It's more like checking the locks on the backside of a Walmart.
Even the backside might not be necessary. Who hasn't walked up to a storefront entrance with the intent of going in and been rebuffed by a locked door before seeing the store's hours?
From what it looks like, it's more than just the Google Maps web site. It isn't entirely clear, but from what I saw from the demonstration by Steve Jobs it looks like it is similar to (and a bit more than) the GoogleMaps application I have on my Treo. View traffic, directions and navigation optimized for a mobile device, and finding classes of things or specific objects (like finding the "Taco Bell" or "Starbucks" locations nearby with phone numbers).
But you're right, there are likely zero technical barriers to overcome, so it seems more of a marketing partnership than a team effort to solve technical problems.
Meanwhile, MGM holds the distribution rights for the Hobbit, and has already said on record that they would want Peter Jackson to direct the film.
In a movie trilogy such as LOTR with such a large cast, the director kinda becomes the Superstar. MGM knows this, and would have no problem raking in a few hundred million by getting Peter Jackson to do it when they get the rights back. For many fans and even normal people, Peter Jackson is LOTR, and New Line is foolish if they think that the majority wouldn't just dismiss it outright, even if a comparable director was at hand and they could convince those few of the cast to reprise their roles.
I wouldn't watch it, and most of the people in my family that are just the "average moviegoer" wouldn't watch it. It has transcended the geek world and reached the status of cultural icon. Unlike something such as DRM, which maintains a visibility only to our sphere, nearly everyone knows about the LOTR movies. "Don't go see it, Peter Jackson didn't direct it." would be a common phrase if New Line did it. At least that's what I'd tell everyone that would listen.
Small Probe and Big Probe fly into an upper atmo bar.
The ex-NASA bartender says, "What'll it be, boys?"
Small Probe responds "I'll have a Pint of ale, please."
Big Probe says, "I'll have a Liter of ale, please."
The ex-NASA bartender just gives them a Quart of ale each, which they drink and then leave.
Small Probe crashes his ride and dies in a pool of his own vomit. Big Probe lands safely, a bit pissed that he got ripped off on his drink, but later ends up in therapy since he blames himself for Small Probe's death in letting him drive. The ex-NASA bartender is fired for giving out free product, is convicted of "criminal negligence resulting in death" in a Martian court, and is sentenced to 7-10 years in the Phobos Mining Prison. Both Big Probe and the ex-NASA bartender are financially decimated after being named in and losing the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Small Probe's family. Ironically, Big Probe develops a drinking problem and now blames the ex-NASA bartender for all his problems. In a drunken rage, he corners the ex-NASA bartender in a filthy bar toilet stall and beats him to death with a titanium pipe. Before swallowing two bottles of sleeping pills and dying himself, his final hate-filled thoughts are directed toward himself and the JPL.
I'm not sure that I wouldn't prefer the FCC to be the ones making the rules, though, since the alternative is that Congress makes 'em, but it might be for the best.
Here's how I see it.
With the FCC, the technical decisions may somewhat cater to corporate interests and the average consumer has little control over them, but they (mostly) stay within the confines of each subject addressed and (mostly) make informed decisions.
With Congress, the legislation that makes technical decisions will most definitely cater to corporate interests, include other irrelevant pork attached to it, and IMHO Congress lacks the background to make an informed judgment on the technical matters that they address. On the other hand, we can vote them out of office if we dislike them, however unlikely.
The FCC might be the lesser of two evils, but the whole broadcast flag thing is pretty ugly. The FCC has an obligation to the USA's public which should place the group of people much higher than a corporation. Limiting the public's ability to record content does damage to the public. Really, the FCC shouldn't concern itself with the legality of a certain action by the public, but only get involved if the action is in opposition to the public good. Whether or not the end result is used for an illegal purpose, keeping the ability to record content unfettered with restrictions would increase the public good.
I guess. Some people buy lots of DVDs, some people spend 40 bucks at the bar every other day; just depends on what you like to do. At least with DVDs you can argue that you don't piss it all away.
