i mean it'll have to be a much more extensive library, but it is an interesting baby step in the right direction... (that is till we find out the DRM times out/expires or something... wondering what I'm *buying* for $1.99 exactly)
you're right about that... since I automate/schedule my transfers with tivo2go I never really consider that it probably takes as long to transfer over 802.11b as real time transfer. Good point!
I know it's not what they intended, but I bet this opens up a creative way to get the content off of dish network dvr's to PC... but like previous posters have wondered aloud, what type of DRM/encryption is involved here.
if you need any help, pointers, project exampls, product reviews, tips, discussion, yadda yadda yadda...
*shrug* I had a few issues with this "round up" but most people already hit upon them... but it's a nice comparison of the major features, drawbacks, etc of the different main commercial windowz PVR applications out there...
can;t believe they included powercinema though?! also see Meedio, GBPVR (free as in beer), CTPVR, ChrisTV,Media Portal, for other windoze options... also I think nero just announced some sort of PVR/HTPC-esque software...
I think the problem is that boucher and Patrick Ross look at "innovation" in different lights. Ross seems more interested in market innovation; people figuring out new ways to charge/lease us the same old stuff where as I believe boucher is trying to protect technological innovation. (an no I don't consider creating new fangled "improved" DRM a technological improvement)
*shrug* fair use is important. the e-book example could go the totally other way. It's hard to photocopy and e-book (I'm kidding, I assume you can print, if the DRM allows it...)
"Does anyone know of any HTPC setups where someone can plug in a CableCard from their Cable Co. and capture digitally from that instead of using a tuner card? "
There isn't one... it's a mythical unicorn.
There isn't a PCI card that'll get the "approval" of the cablecard cartel/certification because the resultant content *has* to be locked down/DRM'd/inaccessible (I mean that's their thinking/policy not mine)
I'd be all over it. There's rumors that Windows Vista MCE will someone have the DRM/sandboxing capable of getting a cablecard implementation certifiable, but that's almost like cutting off your fair use to spite your face er... or something.
so short answer is no... no such cablecard pci/pci/express card in existance for PC.
There are some kludges that sometimes work depending on cable company/geography/solar alignment surrounding use of firewire port to PC and making the PC look like a DVHS deck. 5c flags are enabled/enforced though.
There's also QAM 256 tuning (see PCHDTV card for linux or Dvico Fusion 5 lite QAM/ATSC tuner card) which will let you view unencrypted digital cable channels including HDTV ones... but it's a crapshoot as to what's encrypted or not at the head end... in general the broadcast HDTV stations are unencrypted and "tunable"/demodulatable (lol! is that a word) and premium stations like HBOHD/ESPNHD DIscoveryHD are encrypted... But some people get luck or some cableco's are sloppy/ambivalent *shrug* YMMV!
First: I wouldn't say the PVR250 is *that* far off picture quality from the pvr150. The difference is marginal (although it probably depends if you're using a svideo source or tuner source). I mean the pvr150 is a smidge better, but it's not like the pvr250 is a dog.
I may be wrong, but I swear there was a driver release coming "soon" or was in beta that had CC support. I'm not sure if that was w/ivtv on linux or if it was windoze driver... Coulda just been voices in my head though so take that with a grain of salt ( I suggest asking on the , shs will know)
FWIW before the PC haterz form voltron...Mac Mini PVR
There's also a mythTV client/frontend for OSX, somebody has compiled the mythtv backend on to Tiger, but i believe now the issue is drivers for tuner cards *shrug* (or that's the last I heard)
Well that's certainly constructive.... well creating a script to copy stuff back and forth from below the document root and back sucks balls too. Neeener neener!
You can create protected digital download store "items" and determine how many times they are able to download a give stock photo or whether it expires after a given amount of time.
Add credit card processing and you have a reasonably fully automated system.
640x480 is hidef known as 480i (interlaced) or 480p (progressive-scan,) since you only count horizontal lines of resolution on a television's image instead of vertical and horizontal on a computer monitor."
