SageTV acquired by Google

[bastafidli]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

Why are you afraid to say it? Everyone else is saying it. In fact people seem to be positively eager to say that this is the end of life as we know it.

Because Google has history of acquiring the companies, closing their products so that world doesn't see them every again, destroying the communities around them and so on...

As much as this is good news for Jeff and team, the Google's acquisition history has very few proofs for "don't be evil" claim.

[Torkild]

Originally Posted by Whitey

I don't understand why there is all this worry about the epg discontinuing when the rest of world has been happly using XMLTV for years

Whitey

x2

learn to use XMLTV

[Torkild]

How many sagetv user are we?

And why should google not want us as user in the furture?

[tmiranda]

Congrats to Jeff, Andy, and the rest of the Sage team. I'm sure they have worked many many long hours for not much money so they deserve everything they get.

As for the future, I'm in the "let's wait and see" camp. Maybe some of the good traits of SageTV will rub off on Google.

[najames]

I am working on building a new SageTV server and Unraid server. I have the Unraid tweaked/finished, tweaked the power settings on the SageTV box, and was ready to install it. I downloaded a 7 beta and was going to purchase an upgrade key today and POOF SageTV is gone.

* merged *

[Gunserotti]

Argghhh... One one hand I feel bad about investing the 250.00 in Sage HW and SW, not to mention the time it took to learn the language (STI, API, EPG, etc...).

On the other hand I look forward to learning and setting up a new system. I have recently been thinking about getting a Macmini and using Plex. With this news, I think this is going to happen sooner rather then later (although I'm going to wait for the next version of the Macmini).

I do feel bad for those developers of SageTV software (Phoenix, Diamond, Ortus, BMT, etc...). I cant imagine spending thousands of hours to improve a project whose future is now very uncertain.

[rickgillyon]

Can't believe there are so many people crying over potential halt of EPG. You can set up XMLTV in less than an hour, it's very simple...

[SteveD]

So if an alternative EPG is available, I don't really see a problem. I don't believe licensing is connected to the internet(licensing validation). I tested it , placeshifter does not requires anything from sagetv website to connect remotely either. You setup a DYNDns acount pointed to the sagetv server and you are ready to go.

You could run this software for years as long as a EPG is available. May need to turn off automatic updates from Microsoft to prevent breaking the software due to updates.

Have to look at as legacy product, put it on a stable platform, don't mess with it and let run until the hardware fails. Put your licenses in a safe place, when hardware breaks, build new PC, reload software, enter key, copy backup over sagetv to get config back. I say sagetv version 7 should be good for a least another 10 years (if you are using pc clients) as it is.


I work in the medical field, hospitals routinely operate medical equipment beyond end of life. Medical vendors use windows operating systems that are at least a generation behind.


We have to face the fact that I our currently installed sagetv is a household appliance that you don't tweak anymore (when the last time you heard of anybody tweaking a directv dvr you don't and can't).

Sagetv seen the train coming down the track, and did the only thing they could.

SageTV threats: to name a few

netflix
hulu
googletv
High Definition Tv -DRM issues
Directv, Uverse wholehouse dvrs - canned solutions with lots of money

The entertainment landscape is changing. Someone on the forum said "the cloud vs local media in your home". Netflix and hulu puts all of your favorite shows and movies a network jack away from your TV. How do you compete with that. Why rip a DVD when you can stream it from the internet anytime you want.

Unraid days are numbered to.What do you need a expandable media server for if you have "THE CLOUD".

BEWARE of BIG Corporations, there GOD is MONEY, their LIP SERVICE is customer service, but their is NO SERVICE.

[ThePaladinTech]

Wow ... Just wow, I'm a little shell shocked. sat here and read the whole thread. I *just* set my mom up with SageTV TWO days ago.

If asked if the glass is half full or half empty what is my answer? typically the later.

I am not sure what the future brings for us. I certainly fear nothing good.
-but-
On the other hand-
microsoft MCE has extenders (not as good as Sage but technically they have them), Comskip / Showanalyzer is not really supported by sage it is a plugin - the same is true for MCE - So if google keeps the product (in some version) I would lean towards them keeping those aspects. As for pay service arn't most all google products free?

Google could bring many good things to the table (cablecard, netflix, hulu) etc.

And Reality- *IF* they decided to do WHATEVER (good or bad) to get a huge consumer base, all of us do not matter - We would be a drop in a bucket.

I will wait and see what happens, but if google decides to integrate SageTV into a new pay service, and do many of the gloomy things mentioned in this thread, well I will be looking for something else.

And in any case congrats to the folks at Sage - Regardless of what becomes of SageTV - Google buying you up proves you had the best product out there!

[voorhees]

Boy, the rest of the links on the site are dead. Hopefully that is just a mistake.

