Comcast Gets It!

[MattHelm]

Originally Posted by Khristopher

... Yes SageTV has the web client developed the the insanely talented Nielm, however without it, SageTV is just another piece of unconnected DVR/Media Center software.

So now you want me to install something I don't want or need on my machine, and I can record and watch TV without a web interface???

If I need it, I install it. Now having a smoother installer .... (another topic)

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Khristopher

While the Web Interface is good (and I use it at home), there is certainly lots of room for improvement.

There's always room for improvement, even for successful and popular products like an iPhone. I own one and I can make a long list of what's wrong with it.

SageTV needs to have this functionality built in, not as a user developed add on. BeyondTV failed in that they stopped innovating and ignored features that the masses wanted (media center capabilities). Hopefully Sage can learn from this example to ensure their own survival in the digital marketplace which is becoming very popular with competing products.

I don't think SageTV needs a remote app, would be nice to have, but there's a long list of features that are way more important. And SageTV is one of the most innovative company in the PVR market for a while now. If anything, other companies need to look up to SageTV. They are a small company so they don't have unlimited resources to do things as quick as they would like, but they still come out with innovative features.

In order to get Sage working at an acceptable level, I've had to tinker and find many add ons for functionality that is now becoming standard in just about every DVR on the planet. People want easy connectivity between their devices, not something that has to be kludged together.

Having SageTV for many years now, I can tell you that SageTV will be far from the product that you desire. I don't see how it will be a plug and play "just works" product and at the same time be customizable to everyone's need. Its not gonna happen unless they get bought out by Google or something.

[JetreL]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

Having SageTV for many years now, I can tell you that SageTV will be far from the product that you desire. I don't see how it will be a plug and play "just works" product and at the same time be customizable to everyone's need. Its not gonna happen unless they get bought out by Google or something.

I agree with this 100%. I know Google is listening. I see their bot online all the time...

[dravenone]

$3000+ for a kitchen TV. WOW!!!!!

Well lucky for me it's an eval I get to use for a very very very long time.

[Khristopher]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

There's always room for improvement, even for successful and popular products like an iPhone. I own one and I can make a long list of what's wrong with it.

Agreed. The iPhone still has room for improvement.

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

I don't think SageTV needs a remote app, would be nice to have, but there's a long list of features that are way more important. And SageTV is one of the most innovative company in the PVR market for a while now. If anything, other companies need to look up to SageTV. They are a small company so they don't have unlimited resources to do things as quick as they would like, but they still come out with innovative features.

The problem is that the other companies have been looking and taking strides to pull into the lead.

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

Having SageTV for many years now, I can tell you that SageTV will be far from the product that you desire. I don't see how it will be a plug and play "just works" product and at the same time be customizable to everyone's need. Its not gonna happen unless they get bought out by Google or something.

Having also used SageTV for many years now, I already know that it is far from what I want, however it is the only option that currently comes close. SageTV needs to recognize that they're slowly losing the lead they had and in order to keep up with all the other emerging products, they're going to need something big. It's only a matter of time before someone else develops a Media Center that can stream to mobile devices, and I know for a fact that people are going to flock to it.

[tmiranda]

Look at the sales figures. For the past several months Android phones have outsold iPhones. Yes, Apple has a big head start but...

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Khristopher

Having also used SageTV for many years now, I already know that it is far from what I want, however it is the only option that currently comes close. SageTV needs to recognize that they're slowly losing the lead they had and in order to keep up with all the other emerging products, they're going to need something big. It's only a matter of time before someone else develops a Media Center that can stream to mobile devices, and I know for a fact that people are going to flock to it.

I don't see any company doing this, at least not in the way we want it. They will always try to protect the content and control everything you do with it. That is everything SageTV is not, and that is why SageTV will always stand alone when it comes to digital content.

[Khristopher]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

I don't see any company doing this, at least not in the way we want it. They will always try to protect the content and control everything you do with it. That is everything SageTV is not, and that is why SageTV will always stand alone when it comes to digital content.

It's only a matter of time before it happens. Hopefully SageTV is the one comes out with it, but honestly I haven't seen any real innovation from SageTV in awhile. Yes they've introduced new features here and there, but nothing that makes people go "Wow!".

[eric3a]

Yes they've introduced new features here and there, but nothing that makes people go "Wow!".

I don't need to go "wow".... Actually there is very little extra I'd like on my machine. The thing I miss most is 100% low key: A list of the last few videos I was watching and stopped in the middle.

So the install process was too complicated to get it to where I wanted to be (Including SageMC and web interface) but that's part and parcel of PC based solutions, and now the least I touch the system the happier I am.

More and more DVR boxes from the cable providers are adding in features that were standard on software like Sage and MythTV, and because of that, the gap in the playing field is narrowing substantially.

True, but I'm pretty sure they'll never have the one that I like the most: I can copy my recordings to any machine I want, any disk I want, anywhere I want.

There are already plenty of ready made solutions to stream videos to various devices, and in the context of a computer based solution, installing another piece of software of your choice isn't much of a hassle in my opinion.

I think you're simply not comparing apples to apples (no pun was intended!).
A PC based solution will likely never be as easy to install as a stand alone PVR. But a stand alone will never be as flexible and clever as a PC.
I realize that in the iPad world things are just "an app away"... But in all honesty that is the approach I hope computing doesn't go to in general.
I like the ability to tweak, and build my very own, very personal DVR solution.
Yes it takes time and patience, but now I've got something that is just great and very stable.

think about all the things a computer can do that a set top box can't and will likely never do:
-Commercial marking, automated compression and synchro to different formats and machines, streaming to any machine you want, import and reading of any type of video including Blue Rays, DVDs, infinitely expandable, ability to VNC, download files, send email warnings, remote and/or auto resets of hardware, integration in home automation systems, etc...