BZZZZT! Thanks for playing, grab a copy of the home game on your way out. That might be EDTV (480p), but it's not "hidef" under the HDTV spec which is 720p and up. 480 lines no matter how you count them is not HDTV, sorry.
SageTV 3.0 has a linux version. It's still under wraps but it does exist (was shown at last years CES I believe)
SageTV after all is Java based (not that means it was automagically portable, but probably didn't hurt their cross platform development).
I have no idea how they'll distribute it (there's some debate as to whether SageTV 3.0 will be OEM only or avaiable for consumer purchase directly)
the Video Without Boundries MediaReady 5000 will/does run on SageTV 3.0 on linux (I know some of the first test model "set top boxes" sagetv did were debian based no idea on the mediaready 5000)
So if you wanted a commercial linux based option, to forgoe the Microsoft Tax there's going to be a pretty cool option based upon sagetv on windoze (with all due respect and props to mythtv).
"FYI, there is a completely pre-built solution that requires minimal set up. You may have heard of it (links to Windows MCE 2005)[microsoft.com]. And it's not that expensive either ($129 from NewEgg [newegg.com])."
I know better too and will take the bait.
Based upon the number/type of windows MCE 2005 questions I see in my forum I wouldn't necessarily hold MCE 2005 as the champion of easy to setup/configure (granted there's no compiling involved, but god help you if you don't load an "approved certified for MCE" video card/tuner/whatever driver in MCE 2005)
Say nothing of the DRM...
Also if you had a valid XP Home/Pro license why do you have to buy a full MediaCenter OS when all you should really need is Disk 2 (the frontend/MCE software)? How is that a good value?!
Mythtv/Linux might not be for everyone (yet!) but I would never fault someone for wanting more control over their PVR/Media/OS and be willing to roll up the sleeves and compile a little bit (not that compiling ready made packages is *that* hard or magical, come on now --- that is until I do it, lol!)
actually, knoppmyth has some built in support for epia via nemehmia C3 CPU mini-itx mobo's. (which kinda is a slower cyrix embeded chip, when you think about it, right?);)
But knoppmyth is a cool solution to getting mythtv running quickly without nearly the dependencies headaches/etc.
But if someone likes and is comfortable with gentoo there's no reason not to use the distro you like/comfortable with (well the only reason NOT to is that there's better mythtv specific documentation for x,y, or Z distro like )
I was being sardonic with the shaky cam comment...
Show me this mid-level analog 720p/1080i capture device... It might exist on a prosumer level, or broadcast level... but not so much on the consumer level. but prove me wrong please!
" Well, since it's only your property if you choose to buy it, then YES. Not because it's right or fair, but because YOU ACCEPTED THE DEAL."
While on principle I agree folks should boycott DRM-laden devices... you sometimes don't know you've been crippled by DRM until it's too late.
You bring home your uber progressive scan DVD player only to find out it won't do anything other than 480p out of the analog component inputs (i.e. 720p,1080i, 1080p ONLY through the digital "protected" outputs!) For the sake of argument lets say you didn't figure this out until after the return period passed.;)
And let's not start slurping on intel's knob just yet, after all thanks to intel and the like we won't have much choice but to be computing on a "trusted computing" platform which will probably only allow approved DRM laden media software to run on it (yeah that's a little FUD'ish on my part, but I don't think it's too far off the realm of possibility)
Slashdot Mirror
you don't need an ipod/video ipod to download the shows... just itunes...
"Spielberg agrees to team up with EA for three video games. Due up first: ET's BMX 2007"
I, Cringley on video ipod/itunes $1.99 shows
ABC has LOST and Desperate Housewives up for $1.99 in itunes right now...
see flickr photo of LOST page
i mean it'll have to be a much more extensive library, but it is an interesting baby step in the right direction... (that is till we find out the DRM times out/expires or something... wondering what I'm *buying* for $1.99 exactly)
e.
you're right about that... since I automate/schedule my transfers with tivo2go I never really consider that it probably takes as long to transfer over 802.11b as real time transfer. Good point!
the archos and record to VCR option (or the like) is a decent option, but having to transfer your recordings in real time must be a drag, eh?