I see. So start up a dummy corporation of which you are an employee. Come right out and say that your company wants to pay for some "sex acting" between the two of you and that you should get a recording (if pornography is legal there). If a cop tries to arrest you, whip out a script and camera instead and say, "Wait! My bosses at Reeley GudTyme, Inc. sent me out with this screenplay to get some footage! I was just staying in character!"
But by participating in a torrent, they must have knowledge of how the bittorrent system works, so they know that others will be distributing as well. So participation might imply consent. I don't think a corporation could use the, "But your honor, I didn't know how the computer made it work!" excuse in that case.
No, see, the transparency in the GUI adds another 6 months on there. With enough people looking at it I'm sure we'll see why it's so advanced eventually.
I understand the business interests in making a device "like" certain codecs so that you can leverage other business concerns. AppleTV will be used to sell iTunes content, I know.
And I get that you can install all the codecs you want on a MCE computer. But I'm not so sure about a full-blown computer hooked up to my TV. The XBox360 needs help to play media other than WMA and WMV, like transcoding from a MCE computer. Will a Windows Home Server do the same thing?
Microsoft may be starting to market Windows MCE as a set top box, I don't know, but that's nowhere close to what it seems to have been since the release. I've never been able to quite place what Microsoft was going for with it. Is it supposed to replace my VCR/DVD/DVR? Do I hook it up to my TV? Does the computer sit next to the TV? Do I run cables from the living room to wherever the computer is? Is it my choice? If Windows MCE is meant as a set top box, this functionality for the XBox360 is kinda redundant.
The concept of a home server is still a relatively corporate notion to the average user. Networking has just recently been seen as a natural residential addition after a couple decades as a business technology. But the time is probably right for the introduction of a Microsoft server product intended for consumer use.
Upon taking a closer look at what Windows MCE 2005 actually offers, it does pretty much seem like it will do the same things as XBMC (and more) if you use it as a set top box. But the hardware requirements place it squarely into being a core device instead of edge. The average consumer certainly isn't going to buy a separate computer for each TV. But I'll probably pick up an extra XBox (original). I get that some cheap device is going to be sold for more than cost.
Seriously, Microsoft should make a device similar to the Core XBox360, but strip the 3D acceleration out. Put a stripped down version of MCE on it that doesn't have the recording functions to keep the hardware requirements lower. Let it connect to Windows shares and off you go. I could build such a device from computer components just fine, but HTPC hardware still costs a lot. How much did you end up spending for your MiniMac+MCE setup? Microsoft now makes money on the XBox360, so the hardware is certainly cheap enough (on a large scale) that they could release a little media device for a price of $149 or so I'd guess. Put in a link to download movies or TV shows or whatever off of XBox Live. I'd buy it.
The fact that people don't care/know about DRM and availability of "official" content doesn't preclude the success of a "cheap" device. There's lots of content for it. The "publisher" is mostly irrelevant in the consumers' eyes; look at the amount of Internet traffic that is bittorrent. The average young computer user knows about it and they don't have the cash to spend on a dedicated HTPC running MCE. But they might spring for a cheap device that lets them play stuff on a TV that's on their computer. Don't underestimate how cheap people can be when funds are low.
I guess there's a fine line between a joke and a troll.:P
I haven't had the opportunity to play any of the new consoles yet, but I have heard from quite a few people that don't have an emotional investment in a single system. What I hear is that they recommend the Wii, and that (as you said) even those people that are not traditional gamers enjoy it. I don't really hear anything really good or really bad regarding the PS3 and 360.
Of all the consoles, the Wii is the one that I'd definitely want to be there at a party. If it came down to the other two, I've got an Xbox and a PS2 with fun multiplayer games already, and I don't know why the next ones are that much more special when playing games with others.
It's a pretty subjective thing, so in the end, as long as the person that actually plays games on a given console is happy, I'm fine with it.
Not only do facts mean nothing to them, but the meaning of words themselves become subjective to the whims of fanbois.
