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Open Source Set-Top-Box Adds YouTube Support

Posted by Zonk on from the for-all-of-your-wow-pvp-video-needs dept.

mrspin writes "Media streaming boxes such as the AppleTV, XBox 360, PS3, and products from Netgear do a varying job of bridging the gap between the PC and television as well as, in some cases, delivering Internet content directly into the living room. But all are closed systems. The result of which is that users are left trying to hack these devices against the wishes of manufacturers or have to make-do with whatever official features are implemented. Bucking this trend, Neuros is taking a wholly different approach, and has open-sourced the firmware for its Neuros OSD media center, meaning that anybody is free to write add-ons that extend the device's functionality. This week the company announced that thanks to the open-source community, the device now lets users browse, search and view the entire YouTube catalog."

7 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Dont we have this? by ampmouse · · Score: 2, Informative

    This sounds alot like MythTV with special hardware!

  2. PS3 not all that closed by androvsky · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yes, the RSX can't be used in ps3 linux, but the Cell can be, and Sony encourages the installation of linux on the ps3. All that's lacking are apps that take advantage of the cell fully, and I've been talking to people who are working on it. Several patches are available, just waiting to be included with various media players.

  3. Interesting idea, now do it with useful gear by jmorris42 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Last time I looked, the box had no onboard storage, no component, DVI or HDMI i/o and not nearly enough compute power to need HD outputs. In other words it is an SD device is an HD world, and an underspecced device for a lot of SD uses. The lack of even an S-Video output was when I stopped reading. USB1 is also pathetic these days.

    Having brought out a product the manufacturer couldn't think of a use for they threw magic "Open Source" pixie dust on it hoping we could think of things to do with it. Which is better than nothing, but why not give us a slightly more commercially viable platform to work with?

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    Democrat delenda est
    1. Re:Interesting idea, now do it with useful gear by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 2, Informative

      2. USB1 is fine for external storage. People stream video across networks for Christ's sake!

      The typical home network is 100mbit. USB 1 operates at 1.5mbit. It's designed for mice, keyboards, printers and scanners, not streaming video. USB2 is fine for streaming video, but saying that USB 1 is fine because people "stream video across networks!" is ridiculous.

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      Comment of the year
  4. Re:What a heading/title! by semiotec · · Score: 3, Informative

    "An individual who is not that connected to the internet" probably wouldn't be reading Slashdot anyway.

  5. Inaccurate article by Have+Blue · · Score: 2, Informative

    The article complaining about the AppleTV is over a month old, and too old to point out that the AppleTV now has an official, fully-supported YouTube browser.

  6. Re:What a heading/title! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Mario's enemy was Bowser, not browser.