Because of this flexibility, I don't see any set top box, or pre-approved / hardware locked (iPad type) solution give me something I would ever prefer over the very open platform a computer can provide.

Eric

[Fuzzy]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/19603..._surprise.html

Not totally in line with this conversation.. but interesting reading on where the iPhone may find itself... Particularly the part where it is discussed that it is likely development priorities will start shifting away from iPhone, and towards Android as the first platform targeted. Not even discussed is the lower cost of development making Android easier to target first.

[eric3a]

Maybe I'm getting old but to me this seems like the Apple IIe all over again. Might have been the best computer at the time but in the end PCs won. Back in the time of the IIe Apple looked invincible. They almost died a few years later.

By over controlling their machines' environment Apple may be repeating their early mistakes?

I'll continue to believe that PC based DVRs are for geeks, and what sets them apart from iPad apps and set top boxes is the infinite tweaking possibility.

And boy the title of this thread cracks me up: "Comcast gets it!".... If there's a company I hate with a passion it's Comcast and judging by the fact they've starting hiding behind their new XFinity name I'm not the only one.
One thing I don't want Comcast to get: My money!

Eric

[nick_l]

Originally Posted by Khristopher

Whether or not you like Apple, you can't deny that they are changing the world, one product at a time.

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Thanks, I needed that.

My take: Apple, trying to change the world, one suggestible consumer at a time.

[Brent]

Seems like Apple versus Microsoft is the new, geekier version of the Ford versus GM debate. It's irrelevant mostly except for those that are way to caught up in it all. Both have great products, both "sides" have their points. And I use both. Really doesn't matter what the other guy thinks as long as you (and I) are happy with what we have.

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by Brent

Seems like Apple versus Microsoft is the new, geekier version of the Ford versus GM debate. It's irrelevant mostly except for those that are way to caught up in it all. Both have great products, both "sides" have their points. And I use both. Really doesn't matter what the other guy thinks as long as you (and I) are happy with what we have.

Who drives a ford or chevy these days.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by Brent

Seems like Apple versus Microsoft is the new, geekier version of the Ford versus GM debate. It's irrelevant mostly except for those that are way to caught up in it all. Both have great products, both "sides" have their points. And I use both. Really doesn't matter what the other guy thinks as long as you (and I) are happy with what we have.

Something to keep in mind as well... While both camps (whether it's iphone vs android, or ford vs gm) are passionately in love their technology, it also results in better choice and features for the consumer. For example, if the iphone was released and no-one bothered to compete, then the iphone 4.0 would just be the same as iphone 1.0 except with maybe a hardware upgrade. Android and Blackberry forced apple to add features and vice versa. For example in the new iphone 4.0 you'll be able run IM clients (and other tasks) in the background. This would have never happened without competition and without forums and blogs all over the internet discussing the iphone vs android (and other phones). So while we all get tired of "my phone is better than your phone" threads, the reality is that ultimately result in positive change for the consumer. It's obvious that Apple would rather that you just "use" it and not complain you can't change the background image, or copy and paste, but all these things would not have happened for the iphone without competition and the FACT that people blog about it, etc.

So, if SageTV sees companies like Comcast as "competition" (and they should), then I think you can expect that at some time, features that you see there may make their way into SageTV.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Something to keep in mind as well... While both camps (whether it's iphone vs android, or ford vs gm) are passionately in love their technology, it also results in better choice and features for the consumer. For example, if the iphone was released and no-one bothered to compete, then the iphone 4.0 would just be the same as iphone 1.0 except with maybe a hardware upgrade.

Personally, I think apple goes about this a bit differently.. they don't add features because of the competition, they intentionally leave OUT features to make sure the same people go back and buy pretty much the same product with new improved feature 'x' a year later. The iPhone's competition has had full multitasking for MANY years now. Their sales numbers have remained good enough without it that they can leave the feature in their bag of 'new features' to bring people back to the store later. Apple isn't in the product of making complete products. Especially not the first 3 or 4 times around the block. Look at the things left out of the iPad, that are already slated to be in the 'next version'.

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Personally, I think apple goes about this a bit differently.. they don't add features because of the competition, they intentionally leave OUT features to make sure the same people go back and buy pretty much the same product with new improved feature 'x' a year later. The iPhone's competition has had full multitasking for MANY years now. Their sales numbers have remained good enough without it that they can leave the feature in their bag of 'new features' to bring people back to the store later. Apple isn't in the product of making complete products. Especially not the first 3 or 4 times around the block. Look at the things left out of the iPad, that are already slated to be in the 'next version'.

Agreed but that is a the disposable society we live in and a good business plan. force to buy for new features is good for buisness (not so much for the consumber but if they but into it which apple people do then the company doesn't have to worry).

[eric3a]

Yes to an extent it's a "Ford vs GM" type of debate, but I think there are significant differences though.

I am -obviously- perfectly fine with anyone choosing a particular machine/OS for their phone / extender / car / washing machine.... If you like your iPhone, iPad, COWON, Archos, etc... Good for you.

My (slight) problem comes in when -having chosen a known closed format- we get clamors for developper time and effort to cater to that known closed format. As I said it's a slight problem, because since I prefer buying open format machines, I'll be able to mostly use whatever is built. Still, I'd prefer dev time and effort to remain on open formats.

Back to the GM/Ford analogy I see it more as a guy who buys a sports car because he loves the look and handling, and then starts asking to be able to also tow his boat, put kayaks on the roof and carry a 65" TV back from the shop. Maybe he should have bought a truck?

Eric