"Matters"? "Cannot"? "Proven"? "Inferior"? "Be"?
The definitions of these words are all open to interpretation within their minds to suit the context. Somewhat like a politician in that regard, but often lacking the subtlety in all but the most practiced of them.
The goal is 1% of 950 million-some phones or about 10 million, by the end of their worldwide release year in 2008, so I think that's a worldwide figure.
Re:With the introduction of AppleTV...
on
The Home Server Cometh
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
rant warning...
What I don't get is why these devices have to "like" a certain media at all. The AppleTV likes Apple-friendly MP4. The Xbox 360 likes WMV. Or you need third party software to transcode. Processing power required for any modern codec isn't an issue. Is it licensing costs that limit the amount of codec support? Pressure to include/account for DRM?
I really hate to keep beating the topic to death, but where is the XBMC work-alike? I don't fucking care what codec is used, I just want to play it. All the set top box by my TV needs to do is decode the media and put it on my TV. All the source server needs to do is serve the damn file from a Samba/Windows share (or NFS mount, I wish). That setup is half as complex as any of these other systems. The entire world was shown the exact device that would do that with XBMC.
How expensive would it be to make a little set top box with computer guts, 512MB of flash storage, and a DVD drive? With economies of scale, I'd bet that it could be done for a cost of under 50 $USD. I don't have the background to engineer a device like that, but I know from seeing XMBC on an original Xbox that it would be stupid simple on today's hardware. Hell, the Xbox with XBMC can do 720 by 480, and it wasn't even designed for it! Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo each had a chance with their consoles to strike a major blow to the others with this unencumbered capability and each of them missed it.
I have a feeling that while Microsoft, Apple, Sony, and media companies are all squabbling over how to play protected content or leveraging another type of business, a Chinese, Korean, or Taiwanese company will deliver a cheap little codec-agnostic device that does all this, and all other crippled devices and services will be made irrelevant.
I have about 15GB of ripped music from CDs. I have 20GB of ripped movies from DVDs. I have 40GB of ripped TV shows from DVDs. That's 75GB of media alone. Now, legality aside, you add torrent sites like thepiratebay to it all, and you definitely need that space. I know people that have 200GB or more of downloaded media files.
Then again, I watch most everything through XBMC, so my use may be uncommon.
Sure, for the environmentalist movement proper. But as you go up the hierarchy in any activist or political organization, the further removed people become from logic and open-mindedness, and instead become more involved in power and influence.
And I don't think you have to be an actual environmentalist to have an interest in the general welfare of a planet and its species. Despite what people think, corporate and political policy is not always at odds with the environment.
This is completely true. For example, lots of people will listen to my conspiracy theories about how the CIA killed JFK and how NASA faked the moon landing. These conspiracy theories can be considered fairly slick and do not need much lubrication to gain a foothold in a listener.
But whenever I bring up my "Hitler was a Gay Extraterrestrial from the Past" conspiracy, I find that I need lots of the shaving cream to get anyone to listen seriously. I need to talk about the extensive conspiracy theory for hours before I can win anyone over, so I guess that one just isn't slick enough.:(
Having said that, both the GC and XBox are dying or on their last legs, and the PS2 seems the only moderately healthy last-gen console.
I bet that none of the next-gen consoles will genuinely offer playing most types of media over a network without any silly add-ons or restrictions. I think my Xbox, with the help of XBMC, will long outlast the usage of my PS2 or GC.
Although I imagine my usage may not be the norm, I don't think it's all that rare, either.
The big issue I have with all these hacked up systems is that additional hardware/software is needed at all. You're correct that in my case, everything is stored on the big RAID array downstairs, and XBMC just opens up the file through a Samba file share. Right now, it doesn't matter what format it is in and I'm not interested in needing more software or hardware to overcome artificially placed barriers. (Although TVersity does look like an interesting application, but it doesn't run on Linux, which is what my NAS runs downstairs.) I don't really want to leave a Windows computer on all the time when the device playing the media should have the juice to play the native format already. Seems kinda wasteful. I totally get that there are ways of getting around the drawbacks, but I don't want to support the system by leaping hurdles placed in front of me, especially when I'm not all that compelled to buy a next-gen system in the first place.
