Quoting Kevin Anderson <[email protected]>:
Ant,
I have tried just about all of DTV players and HTPC packages for Linux -
Kaffeine, MeTV, Myth (so much pain for not so much payoff), Freevo, GeexBox,
VDR and the list goes on. I actually end up using VLC most of the time
because it's so lightweight. The first challenge would be to find (or
develop) a good DTV app. Kaffeine hasn't been stable in the last couple of
releases. MeTV is good, but it uses way too many cycles just to update the
EPG. Myth. Where do I start? While it ticks the boxes in terms of
configurability, it's too difficult to set up and way too easy to break.
Freevo doesn't like Python on Ubuntu. VLC is brilliant, but it doesn't have
an EPG and doesn't have a one click way to record. If anyone does know of a
good DTV package that I haven't mentioned, please let me know.
Oddly, I like the open source media centre packages on Windows - MediaPortal
and GB-PVR more than the options on Linux. I've ended up using EyeTV on our
iBook, which is brilliant.
There is a lot of focus on media centre apps like Boxee, XMBC and Elisa, but
there is a gaping hole when it comes to a good DTV app. What do I mean by
good?
* EPG - This is real glaring issue for Linux DTV apps. Kaffeine has a
serviceable EPG but it only shows you what is playing and the next show.
Myth does it well but has so many other issues. MeTV suffers from serious
CPU load just to update the EPG.
* EPG search
* Scheduled recording - I want to be able to go to the EPG and click record.
That's really about it, which is why I'm so baffled that there isn't
something better on offer. As I've said, if anyone has tried and liked
something, let me know. But, to get something like BeeBuntu, you'd need a
good DTV app first.
Having said that, I'll give GeexBox another try. It might be a good
candidate for your idea Ant.
best,
k
From the GeexBox installation instructions on making a DVB card work:
wget http://www.linuxtv.org/download/dvb/linuxtv-dvb-apps-1.1.0.tar.bz2
tar jxvf linuxtv-dvb-apps-1.1.0.tar.bz2
cd linuxtv-dvb-apps-1.1.0/util/scan
make
./scan -x 0 dvb-s/Astra-19.2E > channels.conf
For any sort of BBC branded utility the TV/Radio aspect should just
work. People shouldn't need to be compiling source code in order to
do a channel scan or running separate applications to do what should
be minimal functionality. Then what about MHEG? The general public
would expect MHEG to just work. And EIT present following and EIT
schedule and Series Link and one touch recording plus any new features
yet to be released.
And what else should BeeBuntu be able to do? The BBC Micro was a
success because it helped educate a generation in how computers work
and what they do.
So I'd propose that on top of a system which can be used for TV/Radio,
Video, Images etc. that any system would need to:
* provide access to the internet (possibly with adult content control)
* provide access to tools which are interoperable with any de-facto
industry standard tools which can be used for schoolwork, home office
etc.
* provide the users the chance to use the system for self-eduaction
about computers, coding etc. with a nice user interface to increase
computer literacy
* provide educational tools like were available on the BBC micro
(geordie racer anyone?)
* provide access to basic video tools - to allow people to create
there own content
What else?
--
ST
[email protected]
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