill Linux ? by gregsv · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

    4. Re:Will this kill Linux ? by Tony-A · · Score: 1

      Speaking as someone with a strong dislike of things like sound cards and screen saver, no. Stick a multimedia entertainment center on a production server. A decent OS will keep them from messing with each other too much. The main reason we're currently using Linux on servers is an early test where a fancy-schmancy screensaver did not impact the responsiveness of a telnet session.

    5. Re:Will this kill Linux ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Hey, dude! You're the shuxors! Fuck your dumb attitude and your snobbish profeshionalhismm! See if you can get the stick out of your ass long enuf to ram your dislike for sound cards in it! Fuck you buddy!

  15. Uh, you mean like TiVo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, boy, that's really hurting Linux's reputation. If Windows can survive daily crashes for users, I'm sure linux will be just fine. Most people that know what Linux is, know what it's good at. Most people who don't, don't really care.

  16. ist die by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Slashdot ist die größte Stelle je. Wir werden so erfreut. Wir Seite mit dem Französisch. Überfallen Sie den Irak bitte nicht. Warum. Sein WMD kann auch nicht Schlag Sie. NEIN?

  17. Nuts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dead. Anyone got a mirror?

  18. thanks but no thanks by evil_spork · · Score: -1

    I'd prefer that when I'm playing my RATM mp3s or watching a DVD that it's not interrupted every ten seconds by a kernel panic.

    --
    guk is gay
  19. Great Because It's Linux? by Pave+Low · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I love seeing these Linux based XXX stories always get posted, and then the slashbots orgasm with glee how great this is, and how they can't wait to get one.

    Yea, right, like anybody will actually buy it mainly because it's Linux. Based on other Linux type items sold (games, computers), I hope these guys won't bank on the linux hippies for business. They will succeed or fail based on the product's merits, whether it does the job and whether it does it better for the price than its competitors.

    So hold off on all the flag waving until you people actually try it.

    --
    SIG:Slashdot: indymedia for nerds.
    1. Re:Great Because It's Linux? by MoonFog · · Score: 1

      Slashdot ran the article when Microsoft released their Multimedia OS, so why not when there is released one for Linux ?

  20. ugly by Darth+Maul · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That user interface is ugly. Try mythTV for a great Linux Tivo/MP3/Ogg/Image/MAME media center. I'm putting one together in a Shuttle XPC box. Making it as pretty as possible increases the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).

    --
    --- witty signature
    1. Re:ugly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Not only that, it's made in the USA. I don't need some kraut box filling up with fecal fetish vidoes.

    2. Re:ugly by r1ckt3r · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Completely agree. My mythbox blows tivo outta the water in my opinion. I am using the shuttle SS40G for mine.

    3. Re:ugly by astrodawg · · Score: 2, Flamebait

      Linux users like ugly.. thats why they always try to imitate Windows.

    4. Re:ugly by mbourgon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      How did you quiet it down - I heard the PSU was fairly loud, and I'm trying to make a quiet (30 db) system.

      --
      "Sometimes a woman is a kind of religion, she can save your soul & set you free from all your sins" - Bad Examples
    5. Re:ugly by jdkincad · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.
    6. Re:ugly by brocktune · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sticking a toothpick in the fan blades made my computer super quiet.

    7. Re:ugly by Mordibity · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

  21. Proof that Germans are nuts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    From freetranslation.com:

    Slashdot is the largest place ever. We so are delighted. We page with the French. Attack you the Iraq does not ask. Why. Its WMD cannot also blow you. NO?

    More proof the Germans and French are out of their minds!

  22. She's going dooooown! by tweakt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Quick someone mirror the photos! Please? I dont want to wait till tuesday to see them :-(

    1. Re:She's going dooooown! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What part of simply searching on the google cache don't we understand?... : Google and Google

    2. Re:She's going dooooown! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google doesn't cache pictures, stupidface. It still tries to draw them from the original server.

    3. Re:She's going dooooown! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What part of "google doesn't store images" don't we understand?

      If you are going to try to flame someone for something stupid, make sure you don't reply with something even more stupid.

      Dumbass.

    4. Re:She's going dooooown! by Savatte · · Score: 1

      I hear ya. That site went down faster than the Columbia. Zing!

