[ExtractStream] Re: My dangerous idea.

[sharkey@a...]

> Does this enable users (not on sorphin's TiVo, lets just say a hypothetical)
> to log in and have access to recorded programs? Is it possible to network
> TiVo's together so that you could view and play recorded programs off of
> others on this network, like a PC network?

In theory, this is possible, with sufficient work. Doing this sort of
thing would be useful if, say, you had a Tivo in your living room and
another in your bedroom and you want to be able to watch any recorded
program in either room.

> If this sounds like a possibility (and why not, if the tivo's are computers
> and have network cards so it should be possible) TiVo users could create
> networks of their TiVo's and perhaps Linux systems to help run an interface
> (e.g. a program or interface on a networked linux system which could copy
> from timmy's tivo device at ip x to my tivo device at ip y) which would
> enable people without cable to have access to a variety of programming

No way is this even remotely legal. Legal fair use tools like ExtractStream
are being put in a shady light by the major copyright holders. We don't
want to muddy the waters by associating them with software with strictly
illegal uses.

Even if it was legal, it's not currently feasable. Running a Napster
server (which I've never done) doesn't require much bandwidth. But
trading even basic quality streams will saturate cable modem connections,
and don't even think about trying this sort of thing with a dial-up.
If you want to set up a Tivo which can serve multiple concurrent video
streams at cable modem download speeds (and since there are always
more people downloading than uploading you'd need multiple concurrent
connections) you'd really need to purchase a dedicated OC3 line or
something. I don't know of anyone willing to pay for that for this
sort of thing. Oh, and good luck trying to watch anything on your Tivo
while 6 people are trying to copy six different streams off of it at the
same time. The machines just aren't built for that sort of thing.

Eric