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New Hitchhiker's Episodes Available Online
Michael Sheldon writes "The BBC is now offering the first of the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio episodes as either Real or WMP audio streams. Meaning listeners abroad can now hear the new series, which started playing on UK radio last Tuesday."
gee.. thanks for all the fish..
-if at first you don't succeed, stay the heck away from paragliding.
Shame that they don't offer either MP3 or OGG versions of the show. Wonder why they decided against using them, especially considering that the BBC has some experience with OGG - they used to have some live radio streams running it.
Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
FYI, Primary and Secondary Phase's are available from KCRW in Real format:
http://kcrw.org/show/hg
Where can I hear the first ones? This seems to be somewhere in the middle of the story.
Look you don't have to wait for the BBC put *PUT THEM ONLINE* to listen from abroad. You can listen to Radio 4 *LIVE* via streaming (HHGTTG is on Tuesdays at 6pm UK time)... this story relates to the BBC's "Listen Again" feature which allows to to catch it if you miss it.
how can I rip this to HD?
Preferably the WMP stream.
I for one am really excited that HG2G has finally made its way back to radio. And on top of that, I can listen to it hassle-free (not as in beer) and free (as in beer) of charge over the internet. I wish listening to American proprietary radio stations was always this easy.
Don't sweat the petty things. Don't pet the sweaty things. --Stephen J. Simmons
For those of us too young to have known anything about HHGG except the books.
There are still copyrights, but more so they want to pull people into thier sprawl of a site.
I love the radio shows. I have them as MP3 (must OGG 'em)
Any updates on the film? It is a long way off, I don't wanna rush them, but they can keep us in suspense, and trickle delicious sweet information to us slowly - and an OGG of marvin saying 'diodes on my left side'.
In unrelated 42 news, Seinfeld 1-3 series set was 42 on the amazon sales rank, and I bought it today. Nov i'll be out.
#hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
Errm... Here...
Or *mule*, gnu*, *azaa it. torrent to mp3's greatly appreciated, all proceeds go to my HDD.
#hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
Share and enjoy, and why don't you stick your head in a pig ;)
Surely listeners abroad can hear the new series at the same time as everyone else simply by pressing the 'Listen Live' button on the Radio 4 website at 17:30GMT (18:30BST) every Tuesday for the duration of the series.
* Non orthopaedicly sprung life-forms are reminded that mattresses are the only sentient creatures to require regular flolloping. *
PEBCAK
http://www.bbcshop.com/invt/0563510439&source= 841
Original cast and the Life the Universe and Everything, I think Dougie wrote it - although in thier infinite wisdom those fsk-a-wits at the beeb have actually not given the information in the description.
I mean, it is not as if anyone would be interested to know.
I really hate stupid websites. I am not sure if I should buy it - or listen to it. I am just going to go stand in a corner, brain the size of the universe...
#hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
...if you have a babelfish handy.
Even better on the site is a flash version of the original HHGTTG text adventure game...
l
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtm
I stole this sig.
As trailed a few weeks ago, there's the updated version of the old Infocom interactive fiction version of the Guide.
I had a play on it yesterday - I've no idea how they built it, but they seem to have some unholy alliance of Flash, Z-code and XML running it all. It's pretty cool, too - it's the same old game, but with added graphics...
Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
You can save streaming media using Net Transport
buffering...
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
Now if I had an internet connection strong enough t0 download them (28.8 sucks) I would be set, anyone want to convert it to a 32 bitrate mp3?
Like arts? Like cheesy little Indie mags? Check out www.artwerkmag.com, and don't laugh at the bad coding please.
oh yeah, is there a way to rip the 5.1 stream?
Share and Enjoy!
Share and Enjoy!
Journey through life with a plastic boy
Or girl by your side let your pal be you guide
And if it gets slow or starts to annoy
Does it grind when it walks
Or squeak when it talks?
Has it eaten your hat
Or had sex with your cat?
Sprayed oil on your walls
Or ripped of your doors
And it gets to the point
You can't stand anymore
Bring it to us
We won't give a fig
We'll tell you
Go Stick Your Head in a Pig!
"The dew has clearly fallen with a particularly sickening thud this morning"
Who's Eddy?
www.hoonnet.co.kr/productdown/HiNetRecorderSetup.e xe
The show should be available in Quicktime format -- Douglas Adams was Macintosh fanatic.
...to listen to a radio programme. I think I will go and dismantle myself. Love Marvin:(
go a little farther into the BBC website to hear/read the recorded interviews where Douglas Adams made predictions about how all these formats and playback technologies where going to mold the economy and user experience of consuming media. This page was also the entry point for a contest seeking new material you might create for submission to the HHGG. [like I wasn't already wasting enough time reading /. !-)]
SLASHDOT: news for people who can't concentrate on work or have no life at all and got tired of yelling back at the TV.
They are not currently offering it in 5.1, it was mastered in 5.1 and downmixed to 2-channel. The 5.1 version will come out next year on DVD-Audio/hybrid.
Look Here for lots of news, including some stuff about the 5.1 version.