  23. Linux is a gift from God (1st Toaster post) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I put linux on my PC toaster earlier this week. Now, if I can cram so more crap in there I have a truley all in one device. Not only will I be able to record and play audio and video on my toaster, but it plays games, does word processing, serves webpages, all while toasting my bagel.

    Weeeeeeee...

    Can I get a beowulf cluster of those!!!!!!

  24. ./ed already? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Seems like slashdotted already. Mirrors, anyone?

    1. Re:./ed already? by timmyf2371 · · Score: 2, Informative
      Inside the box photos

      GUI Screenshots

      Sorry, but large images not mirrored.

      Tim

      --

      Backup not found: (A)bort (R)etry (P)anic
  25. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS Re:Will this kill Linux ? by dreamchaser · · Score: 1

    This is a troll. Enough said.

  26. FUCK YOU M$ SQL WORM CREATOR!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    FUCK OFF YOU WHO CREATED THAT WORM!!!!Thanks to you didn't get the chance to go out with my friends and drink beer this weekend. Thanks to you I had to be in my office the whole weekend. FUCK YOU!!!

    1. Re:FUCK YOU M$ SQL WORM CREATOR!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Shouldn't you be busy fixing your servers instead of whining on /.?

      Besides, if you had installed Linux you would not have this problem. First you pay through your nose for Micro$oft malware and then spend weekends fixing the damage caused by it.

  27. HELLO, GESTAPO NAZI ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Let's shoot everyone who doesn't agree with my opinions.

    1. Re:HELLO, GESTAPO NAZI ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah yes, the old 'I don't like your opinion so I'll call you a Nazi' ploy. Great job!

  28. MythTV by MBCook · · Score: 4, Informative
    I've been using MythTV for a while now, and it's really quite far along. It's biggest problem is it's a bit hard to install the first time. But if you're looking for a free tivo or a entertainment hub, check 'em out.

    MythTV

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
    1. Re:MythTV by evilviper · · Score: 1

      I would say that the biggest problem is that it does not support playing from/recording-to CD/DVD. Last time I checked, it also does not support converting recorded programs to MPEG4/DivX, which would be a huge space-saver.

      MythTV sounds great, but it doesn't seem to be function-complete yet.

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  29. Another Disgusting Homosexual Post by Original+AIDS+Monkey · · Score: -1

    NEG-ASS: Hey POZPIG give me your full POZ-LOAD if your down in Indonesia! Need your EVIL FUCKING POZ LOAD MAKE MY DAY fuck my ASS make me a POZ-FUCKER too! Fuck me over and over again to make sure I get your poisson in all parts of my BOD!

    http://www.tboek.nl/tboek/index_eng.php?name=barep ig

    And we are increasing AIDS funding for these "people"?

    --


    =======
    P.S. Bite! You've been bitten by the Original AIDS Monkey! You have AIDS now!
  30. Nintendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nintendo 64!

  31. Google cache by MoonFog · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Here's Google's cache of the article

  32. *sigh* by obli · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Slashdot should consider hosting a copy of their linked pages on their own server in case of a slashdotting

  33. Flamebait???! Mod up!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this was +2 interesting last time I looked..!!!
    Can you say 'dont shoot the messenger'? Yes, it sucks, but it's true

  34. Linux solution by Q3vi1 · · Score: 1

    Of course it's /.ed by now, but I like the idea. I've been trying to come up with a workable linux multimedia solution for our household. We watch countless hours of anime, and windows seems excessive for just playing videos and mp3s. I'd really like to see a linux distribution geared towards being an entertainment PC.

  35. Even in America by kfg · · Score: 3, Informative

    it is the creation and distribution of DeCSS that may be illegal. Not its possesion or use for otherwise legal activities.

    But here's something to think about as well. Personally I have a hardware decoder and two legitimately licensed software players. That means that, in fact, I *have* the legal right to use the decryption code to play DVD's. One could even argue I've already overpaid for that right.

    The fact that, as delivered, that code will only run on under Windows has nothing to do with my payed for right to decrypt.

    KFG

    1. Re:Even in America by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      You didn't pay for the right to decrypt, dumbfuck. You are licensed to use certain software, which in turn is licensed to perform certain operation on your behalf, which in turn makes it possible for your sorry ass to watch some dumb fairy tale flick.

