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Blowing TiVo's Lid

An anonymous reader writes "Taking things apart is just plain fun, but there's also a lot to learn about how to build a foolproof Linux-based appliance. Break out your Torx drivers and take a closer look at TiVo's inner Linux workings. Examining the TiVo system reveals how one company made the transition from desktop operating system to embedded system."

9 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Summary of the article by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

    - I owns TiVo box, I want to open it, I make a photo

    - Oh, a hard-disk. Let's pull it off and mount it on a regular PC

    - See here how I can use bzip2 to make a backup of the drive, BUT BUT! also to restore the backup onto the drive! Shit I'm geeky...

    - Ok so now I tinker a bit and I find a bunch of partitions

    - I mount the partitions and notice a bunch of init scripts

    - I also notice a bunch of custom programs, written in whatever language does the job, but I decide it looks like a big mess

    - I insert a phrase saying that I'm not interesting in modifying the thing, just study it. You never know with these lawyers...

    - I conclude with vague statements about Linux philosophies

    (- Additionally, I post a black-and-white photo of me showing my long hair. That's how geeky I am!)

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  2. Conversation in my home by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Me: Hey Son, bring my toolbox.
    Son: What is it this time?
    Me: Dont worry. The Tivo box is gonna be alright.
    Son: Mamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Dad is gonna blew something again. This time it is Tivo
    Me:I will just open and see.
    Wife: (looks at me)
    Me: Ok, forget it.

  3. Re:Deja Vu All Over Again by lxt · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Matrix clearly not running Linux then...

  4. Re:didn't i read this 2.5 weeks ago?!? by leshert · · Score: 4, Funny

    you're supposed to throw a royal fit when something like that happens.

    are you new around here? ;)


    I realize you're trying to make a joke (emphasis on trying), but what's funnier is watching some kid with a user id of 650339 ask a guy with a user id of 14388 if he's new...

  5. News Flash! by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's official - even CmdrTaco doesn't read Slashdot!

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  6. Re:didn't i read this 2.5 weeks ago?!? by Neoncow · · Score: 3, Funny
    I realize you're trying to make a joke (emphasis on trying), but what's funnier is watching some kid with a user id of 650339 ask a guy with a user id of 14388 if he's new...

    Ummm.. This happens all the time!
    You must be new here.

    =)

  7. Re:didn't i read this 2.5 weeks ago?!? by MacJedi · · Score: 5, Funny
    sheesh, you kids!

    now where are my dentures...

    --
    2^5
  8. Re:open source? by zztzed · · Score: 2, Funny

    What's considered a low number?

    Not 120168. ;)

  9. So sad by saikou · · Score: 2, Funny

    What I don't understand is why he even bothered with this type of activity. Given a mountain of knowledge about Tivos, including partitions and OS dissection on the net, why not build on that? Simple search is not good enough? What's going to be next, "our expert have dissected a frog and found out this squishy part to be its stomach! Hooray!" published in medical magazines?