That said, there are other advantages to XBMC besides just playing your media files. You can play lots of homebrew games through it, and other games that have been ported to it. Scripting capabilities within it opens up things like Quicktime movie trailers, YouTube videos, and other web content (which I imagine TVersity can do, too). None of these things have technical burdens which would preclude Microsoft from doing the same (and more) with the 360. What exactly does "Xbox-compatible" mean, anyway? What Microsoft says you can run on the hardware that you bought? I'm just not interested in buying a product that makes me (at the moment) work around these barriers. I'll think about it again if they change their tune later on, but for now, my Xbox stays as my media hub. The longer they resist, the more it makes my opinion of the system drop, thus pushing me towards other options. Perhaps the PS3 will have some good media options after a few firmware updates?
Bottom line, I think XBMC has spoiled me. Even though Microsoft has nothing to do with it, XBMC is so nearly flawless in execution that it has raised my expectations of what a console should be capable of. If a machine can't even support common file formats without additional hardware, it sucks.
There is way more to the Harry Potter books than first might be apparent. Once you start looking, the literary alchemical references abound everywhere. Besides the obvious, such as the non-USA (and original) title of Book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, there are many others as well.
While the earlier books are definitely written to target a younger audience, the symbolism within them is still there. It's possible that people have a bias because the books are written with this audience in mind and so are viewed as "just for kids", much like many people (in the US) have a certain view of "Anime" as "just for kids".
So obviously, if they are "just for kids", they couldn't possibly have any more depth to them.
Slashdot Mirror
It's more like checking the locks on the backside of a Walmart.
Even the backside might not be necessary. Who hasn't walked up to a storefront entrance with the intent of going in and been rebuffed by a locked door before seeing the store's hours?
"Anything you can dream you can build."
That seems overly optimistic. I think there are a few laws of physics that would disagree.
From what it looks like, it's more than just the Google Maps web site. It isn't entirely clear, but from what I saw from the demonstration by Steve Jobs it looks like it is similar to (and a bit more than) the GoogleMaps application I have on my Treo. View traffic, directions and navigation optimized for a mobile device, and finding classes of things or specific objects (like finding the "Taco Bell" or "Starbucks" locations nearby with phone numbers).
But you're right, there are likely zero technical barriers to overcome, so it seems more of a marketing partnership than a team effort to solve technical problems.
In a movie trilogy such as LOTR with such a large cast, the director kinda becomes the Superstar. MGM knows this, and would have no problem raking in a few hundred million by getting Peter Jackson to do it when they get the rights back. For many fans and even normal people, Peter Jackson is LOTR, and New Line is foolish if they think that the majority wouldn't just dismiss it outright, even if a comparable director was at hand and they could convince those few of the cast to reprise their roles.
I wouldn't watch it, and most of the people in my family that are just the "average moviegoer" wouldn't watch it. It has transcended the geek world and reached the status of cultural icon. Unlike something such as DRM, which maintains a visibility only to our sphere, nearly everyone knows about the LOTR movies. "Don't go see it, Peter Jackson didn't direct it." would be a common phrase if New Line did it. At least that's what I'd tell everyone that would listen.
Small Probe and Big Probe fly into an upper atmo bar.
The ex-NASA bartender says, "What'll it be, boys?"
Small Probe responds "I'll have a Pint of ale, please."
Big Probe says, "I'll have a Liter of ale, please."
The ex-NASA bartender just gives them a Quart of ale each, which they drink and then leave.
