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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."

19 of 88 comments (clear)

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

    This sounds alot like MythTV with special hardware!

    1. Re:Dont we have this? by Yoooder · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ...no... Neuros is _hardware_ whereas MythTV is _software_ Granted, Neuros has and uses software, and with external storage could perform functions similar to MythTV. But it is much much broader than MythTV.

    2. Re:Dont we have this? by XMyth · · Score: 2, Insightful

      AMEN!

      Lack of SMB is the only thing keeping me from switching from XBMC to something that supports HD.

      If Neuros only supported HD then I'd keep an eye on this latest development for some kind of SMB support...but without HD it has no chance of competing with XBMC.

    3. Re:Dont we have this? by tepples · · Score: 4, Funny

      Lack of SMB is the only thing keeping me from switching from XBMC to something that supports HD. If you want SMB, get a Wii. It can handle the old SMB and the new SMB.
    4. Re:Dont we have this? by XMyth · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hah....you had my hopes up...bastard. True, a modded xbox does only support the old SMB.

    5. Re:Dont we have this? by Holmwood · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How is this insightful? Did you even spend 10 seconds looking at the article or the device?

      sounds like a worse combo as the software is windows only.

      No, the product is Linux based, as in:

      The world's first open source Linux-based embedded media center
      (see http://www.neurosaudio.com/osd/osd.asp [neurosaudio.com])

      Why dont they stop the silly special software crap and simply make the dang things play from a SMB share

      Here's the awesome thing about open source. You want it to play from an SMB share? Go ahead and write it or ask someone to! I know, I know. Linux is obviously "silly special software crap" to you. Fair enough.

      And... guess what? Someone did.

      http://wiki.neurostechnology.com/index.php/OSD_Pro jects#Samba_Client_.28for_Windows_shares.29

      Now, why would you not want it to only play from SMB shares? Other people may want to be able to plug in their iPods, or FAT32-flash cards, or whatever. Personally, having to dump all my holiday photos to a remote server in some other room to have a slideshow is annoying for me; I'd much rather just plug in my camera or its memory card.

      Indeed, other people may want to hook up to youtube without requiring other specialized hardware in the house.

      I am so tired of this media appliances that require "special" software or use the stupid Upnp protocols that simply suck to high heaven.

      OK. You're tired of open source linux, because that's "silly special software". Fair enough. You're tired of any custom firmware in general. If I'm to take you at your word, you're tired of media PC's, ApplesTVs, iPods, MP-3 players, TV's (they have firmware too), PVR's, modern stereos. Sorry about "special software". Again, if you're really being sincere, I suggest you try an old TV from the 1970's; it might not have any software in it. Add an 8-track player and a sweet 60's solid-state amp, and you'll have no "silly special software" to worry about.

      As for UPnP protocols, I can cheerfully agree with you there.

      Is SMB that fricking hard?

      For you? I'd have to say yes, based on the above.

      Now, to other readers (and sorry, perhaps I should have ignored the guy, but when someone was modding him insightful and others were replying in the same tone... well, it made the discussion worse than useless)... He was saying stuff that was flatly false and being applauded for it.

      Back to the general concept: does this device actually make sense? A $249 embedded Linux device with some nice features that is upgradeable and open-sourced (on the software side)?

      Maybe. It probably doesn't make sense if you have a MythTV device hooked up. Or a Tivo/really good PVR. Or, as others have mentioned, an XBMC (Xbox Media Center). Or are HD.

      Personally, I'm intrigued, but a potential deal breaker for me is the presumed lack of upscaling in the device. It's doubtful it has the spare cpu capacity to process that in software. Apart from that, with the network connectivity, and extendability, it's tempting.

      I just have to admit I'm a bit dismayed. We all talk about Open Source here and slam MS (often rightly so). When a company comes out that is Open Source and is doing something rather unique and interesting -- not just letting its users hack the hardware, but inviting them to, guys like this jump up and down about "silly special software" and get modded insightful.

      -Holmwood
  2. What a heading/title! by bogaboga · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Open Source Set-Top-Box Adds YouTube Support...

    An individual who is not that connected to the internet might think Youtube is an application...or is it?

    You see, we are used to hearing support for "platforms" or software. Maybe I am wrong on this...!

    1. 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.

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

      Mario's enemy was Bowser, not browser.

  3. 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.

  4. 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?

    --
    Democrat delenda est
    1. Re:Interesting idea, now do it with useful gear by stabiesoft · · Score: 4, Interesting

      agreed, this box woulda been something 10 years ago. Now though with no HD, its a joke. I have a Roku that was doing HD 5 years ago. I'm looking for a replacement and some of the the new stuff from netgear/linksys looks promising, but obviously if it was hackable it would be better. Hopefully Neuros will come out with an HD offering.

    2. Re:Interesting idea, now do it with useful gear by Qwavel · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I disagree.

      nothing I watch is HD. Nothing I download is HD. And YouTube certainly isn't HD. So how is this an HD world?

      I'm assuming that you (and many others) have HD TV, but this box is not meant for watching TV on.

      Regarding the onboard storage, why would I want that? With USB ports and Ethernet I can add storage to the OSD in many easy ways. Built-in storage would be inflexible and would increase the cost.

    3. 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.

      --
      Comment of the year
  5. Already taken care of by AragornSonOfArathorn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My Wii "set-top box" works great with YouTube, thankyouverymuch :-)

    --
    sudo eat my shorts
    1. Re:Already taken care of by XMyth · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is it hard to type with your Wii?

    2. Re:Already taken care of by Wordsmith · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not if you're a hunt-and-pecker.

  6. Set-top box? No. PVR, maybe. by SeaFox · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If this device doesn't have a cablecard slot or any other way of descrambling encrypted digital channels, I don't know how it qualifies as a "set top box" except in the fact it can sit on top of a CRT television. Using this logic, the clock radio on top of my TV is a "set top box" as well.

  7. 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.