#include "disclaimer.h"
Presumable he's talking about:
e s. shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/newseri
in the listen again box
LISTEN AGAIN IN SURROUND SOUND
Try our experimental 5.1 Surround Sound service.
Real Player 10. Requires broadband connection and 5.1 surround sound speakers for optimum effect.
Hmm, apparently thay are offering a 5.1 version online.
So that's what it feels like to be wrong.
#include "disclaimer.h"
I was very disappointed by episode 1. They seem to
have forgotten the excellent advice 'leave them wanting more'. It might pick up...
This aired Tuesday AND last night. I listened to it twice (and got several friends on the second airing). Why wait till Thursday?
Will we be seein this every week on slashdot now?
"HHGG airs tonight"
"HHGG is put online tonight"
Maybe I should start submitting them and finally get an article up
I like muppets.
I'm glad I got to it before it got /.ed
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." Pablo Picasso.
OK, after my prior fuckup, here is an answer:
I used 'Net Transport' to download the 5.1 version from the link given. I downloaded it (26 Meg file) in about 12 minutes (the joys of JANet).
It is showing up in Media Player as:
Windows Media Audio 9 Professional
128 kbps, 44 kHz, 5.1 channel 16 bit 1-pass CBR.
Now to my question,
I have XBMC on my XBox attached to a DD/DTS amp. Do you reckon I can get it to play this file without any problems/post processing?
#include "disclaimer.h"
Download them from the de-obfuscated wrapper cgis:
1 23 1Episode_12.rmd emand/hg/hg02123 0Episode_11.rmd emand/hg/hg02122 9Episode_10.rm
rtsp://go.rbn.com/livecon/kcrw/g2demand/hg/hg02
rtsp://go.rbn.com/livecon/kcrw/g2
rtsp://go.rbn.com/livecon/kcrw/g2
etc. Note extraneous spaces inserted by slashcode.
Download 'em with NetTransport, and rip 'em to MP3 with your favourite ripper.
Only if XBMC can do realtime WMA->AC-3 transcoding. Your receiver won't know how to decode a 5.1WMAPro bitstream.
(they'll ship to the U.S.)
0 43 9/qid=1096036483/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_8_1/026-5437908-3 862810
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/056351
Does anyone else find it annoying that the stream is interrupted every ten seconds to buffer?
Finding God in a Dog
but, to quote marvin, "I think I feel good about it."
"But remember, most lynch mobs aren't this nice." (H.Simpson)
-- Joe
In that case, does anybody know how to extract a 5.1 channel WMA back out to PCM, and then remultiplex it back into AC-3 format?
#include "disclaimer.h"
Or something like that anyway. The good people over at the Doom9 Forums will probably be able to help you further.
Matt...
Save the Bottom Line
Yes. See my post under grandparent.
Not that I'm complaining, or anything, it just makes listening to them in a row a mite difficult (or at least extremely confusing)
Triv
Here's a non-broken-up and very clickable link to it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/056351043 9/
1. Dump the stream (however you wish). It is important that you dump the raw stream and not record the audio produced by it (Total Recorder is out). Mplayer will do this.
2. Install Avisynth (http://www.avisynth.org).
3. Create a script like so: (save as h2g2.avs or the like)
DirectShowSource("h2g2file.wma")
Playing this back in a AVI player will be the same as an AVI without video, with 5.1ch WAV audio (it frameserves in real-time). 4. Install Besweet and Besweet GUI.
5. Load the AVS file into Besweet GUI.
6. Encode to 5.1ch AC3 or OGG or whatever you wish.
Enjoy!
Sorry, it's a little roundabout..
And now long is that in Internet years?
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
...just roll your own MP3/vorbis/FLAC/speex version by recording the output from your FM/DAB radio via line in. Yes, it's an analogue hole, but you get *much* better quality than from a RealMedia source.
Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
Clicky goodness
rtsp://go.rbn.com/livecon/kcrw/g2demand/hg/hg0212
rtsp://go.rbn.com/livecon/kcrw/g2demand/hg/hg0212
rtsp://go.rbn.com/livecon/kcrw/g2demand/hg/hg0212
7. ????
8. Profit.
Streaming audio files depends on downloading a stubfile.
.rm file but thats not being developed anymore since the author got sued by real
A stubfile is a text file containing a link to another file sometimes the actual
sound file or with real audio maybe to another text file
file.ram -> file.smi -> file.rm
file.ram is a small text file containing a link to file.smi or file.rm
if the link is to file.smi
your going to have to fetch that stubfile too
Easy! create a webpage and put a link to the smi file.
with frontpage and a text editor its as simple as copying the address given in the ram file from the text file and creating a hyperlink in front page giving this as the destination.
in frontpage in preview mode you can right click this link and download the smi stubfile (or stick it on a website or open the page in your favourite web browser).
you can just create a html page full of links to your favourite audio streams
but eventually some of them will cease to work!
if you take a look inside the smi file you will find something which looks like a http link but isnt quite.
rtsp://somesite.com/foo/bar/dtfdstgwe/file.rm
note
rtsp: is the protocol used by a real server maybe some browsers support it?
the random letters makes it a little more work for downloading a series of rm files even if the files you want are called file1.rm file2.rm the random directory name will change each time.
