I know being legal isn't a big point on Slashdot. But, with everyone on here whining for a legal way to get music electronically, this is one. It may not be the best, but it's the beginning of options.
Looks good, but nothing with the customization and macros on a Pronto/Marantz. Add that along with a good library of devices and configurations, and you'd have a competitor. A problem with the Palm is the hard buttons. They aren't set up well for being a remote control.
I do like the show guide on the remote. But, you get more information on a TiVo guide screen. I'd definately use the ConnectedTV guide over my cable system's guide, though.
You can do all that today. Go buy a Pronto from Philips or the Marantz version (RC5000i). You can download configs for almost any component, or use the builtin database on the Pronto. You can have unlimited buttons and screens and it has a very good backlit screen.
I don't want a company configuring mine. My Marantz is set up exactly how I use it. I don't need all 50 buttons from my receiver on it. I only use 4. I don't need my TV functions just on a few TV pages, I sometimes need them while using my TiVo, so I put them where I need them. I have very specialized macros set up to go between HDTV and TiVo that no parent company would ever do.
I have a Marantz RC5000i, the same hardware unit as the Pronto TSU-2000. It controls EVERYTHING. My setup is a little complicated since I have a TiVo as well as a cable box that does High Definition. The TiVo doesn't do HD so I have to swap inputs to go from TiVo to HD and back. With a normal remote it was a mess.... Switch the TV input, switch the receiver input, change the channel...etc..etc....
These remotes have great macro routines. One button and it changes the channel and handles all the background work. Well worth the money. Even controls my Rio Receiver.
The GUI is completely customizable with many sample configs and device setups already at www.remotecentral.com. The good part of that is you can set it up how you use it, not just throw buttons on the screen. I don't use the 50 buttons on my receiver remote, so why deal with them?
The PIX OS requires no activation key. You do need to purchase a key to enable 3DES for VPN. The DES functionality is free.
You're right. It does allow direct connections. Why? Because it's a packet filter firewall, not a proxy server. Want a proxy server? Buy one. Don't buy the PIX.
Correct again. The PIX is not a router. It's a firewall. I don't want my firewall to be a real smart router. It shouldn't. It should block packets like a good little firewall.
As for speed, the different PIX models have different speeds. They have also rev'd up the speed. Sure, you bought a 200MHz model a while back, but my 515E is a 433MHz model. One of them does not cost $12K, I think we paid close to that for both of them to set up a failover cluster with the 3DES VPN accelerator and full 24x7x4 3-year warranty.
The PIX is actually a very good firewall. It's not exactly like IOS, but it's close enough. It handles our site-to-site VPNs very well and the cluster support is VERY good.
I keep looking at these drives, but from what I've read if you put a SVCD on to a DVD-RW a normal player won't read it. They expect DVD Video on a DVD-RW disc, not SVCD.
Anyone know some good software to convert SVCD to DVD Vid?
I wish Sonic Blue would continue making the Rio Receiver. It's a cheap (About $150) device that works well for most computer people that already have their mp3 music on a computer. No need to convert CDs to an internal HD like this. You just stream the music from your computer to the Rio Receiver over HPNA or Ethernet. It works very well and you can have up to 8 of them streaming from one system.
If Sonic could bring them back for $99 they'd sell a ton. All the ones people find sell very quickly now and the prices on Ebay are going up....
I have a Rio 600 that I use when working out. It's nice, but with a few quirks. First, I've had it lock up with some songs. It's done it with some MP3 and some WMA. I usually down-sample them before putting them on the player. MusicMatch may be doing something odd to them that causes this. The other thing is the battery. I like the built-in battery since it makes the unit small, but make sure and charge it every day. It'll drain even when off, it seems.
What I really want is a 128MB backpack with an FM tuner. Then it would about the perfect device.
I agree, diamonds are a scam. But, how much do we spend on video cards and cpu upgrades that don't last any time and only offer a minor increase?
