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Hewlett-Packard To Offer Linux-based Media Hub
Sammy at Palm Addict writes "According to the New York Times, Hewlett-Packard is to offer a new digital media hub based on Linux," excerpting "Hewlett-Packard will introduce a new device this fall meant to record and play back television as well as organize digital media, including photos, music and video, the company said yesterday. Hewlett already offers similar devices based on Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition. The device, called the HP Media Hub, will be based on the Linux operating system." Since HP also sells self-branded iPods, it would be great if they'd make such a box iPod friendly.
It would be nice to HP announce something that hasn't already been done before... Where is the "invent" in this?
"What I need is an exact list of specific unknown problems we might encounter."
Of course, this is the new, evil, HP, so I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up.
Have you read my blog lately?
"The device, called the HP Media Hub, will be based on the Linux operating system."
They could have also used QNX for stability and it's sutability for real-time (of which media is).
Of course, this will not let you transfer recorded shows to other computers on the the network. MythTV is currently the only "media hub" that does not have copy protection, or give away freedoms in any way.
Microsoft is counting on Windows Media Center being the "next big thing" to give it the growth that it needs to justify its price/earnings ratio. A Linux-based contender in the same market developed by one of Microsoft's biggest allies is almost certainly going to be a major setback for Microsoft's plans.
As was mentioned in the Linux-based portable media player thread, it makes no difference to the user whether these devices run Linux or not. You can't install any applications, you probably can't get a shell, and you can bet that HP will release the minimal amount of source that is legally required, so hacking will be frustrating.
And it looks like this device might break a record for the number of different kinds of DRM in one system...
Ms. Fiorina will show it on friday.
There, you know have the entire article.
No need to bother bugmenot to RTFA =P.
and it's based on MythTV:
http://www.mythtv.org/
Why do we need an article for every new gadget that will use Linux?
The slashdot community is a large proponent of open source, of which Linux is a shining example. A new 'gadget' means another inroad. It means another corporate giant values our dollars and is willing to move away from closed source options to get our patronage.
We don't care that another gadget uses Linux. We care that another corporation is willing to use an open source solution to get our dollars.
Come on, everyone has to go through the pain and grief of configuring Mythbox to get to all that tasty Linux media goodness.
(Damn it, I had to)
Who really cares is this has an iPod dock or is compatible? What purpose would it serve? People already have a computer to sync to, and a device like this is presumably large enough to hold all the music you'd have on your portable, plus a whole lot more.
Yep... just another blind, knee-jerk iPod reference.
"What makes HP evil now? I might be out of the loop..."
Simple really.
Good==do whatever slashdotters agree is good.
Evil==slashdotters don't like whatever your doing.
Now I better get a patent on it, while I can.
OK, everybody. Time for a new rule: You cannot name your product after the generic name for your product's function!
Got that? No HP Media Hub, no IBM Personal Computer, no MS DOS!
One man's -1 Flamebait is another man's +5 Funny.
Oh, and if you're worried about DRM in the context of HDTV, have a look at pcHDTV:
;-) Works with MythTV. Enough said. ;-)
http://www.pchdtv.com/
It totally ignores the broadcast flag.
BTW, it will be illegal to sell it in the US after June 2005 (or something like that), so plan accordingly.
It will always be legal to use it, if purchased before the deadline, because all such devices will be grandfathered into the new regulations automatically.
All I can say is they better not bother trying any DRM bullshit, if it can't share all media, skip adverts etc etc its a useless pile of crap (actually i think shit even has more uses than a PVR/media center with DRM)
This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
before the fact that something runs a version of Linux is no longer newsworthy. I like this product, and it's worthy of being posted. But I also think there's something a little sad about making a fuss over that fact. That mentality seems a little backward anymore.
- but i sure as hell can't get into the box!
.mp3 sound tracks from the memory stick!
- Sony must have cleaned up on the Wegas in the last quarter: LCD projection TV w/built-in HDTV tuner, etc. for $2 (the bulb is replaceable)...
- Linux apparently hosts the TV's menu system, built-in slide show app (w/a built-in sound track), and memory stick support...
- the TV also plays
Since HP also sells self-branded iPods, it would be great if they'd make such a box iPod friendly.
I thought they sold Apple branded iPods. It's through HP's channel. I guess it is listed on PCConnection as the "HP iPod", but it's still got a big apple sandblasted onto the back. They never made that HP-blue iPod all the rumor sites were blathering about.