I know it's not what they intended, but I bet this opens up a creative way to get the content off of dish network dvr's to PC... but like previous posters have wondered aloud, what type of DRM/encryption is involved here.
Build Your Own PVR community site
if you need any help, pointers, project exampls, product reviews, tips, discussion, yadda yadda yadda...
*shrug* I had a few issues with this "round up" but most people already hit upon them... but it's a nice comparison of the major features, drawbacks, etc of the different main commercial windowz PVR applications out there...
can;t believe they included powercinema though?! also see Meedio, GBPVR (free as in beer), CTPVR, ChrisTV,Media Portal, for other windoze options... also I think nero just announced some sort of PVR/HTPC-esque software...
e.
Progress and Freedom Foundation... just exactly whose freedom and progress are they working on in this "think tank"?
I think the problem is that boucher and Patrick Ross look at "innovation" in different lights. Ross seems more interested in market innovation; people figuring out new ways to charge/lease us the same old stuff where as I believe boucher is trying to protect technological innovation. (an no I don't consider creating new fangled "improved" DRM a technological improvement)
*shrug* fair use is important. the e-book example could go the totally other way. It's hard to photocopy and e-book (I'm kidding, I assume you can print, if the DRM allows it...)
e.
"Does anyone know of any HTPC setups where someone can plug in a CableCard from their Cable Co. and capture digitally from that instead of using a tuner card? "
There isn't one... it's a mythical unicorn.
There isn't a PCI card that'll get the "approval" of the cablecard cartel/certification because the resultant content *has* to be locked down/DRM'd/inaccessible (I mean that's their thinking/policy not mine)
I'd be all over it. There's rumors that Windows Vista MCE will someone have the DRM/sandboxing capable of getting a cablecard implementation certifiable, but that's almost like cutting off your fair use to spite your face er... or something.
so short answer is no... no such cablecard pci/pci/express card in existance for PC.
There are some kludges that sometimes work depending on cable company/geography/solar alignment surrounding use of firewire port to PC and making the PC look like a DVHS deck. 5c flags are enabled/enforced though.
There's also QAM 256 tuning (see PCHDTV card for linux or Dvico Fusion 5 lite QAM/ATSC tuner card) which will let you view unencrypted digital cable channels including HDTV ones... but it's a crapshoot as to what's encrypted or not at the head end... in general the broadcast HDTV stations are unencrypted and "tunable"/demodulatable (lol! is that a word) and premium stations like HBOHD/ESPNHD DIscoveryHD are encrypted... But some people get luck or some cableco's are sloppy/ambivalent *shrug* YMMV!
E.
re: Closed captioning
First: I wouldn't say the PVR250 is *that* far off picture quality from the pvr150. The difference is marginal (although it probably depends if you're using a svideo source or tuner source). I mean the pvr150 is a smidge better, but it's not like the pvr250 is a dog.
I may be wrong, but I swear there was a driver release coming "soon" or was in beta that had CC support. I'm not sure if that was w/ivtv on linux or if it was windoze driver... Coulda just been voices in my head though so take that with a grain of salt ( I suggest asking on the , shs will know)
e.
I assume you've heard of SnapStream's FireFly remote it too is RF based... decent range. *shrug* I like it better than remote wonder 2 imho.
rampy
you're my new hero! kudos!
FWIW before the PC haterz form voltron...Mac Mini PVR
There's also a mythTV client/frontend for OSX, somebody has compiled the mythtv backend on to Tiger, but i believe now the issue is drivers for tuner cards *shrug* (or that's the last I heard)
e.
Well that's certainly constructive.... well creating a script to copy stuff back and forth from below the document root and back sucks balls too. Neeener neener!
you can do this with OS Commerce open source online shopping cart.
You can create protected digital download store "items" and determine how many times they are able to download a give stock photo or whether it expires after a given amount of time.