This is something she'll have FOREVER. Just buy it and consider it an investment in your future together. My wife has a small diamond that I bought when I had no money and she loves it as much as a huge diamond that cost a mint... It's the thought that she wants.
I just picked up a Malata DVP-520. Great player. It is region free and you can set a region for the new discs that check. It does the best PAL to NTSC conversion of any player even close to its price ($250ish). A major feature of the PAL conversion is that it keeps the correct aspect ratio. It lets you zoom, stretch, pan, etc everything. It also plays MP3s, VCDs, and SVCDs.
I have a good HD TV and Time Warner gets me my HD content via a 3100HD cable box. No antenna so it's easy and cheap.
But, I want better content. I'd be much happier gettings History, Discovery, and A&E in HD than I would with the major networks. Will & Grace still sucks in HD. Nothing will change that. But, give me shows on Egypt's pyramids and nature shows in HD and that will be something. It would actually ENHANCE the show's experience.
Movies on HBO in HD are nice, though. Better than DVD.
I'd buy an HDTV Tivo setup RIGHT NOW. But, the market isn't there for them so they aren't making them yet. When it's time, they will. Scientific Atlanta has an HD cable box with PVR, the 8000.
It's suddenly become popular to pick on HDTV lately.
Who pays $300? On the price of a new PC Windows XP adds about $100. For that you also get support from the vendor (in my case Compaq). Go buy a PC with Linux preloaded from someone like Dell. It's usually the EXACT SAME PRICE.
The idea of loading up an unsupported OS from download makes most managers nervous. They'll happily pay the $100.
Buy Compaq (I mean HP!) servers and add the Remote Lights Out board. It works very well and their new servers have them built-in. You get BIOS level control with full remote access via a web browser.
I just ordered this set up for work. Very nice, but yes, it's pricey. It uses CAT5 but not IP. We're switching to get rid of the clutter of those fat KVM cables that other boxes use.
If you want connectivity over IP you can add the TeleReach option to the Paragon box (the one mentioned above).
Someone in Hong Kong will make a DVI to Component converter, I have no doubt. Or, some lesser known company will make one with real component output.
Manufacturers don't always listen to the publishers. Supposedly it was designed that DVD-A was analog output only to stop bit for bit copying, but DVD makers are now outputting digital.
I hope electronics makers are smart enough to make players with component output and not be forced in to DVI like the film makers want. Really piss off the current HDTV owners.
I must say, HDTV looks really good, assuming the content was filmed well. On a small TV it's not a big deal. I just got a new 27" for my bedroom..a nice Panasonic true flat. GREAT picture on normal digital cable. But now that big TVs are so popular HDTV is becoming a real nice feature. Normal cable/dss looks really bad on a big TV. HDTV looks great.
As I said, I get my HDTV signal via Digital Cable. Along with the Digital Cable channels I also get HDTV versions of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, HBO, and Show Time. Much easier than OTA and more content than DSS.
I just traded in my normal Digital Cable box for the HD Digital Cable Box... Right now I use the Scientific Atlanta 2000HD, but they just sent me a card saying I can get the 3100HD if I drop mine off.
So, they want TV makers to include the HDTV receiver box inside the TV. By 2006 they'll be very cheap anyway.
Even so... You can get one cheap. My cable company (Time Warner) does HDTV via Digital Cable. They gave me a box that does HDTV so I have a "digital receiver" and it didn't cost me any more than I was already paying. Same goes for DSS. You can get HDTV DSS receiver now, and soon you'll get them for "free' after signup.
Also, the boxes MUST be priced artificially high. As soon as they get put in to every TV they'll be extremely cheap. Look at DVD players..they are as low as $69 now.
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Where do I get my own shuttle so I can test the code I wrote?
I know being legal isn't a big point on Slashdot. But, with everyone on here whining for a legal way to get music electronically, this is one. It may not be the best, but it's the beginning of options.
Not everyone wants to steal, steal, steal....