  36. kghallll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So *that's* how you spell gurgling. Impressive.

  37. I see dead people at my workplace! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I work for a company whose name I will leave out for now. I have had a few experiences just recently that has really spooked me. on at least 3 occasions I have looked up from my work and saw a man in old clothes with a clipboard and pencil and he was watching me. The first time I thought it was a certain older co-worker but then I noticed he was on the otherside me and when I looked back the apparation was gone. I also got the sense that he thought I wasn't doing a good enough job. Later on when I was used to my job and even considered one of the harder workers I would see him with a smile and the last time he even gave me a thumbs up. The next two things where one time occurences but they freaked me out the most the first I saw three faceless white transparent figures floating through the building. The second was the most recent and that was for about an hour straight while configuring a server I could hear a beautiful though completely errie song that sounded like a cross between a human voice and a flute. I checked the radios in the plant listened to the computer racks, nothing came close. I even asked my co-worker if heard it and he said no. but about 30 minutes later I heard him humming along exactly with the tune. I confronted him and asked if he was playing a trick on me, he swore he wasn't and the tune just popped into his head, I belive cause he's not the prank pulling type. I realized I wasn't just going crazy when I was with some family and friends and my cousin started joking about when he was doing security for a supposed haunted house in our area and some of the freaky things that spooked him. He went on to say that the spookiest experience was when he was working at the server farm that I now work at. Apparently there was one room that no one liked to go in but had to on their hourly patrol. Their is a story that some men that were fitting power cables in that room when the building was struck by lighting because of a power surge they were killed. Every time my cousin would go in there he would feel a presence but usually it would leave when he left the room, except one night if followed him out of the room occasionaly physically brushing against him until he was done his shift.

  38. *sigh 2* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    obli should consider reading the FAQ and why the editors can't cache a linked site.

  39. Let me guess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    This piece of shit would be command-line driven? Niggers!!!!! Multimedia...woohoo! Niggers!!!!! Another useless article on /. who would have thunk it?

  40. Wow. by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 0, Funny

    I never thought we could have something like this (sarcasm).

    In other news, there's about 15 inches of snow and rising outside my house and its starting to get on my nerves. If you live in DC metro area, scrap any plans for the next two days. That includes going to Microcenter.

    Also, sucks to be you if you have no toilet paper and you lack 4WD. ^_^

    --
    THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
    1. Re:Wow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
      sucks to be you if you have no toilet paper

      Jeez... doesn't everybody have a week's worth of old newspapers piling up? That's perfectly good toilet paper substitute -- just avoid the glossy paper magazines.

    2. Re:Wow. by eyegor · · Score: 1

      Well... there's always my old OS/2 docs....

      --

      Don't anthropomorphize computers, they don't like it.
  41. Uh uh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    You see I like showing off my ass to horny gangs of men, and the newspaper leaves a charcoal-like residue all around my glory hole.

    Its not absorbant enough either, so it tends to just smear stuff around. Not effective.

  42. Looks a lot like MythTV by timothy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    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 :) -- 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 :)

    timothy

    --
    jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
  43. Re: [off topic] *sigh 2* by gimpboy · · Score: 1

    well it's not a commercial site, so i'm assuming this is the part of the faq you are referring to:


    Of course, most of the time, the commercial sites that actually have income from banner ads easily withstand the Slashdot Effect. So perhaps we could draw the line at sites that don't have ads. They are, after all, much more likely to buckle under the pressure of all those unexpected hits. But what happens if I cache the site, and they update themselves? Once again, I'm transmitting data that I shouldn't be, only this time my cache is out of date!
    /. could simply provide the cache and a link to the original site. this way people can visit the original site if they want to. then when the story is archived delete the cache and links to the cache. this would leave the archive story with only the original link to the site.

    what /. does to smaller sites is irresposible.

    --
    -- john
  44. Flamethrower linux by froseph · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Flame thrower linux is a similar project that I have been following. It seems to be slightly dead, but still fully funtional with a "pre alpha" version out.

  45. Flamebait???!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    This is ludicrous. I'm the same poster as the parent. Give me a break.

