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More Cringley on Linux Embedded Hardware Hacking

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-your-hack-on dept.

enrico_suave writes "I , Cringley on Linux hardware hacking (the good kind). Some neat points on what enterprising individuals are doing with Hauppauge MediaMVP streaming content settop box/client thingie." The story is mostly about Micro ISPs, including a few choice digs on Slashdot readers.

11 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Good use of resources by caffeinefiend · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I must say, I am impressed by the Hauppauge device. It has really good functionality and a not-too-bad price tag. These exploits are really pretty interesting, and I am surprised that it took so long for them to become mainstream. I figure that it is only a matter of time before people start building specialized devices like the Hauppauge. Overall, this is one of those nifty hacks that I love.

  2. WRT54G on sale ($56.50 or $66.50) at Amazon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The famed router seems to be (unless I'm missing something) on sale for $66.49 at Amazon.com, and a $10 rebate is available as well, taking it down to about $56.49. Free shipping.

    Pretty cool price considering most of your other options.

  3. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that his picture? Bloggers keep getting younger and younger. How long until we get the first fetus weblog?

  4. But wait a sec... by jwcorder · · Score: 5, Insightful
    If I am going to pay 80 bucks for the Hauppage device, I might as well pay 20 more and get another TIVO. Or for 109 bucks, you can get a refurbished Xbox. Little hacking on it, and you have the perfect media center PC.

    I am not discrediting the Hauppage device as it sounds really cool. But for 80 bucks I think I would compare the other devices in this category and find a better alternative. IMO that is.

    --
    http://jayceecorder.blogspot.com
    1. Re:But wait a sec... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Effort is the thing. XBox needs a HW hack, Tivo needs a subscription. MediaMVP needs little effort, and a PC makes a better Tivo anyways (web admin rocks). And I can fit a pantload more storage in a tower than I can in a Tivo or an XBox.

  5. MediaMVP - Video Encoding? by tji · · Score: 5, Informative

    In the Cringely article, he mentions:
    For one thing, it has hardware MPEG video encoding and decoding

    I don't think this is correct. According the the Happauge site, the MediaMVP has hardware decoding, but does no encoding (it doesn't even have audio/video inputs, only outputs). They only talk about acquiring video in the context of their WinTV products, some of which have hardware MPEG2 encoders.

    It still looks like a cool device for SDTV use. But, I am waiting for one that supports at least component 480P output (preferably 720P or 1080i) and digital audio output for DD5.1 support.

  6. Straight from his site by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "On Why You Should Pay Any Attention to Him

    When it comes to information technology, I know what I am talking about. Twenty years in and around the PC business have earned me wisdom, if not wealth. It's not that I am so smart, but that my friends are smart. The best and brightest in Silicon Valley talk to me all the time. It's my job to sift through their thoughts for valuable bits to share with you. But wait, if I am so great, why is this service free? Good question! Maybe it's time to renegotiate my contract with PBS."

    He's a sort of consultant/analyst person who appears on TV shows, writes books and more.

  7. Still violating GPL? by h2odragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The BusyBox Hall of Shame lists this device as one of several that is violating the GPL in using BusyBox, and presumably other packages too. Anyone know if Hauppauge is actually doing anything about it?

    1. Re:Still violating GPL? by Alnitak73 · · Score: 5, Informative

      AFAIK, Hauppauge are now complying correctly, they've got the relevant Busybox sources, and also the kernel sources online.

      What's not available are the sources to the IBM proprietary kernel modules for the STB25xx processor's hardware features, nor the client program that runs on the MVP once it's booted.

      However some enterprising individuals have managed to figure out most all of the ioctl(2) interfaces to those modules, and also developed native player software that doesn't depend on the HCW supplied windows server software.

      Personally, I've got a couple of these now, using the mediamvp plugin for VDR (the Linux DVB PVR system) to get both live and recorded digital TV distributed around the house.

      The best link I know of for discussions on using Linux on the MediaMVP are the forums at http://www.shspvr.com/forum/

  8. Re:MediaMVP alternative firmware? by randomErr · · Score: 5, Informative

    The forum below might have more of the information your looking for:

    http://www.shspvr.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=38

    --
    You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
  9. Avoid the MVP, just misses the mark. by Pinback · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have an MVP, and I wouldn't reccomend them. If Hauppage had used a CPU one model farther up the product line, they'd have AC3 decode.

    The evening I figured out that all my MPEGs with AC3 audio weren't going to produce audio, I was very unhappy.

    The video looked great, and people have even put together software to allow serving files from Linux, but without audio, its a waste.

    Pinback