Blockbuster's Movie Download Box Runs Linux

DeviceGuru writes "In a better-late-than-never move, Blockbuster has introduced a video-on-demand (VOD) service accompanied by a 'free' set-top box (STB). Like TiVo, Roku's Netflix box, and many other modern Internet-enabled A/V gadgets, Blockbuster's new VOD STB runs Linux. But darn it; when will someone finally offer a reasonably-priced, open-platform STB that serves as an A/V gateway to multiple Internet-based services — one consumer-friendly, environmentally-designed, low-power gadget 'to rule them all,' if you will."

Comments

Where's the Source?

[Anonymous Coward]

Since we know that question is coming...

The box is made by 2Wire and they provide source here:
http://www.2wire.com/index.php?p=437

Well...

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

There is Neuros, whose products fit the description pined for in TFS fairly well. The basic problem, though, is that the various internet video on demand pushers all want DRM which means that, at best, any box they produce will be "open box + big hostile blob" and will more likely be "closed box" or "closed box with API, if we feel generous". Because these guys seem to be shooting for the give them the razor, bleed them for the blades model, I wouldn't expect them to support multiple competing services, and the DRM wrapper will be enough to foil an legal multiservice boxes(and, in practice, make any illicit ones a pain in the ass to keep working).

For the immediately forseeable future, if you want an open, multiple service setup, you want a PC(in the broad sense, including mythTV, WMC, and aTV with Boxee).

Neuros Link

[Wesley Felter]

But darn it; when will someone finally offer a reasonably-priced, open-platform STB that serves as an A/V gateway to multiple Internet-based services â" one consumer-friendly, environmentally-designed, low-power gadget 'to rule them all,' if you will.

http://www.neurostechnology.com/neuros-link

Also runs Linux and a Web browser with Flash so it can access all the TV sites like Hulu.

Is this article a clever plant?

Re:Boxee

[jmelloy]

It's haxored. http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/ unlocks the rigorous protections (user: frontrow password: frontrow) and enables SSH. It also installs Boxee.

With SSH it's fairly straightforward to enable USB mass storage, and I currently have an external drive hooked up to the USB port. Making it run Linux is probably easiest by taking it apart and installing off your computer onto the hard drive.

Re:Dying Concept

[lysergic.acid]

wow, brilliant deduction! because, up until now we were all expecting to receive internet access for free.

anyone who's looked at broadband costs/availability in different parts of the world knows that ISPs in certain countries have a charge-more-for-less attitude. part of this is due to their being unregulated natural monopolies, thus being able to do whatever they want. part of it is due to pro-business/anti-consumer attitudes that dominate our culture. but at least part of the blame rests on ignorant members of the public who buy the "pirates are stealing your internet speeds!!!!11" BS put out by greedy ISPs, who all the while continue to oversell far beyond their network capacity.

bandwidth isn't a limited natural resource. if public demand for internet bandwidth increases, you just increase the network capacity and make more money. if you want to increase your subscription base, you need to upgrade your network to match the increase traffic load. that's just common sense. but some ISPs seem to want to increase their number of subscribers without matching increases in network capacity. and now they're trying to shift blame for the poor service quality on "power users" for actually using the internet connections they paid for.

so rather than upgrading their networks to conform to changes in internet usage like Japanese, Korean and European ISPs are doing, U.S. ISPs are instead wasting money on traffic monitoring & packet analysis/shaping technology. in other words, rather than increasing network capacity to meet public internet usage, they're trying to manipulate public internet usage to conform to their insufficient network capacity & business model.

it's no wonder many communities are establishing their own municipal WiFi/WiMax networks rather than getting reamed by commercial ISPs for subpar service.

Re:Boxee

[clare-ents]

They definitely run linux, and you can install from a USB stick. We know, we've lots and lots of them running as dedicated servers.

http://www.mythic-beasts.com/appletvdedicated.html