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Blockbuster's Movie Download Box Runs Linux

Posted by timothy on from the but-does-it-run-emacs dept.

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."

3 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Dying Concept by shawn(at)fsu · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That could be good. before the only people who used their bandwidth were "teh evil pirates", now if joe schmoe and his mother are going over their cap maybe they will see that they need to keep pace.

    /yes I know wishful thinking.

    --
    500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.
  2. Re:Dying Concept by MindlessAutomata · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They always did that. They always had to. Bandwidth is not infinite.

    Now, however, they are just telling you what kind of caps they have instead of leaving you to guess. And the caps really aren't that bad; they're more geared to the hoarders and mega-uploaders which cause most of the problems. ...And yes, businesses should not be offering "unlimited" if it is not unlimited.

  3. Re:Dying Concept by cheater512 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    No, because their infrastructure is designed for web pages and email, not video.

    Now that video is becoming mainstream they are 'managing' their networks to prevent overload.

    What they arent doing is increasing capacity.