<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-micr= osoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"= > <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@0..."> <link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="cid:editdata.mso@0...">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Steve,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I agree with you, and I have much of t= he same functionality in my new ATI Radeon 8500DV video card, and they have ev= en added an excellent RF remote with this card and firewire capability to boot= . I can see this card being VERY popular with those trying to integrate the PC = into their home theatre setups. The PC is a logical "Tivo Killer" for all the reasons you cited, except:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The only problem I see with it is a co= mmon one that all the PC-based products seem to stumble over:<o:p></o:p><= /font> <o:p> </o:p> <ol style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in' start=1 type=1> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stop= s:list .5in'>Simply no mechanism for controlling the source tuner if it isn'= t broadcast "over the air" or in basic cable not requiring some sort of set top box. Same thing with DBS Satellite systems. The one th= ing Tivo does (among others) EXTREMELY well is to control/change channels = of DSS receivers and Cable Boxes. I have yet to see any sort of viable solution on the PC, despite the fact that the PC has even more robust connectivity than a Tivo does. I don't know about you, but 95% of the programming I am interested in archiving to a CD or DVD from my Ti= vo is what I consider to be "premium" content, and it requires intelligence from either the PVR or the PC to change channels. I know = it isn't rocket science, but I haven't seen it yet on the PC.<o:p></o:p><= /span></li> </ol> <o:p> </o:p> I would be extremely surprised if some= one either hasn't developed such a solution or isn't working on one. I just haven't looked into it yet. I wish whoever the best of luck and I hope to see such a product soon!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I would love for my PC to become the "= hub" of my entertainment system, at least as far as archiving and distribution inside my home is concerned. I already have several sources inside my home modulated for output to unused cable channels so that I can watch any sourc= e in any room of my home, but the PC just has to develop the proper control mechanisms...<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Just my two drachmas,<o:p></o:p></span= > <o:p> </o:p> Rob<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original Message-----<br= > From: steve bryan [mailto:steve_bryan@m...] Sent: December 28, 2001 2:37= PM To: ExtractStream@y...= s.com Subject: [ExtractStream] Re:= Tivo capability in a PC <o:p> </o:p> <tt>There is now a working TiVo-style product availa= ble product from </tt> <tt>Creative Labs for about $100. So instead of = trying to cobble on an </tt> <tt>ethernet connector and bypass the intentiona= l obfuscation of the </tt> <tt>captured signal you get access to everything= just as we expect with a </tt> <tt>PC (as differentiated from consumer electron= ics boxes). Of course the </tt> <tt>image is on a PC monitor rather than your TV (unless you have the </tt> <tt>necessary ingredients of a HTPC) but the res= ults are very nifty. </tt> <tt>Because it does the mpeg-2 encoding in a ded= icated chip there is </tt> <tt>almost no burden on the main processor (arou= nd 5% has been reported). </tt> <tt>You can easily be playing "Return to Ca= stle Wolfenstein" in the </tt> <tt>foreground and not even realize it is record= ing in the background </tt> <tt>(you need to leave the program running in st= andby mode in the system </tt> <tt>tray). You could be viewing other recorded programs while recording </tt> <tt>or even do the standard TiVo trick of viewin= g earlier parts of a </tt> <tt>program while recording the later parts. Thi= s really seems to be the </tt> <tt>realization in a $100 pci card of a 'digital= ' TV product first </tt> <tt>introduced in the early nineties based on a = SGI workstation (anyone </tt> <tt>remember the name of that product?).<= /tt> <tt>I wouldn't say there is nothing to be improv= ed in the scheduling </tt> <tt>software or the steps needed to make the fil= es available to other </tt> <tt>applications but this is the real item. Ther= e is also no interface to </tt> <tt>any of the electronic programming guides. Ho= wever, in every other way </tt> <tt>this is even better than the revamped Replay= TV or hacked TiVo. I've </tt> <tt>not seen the product in a store yet but it c= an be ordered directly </tt> <tt>from Creative Labs.</tt> <tt>-- </tt> <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> <tt>To unsubscribe from t= his group, send an email to:</tt> <tt>ExtractStream-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com</f= ont></tt> <tt>Yo= ur use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <a href="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms= /">Yahoo! Terms of Service</a>.</tt> <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>