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Is The Public Stuck With The Broadcast Flag?

Posted by timothy on from the sure-looks-that-way dept.

peeping_Thomist writes "The only company that sells HDTV tuner cards for Linux has run out of cards to sell, and they are now missing deadlines for new getting new cards. Linux users who want to view and record HDTV face an uphill battle. Meanwhile, the dreaded July 1, 2005 deadline for manufacturing DRM-free HDTV tuners is fast approaching. MythTV supports HDTV tuner cards, but so far no one has made a move to, as the EFF puts it, "buy, build, and sell fully-capable, non-flag-compliant HDTV receivers" prior to the July 1 deadline. The current combination of MythTV and pcHDTV (assuming pcHDTV cards become available again) may, as the EFF says, be "great for geeks," but it is a far cry from the TIVO-esque simplicity a mass market demands. Unless someone can get bring a DRM-free hdtv recorder to market before the deadline, it seems the general public will have no chance to avoid the broadcast flag."

3 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Linux-only company by mcelrath · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I am extemely encouraged that a linux-only hardware company has sold out of their product and is having difficulty meeting demand. While I'm worried that I won't be able to get my hands on one, this bodes very well for future hardware that is linux-aware and/or linux-only.

    -- Bob

    --
    1^2=1; (-1)^2=1; 1^2=(-1)^2; 1=-1; 1=0.
  2. Tune out - and unplug. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why act like this is the end of the world? Just stop 'consuming' the 'product' if you do not like the 'terms' the 'product' is offering.

    In short - screw 'em. They make their money from advertisers and if the advertisers don't get eyeballs, they can't make money.

    I'm not planning on buying any HDTV gear until I hear what way the broadcast flag useage is trending. And if PBS is using the broadcast flag, my donations will go away there also.

  3. Wrong way by hawkbug · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is the wrong way to get around this problem. I say a boycott after the deadline would be far more effective. If nobody purchased a tv tuner after the deadline, that would speak volumes. It would have be a very organized protest, but with enough attention, it could work.