I was just at the local GoodWill over the weekend. Mine no longer accepts donations of PC parts. Weird.
You can change the MAC address on wireless cards easily now. MAC filters are about useless these days.
Looks good, but nothing with the customization and macros on a Pronto/Marantz. Add that along with a good library of devices and configurations, and you'd have a competitor. A problem with the Palm is the hard buttons. They aren't set up well for being a remote control.
I do like the show guide on the remote. But, you get more information on a TiVo guide screen. I'd definately use the ConnectedTV guide over my cable system's guide, though.
You can do all that today. Go buy a Pronto from Philips or the Marantz version (RC5000i). You can download configs for almost any component, or use the builtin database on the Pronto. You can have unlimited buttons and screens and it has a very good backlit screen.
I don't want a company configuring mine. My Marantz is set up exactly how I use it. I don't need all 50 buttons from my receiver on it. I only use 4. I don't need my TV functions just on a few TV pages, I sometimes need them while using my TiVo, so I put them where I need them. I have very specialized macros set up to go between HDTV and TiVo that no parent company would ever do.
I have a Marantz RC5000i, the same hardware unit as the Pronto TSU-2000. It controls EVERYTHING. My setup is a little complicated since I have a TiVo as well as a cable box that does High Definition. The TiVo doesn't do HD so I have to swap inputs to go from TiVo to HD and back. With a normal remote it was a mess.... Switch the TV input, switch the receiver input, change the channel...etc..etc....
These remotes have great macro routines. One button and it changes the channel and handles all the background work. Well worth the money. Even controls my Rio Receiver.
The GUI is completely customizable with many sample configs and device setups already at www.remotecentral.com. The good part of that is you can set it up how you use it, not just throw buttons on the screen. I don't use the 50 buttons on my receiver remote, so why deal with them?
The PIX OS requires no activation key. You do need to purchase a key to enable 3DES for VPN. The DES functionality is free.
You're right. It does allow direct connections. Why? Because it's a packet filter firewall, not a proxy server. Want a proxy server? Buy one. Don't buy the PIX.
Correct again. The PIX is not a router. It's a firewall. I don't want my firewall to be a real smart router. It shouldn't. It should block packets like a good little firewall.
As for speed, the different PIX models have different speeds. They have also rev'd up the speed. Sure, you bought a 200MHz model a while back, but my 515E is a 433MHz model. One of them does not cost $12K, I think we paid close to that for both of them to set up a failover cluster with the 3DES VPN accelerator and full 24x7x4 3-year warranty.
The PIX is actually a very good firewall. It's not exactly like IOS, but it's close enough. It handles our site-to-site VPNs very well and the cluster support is VERY good.
I keep looking at these drives, but from what I've read if you put a SVCD on to a DVD-RW a normal player won't read it. They expect DVD Video on a DVD-RW disc, not SVCD.
Anyone know some good software to convert SVCD to DVD Vid?
I wish Sonic Blue would continue making the Rio Receiver. It's a cheap (About $150) device that works well for most computer people that already have their mp3 music on a computer. No need to convert CDs to an internal HD like this. You just stream the music from your computer to the Rio Receiver over HPNA or Ethernet. It works very well and you can have up to 8 of them streaming from one system.
If Sonic could bring them back for $99 they'd sell a ton. All the ones people find sell very quickly now and the prices on Ebay are going up....
I have a Rio 600 that I use when working out. It's nice, but with a few quirks. First, I've had it lock up with some songs. It's done it with some MP3 and some WMA. I usually down-sample them before putting them on the player. MusicMatch may be doing something odd to them that causes this. The other thing is the battery. I like the built-in battery since it makes the unit small, but make sure and charge it every day. It'll drain even when off, it seems.
What I really want is a 128MB backpack with an FM tuner. Then it would about the perfect device.
I agree, diamonds are a scam. But, how much do we spend on video cards and cpu upgrades that don't last any time and only offer a minor increase?