There was a program called streambox vcr which would download and save the
I think you will find a few alternatives.
you can figure out how to find these right?
converting RA format to something more flexable like MP3
converting RA can be slow some converters work at a 1 to 1 speed
winamp is an interesting one you need a realaudio input plugin (real16.exe is one) and lame encoder output plugin. (out_lame.binf_v161.exe)
getting the realaudio plugin for winamp can be difficult unless you are a timetraveller since the original authors website has gone.
Incidently winamp works fastest in its 2.xx incarnation while the plugins work in version 5 they are noticably slower.
realaudio seems to be a very compact format a half hour real audio file might be as small as 8 to 9 meg in size.
streaming mp3 files are pretty much the same just the stubfile contains the location of the MP3 file which sits on a normal webserver somewhere.
Stubfiles are great you can create a link to a stubfile on one webserver which links to an mp3 file on another webserver or just write a stubfile and store it
on your own website.
creating a local html page also works so you could make your own list of mp3 files located elsewhere and stream them whenever you want to listen to them.
just by loading the html file in your browser and clicking on the link.
this little line will let you embed an mp3 file from somewhere on a webpage
(- embed src="http://some site.bar/some.mp3" width="200" height="16" loop="FALSE" align="centre" -)
It works with firefox and IE with the quicktime plugin installed.
change (- -)for left and right triangles and make your own link.
this post is a howto not a haveto some parts of the world might bust your ass for downloading copyrighted materials Stub files are probably legal
The actual stream files less so.
Blarney Quality Restaurant, Plants
I've always hoped someone would make a guide simulator of sorts for the PalmOS, using the various entries detailed in the books/radio series/tv series for source material. I'd like to be able to look up vogon poetry at a whim on my palm.
Clearly, there would be a copyright issue, but this is the 'net, and that's never stopped anyone before. Anyone know if anything like this exists?
A little off topic this, but I just *have* to recommend this programme broadcast on Radio 4 last Monday. (RealPlayer file ->) First Impressions explores what what would happen if SETI detected a definite signal indicating extra-terrestrial intelligence. Contains interviews from SETI scientists mixed with lots of great 'out there' sound effects. This is Radio 4 at its best.
Having listened a bit more thoroughly since I wrote that, I'd say that the style _IS_ subtly different from the first two series. I also screwed up by using lame commercial versions of Wikipedia content - Google seems to be thoroughly bombed with such crap now - and of course it's Life The Universe... Not Fish. The missing electronic music is a more serious problem - it sounds like they've used bland library music. The use of snippets of 'commercial' stuff in the original (eg 'Wish you were here' on Magrathea, bits of Jean-michel Jarre etc) was a nice touchj, almost an easter-egg. I still listen to teh original two series at least once a year and still find new pleasures therein. Only time will tell if the new will be as good, but so far it looks hopeful.
Everything I needed to know about life, I learnt from Blake's Seven
Let me add another hint (damn filter):
There once was a program named vsound which might be of some use when trying to grab a stream.
(Newschool) run cord from soundcard OUT port to soundcard IN or MIC port, now you can record to HD with virtually any sound recorder prog.
(Oldschool) Run cord from soundcard OUT port to your stereos AUX in or MIC port, press record on tape deck.
For those with less powerfull PC's or those using Listen-Again who receive constant "Buffering" time delays: The BBC-4 Live Stream and Repeat Broadcast (Tuesday and Thursday respectively) are _lower_ bandwidth than the Listen-Again archive.
For Maximum performance on a Minimum system: on Tuesday (original) or Thursday (repeat), click the radio-4 link to stream HHG then click (the small icon) to switch to stand-alone player.
Last Bit: Then buy them when they come out! as a means of thanking the BBC for being so cool about this.
Hope this 'elps,
michaelmaelstrom.
Yes, we have indeed got TVs over here.
Unfortunately we found that they mostly spew out loud, ignorant, blaring, mindless rubbish so we smashed them with hammers and went back to our "trusty" radios.
TV... Do your brain a favour - just turn it off.
Sky subscribers are morons. They pay to be advertised at !
Where can I start with Episode 1?
H2G2 Returning to BBC Tuesday September 14, @03:58PM Rejected
Man, you want a hug better or something?
The Guide is more of a comedy satire set in a space ship , partly in the past , partly in the future with most timeframes being "Now".
:)
Oh, it's a fantasy with a LOT of science backing it up too (like the infinite improbability drive or earth being created by mice and margatheans).
I wish I had read this book a lot earlier in my life. It should be made reading material for undergraduates (though this might cause them to hate it by association).
Dune is fantasy, Star Wars is Sci Fi, The Guide is a comedy
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur
Just in case anyone is interested (probably not...) but my attempts to transcode the stream to a DD/AC-3 stream failed, trying avisynth/virtualdub, and a few others.
Somehow, however, the copy of XBMC I am running (can't remember the version No.) seems to automatically do asf->ac-3 transcoding, so it 'just worked'
And I can assure you that the 5.1 mix through a decent surround sound system sounds absolutely amazing!
#include "disclaimer.h"
I never could get the hang of thursdays...
Sara
Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World