You (or, well, someone) could probably hack up something like that using a homebrew PVR. Apparently most of the home-built PC-based Tivo-replacements have better-than-the-real-thing functionality in some respects already.
You (or, well, someone) could probably hack up something like that using a homebrew PVR. Apparently most of the home-built PC-based Tivo-replacements have better-than-the-real-thing functionality in some respects already.
I put together a MythTV box about a year ago. It was pretty cool, and nice to use for playing video files, music or checking the weather via a TV interface... but it was a huge pain in the ass to set up. To get input from anything other than analog cable you need to have a device with a serial port and hack up something that lets your computer boss around your DTV receiver/Tivo/digital cable box. And, back then at least, the suggestions feature, programming guide, and recording quality all left something to be desired relative to the DirecTivo I ended up getting. The weather function is the only thing I actually miss.
I was just doing it with scraps, though. From what I understand, if you want a hi-def PVR and are willing to drop a little money on it, one of these homebrew rigs is the way to go.
You (or, well, someone) could probably hack up something like that using a homebrew PVR. Apparently most of the home-built PC-based Tivo-replacements have better-than-the-real-thing functionality in some respects already.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 06-30-05 12:09 PM
I'm sure it can be done (maybe already has been). Programming the thing to control your TV has to be a bear though.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 06-30-05 12:12 PM
I didn't read the link, but wouldn't you be controlling the Tivo (a Linux box, IIRC), not the TV? And why would that be anything but easy?
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 06-30-05 12:18 PM
It can control a Tivo, but also works with any other kind of TV hookup.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 06-30-05 12:23 PM
You (or, well, someone) could probably hack up something like that using a homebrew PVR. Apparently most of the home-built PC-based Tivo-replacements have better-than-the-real-thing functionality in some respects already.
I put together a MythTV box about a year ago. It was pretty cool, and nice to use for playing video files, music or checking the weather via a TV interface... but it was a huge pain in the ass to set up. To get input from anything other than analog cable you need to have a device with a serial port and hack up something that lets your computer boss around your DTV receiver/Tivo/digital cable box. And, back then at least, the suggestions feature, programming guide, and recording quality all left something to be desired relative to the DirecTivo I ended up getting. The weather function is the only thing I actually miss.
I was just doing it with scraps, though. From what I understand, if you want a hi-def PVR and are willing to drop a little money on it, one of these homebrew rigs is the way to go.
Posted by tom | Link to this comment | 06-30-05 12:59 PM
I hereby LHF the TiVo reference.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 06-30-05 9:13 PM