Posted by
CmdrTaco
on from the linux-at-24-fps dept.
Eddie writes "Don't know how to stop your video recorder flashing 12:00. Want to run Linux on your TV top.
Check out the latest in Linux powered boxes. "
Its about the TiVo. And I think that I'm in love. Although
I don't see anything about Linux in there...
Re:Are you sure you want to get excited about this
by
Bullwinkle
·
· Score: 4
Humm.
I have read most of the posts since folks on Slashdot first started praising and bashing us. I have found that responsible poster just ask before they flame!
For the record, TiVo does not upload any information about you or the shows you watch. All the math is done inside the box. We, along with our partners, are the only PTV company who has no plans for downloading Ads to the box, and we are the only PTV company who has a Privacy Policy in black and white in our manual and on our website.
Now if you have questions about our intentions, just ask, but don't make things up. And yes, TiVo is proud to use Linux at our core.
I recall a VCR that came out sometime from 1990-1994 that was able to cut out commercials while it recorded: Watching the tape later, you'd get a blue screen for about 3 seconds and then it would jump back to normal programming. It was a terrific innovation, and I was seriously considering picking one up.
It got sued almost immediately, by about 50 different companies or organizations. It never went into mass production, and the company that designed it was never heard from again.
This is the last thing that advertisers want to see--it takes away their ability to force feed commercials (which is how TV stations get the large majority of their revenue) down the viewers' throats. They hit the designers, and they hit them hard.
I'm hoping and praying that the same sort of thing doesn't happen here, because it's the first step in going to digital VCR boxes and the like.
-- -...and remember, you can't invade Brainania. It's not on the big map.
Are you sure you want to get excited about this?
by
AlienJ
·
· Score: 5
This Tivo thing is evil - check this out at Wired. Go for the ReplayTV or wait a bit for the STB MPEG2 recorder card then write your own apps. Sorry, I dont want anyone to have a clue what I watch on TV....
Info on the changes made to the kernel...
by
_Stryker
·
· Score: 3
I did a little research and sent an email to the TiVo folks. Here is what they had to say. Enjoy...
Subject: RE: Operating System used for TiVo? Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 17:19:11 -0700
Dear Sean,
Yes, it's Linux, and your timing is perfect. We just got finished creating our Tar.balls. I can get you the exact details of the code that is available per the GPL, but basically it is performance tweaks, and priority tweaks, to make Linux more of a Real-time OS. There is also a bunch of stuff to make it work with our transactional file system, and other stuff. I'll try to get you the full details, and if you want a burn of the CD, I'll try to get that ready, too. We are going to charge some nominal fee for this, but I'm not sure what that is, yet.
Oh, all tweaks are for Linux on the PowerPC chip.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Cheers, Richard Bullwinkle TiVo Webmaster
-----Original Message----- From: sean@sks-pc.cs.kau.se [mailto:sean@sks-pc.cs.kau.se]On Behalf Of Sean Kendall Schneyer Sent: Saturday, June 12, 1999 4:56 PM To: CustomerCare@TiVo.com Subject: Operating System used for TiVo?
I read in a recent article that you were using Linux as the operating system for TiVo. I was unable to find anything to confirm this on your website however. Is Linux actually being used? If so, what changes were needed to the kernel to support your device? Is the source code for these changes available (required under the GPL)? I would be very interested in receiving more details.
Slashdot Mirror
Humm.
I have read most of the posts since folks on Slashdot first started praising and bashing us. I have found that responsible poster just ask before they flame!
For the record, TiVo does not upload any information about you or the shows you watch. All the math is done inside the box. We, along with our partners, are the only PTV company who has no plans for downloading Ads to the box, and we are the only PTV company who has a Privacy Policy in black and white in our manual and on our website.
Now if you have questions about our intentions, just ask, but don't make things up. And yes, TiVo is proud to use Linux at our core.
Richard Bullwinkle
TiVo Webmaster
I recall a VCR that came out sometime from 1990-1994 that was able to cut out commercials while it recorded: Watching the tape later, you'd get a blue screen for about 3 seconds and then it would jump back to normal programming. It was a terrific innovation, and I was seriously considering picking one up.
It got sued almost immediately, by about 50 different companies or organizations. It never went into mass production, and the company that designed it was never heard from again.
This is the last thing that advertisers want to see--it takes away their ability to force feed commercials (which is how TV stations get the large majority of their revenue) down the viewers' throats. They hit the designers, and they hit them hard.
I'm hoping and praying that the same sort of thing doesn't happen here, because it's the first step in going to digital VCR boxes and the like.
-
This Tivo thing is evil - check this out at Wired. Go for the ReplayTV or wait a bit for the STB MPEG2 recorder card then write your own apps. Sorry, I dont want anyone to have a clue what I watch on TV....
I did a little research and sent an email to the TiVo folks. Here is what they had to say. Enjoy...
Subject: RE: Operating System used for TiVo?
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 17:19:11 -0700
Dear Sean,
Yes, it's Linux, and your timing is perfect. We just got finished creating our Tar.balls.
I can get you the exact details of the code that is available per the GPL, but basically it
is performance tweaks, and priority tweaks, to make Linux more of a Real-time OS. There is
also a bunch of stuff to make it work with our transactional file system, and other stuff.
I'll try to get you the full details, and if you want a burn of the CD, I'll try to get that
ready, too. We are going to charge some nominal fee for this, but I'm not sure what that
is, yet.
Oh, all tweaks are for Linux on the PowerPC chip.
Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Cheers,
Richard Bullwinkle
TiVo Webmaster
-----Original Message-----
From: sean@sks-pc.cs.kau.se [mailto:sean@sks-pc.cs.kau.se]On Behalf Of
Sean Kendall Schneyer
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 1999 4:56 PM
To: CustomerCare@TiVo.com
Subject: Operating System used for TiVo?
I read in a recent article that you were using Linux as the
operating system for TiVo. I was unable to find anything to
confirm this on your website however. Is Linux actually
being used? If so, what changes were needed to the kernel
to support your device? Is the source code for these changes
available (required under the GPL)? I would be very interested
in receiving more details.
Thanks in advance,
Sean Kendall Schneyer
---