  46. Mini-ITX/EPIA-M by MsGeek · · Score: 4, Informative
    (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).

    To be excruciatingly exact, the EPIA you are thinking of is EPIA-M The M stands for "Media" and this iteration of the mini-board includes MPEG-2 decoding onboard (with a dedicated co-processor, no less) and 5.1 audio. There are a few Chinese companies who are actually looking to build EPIA-M based DVD players...the Chinese name for the VIA CPU is "Heart Of China" and there is a certain amount of national pride involved in the EPIA gaining acceptance. VIA might be based in Taiwan but its boards are manufactured on the Mainland.

    One drawback, if you look at it one way, is that the EPIA-M chipset is set up for DDR RAM, not the less expensive SDRAM that previous Eden Platform systems used. However, if you look at that another way, it means a faster bus speed and a little better performance. No, it won't turn this puppy into a gaming monster system, but it will make this a friendlier platform for a MAME box, for instance.

    VIA is trying to make a play for Linux support for their EPIA platform too...the article I referenced is basically a how-to about Linux on EPIA-M. They haven't been forthcoming to the point of providing all the little details on their stuff to open-source developers, but their binary drivers have been pretty good.

    I suspect that this version of the EPIA could handle MythTV, Freevo and the other TiVo-like projects. The same cannot be said about the earlier EPIA motherboard/CPU combos...those are best left to web servers, file servers, firewalls, and other similarly light-duty projects.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  47. Microcenter Linux games for $2... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting
    In other news, there's about 15 inches of snow and rising outside my house and its starting to get on my nerves. If you live in DC metro area, scrap any plans for the next two days. That includes going to Microcenter.

    Great store. The $2 games are: Heritic II, Railroad Tycoon 2, and Myth II. Look in the operating systems section. They also have a couple other games (Terminus and Tux Racer come to mind) plus a small selection of non-game titles from the Kompany and a good selection of distros as well as some BSD. A special this month, $13 Inland u-Connect firewire / ieee 1394 card, works well (VIA chipset, one 6 to 4 pin cable).

    My only complaints are that some non-sale items are over priced (buyer be aware) and that they don't have a Maryland store!

  48. Linux based home multimedia system? by bluethundr · · Score: 1

    This is new? I thought I already had one called Tivo.

    --
    Quod scripsi, scripsi.
  49. good information by timothy · · Score: 1

    Thanks for the linked articles!

    I've been reading a little bit on the mini-itx.com site because I like the idea of a low-power TV/TiVo (and at the price of those EPIAs, esp. the older ones, you could attach a cheap optical drive and a small monitor, make a knoppix terminal for any room in the house).

    I wonder how soon the GHz variety (and by that I mean one that is on par with Intel / AMD GHz processors) will be available fanless from VIA; that's the breaking point I'm looking for, having just assembled an Athlon system in the SS40 case from Shuttle. (For which I wish I had had smaller fingers, btw ;))

    timothy

    --
    jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
    1. Re:good information by handsomepete · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Seems everyone is making an Athlon/SS40 combo these days (several people in this thread at least and myself included - at least they made it relatively easy to remove bays/drives/fans/etc. for people who don't have 6 year old hands). How long will it be until someone taps MythTV and Shuttle to just make a cheapo all-in-one PC/DVR/Jukebox package? It seems like an obvious step to us, so I'm surprised the money hounds haven't picked up the scent.

      I was under the impression that some architectural sacrifices were made on the epias that would require some sort of major overhaul to be even close to on par with AMD/Intel procs, but I'm admittedly underread.

  50. Freevo! by k-s · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hello,
    There is Freevo http://freevo.sf.net that has a better UI! Also, you can run it under X or Framebuffer or anything else SDL supports (like DXR3!)
    As it uses the great MPlayer as the underlying player, it supports Mov, DivX, Mp3, Ogg, ... Almos every {video,music} format in the world. It also have a image browser and a cute TV Guide (now a Web version too!) and it plays Mame!
    The time shifting is in the work.
    Freevo: http://freevo.sf.net Mplayer: http://www.mplayerhq.hu

  51. MOD PARENT UP!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mod up now!! Freevo looks excellent!!

    1. Re:MOD PARENT UP!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Feevo may look good, but can it record? I think not.

  52. You are incorrect by kfg · · Score: 1

    The license of the player software is independant of the license to use the key code. I have purchased the right to use both.

