SageTV acquired by Google

[Grant]

Dear Google,

I understand that there is usually a blackout period when any company purchases another company so you can’t comment. I also understand that the current business model of SageTV might not be the direction that you will be taking this company’s resources in the future. To a lot of us SageTV is not a onetime purchase. SageTV is such an extendable platform that many of us add software licenses and media extenders as needed. As it has been stated many times on this forum since the announcement of the Google acquisition of SageTV that there are many existing customers that were either in the process of upgrading or had plans to upgrade or add additional licenses and extenders to their existing network. The abrupt closing of the SageTV store gave us no chance to purchase additional licenses and extenders. You might not open up the store again. For all we know getting new SageTV customers might not be in your best interests but PLEASE PLEASE allow your existing customer base that already has an investment in a SageTV infrastructure and have been caught in the middle of this buyout with incomplete system build outs to make their final purchases from SageTV. We have an active developer and user base and we are all interested in what the SageTV team does in the future so allowing us to finish our build outs will not keep us from supporting Google’s efforts in the future. There is nothing to gain from keeping existing customers from purchasing additional licenses and hardware even if it is for a limited time but there might be something to lose if you don’t.

Sincerely,

Grant Doyle

* merged *

[dlj9999]

Originally Posted by Sparhawk6

I am horribly disappointed by all this. Sage is indeed dead in my mind. Google's refusal to comment on the future of the company and the products is telling. Customers are likely to leave without any information. If Google cared about those customers, they would keep selling extenders and licenses and reassure Sage's clients. But they aren't doing that. Google bought Sage for the technology, not the customer base (which wasn't large anyway).

Bummer! I don't want to go to WMC because the Xbox 360 as an extender looks lousy (sound, boot up time, etc.). And no other PVR software supports a good extender.

That’s why I stayed with SageTV. I use my PS3 as my extender and they play well together.
The XBOX 360 would hang all the time, would lose the media folders it just minutes ago, and so loud just running it.
And I JUST finished building my HTPC when Google/Sage deal happened.

[Flash69]

Originally Posted by Grant

Dear Google,

I understand that there is usually a blackout period when any company purchases another company so you can’t comment. I also understand that the current business model of SageTV might not be the direction that you will be taking this company’s resources in the future. To a lot of us SageTV is not a onetime purchase. SageTV is such an extendable platform that many of us add software licenses and media extenders as needed. As it has been stated many times on this forum since the announcement of the Google acquisition of SageTV that there are many existing customers that were either in the process of upgrading or had plans to upgrade or add additional licenses and extenders to their existing network. The abrupt closing of the SageTV store gave us no chance to purchase additional licenses and extenders. You might not open up the store again. For all we know getting new SageTV customers might not be in your best interests but PLEASE PLEASE allow your existing customer base that already has an investment in a SageTV infrastructure and have been caught in the middle of this buyout with incomplete system build outs to make their final purchases from SageTV. We have an active developer and user base and we are all interested in what the SageTV team does in the future so allowing us to finish our build outs will not keep us from supporting Google’s efforts in the future. There is nothing to gain from keeping existing customers from purchasing additional licenses and hardware even if it is for a limited time but there might be something to lose if you don’t.

Sincerely,

Grant Doyle

* merged *

I completely agree!

[BobbyDing]

Eloquently put. I agree completely. I think Jeff will let us know what can be done (if anything) as soon as he knows himself. He's at the mercy of the Google lords now. If they are working something out, it may take a while to sort out the wrinkles before letting us know Yeah or Nay. Could take a while.

Regarding the hardware, the quantity of remaining stock would be a large factor I would guess. If only 100 HD300's remain, then they'd be keeping them all till the one year expires for warranty repairs. It there are 1000 remaining, then maybe they'll push some more out to existing customers. Probably limit 2 per customer to keep scalpers from grabbing them up and putting them on ebay.

In the end (after a year) I think they'll sell whatever remains to a third party re seller who will sell them online as factory rejects with no warranty. Just a guess, as I can't see them just throwing them out.

Bobby

[sleonard]

Jeff (Narflex) just posted a free upgrade to V7 that will work IF you have a V5 or V6 key. Go look in the SageTV Software forum.

S

[heffneil]

Originally Posted by BobbyDing

Eloquently put. I agree completely. I think Jeff will let us know what can be done (if anything) as soon as he knows himself. He's at the mercy of the Google lords now. If they are working something out, it may take a while to sort out the wrinkles before letting us know Yeah or Nay. Could take a while.

Regarding the hardware, the quantity of remaining stock would be a large factor I would guess. If only 100 HD300's remain, then they'd be keeping them all till the one year expires for warranty repairs. It there are 1000 remaining, then maybe they'll push some more out to existing customers. Probably limit 2 per customer to keep scalpers from grabbing them up and putting them on ebay.

In the end (after a year) I think they'll sell whatever remains to a third party re seller who will sell them online as factory rejects with no warranty. Just a guess, as I can't see them just throwing them out.

Bobby

Too bad we don't know who built the hd300s

[wayner]

Originally Posted by heffneil

Too bad we don't know who built the hd300s

You're not implying that the Asian based manufacturer of said item would be so unethical as to sell a few more of the units without Sage's consent?

[tmiranda]

IIRC a while ago somebody pointed out another product that externally looked exactly like the HD300. My guess is that the hardware could be bought, but there would have to be enough volume ot mak eit worthwhile for the manufacturer.

[ThePaladinTech]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

IIRC a while ago somebody pointed out another product that externally looked exactly like the HD300. My guess is that the hardware could be bought, but there would have to be enough volume ot mak eit worthwhile for the manufacturer.

I was looking at that thread recently, and it seems to me that while the units case looked the same it was based on a realtek chip.

[lfilomeno]

Originally Posted by wayner

You're not implying that the Asian based manufacturer of said item would be so unethical as to sell a few more of the units without Sage's consent?

Chinesse factories will do anything to get a buck! I won't be surprised if they do!

[valnar]

Open one up. It's the circuit board that matters, not the case. Maybe there are some identifying marks on it.

[ThePaladinTech]

found the original post:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53233

As I thought Realtek chip, not Sigma

[ThePaladinTech]

And (I seem to have some time on my hands today) --

Here's a bunch of units based off the sigma chip that the HD300 uses:

http://www.iboum.com/net-media-playe...g=1&rp=csigma5

[aflat]

The WD HD Live is one of them, and I know that firmware is flashable, I wonder if you could flash the latest HD300 rom on that. Anyone willing to test that?

[ThePaladinTech]

Look here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...2&postcount=47 DrewG is on it ... Well between the sawdust flying.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by aflat

The WD HD Live is one of them, and I know that firmware is flashable, I wonder if you could flash the latest HD300 rom on that. Anyone willing to test that?

Just becuase HD300 has a Sigma Designs SMP8654 which is the same chipset used in the WDTV Live Plus Media Player that dosen't automatic mean they will work the same.

[lfilomeno]

Originally Posted by aflat

The WD HD Live is one of them, and I know that firmware is flashable, I wonder if you could flash the latest HD300 rom on that. Anyone willing to test that?

If someone show me how to do it, I will buy one and flash it. If it got messed up, then I took one for the team.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Flash69

I completely agree!

x2

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by lfilomeno

If someone show me how to do it, I will buy one and flash it. If it got messed up, then I took one for the team.

the gipper

[ToadMazter]

Which of the many illustrious forum members should we nominate to apply for this Product Manager role?
http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/u...iew/index.html