Small Probe crashes his ride and dies in a pool of his own vomit. Big Probe lands safely, a bit pissed that he got ripped off on his drink, but later ends up in therapy since he blames himself for Small Probe's death in letting him drive. The ex-NASA bartender is fired for giving out free product, is convicted of "criminal negligence resulting in death" in a Martian court, and is sentenced to 7-10 years in the Phobos Mining Prison. Both Big Probe and the ex-NASA bartender are financially decimated after being named in and losing the wrongful death lawsuit brought by Small Probe's family. Ironically, Big Probe develops a drinking problem and now blames the ex-NASA bartender for all his problems. In a drunken rage, he corners the ex-NASA bartender in a filthy bar toilet stall and beats him to death with a titanium pipe. Before swallowing two bottles of sleeping pills and dying himself, his final hate-filled thoughts are directed toward himself and the JPL.
Remember, unit conversion always matters!
As long as we're entering the realm of fantasy, can I get a pony?
Here's how I see it.
With the FCC, the technical decisions may somewhat cater to corporate interests and the average consumer has little control over them, but they (mostly) stay within the confines of each subject addressed and (mostly) make informed decisions.
With Congress, the legislation that makes technical decisions will most definitely cater to corporate interests, include other irrelevant pork attached to it, and IMHO Congress lacks the background to make an informed judgment on the technical matters that they address. On the other hand, we can vote them out of office if we dislike them, however unlikely.
The FCC might be the lesser of two evils, but the whole broadcast flag thing is pretty ugly. The FCC has an obligation to the USA's public which should place the group of people much higher than a corporation. Limiting the public's ability to record content does damage to the public. Really, the FCC shouldn't concern itself with the legality of a certain action by the public, but only get involved if the action is in opposition to the public good. Whether or not the end result is used for an illegal purpose, keeping the ability to record content unfettered with restrictions would increase the public good.
I have this image of Clippy popping up when you go to play some video file.
"Do you really have legal permission to view this file? I can tell if you're lying!"
*click*
"You've indicated that you have legal permission to view the scrubs.605.pdtv.xvid.notv.avi video file. Is this correct?"
*click*
"You're lying to me! Clippy! No Scrubs fix for you!"
I guess. Some people buy lots of DVDs, some people spend 40 bucks at the bar every other day; just depends on what you like to do. At least with DVDs you can argue that you don't piss it all away.
I see. So start up a dummy corporation of which you are an employee. Come right out and say that your company wants to pay for some "sex acting" between the two of you and that you should get a recording (if pornography is legal there). If a cop tries to arrest you, whip out a script and camera instead and say, "Wait! My bosses at Reeley GudTyme, Inc. sent me out with this screenplay to get some footage! I was just staying in character!"
It's foolproof!
But by participating in a torrent, they must have knowledge of how the bittorrent system works, so they know that others will be distributing as well. So participation might imply consent. I don't think a corporation could use the, "But your honor, I didn't know how the computer made it work!" excuse in that case.
So you've spent like 10 to 20 thousand dollars on DVD content alone? You must have some serious disposable income.
I just hope it changes before the 22nd century.
No, see, the transparency in the GUI adds another 6 months on there. With enough people looking at it I'm sure we'll see why it's so advanced eventually.
I understand the business interests in making a device "like" certain codecs so that you can leverage other business concerns. AppleTV will be used to sell iTunes content, I know.
And I get that you can install all the codecs you want on a MCE computer. But I'm not so sure about a full-blown computer hooked up to my TV. The XBox360 needs help to play media other than WMA and WMV, like transcoding from a MCE computer. Will a Windows Home Server do the same thing?
Microsoft may be starting to market Windows MCE as a set top box, I don't know, but that's nowhere close to what it seems to have been since the release. I've never been able to quite place what Microsoft was going for with it. Is it supposed to replace my VCR/DVD/DVR? Do I hook it up to my TV? Does the computer sit next to the TV? Do I run cables from the living room to wherever the computer is? Is it my choice? If Windows MCE is meant as a set top box, this functionality for the XBox360 is kinda redundant.
The concept of a home server is still a relatively corporate notion to the average user. Networking has just recently been seen as a natural residential addition after a couple decades as a business technology. But the time is probably right for the introduction of a Microsoft server product intended for consumer use.