    KFG

  53. If MythTV is so great... by JemalCole · · Score: 1

    Why isn't there a knoppix-like iso available?

  54. why so much competition? by the-build-chicken · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Does it strike anyone else as odd that there are 3 (or more?) open source initiatives competing in this area...can anyone tell me the difference between them (because they look pretty much the same on specs to me)...and, if they do serve the same functionality, why they're bothering competing with each other when obviously collaboration would turn three not too bad systems into one insane one?

    1. Re:why so much competition? by cranos · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

    2. Re:why so much competition? by Rakarra · · Score: 1
      Seriously though competition is good.

      Is it always? Are several competing sub-par solutions (the state of video under Linux today) better than one or two excellent solutions?

  55. Why not use an Xbox? by gunne · · Score: 1

    The xbox is probably cheaper than most other PC-based boxes, and with a modchip installed (total cost for xbox+modchip about $250) you can install Xbox Media Player on it.
    I have used it for a couple of months now, works like a charm for playing dvds, divx, xvid, mp3 etc.
    Check it out!

  56. My problem with these systems... by Vice_hkpnx · · Score: 1

    My problem with all of these media boxes is that they all rely on having files on the drive (except DVD). I just don't have that much HD space. It'd be nice to have a system that can automagically queue up media (DivX, etc.) from CD-R when I stick the disk in the drive. I also think that all these systems (freevo, mythtv, etc.) all suffer from the problem of trying to do to much, but don't seem to do any of them exceptionally well.

    (And don't say "HDs are cheap now!", because they're not. I'm a student, and can't afford squat. That's why everything is on CD-R.)

  57. The reinvention of LinVDR? by haraldm · · Score: 1

    this time as a thesis work? Well ...

    --
    open (SIG, "</dev/zero"); $sig = <SIG>; close SIG;
  58. $399 or under for the whole box? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about making a USB/networkable all in one box which only needs an attached filesystem?

  59. Wake me when we get PROPER hardware encoding. by JonMartin · · Score: 1
    When will we see support for a board that integrates an analog tuner and an MPEG2 encoder? Once we get support for boards like that you will see an explosion of do-it-yourself Digital Video Recorders.

    They are out there. Hauppage also has a newer card (the 350) with even more features.

    Mail Hauppage (sales@hauppauge.com). Tell them how many you would buy if they would start supporting open source. Be sure to tell them that binary Linux drivers are NOT "support". I want to see these cards working under *BSD, too (that means documentation, not a Redhat-only kernel module).

    By the way, I am in no way suggesting that Hauppage is the only company making these things. I just can't think of any others off the top of my head. If you know of others, post below with the relevant links and contact info. Let's get after these hardware companies: I want to build my own DVR, dammit.

    --
    Serve Gonk.
  60. you by NaveWeiss · · Score: 1

    Why are you my foe?? Have I done anything bad to you??
    You are so heartless!

    --
    Slashdot community, please notice: I am looking for a girlfriend.
    Nave H. Weiss
    1. Re:you by bluethundr · · Score: 1

      Hey Bud, I don't really have anything against you personally except that at one point I think you might've made a ridiculous and ignorant comment about the garden state. Sorry if I am mistaken about that. Of couse, if I'm not your not only on mine, but on Bruce Sprinsteen's, Joe Pesci's and Tony Soprano's shit lists. ;)

      --
      Quod scripsi, scripsi.
    2. Re:you by NaveWeiss · · Score: 1

      Hmm.. it was indeed ignorant, but I was pissed off NJ for their turnpike, which is really ugly.. I guess this is my nature - to write pointless crap. That's what slashdot is for.
      But I wrote it so long ago. Why did it take you so long to respond?

      I don't care much about the celebs you listed, except of the last.. I wouldn't want to mess with him (but I don't like the TV series. Sex And The City is much better).

      --
      Slashdot community, please notice: I am looking for a girlfriend.
      Nave H. Weiss
  61. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 0

    Does biff in bo work
    coz it biffin doesn't beep
    an if biff in bo is broke
    then biff in bo I will delete

    I've tried biff in bo with 'y'
    I've tried biff in bo with '-y'
    no biffin output does it show
    so poor wee biff is gonna go.
    -- John Spence on debian-user

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...