[Q*bert]

Does anyone see anything positive in this for current users?

I have a bad feeling about this...

[traker1001]

Personally I think this was a completely gutless, cowardly and unethical move on Sage team side. Not only do They walk with no warning and a extremely crappy statement, no longer have to support sage, Honor any of the contracts, deal with customers anymore, But they sell what was a great product to a competitor who will most likely kill it, Rather than doing something to make sure of it's continued survival.

But I guess I am only one of an increasingly rare breed who wouldn't even considering selling his soul for a few suitcases of money.

And Even if by some miracle google doesn't kill it, IT will most definitely never be the same again.

Although they don't really give a crap, I absolutely do blame Jeff and his team and I believe there are much better ways whey could have handled this if they had actually given a crap.

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by traker1001

But I guess I am only one of an increasingly rare breed who wouldn't even considering selling his soul for a few suitcases of money.

No-one sold his soul - people sold a company that was theirs to sell. Get some perspective.

And how can you say how you would react unless you do in fact have something that Google would offer a lot of money for? I suspect you haven't...

[profit]

You have many loyal Sage customers who have invested hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars around Sage and you just pulled the plug on the store over the weekend. Congratulations to the ownership.

If you had any intention of keeping Sage active you wouldn't have taken those actions. I for one am frustrated as I just built and wired my house with Sage in mind. Now I am stuck from the standpoint that I have half of the extenders I need. The funny thing is I just opened an HD300 I bought 4 to 5 months ago since we just moved in!

It's true that Sage was never charging enough for its products, but you have many early adopters who have great ideas and have helped shape the Sage product beyond what the internal team could develop on their own. How about a win for the many loyal customers?

First, we would ask as time permits over the next few weeks to have a clear statement of what to expect. You may not yet know. My sense is you do.

Second, we would ask for a somewhat status quo plan even if that means higher prices with access to a store or to buy replacement parts. I agree with not selling any more Sage to new customers - but your loyal customers should have options.

Third, please keep the forums open for any existing customers. These are invaluable and the community can support itself for some time to come.

Fourth, thanks for listening if you take the time to read any of this. You probably won't but I feel better for at least pleading our case.

Regards,

* merged *

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

Because Google has history of acquiring the companies, closing their products so that world doesn't see them every again, destroying the communities around them and so on...

As much as this is good news for Jeff and team, the Google's acquisition history has very few proofs for "don't be evil" claim.

Google also has a history of acquiring companies and then open sourcing it It would be dream to have the extender code, and the pvr code open sourced I'm not saying that's going happen, but given the "history" of google that many people speak of... it could go either way.

[ajuhawk]

Yeah, um, I'm in the same boat! As a loooooooong time loyal customer, some heads up would have been VERY nice! this totally bites.

[SWKerr]

I suspect Google bought them to add a open DVR backend to GoogleTV. I would expect to see that first. What they do with the rest of the technology who knows. I have trouble seeing them supporting it as we know it since they have invested in GoogleTV. I think our best hope is they open source the rest of it.

They will have to support DRM at some level under the Google umbrella they may become a real alternative to Media Center once they are integrated with GoogleTV. I would expect to see cable card support. Maybe we will still be able to get a centrally managed DVR and Movie sever with decent Extender support. We can only hope.

I will be getting my HD300 on Tuesday and I can't decide if I am happy about that or not. I somehow doubt they will be supported under GoogleTV. Maybe they will have a lite version that can run on something like that the HD300 but I am thinking they have seen their last updates.

Can't blame SageTV for taking a deal regardless of what happens to the users. If you could you would. Hopefully it works our for all the employees.

I hope we hear something soon about the future of SageTV support. Having been through a few mergers myself I suspect they don't really know themselves at this point. Not all of those decisions have even been made.

[dealsdyker]

SageTV has been Acquired by Google

PC Magazine Editorial

Engadget's Take

Me? I dunno... Google did need to compete with MS' "free included" OS media center. I guess they'll be giving it away and making money on sponsor click's. Does Google charge anything for any consumer software? Google docs? Android? Came here from ReplayTV after it was acquired by DirecTV... hoping for a better future than that.

[tmiranda]

I think we should all stop the FUD and just wait a few days to see what statements are made. If I were Sage and Google I'd also be keeping my mouth closed until I was sure I had all of the answers. The deal was only signed about 12 hours ago.

I'm hoping stuckless' dream comes true and the software is open sourced.

[enthilzha]

If any of the devs need /want an alternate forum setup (in case this one goes down) or hosting space for repositories etc. PM me. I've got no programming skills but ample data center access and I'm happy to help out however I can. I *hope* this won't be needed but given my investment in Sage the engineering reflex in me is going into disaster recovery mode until we get something more official from Sage / Google.