Myth TV + Multiple Video Arcade = Anime for All

x-blackout-x writes "Ian C. Blenke writes "The primary goal of the video keg was to build a reliable video box that was easy to transport with enough space to store 3 days worth of Anime fan-subs. The secondary goal of the video keg was to make a home PVR system for video playback and time-shifting, along with a video arcade and perhaps a web browser. The tertiary goal of the video keg was to find an affordable hardware platform so that we could buy 4 of them immmediately to service the primary goal's need for 4 separate video rooms. For a PVR, the machine neeed to be small, quiet, low-heat, and still fast enough to run the software video player and arcade games." You can read the full scoop on this project on his blog Ians Blog "

Comments

Tivo vs VideoKeg

[queenb**ch]

Considering that the project here is run by computer geeks who had to search the net for hours in order to get everything working, what are the odds that this will actually become a consumer device? Frankly, the description in the article sounds like more work than I want to do, espeically considering that Tivo's here are running about $40 here. If I work on it for 8 hours to get it working, that's $5 an hour. You can make better money at Wal-Mart and that doesn't even factor in the hardware he purchased to run his VideoKeg on.

He also writes about how hard it was to theme the interface. Frankly, one of the best things about the Tivo is the user interface. It's simple, inutitive and attractive. In short, it rocks. I will say that his idea of a touch screen is nice addition. A Tivo with a touchscreen at the bar, playing music videos instead of just songs could be a nifty niche market. There's also a lot of hidden functionality to the Tivo that allows me to do really nifty things.

Tivo on other hand, is largely "plug and play" - well with in the capabilities of the average end user (my parents for example). Tivo also has a rather nice range of capabilites. I can view my own photos, videos, etc. from my Tivo. I can also listen to my MP3 collection from my Tivo. Currently the only thing that the Tivo doesn't do is allow of web browsing and playing of games. I'm given to understand that in a rev or two, the Tivo will be able to do those things.

I think I'll wait for the Tivo.

2 cents,

Queen B

Re:Why Fansubs?

[LordLucless]

Probably because they're so ass-slow about getting their releases out. A popular show screens in Japan, and there are two or three fansubs out within the week.

These days, the video quality is generally high, not quite DVD standard, but fairly close.The translation by most groups is generally on par with the official releases (I don't speak Japanese, but I do know English pretty well, and often the official releases come with poor grammar, spelling mistakes, and poor sentance construction) and the subbing is much better - anti-aliased fonts, different coloured text for different characters' dialog, culutral notes explaining otherwise inexplicable events, etc.

About all the official releases have going for them is the artwork on the DVD boxes and the fact that they're official. That's not a lot of benefits to compete against fansubs, particularly when most anime fans are already used to getting their fix via fansubs. The official distributors are trying to break in to an already existing market.

All that said, I do buy licensed anime when it is released. But I can definately understand the attitude of those that don't. I've ordered in volume 3 of The Scrapped Princess for Christmas (that's December 2005) which will replace the fansubs I've had on my computer since 2003.