iTV, cablecard, .n

[Kevin Callahan]

On Dec 11, 2006, at 12:36 PM, j o a r wrote:

>
> On 11 dec 2006, at 00.39, Kevin Callahan wrote:
>
>> or is it expected that Apple will have us stick with TiVO or EyeTV  
>> and in some way get those files into Front Row?
>
> I wouldn't expect for iTV to be anything but an extension of iTunes  
> (and the whole QT + iTMS platform), just like the AirPort Express  
> is for audio content.

that's my guess as well, as it's what Steve demoed

>
>> We all realize that the point of iTV is for any Mac user on the  
>> network to vend their digital media to the big screen.
>
> I would be _seriously_ surprised if it didn't work with both Mac +  
> Windows! Again, just like iTunes, iTMS and the AirPort Express.

oh -no doubt it will work for Windows as well

>
>> But, it's clear a lot of folks want their recorded shows (not just  
>> iTMS downloads) to seamlessly integrate with Front Row.
>
> Anything that can be played in QuickTime can be played in Front  
> Row, right? I would guess that the same thing holds true for iTV.  
> Steve likes his home video projects, so I'm sure you will be able  
> to play more than iTMS downloads through the iTV.

We recently bought EyeTV - mostly so that we can view things  
commercial free.  It has its own "Front Row" look-a-like interface,  
but it's not integrated with Apple's Front Row.  I'm hoping Elgato  
can  figure out a way to make their live TV and their recorded  
material interface nicely with iTunes and Front Row - and that's what  
some of us are hoping will be the case.   The current solution is not  
great: something recorded in EyeTV can be viewed through the EyeTV  
software (and through CyTV and VLC, displayed on other machines on  
the network - albeit unreliably), but not via iTunes or Front Row - *  
unless you first tag the recorded material to be converted to iPod  
format  and copied to your movies playlist in iTunes so that FrontRow  
can play it.  You can manually export to other video formats and  
manually add the result to iTunes, but ...

The export and conversion process can be VERY, VERY long and  
processor intensive  (and I'm not doing HD).

Right now, the combination of media residing in different places  
(iTunes and Elgato) and figuring out what app you're supposed to use  
to view the material is not cool . Assuming TV is part of the media  
experience, just adding iTV to my scenario does nothing to improve  
it.  There has to be some coupling in terms of software, at least, to  
make it a one-stop media center.

I can see that Apple's iTV is really just AE plus video and photos  
with iTMS integration.   But what's missing is the interfacing with   
live and recorded TV.   While much of TV material sucks, there's a  
fair share of documentaries, travel, music, history ... and other  
subjects that sometimes need to be timeshifted - and it would be nice  
if there were one interface to one's media.  I guess that's what MS  
is trying to do by offering integrated digital TV.

Maybe all that's needed is for Elgato's EyeTV software to provide for  
better automated conversion and export ?  so that the process becomes  
more transparent?

In any event, it sounds like a Mac media center (that includes TV)  
will require some third party integration to make it all happen.

I was trying to get friend interested in buying a Mac mini with Front  
Row - he went to the Apple store to test drive a setup, but he ended  
up spending nearly 5.5K on a Windows media center - said it was  
because everything was integrated - tuner, music, videos, photos  
etc.  He did say it doesn't work very well, however.


>
>> also,  is 802.11n a factor in the delay of iTV?  it's odd that  
>> Apple showed iTV so far ahead of schedule.
>
> I think that 802.11n could be a part of the delay, but it's  
> probably not the whole reason.
> Apples difficulties in getting more partners providing video  
> content to iTMS is more likely at the core.

makes sense

K


>
> j o a r
>



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