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
They're apparently introducing TVs and projectors, too. According to a mini-article on Wired, 17 TVs and "TV projectors" in addition to the mentioned media hub. They're just coming a bit late to the wired living room scene, but apparently with a not insubstantial product line. If they integrate the product features well, the line might end up successful. Having an all-in-one HP remote would be a nice incentive, though I guess the one-remote-for-every-device (if you don't want to sacrifice functionality) situation is fairly well accepted at this point.
Honor Among Slackers. A veri
It is still legal to sell broadcast-flag-noncompliant devices in the US until June 2005. One such device is pcHDTV which works fine with MythTV
;-)
Even after June, it will still be legal to use such devices, if they were purchased before the deadline.
Can you put two and two together now?
For some reason I hear Cosmo from "Fairly Odd Parents" saying "Yeah, but it runs linux!". That's what happens when you watch TV with a 4 year old.
If ya were a real computer person, you'd want the HP16C. I bought one 22 years ago, and liked it so much, I bought 3 more so I would alway have one...22 years later, the first one is still going strong...
There is no God, and Dirac is his prophet.
But from HP's angle, I can't believe they're only doing this now. If Linux is good for anything, it's for optimized, customized systems. With Linux, HP can build in exactly the functionality they need -- nothing more. Plus it's free.
It's amazing. I didn't watch any TV show in the last year. Since i installed MythTV i caught up on Star Trek. :-) ;-)
Now i understand those raving lunatics called TiVo nazis.
Yes, device makers benefit from using Linux, that's why they do it. But there's no point in advertising it.
HP sold a Linux-based Digital Entertainment Center about 5 years ago, but it was too expensive for basically an audio jukebox.
You can run MythTV on any PC box, and it already supports all the hardware you need.
Given today's earlier post http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/05/021 6220&tid=126&tid=218,
is it Y10K ready, or do I lose almost 8000 years of my music downloads when New Year's comes around?
From the article, HP says that price is unimportant.
m l
Looks like they are missing the point again.
Price is the main factor preventing media center type boxes from being widely adopted.
Price is why DVD recorders didn't sell well in Christmas 2004 (see below). Same goes for media center boxes.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20040924A1001.ht
Wal-Mart shifts OEM orders for movie DVD discs from China to Taiwan
Jimmy Hsu, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DigiTimes.com [Friday 24 September 2004]
In response to concerns from Philips over royalty payments for its DVD patents, US retail giant Wal-Mart has shifted its OEM orders for movie DVD discs from existing partners in China to a few second-tier manufacturers of pre-recorded optical discs in Taiwan, according to the Taiwan makers.
Wal-Mart sells VCD and DVD discs at its retail outlets and also has some copyrights for movies produced by some independent companies. Since Wal-Mart emphasizes price, its VCD and DVD discs are mostly produced in China, the makers indicated.
However, China-based OEM makers for Wal-Mart are not willing to pay royalty fees to Philips, which is the patent owner, the makers pointed out. The China government wants to negotiate royalty payment with Philips on behalf of China-based makers rather than let Philips talk directly with individual makers. Since the makers were being protected by the government, Philips instead exerted pressure on Wal-Mart to protect its patent rights, the makers noted.
Consequently, Wal-Mart began seeking Philips licensees in Taiwan in June of this year. A few second-tier makers were selected, including Homenema Disk, Feng Sheng Technology, Pandisk Technology and Delphi Technology. Wal-Mart orders as much as 15 million discs per month, and none of the selected OEM makers has the production capacity to match the orders themselves, the makers added.
U-Tech Media, Taiwan's largest producer of pre-recorded optical discs, did not participate in the bid for Wal-Mart's OEM orders since the company's production capacity is already booked by its main clients, Time Warner and eight large movie studios in the US.
Despite the large volume, the average gross margin for Wal-Mart OEM orders is very low, according to the Taiwan makers. Feng Sheng has begun shipments to Wal-Mart in small volumes but does not plan to expand capacity due to the uncertainty about continued orders from Wal-Mart, the company indicated. Homenema is considering what volumes it wants to produce for Wal-Mart and will begin delivery soon, the company said.
Hewlett-Packard To Offer Linux-based Media Hub
Don't we hate HP? I thought that we did...
But not if that Media Hub is designed around Carly Fiorina's head on a stick!
You just tweak her nose to adjust the volume.
