It's not a big deal, until they start linking the databases and making profile assumptions...
'uh oh he watches some wacko news network, orders al franken books, and made a trip to the hobby store... you know what that means... he's a terrorist!'
mythtv is yummy! building your own tivo is one way to help control who knows what about your viewing habits.
although I have a Tivo and never felt that my personal viewing habits were a liability (in aggregate) supposedly according to the TOS/privacy statements I read when I opened my tivo all the personal data is stored on the unit itself, and only anonmyous aggregate data goes back to the mother ship...
now WHERe did I put my tinfoil! I'm going to need the superwide box of reynolds wrap to cover my unit.
*shrug* Now it's probably underpowered for this fancy upscanning stuff the guy in the article wanted to do, but you can get fanless mini-itx via epia boards
I of course can't wait for our new Half-Life 2 overlords, but in my mind I won't believe it untill i see it on a brick and morter shelf or available to buy in my steam gui --- yeah right, selling half life 2 over steam "content delivery system" will make the myDoom SCO DOS attack look like a tea party.
I've been dissaponted too many times to believe any date they put out...
As a side note: I saw one of those guide book/strategy guides at Best Buy for Counter-Strike Condition Zero and had to giggle out loud.
well, the article mentioned (paraphrased) that they were selling them at a loss, and costs have come down per unit, but it NEVER reached the break even point...
I doubt by the time they shave even more ducats off the retail price in 8/9 months, that the cost of manufacturing will dip down *that* low.
Although looking cool or at least entertainment center-esque is important, more important though is what you learned along the way... What issues did you have, which software did you try out (and which one(s) did you settle on and why...).. that sorta stuff...
Sometimes the ugliest ones teach other people the most of what NOT to do (no offense intended, i'm sure it's very functional)
If you are so inclined there's a link to my build your own pvr site in my sig, sign up for an account and there's a primitive journal/mini-blogging capability where you can attach 1 pic and make a blurb about your project)
LOL, that's true... not *Everyone* has the time nor the inclination to build your own... but for some people building your own PVRis the way to go.
Those of us with free time (what are your girlfriends taking up all your time again?) and some money to burn, can make a much more flexible customized system either using OSS or commercial software like snapstream than an off the shelf commercial PVR.
*Shrug* YMMV but I think it's a cool idea (and I *own* and love my tivo)
I guess it's "moot" because they (ReplayTV) removed the features in newer models of ReplayTV that scared the MPAA/etc...
i.e. IIRC ReplayTV jewer units no longer lets you get content from other replayTV costumers/units over the net. Please correct me if I'm mistaken about that. It *was* a very cool feature, it's a shame that it's not in the newer models.
FWIW (surprise) I'd rather build my own and have full control over what I can and can't do with my content -- until broadcast flags/other DRM creeps in further.
That would make a pretty cool home entertainment box and PVR after some hacking =P The Anandtech article didn't mention PCI slots... if there is one I bet a Hauppauge 250 would be a sweet addition!
What is the MTBF for those units (the bulbs that is)? I'm sure they last a long time (read 1 to 2 years) with intermittent use, but with near constant or daily use for several hours straight I can see going through the expensive replacemnt "bulbs" reasonably often.
Then again, maybe these things just need the geek overclocking ethic i.e. more fans and better cooling for longer life. *Shrug*
Just replaced a bulb unit in a compact infocus at work... It was used lightly over a year and a half, although to be fair I doubt my cow-orkers let it cool down properly after a presentation.
If you are looking at the prototype... it is well.. a prototype duh... the finished rotating control panel has much more spit and polish if you'd taken the time to look around a bit (why the submitter linked to that section of the site is beyond me instead of the finished pics of the full cabinet). But I guess you were too busy trying to FP on a games.slashdot.org article to bother actually looking further into the site, eh cpt curmudgen?
Let me clarify -> If it is so easy, you do it. No where in MAME's creed/mission statement does it say, "Make a cross platform GUI so ungrateful slobs can play games" it's supposedly (paraphrase), "document/preserve games/hardware"
I doubt you are up to doing it, if you don't understand very basic MAME config options.
MAME natively has had the ability itself to skipdisclaimer, etc. via the ini files or command line parameters for some time now. All the win32/mame32 gui does is enable those options via checkboxes for people who don't read the doc's/play with config files. =P What exactly do you think a GUI "front end" does?!
Next thing we'll hear about this neat trick where you can bypass the "OK" screens by pressing left then right on your joystick!
Slashdot Mirror
It's not a big deal, until they start linking the databases and making profile assumptions...
'uh oh he watches some wacko news network, orders al franken books, and made a trip to the hobby store... you know what that means... he's a terrorist!'
*Shrug* or something...
e.
I concur,
mythtv is yummy! building your own tivo is one way to help control who knows what about your viewing habits.
although I have a Tivo and never felt that my personal viewing habits were a liability (in aggregate) supposedly according to the TOS/privacy statements I read when I opened my tivo all the personal data is stored on the unit itself, and only anonmyous aggregate data goes back to the mother ship...
now WHERe did I put my tinfoil! I'm going to need the superwide box of reynolds wrap to cover my unit.
e.
Building a HTPC only makes sense if it can do something better than any other commercially available solution...
Two words: Half Life.
I always think one word when people ask this: MAME!
(and yes I already have an mame arcade cabinet... but I can't get enough mame on enough devices in my house! =P)
E.
With careful component choice, a little moding, and some 3rd party help you can quiet an existing pc (or build a quiet one from scratch)
witness yoshi's quiet PC from the screensavers/techtv.