Upon taking a closer look at what Windows MCE 2005 actually offers, it does pretty much seem like it will do the same things as XBMC (and more) if you use it as a set top box. But the hardware requirements place it squarely into being a core device instead of edge. The average consumer certainly isn't going to buy a separate computer for each TV. But I'll probably pick up an extra XBox (original). I get that some cheap device is going to be sold for more than cost.
Seriously, Microsoft should make a device similar to the Core XBox360, but strip the 3D acceleration out. Put a stripped down version of MCE on it that doesn't have the recording functions to keep the hardware requirements lower. Let it connect to Windows shares and off you go. I could build such a device from computer components just fine, but HTPC hardware still costs a lot. How much did you end up spending for your MiniMac+MCE setup? Microsoft now makes money on the XBox360, so the hardware is certainly cheap enough (on a large scale) that they could release a little media device for a price of $149 or so I'd guess. Put in a link to download movies or TV shows or whatever off of XBox Live. I'd buy it.
The fact that people don't care/know about DRM and availability of "official" content doesn't preclude the success of a "cheap" device. There's lots of content for it. The "publisher" is mostly irrelevant in the consumers' eyes; look at the amount of Internet traffic that is bittorrent. The average young computer user knows about it and they don't have the cash to spend on a dedicated HTPC running MCE. But they might spring for a cheap device that lets them play stuff on a TV that's on their computer. Don't underestimate how cheap people can be when funds are low.
I guess there's a fine line between a joke and a troll. :P
I haven't had the opportunity to play any of the new consoles yet, but I have heard from quite a few people that don't have an emotional investment in a single system. What I hear is that they recommend the Wii, and that (as you said) even those people that are not traditional gamers enjoy it. I don't really hear anything really good or really bad regarding the PS3 and 360.
Of all the consoles, the Wii is the one that I'd definitely want to be there at a party. If it came down to the other two, I've got an Xbox and a PS2 with fun multiplayer games already, and I don't know why the next ones are that much more special when playing games with others.
It's a pretty subjective thing, so in the end, as long as the person that actually plays games on a given console is happy, I'm fine with it.
Not only do facts mean nothing to them, but the meaning of words themselves become subjective to the whims of fanbois.
"Matters"? "Cannot"? "Proven"? "Inferior"? "Be"?
The definitions of these words are all open to interpretation within their minds to suit the context. Somewhat like a politician in that regard, but often lacking the subtlety in all but the most practiced of them.
The goal is 1% of 950 million-some phones or about 10 million, by the end of their worldwide release year in 2008, so I think that's a worldwide figure.
rant warning...
What I don't get is why these devices have to "like" a certain media at all. The AppleTV likes Apple-friendly MP4. The Xbox 360 likes WMV. Or you need third party software to transcode. Processing power required for any modern codec isn't an issue. Is it licensing costs that limit the amount of codec support? Pressure to include/account for DRM?
I really hate to keep beating the topic to death, but where is the XBMC work-alike? I don't fucking care what codec is used, I just want to play it. All the set top box by my TV needs to do is decode the media and put it on my TV. All the source server needs to do is serve the damn file from a Samba/Windows share (or NFS mount, I wish). That setup is half as complex as any of these other systems. The entire world was shown the exact device that would do that with XBMC.
How expensive would it be to make a little set top box with computer guts, 512MB of flash storage, and a DVD drive? With economies of scale, I'd bet that it could be done for a cost of under 50 $USD. I don't have the background to engineer a device like that, but I know from seeing XMBC on an original Xbox that it would be stupid simple on today's hardware. Hell, the Xbox with XBMC can do 720 by 480, and it wasn't even designed for it! Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo each had a chance with their consoles to strike a major blow to the others with this unencumbered capability and each of them missed it.
I have a feeling that while Microsoft, Apple, Sony, and media companies are all squabbling over how to play protected content or leveraging another type of business, a Chinese, Korean, or Taiwanese company will deliver a cheap little codec-agnostic device that does all this, and all other crippled devices and services will be made irrelevant.