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
The HP thing will certainly be DRM-ized. ;-)
But a MythTV box with a pcHDTV card pays no attention to DRM.
Visit www.bugmenot.com or install the firefox extension.
You're way wrong, no way that HP can have taken so many disastrous steps.
They are way improved over just five years ago. What used to be a company dominated by silly, market-ignorant, idealistic engineers and the HP way has now become the market driven, best practices, outsourcing MBA laden HP we know and the markets love
Bugmenot's passwords aren't working at the New York Times anymore.
Zagreus sits inside your head, Zagreus lives among the dead, Zagreus sees you in your bed and eats you in your sleep.
I've designed a new logo for the combo Linux / HP Media Center PC. http://thomashawk.com/2005/01/hp-launching-linux-m edia-center-pc-to.html/
I always thought it stood for "High Price"
Personally, I can't stand devices that are based on Linux yet don't support a Linux desktop client.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
Yeah, this doesn't matter for "users," but this is "News for Nerds," not news for linux advocates only(although it may seem that way at times) or news for wealthy, uncurious gadgeteers. Some of us here are in the business, and some of us hack harware for a hobby, and not just consumers. If I want to spend the time and effort, I bet I could install applications, or at least get to a command line shell.
You have every right not to read the article, not to buy the New York Times, and not to read Slashdot. However, the powers that be have decided that the amount of information in the New York Times that is "news for nerds" is sufficient to warrant the exception to the general rule.
Just out of curiosity (extreme curiosity, seeing as I don't even live in the US): would it be illegal to sell second hand non-compliant devices after that date, or only new ones?
If it's only new ones, I think someone should buy a lot of those devices just before that date, just to resell later on...
I can put two and two together, but the pcHDTV does nothing to decrypt satellite or cable HD content. All this will get you is broadcast OTA HD signals. That is great if you like local sports and reality tv. Me, I don't like reality tv, and most sports I do watch are on cable as it is. Nevertheless, I will probably be getting one of these cards to throw in my myth box right around May, I mean if another tit gets shown on the superbowl, i want to capture that in its hi-def gloriness.
I wonder if Steve Jobs is going to make an announcement on the 11th that will either mirror or compliment this HP announcement?
---- I have nothing more to add.
Microsoft was the first foreign company to gain admission to the China Software Industry Association. Microsoft Joins in China Software Industry Association (2002)
China's Intellectual Property Law has been brought into synch with the WTO and it's major trading partners. The Ministry of Science and Technology: Laws and Regulations
Chinese films with a significant North American market are released as Region 1 DVDs. Films of China The Chinese government is not adverse to box-office success, commercial production, foreign investment and distribution. Chinese Film Industry To Be Established (2003)
This is an interesting development but is HP just using Linux to put further pressure on Microsoft as they have previously done?
I clicked on the link. It took me to the NYT story. I am not a subscriber. I didn't use bugmenot. It all just worked.
When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
HP calculators are still admired here in Brazil at least. I believe their market in europe is also bigger then in the USA, where it seems to me TI always had more market than HP. Of course, their new HP49 sucks, I would never buy one!!! It seems like they just rushed to create a new calculator with an iMac like design. And now their empire will ruin because palmtops are getting so cheap you can run Octave to make calculations. This will be nice... That is, if the teachers allow you to make a test with a computer!
Nicolau Werneck - NIC1138
"The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity" -- Thomas Huxley
I have seen very few HP calculators in my life, most of the calculators were in fact Texas Instruments.
When I was young, Texas Instruments made cheap, inferior scientific calculators. The keys vere shitty - you pressed and nothing happened, you pressed a little more and suddenly the display was filled with 8 occurences of the same digit.
At the same time, HP made expensive calculators which could be thrown against a wall without taking any damage, which had very precise and everlasting keys, and which had OPN (a reverse, but very intuitive way of entering a calculation).
During most of my education (I am a mechanical engineer), HP calculators were the norm. We could buy Texas if we wanted, but we would then be on our own without any help during lessons.
Today I still use a HP calculator though it is not the same quality as my old mid-eighties HP-15C which was stolen. My wife still has and uses her HP-15C as do several of my colleagues. I have never ever seen or heard of a broken HP calculator from that time.
Unfortunately the Satellite providers have barely conquered HD if at all, we may never see a "media hub" for satellite TV Fans.
...but still no satellite.
here's a company that's got some interesting product stack9.com/main.php it'll set the music, mood lighting, and babysit your kids.