DVRplayground - Homebrew & DIY

TiVo Vs. Media Center Edition

Tom Keating — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:12:21 GMT

TiVo may get all the headlines and they certainly have a rabid following, including geeks who modify their units, add additional hard drives, and perform other tweaks. But I’ll tell you, I would not trade my Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition 2005 PC for a TiVo. I’m hooked baby! Especially when you consider that TiVo decided to betray their customers by ADDING their own commercials — check out the storm of controversy in the tivocommunity.com forums. I believe TiVo adds popup ads AS YOU FAST FORWARD through commercials. If I spent >$300 for a lifetime TiVo subscription (or pay their monthly subscription), I would be pretty peeved that TiVo decided to change the rules, when one major purchasing factor is the ability to fast forward through advertisements. And speaking of subscriptions, that’s another reason why I love my Windows Media Center Edition 2005 PC - NO MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION FEE! The TV guide listings download for free via the Internet to an XML file which the MCE PC is able to display. One of the "knocks" against the MCE 2005 PC is that it’s too big - no one wants a bulky PC in their living room and they want something...

How Do I Record DirecTV on my HTPC?

Matt Whitlock — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:00:51 GMT

A TechLore "Ask the Experts" Question... Question: I have DirectTV (satellite). I want to record shows on my computer. Do i need a TV tuner with more than 125 channels? If so can you give info. Thank you very much. Answer: Unfortunately, adding satellite recording to an HTPC isn't quite as easy as with basic cable, since there is no add-in card that sports a DirecTV tuner. The only tuners for DirecTV are the set-top boxes that satellite subscribers are familiar with. Adding a 125 channel TV tuner to an HTPC will only record programs from a terrestrial antenna or basic cable. What you'll need to do is get a video capture device, either standalone or one of the ATI All-in-Wonder cards, and connect it to your existing DirecTV satellite box. You should be able to find software to control the DirecTV box through with an IR blaster, which you'll connect from the back of the HTPC to the front of your satellite box. Matt Whitlock - Editor, TechLore.com Syndicated from TechLore: The Consumer Electronics Community

Terabyte Solution...

562lonnie — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:07:04 GMT

Hello all, I really stumbled onto this site ( and I'm glad I did) searching for ideas on how I can put together a system to download my dvd collection into a 1 terabyte HD and view them from my home theater system. I know I at least have to have special software to do this and if so what would you recommend and is there a way this can be done through a usb/video audio cable via the HD. I am missing something somewhere... All I want to do is have my dvd collection stored in the HD and have the option of playing back any movie and still have the same picture and sound quality as if I were viewing the original disc. This is an awesome site and I'm gald I got to registered last nite. Thanks for your time and any input would be greatly appreciated. Lonnie

TiVo coming to PC via Nero software

GrondramB — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:32:23 GMT

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/tivo-coming-to-pc-via-nero-software/ I wasn't sure where to put this - its really a crossing of borders. Tivo has not traditionally made money on the hardware - the bulk of the profit (such as it is) has been from the service. This would seem, in principle to be good for Tivo and good for those of us who like and are used to the Tivo interface. [quote] TiVo has just announced an agreement with multimedia software provider Nero AG that will bring its familiar interface and feature set to the PC. According to the joint announcement made today, Nero will embed the TiVo experience in its next generation of software, allowing the millions of us who rely on USB dongles for our TV to finally join the exclusive realm of Series1, 2, and 3 owners. Plus, as Zatz Not Funny! points out , Nero's international presence should help spread TiVo to the far corners of the Earth like some digital Happy Meal. Hopefully this new PC timeshifting solution -- release window: unknown -- will also convince other purveyors of home theater-only hardware-based services to finally bring their wares to the desktop. Yes, we're looking at you, Sling .[/quote]

The Ubuntu Family Expands

Community Headlines — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:19:10 GMT

Ubuntu's added another great project to it's solid collection of operating systems. But Mythubuntu 7.1 , the lastest addition to the Ubuntu clan, is not just another operating system. This one's devoted to nothing but pure media goodness. In one seamless installation you get everything you need to set up your own MythTV. New versions are expected each month.

A Brief Intro to Open Source Software

Dennis Schmitz — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:40:50 GMT

It's hard to get online and on the internet without hearing about Open source software . It's harder yet to figure out what it is. On one side you hear how it's nothing less than the savior of man, and on the other side, you hear that it's the downfall. All these messages come from people who have some stake in the issue and nobody seems to be looking out for the most important person involved: you. Well I'm here to tell you, this is a good thing. It's free stuff. And everyone likes free stuff. It's like the opposite of taxes. What is Open Source Software, Anyway? In order to understand what open source software is, you must first understand how software's made. Most commercial software, such as that used in PCs or embedded computers (like the ones all over the inside of your car), is constructed by writing instructions in a language that basically describes the problem and how to work on data. That sounds completely like fluff, but that's exactly what it is. The only human element in writing software is thinking through problems and how to solve them. If, for example, you need to show someone...

A Commercial-Free Windows Media Center

Community Headlines — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:24:59 GMT

A new application called Lifextender is set to make Windows Media Center lovers a much happier bunch of people. Lifextender snips out the commercials for you so you never have to see them at all, saving you both irritation and disk space. You'll never have to watch another commercial again, and the best part is that it works without any real effort on your part—you don't even need to configure it.

TiVo Series2 into a MythTV Box

swomper — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:02:38 GMT

Does anyone know how to turn a TiVo Series 2 Box into a MythTV Box?