I care, and I'll bet others still do as well.
I have about 15GB of ripped music from CDs. I have 20GB of ripped movies from DVDs. I have 40GB of ripped TV shows from DVDs. That's 75GB of media alone. Now, legality aside, you add torrent sites like thepiratebay to it all, and you definitely need that space. I know people that have 200GB or more of downloaded media files.
Then again, I watch most everything through XBMC, so my use may be uncommon.
Sure, for the environmentalist movement proper. But as you go up the hierarchy in any activist or political organization, the further removed people become from logic and open-mindedness, and instead become more involved in power and influence.
And I don't think you have to be an actual environmentalist to have an interest in the general welfare of a planet and its species. Despite what people think, corporate and political policy is not always at odds with the environment.
This is completely true. For example, lots of people will listen to my conspiracy theories about how the CIA killed JFK and how NASA faked the moon landing. These conspiracy theories can be considered fairly slick and do not need much lubrication to gain a foothold in a listener.
But whenever I bring up my "Hitler was a Gay Extraterrestrial from the Past" conspiracy, I find that I need lots of the shaving cream to get anyone to listen seriously. I need to talk about the extensive conspiracy theory for hours before I can win anyone over, so I guess that one just isn't slick enough. :(
Having said that, both the GC and XBox are dying or on their last legs, and the PS2 seems the only moderately healthy last-gen console.
I bet that none of the next-gen consoles will genuinely offer playing most types of media over a network without any silly add-ons or restrictions. I think my Xbox, with the help of XBMC, will long outlast the usage of my PS2 or GC.
Although I imagine my usage may not be the norm, I don't think it's all that rare, either.
The big issue I have with all these hacked up systems is that additional hardware/software is needed at all. You're correct that in my case, everything is stored on the big RAID array downstairs, and XBMC just opens up the file through a Samba file share. Right now, it doesn't matter what format it is in and I'm not interested in needing more software or hardware to overcome artificially placed barriers. (Although TVersity does look like an interesting application, but it doesn't run on Linux, which is what my NAS runs downstairs.) I don't really want to leave a Windows computer on all the time when the device playing the media should have the juice to play the native format already. Seems kinda wasteful. I totally get that there are ways of getting around the drawbacks, but I don't want to support the system by leaping hurdles placed in front of me, especially when I'm not all that compelled to buy a next-gen system in the first place.
That said, there are other advantages to XBMC besides just playing your media files. You can play lots of homebrew games through it, and other games that have been ported to it. Scripting capabilities within it opens up things like Quicktime movie trailers, YouTube videos, and other web content (which I imagine TVersity can do, too). None of these things have technical burdens which would preclude Microsoft from doing the same (and more) with the 360. What exactly does "Xbox-compatible" mean, anyway? What Microsoft says you can run on the hardware that you bought? I'm just not interested in buying a product that makes me (at the moment) work around these barriers. I'll think about it again if they change their tune later on, but for now, my Xbox stays as my media hub. The longer they resist, the more it makes my opinion of the system drop, thus pushing me towards other options. Perhaps the PS3 will have some good media options after a few firmware updates?
Bottom line, I think XBMC has spoiled me. Even though Microsoft has nothing to do with it, XBMC is so nearly flawless in execution that it has raised my expectations of what a console should be capable of. If a machine can't even support common file formats without additional hardware, it sucks.
There is way more to the Harry Potter books than first might be apparent. Once you start looking, the literary alchemical references abound everywhere. Besides the obvious, such as the non-USA (and original) title of Book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , there are many others as well.
While the earlier books are definitely written to target a younger audience, the symbolism within them is still there. It's possible that people have a bias because the books are written with this audience in mind and so are viewed as "just for kids", much like many people (in the US) have a certain view of "Anime" as "just for kids".
So obviously, if they are "just for kids", they couldn't possibly have any more depth to them.