This is something she'll have FOREVER. Just buy it and consider it an investment in your future together. My wife has a small diamond that I bought when I had no money and she loves it as much as a huge diamond that cost a mint... It's the thought that she wants.
I just picked up a Malata DVP-520. Great player. It is region free and you can set a region for the new discs that check. It does the best PAL to NTSC conversion of any player even close to its price ($250ish). A major feature of the PAL conversion is that it keeps the correct aspect ratio. It lets you zoom, stretch, pan, etc everything. It also plays MP3s, VCDs, and SVCDs.
I love it. Oh yeah, it's progressive scan too.
I have a good HD TV and Time Warner gets me my HD content via a 3100HD cable box. No antenna so it's easy and cheap.
But, I want better content. I'd be much happier gettings History, Discovery, and A&E in HD than I would with the major networks. Will & Grace still sucks in HD. Nothing will change that. But, give me shows on Egypt's pyramids and nature shows in HD and that will be something. It would actually ENHANCE the show's experience.
Movies on HBO in HD are nice, though. Better than DVD.
I'd buy an HDTV Tivo setup RIGHT NOW. But, the market isn't there for them so they aren't making them yet. When it's time, they will. Scientific Atlanta has an HD cable box with PVR, the 8000.
It's suddenly become popular to pick on HDTV lately.
Who pays $300? On the price of a new PC Windows XP adds about $100. For that you also get support from the vendor (in my case Compaq). Go buy a PC with Linux preloaded from someone like Dell. It's usually the EXACT SAME PRICE.
The idea of loading up an unsupported OS from download makes most managers nervous. They'll happily pay the $100.
Buy Compaq (I mean HP!) servers and add the Remote Lights Out board. It works very well and their new servers have them built-in. You get BIOS level control with full remote access via a web browser.
I just ordered this set up for work. Very nice, but yes, it's pricey. It uses CAT5 but not IP. We're switching to get rid of the clutter of those fat KVM cables that other boxes use.
If you want connectivity over IP you can add the TeleReach option to the Paragon box (the one mentioned above).
These are very minor compared to entire CD images being posted on usenet every day.
Someone in Hong Kong will make a DVI to Component converter, I have no doubt. Or, some lesser known company will make one with real component output.
Manufacturers don't always listen to the publishers. Supposedly it was designed that DVD-A was analog output only to stop bit for bit copying, but DVD makers are now outputting digital.
Because every HDTV sold now has component, and very few have DVI. Just put both on the DVD players and make everyone happy.
I hope electronics makers are smart enough to make players with component output and not be forced in to DVI like the film makers want. Really piss off the current HDTV owners.
64" Pioneer HDTV WideScreen. I see it all. :)
I must say, HDTV looks really good, assuming the content was filmed well. On a small TV it's not a big deal. I just got a new 27" for my bedroom..a nice Panasonic true flat. GREAT picture on normal digital cable. But now that big TVs are so popular HDTV is becoming a real nice feature. Normal cable/dss looks really bad on a big TV. HDTV looks great.
As I said, I get my HDTV signal via Digital Cable. Along with the Digital Cable channels I also get HDTV versions of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, HBO, and Show Time. Much easier than OTA and more content than DSS.
I just traded in my normal Digital Cable box for the HD Digital Cable Box... Right now I use the Scientific Atlanta 2000HD, but they just sent me a card saying I can get the 3100HD if I drop mine off.
So, they want TV makers to include the HDTV receiver box inside the TV. By 2006 they'll be very cheap anyway.
Even so... You can get one cheap. My cable company (Time Warner) does HDTV via Digital Cable. They gave me a box that does HDTV so I have a "digital receiver" and it didn't cost me any more than I was already paying. Same goes for DSS. You can get HDTV DSS receiver now, and soon you'll get them for "free' after signup.
Also, the boxes MUST be priced artificially high. As soon as they get put in to every TV they'll be extremely cheap. Look at DVD players..they are as low as $69 now.