Add credit card processing and you have a reasonably fully automated system.
e.
see wikipedia's Display Resolution entry
"640x480 is hardly hidef.
Yes it is.
640x480 is hidef known as 480i (interlaced) or 480p (progressive-scan,) since you only count horizontal lines of resolution on a television's image instead of vertical and horizontal on a computer monitor."
BZZZZT! Thanks for playing, grab a copy of the home game on your way out. That might be EDTV (480p), but it's not "hidef" under the HDTV spec which is 720p and up. 480 lines no matter how you count them is not HDTV, sorry.
SageTV 3.0 has a linux version. It's still under wraps but it does exist (was shown at last years CES I believe)
SageTV after all is Java based (not that means it was automagically portable, but probably didn't hurt their cross platform development).
I have no idea how they'll distribute it (there's some debate as to whether SageTV 3.0 will be OEM only or avaiable for consumer purchase directly)
the Video Without Boundries MediaReady 5000 will/does run on SageTV 3.0 on linux (I know some of the first test model "set top boxes" sagetv did were debian based no idea on the mediaready 5000)
So if you wanted a commercial linux based option, to forgoe the Microsoft Tax there's going to be a pretty cool option based upon sagetv on windoze (with all due respect and props to mythtv).
e.
"FYI, there is a completely pre-built solution that requires minimal set up. You may have heard of it (links to Windows MCE 2005)[microsoft.com]. And it's not that expensive either ($129 from NewEgg [newegg.com])."
I know better too and will take the bait.
Based upon the number/type of windows MCE 2005 questions I see in my forum I wouldn't necessarily hold MCE 2005 as the champion of easy to setup/configure (granted there's no compiling involved, but god help you if you don't load an "approved certified for MCE" video card/tuner/whatever driver in MCE 2005)
Say nothing of the DRM...
Also if you had a valid XP Home/Pro license why do you have to buy a full MediaCenter OS when all you should really need is Disk 2 (the frontend/MCE software)? How is that a good value?!
Mythtv/Linux might not be for everyone (yet!) but I would never fault someone for wanting more control over their PVR/Media/OS and be willing to roll up the sleeves and compile a little bit (not that compiling ready made packages is *that* hard or magical, come on now --- that is until I do it, lol!)
E.
mythweb... and samba for filesharing on your network.
Maybe MAME and other emulators if that's your thing.
e.
actually, knoppmyth has some built in support for epia via nemehmia C3 CPU mini-itx mobo's. (which kinda is a slower cyrix embeded chip, when you think about it, right?) ;)
But knoppmyth is a cool solution to getting mythtv running quickly without nearly the dependencies headaches/etc.
But if someone likes and is comfortable with gentoo there's no reason not to use the distro you like/comfortable with (well the only reason NOT to is that there's better mythtv specific documentation for x,y, or Z distro like )
But there are Gentoo guides out there Gentoo MythTV guide *Shrug*
What was the question again?
e.
640x480 is hardly hidef.
I was being sardonic with the shaky cam comment...
Show me this mid-level analog 720p/1080i capture device... It might exist on a prosumer level, or broadcast level... but not so much on the consumer level. but prove me wrong please!
"
;)
Well, since it's only your property if you choose to buy it, then YES. Not because it's right or fair, but because YOU ACCEPTED THE DEAL."
While on principle I agree folks should boycott DRM-laden devices... you sometimes don't know you've been crippled by DRM until it's too late.
You bring home your uber progressive scan DVD player only to find out it won't do anything other than 480p out of the analog component inputs (i.e. 720p,1080i, 1080p ONLY through the digital "protected" outputs!) For the sake of argument lets say you didn't figure this out until after the return period passed.
And let's not start slurping on intel's knob just yet, after all thanks to intel and the like we won't have much choice but to be computing on a "trusted computing" platform which will probably only allow approved DRM laden media software to run on it (yeah that's a little FUD'ish on my part, but I don't think it's too far off the realm of possibility)
e.