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Roku To Go Open Source

Posted by timothy on from the what's-in-the-box dept.

ruphus13 writes "Time-shifting via Tivo changed the way we consume television programming. Now, Open Source enters the fray. Roku, the streaming-media set-top box has decided to Open Source its software. Roku had received praise for its streaming solution, and was in the press recently for its deal with Netflix, allowing users to stream Netflix movies directly to the box. From the article, 'Roku will release an open source version of its software by the end of the year. The CEO says he's looking for deals with content providers to stream their products through his device, and hopes to sell a bunch of them as a result.'"

7 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. If only all companies had this vision by gladbach · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I dream of the day that I don't need to pay for cable, and can go strictly on demand for a reasonable price point.

    --
    "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms,
    1. Re:If only all companies had this vision by electrosoccertux · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's exactly what they're trying to prevent, with things like the 250GB cap. They'll let you get all the internets you want, but when it infringes on their space (content), they don't want any of that kind of competition.

      Otherwise people could just download all the HD movies and shows they want through a subscription service like Netflix (or hopefully through a cheaper, bittorrent backed solution), and get rid of the cable TV.

    2. Re:If only all companies had this vision by MightyYar · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I agree about price, but...

      SIX HOURS A DAY!!!! OH MY GOD!!! The price of iTunes is the least of your worries! Even a whole movie a day only gets you in the 2 hours a day ballpark.

      I mean, yeah, I watch a few shows... The Office, Weeds, South Park, Family Guy... but holy shit, 6 hours? Even if you're disabled that's a lot of time on your ass!

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    3. Re:If only all companies had this vision by characterZer0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Man, too bad my kid is missing out on all this packaged education while she is reading books, playing with blocks, playing outside, and "helping" her parents.

      --
      Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
  2. Re:content? by Neon+Spiral+Injector · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have a feeling they'll provide the source to their UI and networking stuff. But the WMV DRM decoding will remain proprietary.

    This way other content providers can customize the Roku to work with their service (and plug in their own DRM module).

    Hopefully the device can be improved greatly. I had one for a week. Maybe it was just too simple, but I wasn't impressed. I sold it to a friend. I'll just get an Xbox 360 for my Netflix streaming.

  3. Re:MythTV? by StreetStealth · · Score: 2, Insightful

    MythTV resides in an entirely different market from this.

    Myth's featureset has always been built around DVR features; your Myth box sits downstream from a cable box or tuner. The Roku box, on the other hand, is the content source.

    Right now, it's being sold as a Netflix streaming device. In the future, though, any company could theoretically provide client software for it to stream other proprietary or open content.

    --
    Your mind is clear / The things that you fear / Will fade with how much you / Believe what you hear
  4. Re:MythTV? by H0p313ss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I believe they are trying to say that it is a comparison of apples to oranges.

    Sounds more like they were saying it is a comparison of apples to Orangutans.

    --
    XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction