If you like the addition to Bing check out Clicker (was part of the TC50). It's a pretty bad ass service to find what you're looking for when it comes to tv shows and what not. I think it's still closed beta, but they kick out the invites pretty quick when you sign up. #gizmodoremainders
@UnderLoK: And if you're a firefox user, the popular GooglePreview app (adds a thumbnail next to every google result) has changed it's name to SearchPreview because it now supports Bing. #gizmodoremainders
mDP is still pretty pointless. HDMI is rapidly moving to replace DVI and has a similar footprint to mDP. The way I see it is soon enough HDMI will be the USB of the visual in/out world. #gizmodoremainders
@Assassin_Kensei:
Well vertically there's not a huge amount of difference, it just takes up a little more horizontal real estate. Not that much more than a standard USB though. #gizmodoremainders
Biggest news to me here: the iPhone only has a 2.5% national marketshare? Which nation is that? By my incredibly rough calculations, 2.5% of the U.S. population would be about 7.5 million people. I was almost certain there were more iPhone users than that.
Then again, I live in geek land, where dumbphones don't exist, if you're running anything less than Win7/Snow Leopard, you're behind the times, and location-aware services are the norm. Also, apparently CDs are dead? #gizmodoremainders
@september11th: Not having to click through multiple photos+descriptions means not as many page impressions, which means less add revenue. A lot of sites went from single pages of dense text to multiple pages of text with ads all over the place for the same reason.
Displayport -> DVI <$10
If you can afford a Macbook Pro, you can probably pull off a $10 adapter.
Also, the size/shape of displayport means you have more room for other goodies. [www.monoprice.com]
@tercster: Some people don't like having to carry an adapter to use their video out with anything other than the really nice, but really expensive Apple Cinema Displays. It's annoying enough that I have to carry power cables with me. #gizmodoremainders
@Nathan Obbards: I don't like adapters either -- I travel 30-40 weeks a year. But, if not carrying the adapter means the weight and size of the video connector migrates to the laptop I have to carry around... well, I'll deal with the little pig-tail adapters. #gizmodoremainders
You're paying extra for the fancy user friendly interface. You can build an atom based htpc cheaper but you'd have to load software and configure, this is just plug and play. #mykaion
If all you're doing is recording shows to watch later then it's not any more illegal than using a VCR.
Legal issues only become a problem if you want to start building a long term/permanent library of shows and/or start sharing them with your friends and family.
That's not to say recording off the TV is legal. Strictly speaking it's not. You're still making a copy you don't have permission to make.
Similarly if we interpreted the license that comes with CDs/MP3s and DVDs in the strictest sense. Then loaning a DVD you have bought is illegal and leakage from your MP3 player headphones can pass for a public performance.
Personally I stopped worrying about these legal issues a long time ago. When I can no longer enjoy the music, TV and movies I watch because of draconian DRM or legal restrictions I'll simply find something else to fill my time. Which is what everybody else should do.
So in the end the only people that lose out are the idiots trying to shake every single penny from our pockets. #htpcs
@aikiwolfie: Licensing for CDs is far different that "time shifting" allowances given to VCRs 30 years ago. From what I've seen, these licenses are not to be followed.
A representative for the RIAA appeared at my cousin's school a few years ago to talk about illegal downloading, copying music and the like. Someone brought up fair-use, and an additional question was asked - "I can make one backup copy, and if my archive is destroyed can I legally use my backup?" To which the answer was yes. "If my archive is destroyed, but I still own it, can I copy someone else's CD as my backup?", Of course the answer is No, even though the end result is the same - A license and media is purchased, a copy is made, the archive is destroyed, user plays copy instead. The fact is, you are buying a package of license and media, and agreeing to the rules before you even read them.
Basic Point: Record TV shows all you like. No one's gonna bust you for it, but if you want to follow the letter of the law, you're prolly gonna need a lawyer. #htpcs
There are plenty of options to remove advertisements in your program / web browsing experience. This may sound strange, but is this legal? I ask this and yet fully admit to using a DVR for watching nearly all TV shows to skip the ads, but if there truly is nothing illegal about this, how long can the companies selling these commercials survive without finding another revenue source? Like us. Oh yes, I am looking at you, Hulu. #htpcs
I put mine in the rafters of my basement. Installed 12' USB cords, coaxial audio and a VGA cord, along with extension of power and reset buttons, all creeping up through the basement ceiling/living room floor.
IR adapter upstairs, External USB Drive, External USB LCD display all in a small extruded aluminum project box which sits on a shelf under my TV. I have a Harmony remote programmed for Windows Media Center.
Completely quiet experience. no fan noise, etc. No restrictions on processor type, HD size, # of DVD drives, etc. Running Vista, hasn't crashed once. The only issue are the mandatory big updates sometimes hangs the system on reboot. I use it as a DVR box, but mostly don't see the frontend - I use it through the Xbox Media Extender more in both the living room and the bedroom. #htpcs
I'm about to change my HTPC from Windows Media Center to XBMC (better codec support). Anyone know of a good skin or enhancement that makes it look less fugly than the standard one? #htpcs
I'm glad to see that the Roku hardware is still being developed, but these two offerings seem disappointing to me.
First of all, I see no market for the Roku SD model. Composite video is OK for folks still using old CRT monitors -- but then again, how many of those folks would have any idea what a Roku was anyway. And by saving $20 now, anyone would be locking themselves out of being able to upgrade the to HD if they upgrade their TV in the future.
As for the HD-XR, $30 is way too much extra to charge for just the wireless-N card. In fact, this should have been the minimal replacement for the original Roku HD at the same price point. I don't know if Roku intends to keep the HD and the HD-XR on the market simultaneously for long, but it seems like the HD should be dis-continued now. I'll have to wait until the firmware upgrade to see what the HD-XR is really bringing to the table, but right now I feel silly for anxiously awaiting this upgrade.
What would really seal the deal for me would be access to streaming media from a NAS or home server. Maybe then I could finally replace my aging XBOX (original) running XBMC (but probably not!)
@salviati: Only slightly over a third of U.S. households have an HDTV currently, according to Nielsen figures and other industry estimates. As for "how many of those folks would have any idea what a Roku was anyway"... Netflix was aggressively marketing the device in the mailer envelopes with every DVD they mailed. My mother, who is by no means a techie or gadget geek, bought her Roku, set it up herself and was watching content within minutes.
There's something to be said for simplicity and hardware that doesn't aim over the heads of the populace. The $20 saved on buying an SD model (for an SD TV owner) is a little over two months of Netflix membership.
The Roku fills a sweet spot for people who want more content but may not have the knowledge, or need, for HTPCs, NASs, extensive codec support, etc. Even a lot of SD content via the Roku is better than a pile of confusing equipment and acronyms for someone who, like my mom, just wants to enjoy episodes of British comedies, Law & Order and a few movies now and then. She is among those that might eventually have to buy an HDTV, but actually couldn't care less about 720 or 1080, and just wants to enjoy the content. I strongly suspect that there are a lot of folks out there in that demographic who are capable of setting up a Roku, and who would not scoff at a selection of SD content. #rokuhdxr
@met2art: Sorry if my comment seemed snarky towards people who are perfectly happy with SD content. I am no HD snob. My sole TV is actually an older 480p plasma and I am perfectly happy with it - albeit with component video rather than RCA.
However, it seems silly to me for Roku to devote resources to create a crippled version of their standard device for such a small cost savings. One of the great things I though Roku did was to release a single device with known abilities rather than sectioning up the market, causing confusion. Now, instead of just talking to someone about the 'Roku box', they will have to specify which box. I would have prefered a direct replacement upgrade of the Roku HD with the HD-XR rather than expanding it to a series.
As far as cost goes, $20 is a minimal savings. But what you loose is the ability to integrate the box into an HD or fully-digital system in the future. Instead, you would have to spend a fresh $100 (or $130). Right now, I can easily integrate the $100 Roku box into my home theatre with analog inputs, with the knowledge that when I upgrade my TV next year to HDMI, I won't have to buy a new box to go with it. Perhaps the Roku SD makes sense at ~$50, but not at $80. #rokuhdxr
@salviati: Those are good points. I would prefer to see an SD Roku box as a subsidized option with an upgraded Netflix account, and the new HD-XR box as a premium option. I think they'd dramatically increase ownership, and then people would have the incentive to buy the premium box for HD and extended features. But, the existing box at $50 would probably sway a lot of people as well. Netflix streaming is pretty popular now with so many devices supporting it, I don't think they are hurting for sales. #rokuhdxr
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
I also think HDMI would have been a sweet addition to the MacBook Pro, too bad i have to buy an adapter to go to HDMI... )-:
I'm not saying your wrong on HDMI being better, just the foot prints are way different. #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
Well vertically there's not a huge amount of difference, it just takes up a little more horizontal real estate. Not that much more than a standard USB though. #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
Then again, I live in geek land, where dumbphones don't exist, if you're running anything less than Win7/Snow Leopard, you're behind the times, and location-aware services are the norm. Also, apparently CDs are dead? #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
11/11/09
How does that work when their is 40 million according to apple's financial results. #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
11/11/09
Thanks everyone else for obfuscated statistics. #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
[i31.photobucket.com]
11/11/09
@OCEntertainment: One other part of that figure is that it also includes the iPod touch. 40Million iPhone OS Devices. #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
11/11/09
Sucks regardless. #gizmodoremainders
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/10/09
If you can afford a Macbook Pro, you can probably pull off a $10 adapter.
Also, the size/shape of displayport means you have more room for other goodies.
[www.monoprice.com]
11/11/09
11/11/09
11/06/09
You're paying extra for the fancy user friendly interface. You can build an atom based htpc cheaper but you'd have to load software and configure, this is just plug and play. #mykaion
11/06/09
I wonder how it will handle things when Hulu goes pay (::sob::) #mykaion
11/06/09
[lifehacker.com]
(To be fair, overzealous rumor-mongering is usually what we come to sites like Giz for in the first place.) #mykaion
10/31/09
If all you're doing is recording shows to watch later then it's not any more illegal than using a VCR.
Legal issues only become a problem if you want to start building a long term/permanent library of shows and/or start sharing them with your friends and family.
That's not to say recording off the TV is legal. Strictly speaking it's not. You're still making a copy you don't have permission to make.
Similarly if we interpreted the license that comes with CDs/MP3s and DVDs in the strictest sense. Then loaning a DVD you have bought is illegal and leakage from your MP3 player headphones can pass for a public performance.
Personally I stopped worrying about these legal issues a long time ago. When I can no longer enjoy the music, TV and movies I watch because of draconian DRM or legal restrictions I'll simply find something else to fill my time. Which is what everybody else should do.
So in the end the only people that lose out are the idiots trying to shake every single penny from our pockets. #htpcs
10/31/09
A representative for the RIAA appeared at my cousin's school a few years ago to talk about illegal downloading, copying music and the like. Someone brought up fair-use, and an additional question was asked - "I can make one backup copy, and if my archive is destroyed can I legally use my backup?" To which the answer was yes. "If my archive is destroyed, but I still own it, can I copy someone else's CD as my backup?", Of course the answer is No, even though the end result is the same - A license and media is purchased, a copy is made, the archive is destroyed, user plays copy instead. The fact is, you are buying a package of license and media, and agreeing to the rules before you even read them.
Basic Point: Record TV shows all you like. No one's gonna bust you for it, but if you want to follow the letter of the law, you're prolly gonna need a lawyer. #htpcs
10/31/09
10/31/09
IR adapter upstairs, External USB Drive, External USB LCD display all in a small extruded aluminum project box which sits on a shelf under my TV. I have a Harmony remote programmed for Windows Media Center.
Completely quiet experience. no fan noise, etc. No restrictions on processor type, HD size, # of DVD drives, etc. Running Vista, hasn't crashed once. The only issue are the mandatory big updates sometimes hangs the system on reboot. I use it as a DVR box, but mostly don't see the frontend - I use it through the Xbox Media Extender more in both the living room and the bedroom. #htpcs
10/31/09
10/31/09
10/31/09
The Aeon skin is really nice, here's the url; [xbmc.org] #htpcs
10/31/09
10/27/09
Revision3 has already been announced. Pandora and Flickr were leaked in the process.
TWiT via MediaFly has also been announced.
Until the usability of the USB port is defined, it's hard to justify $30 for WiFi-N. #rokuhdxr
10/27/09
First of all, I see no market for the Roku SD model. Composite video is OK for folks still using old CRT monitors -- but then again, how many of those folks would have any idea what a Roku was anyway. And by saving $20 now, anyone would be locking themselves out of being able to upgrade the to HD if they upgrade their TV in the future.
As for the HD-XR, $30 is way too much extra to charge for just the wireless-N card. In fact, this should have been the minimal replacement for the original Roku HD at the same price point. I don't know if Roku intends to keep the HD and the HD-XR on the market simultaneously for long, but it seems like the HD should be dis-continued now. I'll have to wait until the firmware upgrade to see what the HD-XR is really bringing to the table, but right now I feel silly for anxiously awaiting this upgrade.
What would really seal the deal for me would be access to streaming media from a NAS or home server. Maybe then I could finally replace my aging XBOX (original) running XBMC (but probably not!)
10/27/09
There's something to be said for simplicity and hardware that doesn't aim over the heads of the populace. The $20 saved on buying an SD model (for an SD TV owner) is a little over two months of Netflix membership.
The Roku fills a sweet spot for people who want more content but may not have the knowledge, or need, for HTPCs, NASs, extensive codec support, etc. Even a lot of SD content via the Roku is better than a pile of confusing equipment and acronyms for someone who, like my mom, just wants to enjoy episodes of British comedies, Law & Order and a few movies now and then. She is among those that might eventually have to buy an HDTV, but actually couldn't care less about 720 or 1080, and just wants to enjoy the content. I strongly suspect that there are a lot of folks out there in that demographic who are capable of setting up a Roku, and who would not scoff at a selection of SD content. #rokuhdxr
10/27/09
However, it seems silly to me for Roku to devote resources to create a crippled version of their standard device for such a small cost savings. One of the great things I though Roku did was to release a single device with known abilities rather than sectioning up the market, causing confusion. Now, instead of just talking to someone about the 'Roku box', they will have to specify which box. I would have prefered a direct replacement upgrade of the Roku HD with the HD-XR rather than expanding it to a series.
As far as cost goes, $20 is a minimal savings. But what you loose is the ability to integrate the box into an HD or fully-digital system in the future. Instead, you would have to spend a fresh $100 (or $130). Right now, I can easily integrate the $100 Roku box into my home theatre with analog inputs, with the knowledge that when I upgrade my TV next year to HDMI, I won't have to buy a new box to go with it. Perhaps the Roku SD makes sense at ~$50, but not at $80. #rokuhdxr
10/27/09
10/24/09
Making it not free would obviously defeat the point. #hulu