*shrug* Now it's probably underpowered for this fancy upscanning stuff the guy in the article wanted to do, but you can get fanless mini-itx via epia boards
e.
I of course can't wait for our new Half-Life 2 overlords, but in my mind I won't believe it untill i see it on a brick and morter shelf or available to buy in my steam gui --- yeah right, selling half life 2 over steam "content delivery system" will make the myDoom SCO DOS attack look like a tea party.
I've been dissaponted too many times to believe any date they put out...
As a side note: I saw one of those guide book/strategy guides at Best Buy for Counter-Strike Condition Zero and had to giggle out loud.
*shrug*
e.
well, the article mentioned (paraphrased) that they were selling them at a loss, and costs have come down per unit, but it NEVER reached the break even point...
I doubt by the time they shave even more ducats off the retail price in 8/9 months, that the cost of manufacturing will dip down *that* low.
But what do I know?
e.
Although looking cool or at least entertainment center-esque is important, more important though is what you learned along the way... What issues did you have, which software did you try out (and which one(s) did you settle on and why...).. that sorta stuff...
Sometimes the ugliest ones teach other people the most of what NOT to do (no offense intended, i'm sure it's very functional)
If you are so inclined there's a link to my build your own pvr site in my sig, sign up for an account and there's a primitive journal/mini-blogging capability where you can attach 1 pic and make a blurb about your project)
*shrug*
e.
crap me too... I shoulda checked to see if pj posted something before posting my own plug... i'm gonna earn a redundant or two now =P
rampy
Hi guys,
FWIW I recently started a site dedicated to discussing the merits, prattfalls, and techniques/hardware/software/etc...
anyways build your own PVR community site
Would love it if any slashdotters want to drop by and discuss either their existing PVR or future PVR projects...
Thanks!
E.
LOL, that's true... not *Everyone* has the time nor the inclination to build your own... but for some people building your own PVRis the way to go.
Those of us with free time (what are your girlfriends taking up all your time again?) and some money to burn, can make a much more flexible customized system either using OSS or commercial software like snapstream than an off the shelf commercial PVR.
*Shrug* YMMV but I think it's a cool idea (and I *own* and love my tivo)
e.
Cool any links to pictures, descriptiong, or blog of your project?
e.
>I was hoping it'd be about Lucy, that fossil >
>they found awhile back.
actually me too...*Shrug*
e.
You've got some 'splaining to do!
=P
e.
OMG! this ("i.e. IIRC ReplayTV jewer units") needs to read NEWER units!
sorry about that.
e.
I guess it's "moot" because they (ReplayTV) removed the features in newer models of ReplayTV that scared the MPAA/etc...
i.e. IIRC ReplayTV jewer units no longer lets you get content from other replayTV costumers/units over the net. Please correct me if I'm mistaken about that. It *was* a very cool feature, it's a shame that it's not in the newer models.
FWIW (surprise) I'd rather build my own and have full control over what I can and can't do with my content -- until broadcast flags/other DRM creeps in further.
That would make a pretty cool home entertainment box and PVR after some hacking =P The Anandtech article didn't mention PCI slots... if there is one I bet a Hauppauge 250 would be a sweet addition!
e.
Information wants to be... Fuscia!
*shrug*
e.
What is the MTBF for those units (the bulbs that is)? I'm sure they last a long time (read 1 to 2 years) with intermittent use, but with near constant or daily use for several hours straight I can see going through the expensive replacemnt "bulbs" reasonably often.
Then again, maybe these things just need the geek overclocking ethic i.e. more fans and better cooling for longer life. *Shrug*
Just replaced a bulb unit in a compact infocus at work... It was used lightly over a year and a half, although to be fair I doubt my cow-orkers let it cool down properly after a presentation.
e.
I just started a site dedicated to Building your own PVR / DVR
*shrug* Would love some reviews/comparisons of mythtv, knoppix myth, etc...
e.
... I read about this 2 months ago in my paper wired...
*Shrug* If powerpoint makes you dumb... Outlook must give you alzheimers (sp)
E.
True dat...
MAy I suggest for the ps2 the article submitter get a ps2 to VGA adapter and a KVM or just Monitor switchbox =P
*Shrug* oh and a cheap TV tuner card...
Although if you want to do the brew your own pvr I'd check out the hauppage 250/350 the others have been pointing out...
good luck!
E.
besides mameworld... there's the venerable
ArcadeControls.com with it's excellent community forum/msg board
*shrug*
e
Where are my mod points when I need them...
Nice troll... *shakes head*
If you are looking at the prototype... it is well.. a prototype duh... the finished rotating control panel has much more spit and polish if you'd taken the time to look around a bit (why the submitter linked to that section of the site is beyond me instead of the finished pics of the full cabinet). But I guess you were too busy trying to FP on a games.slashdot.org article to bother actually looking further into the site, eh cpt curmudgen?
And BTW, where's your cabinet?
e.
Let me clarify -> If it is so easy, you do it. No where in MAME's creed/mission statement does it say, "Make a cross platform GUI so ungrateful slobs can play games" it's supposedly (paraphrase), "document/preserve games/hardware"
I doubt you are up to doing it, if you don't understand very basic MAME config options.
*shrug*
e.
no, you are wrong...
MAME natively has had the ability itself to skipdisclaimer, etc. via the ini files or command line parameters for some time now. All the win32/mame32 gui does is enable those options via checkboxes for people who don't read the doc's/play with config files. =P What exactly do you think a GUI "front end" does?!
Next thing we'll hear about this neat trick where you can bypass the "OK" screens by pressing left then right on your joystick!
E.