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TiVo, MS, and the War for the Living Room

Posted by simoniker on from the ready-fight dept.

r-blo writes "Hot off his in-depth comparison of TiVo vs. Microsoft Media Center, Engadget has Thomas Hawk following up with ten things each that TiVo and Microsoft need to do to win the War for the Living Room. It won't be easy (like TiVo offering their OS as software for the PC. Not going to happen.) but I've got a feeling they might be better off listening up. Especially TiVo, since we're all rooting for them anyway."

2 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. The man wants his fair use, damn it! by thewldisntenuff · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If anyone RTFA (I know it's early in the discussion), the man is insane! He wants both companies to pretty much allow copying and sharing of files....I bet Jack Valenti and Hillary Rosen both shit a brick after hearing this guy.
    Examples -

    "Create a "My Radio" option and a "My Radio" guide....These files should be saved to MP3 and be portable. "

    Heh..."should be saved to mp3 and portable"...Might as well give a big middle finger to the RIAA.

    "Provide Ethernet connectivity to their HDTV unit and include the ability to share recorded files with a Windows-based PC. "

    While this doesn't run entirely afoul (see previous TiVo sharing articles of yore on /.) of DRM, he doesn't mention it anywhere in TFA. Sharing/fair use seems to be encouraged...

    Two more -

    "Provide a DVD burner with all units. Copying should be as simple as selecting a program and pressing "Burn to disc" on a menu."

    and

    "Provide the ability to connect external hard drives."

    The RIAA/MPAA/AAA would be up in arms over this....It will never happen - They'd rather eat their own sh!t than allow for fair use and sharing to actually occur...The man has valid (and good) points, but none of them will ever happen in corporate-controlled America.......

    But a geek's wet dream if you ask me :)

    --
    My MythTV HowTo
  2. Myth tv coooool. Tivo - MS evil !!! by lucason · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I installed myth on a spare pc and got everything up and running in less than an hour.

    I don't know what you're bitching about, the Myth tv installation boots from CD, has a few questions for you and Presto it's been working since. And all I had to give up is 1000Mhz duron and a 200G HD.

    Add a RF wireless keyboard and RF A/V sender receiver to connect the TV's and you've got mean ass PVR system.

    Add to that fact that tivo doesn't exist in europe and you've got 100% of the market for Mythtv in this neck of the world.