Blockbuster's Movie Download Box Runs Linux 194
DeviceGuru writes "In a better-late-than-never move, Blockbuster has introduced a video-on-demand (VOD) service accompanied by a 'free' set-top box (STB). Like TiVo, Roku's Netflix box, and many other modern Internet-enabled A/V gadgets, Blockbuster's new VOD STB runs Linux. But darn it; when will someone finally offer a reasonably-priced, open-platform STB that serves as an A/V gateway to multiple Internet-based services — one consumer-friendly, environmentally-designed, low-power gadget 'to rule them all,' if you will."
Boxee (Score:2, Informative)
Using Boxee on my AppleTV is like living in the future. Seamlessly plays my torrented files and streams hulu (with netflix Coming Real Soon).
It's fantastic.
Where's the Source? (Score:5, Informative)
Since we know that question is coming...
The box is made by 2Wire and they provide source here:
http://www.2wire.com/index.php?p=437 [2wire.com]
Did somebody say xbox? (Score:4, Informative)
Wow, I could have sworn somebody just mentioned the Xbox. Runs linux, connects to the internet, can run multiple services.
My little beast will have a place next to my TV set for many years.
Well... (Score:5, Informative)
For the immediately forseeable future, if you want an open, multiple service setup, you want a PC(in the broad sense, including mythTV, WMC, and aTV with Boxee).
open-platform? (Score:2, Informative)
I doubt it. How many of them would benefit by making it easier for their competition?
AV Gateway (Score:2, Informative)
There are alot of products out there that pretty good as an AV Gateway.
There is the Hauppauge MVP that is easy to use and setup, and yes you can put linux on it (if it isnt already).
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_mediamvp.html [hauppauge.com]
It can stream almost anything but HD with an appropriate server.
A suggestion for the Ultimate at home Multimedia machine would be SageTV with its HD extenders that can play HD and almost everything I have found online. http://www.sagetv.com/hd_extender.html [sagetv.com]
(( Yes is it can play Netflix too !! ))
-BTK
Neuros Link (Score:5, Informative)
But darn it; when will someone finally offer a reasonably-priced, open-platform STB that serves as an A/V gateway to multiple Internet-based services â" one consumer-friendly, environmentally-designed, low-power gadget 'to rule them all,' if you will.
http://www.neurostechnology.com/neuros-link [neurostechnology.com]
Also runs Linux and a Web browser with Flash so it can access all the TV sites like Hulu.
Is this article a clever plant?
Boxee (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Boxee (Score:4, Informative)
It's haxored. http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/ unlocks the rigorous protections (user: frontrow password: frontrow) and enables SSH. It also installs Boxee.
With SSH it's fairly straightforward to enable USB mass storage, and I currently have an external drive hooked up to the USB port. Making it run Linux is probably easiest by taking it apart and installing off your computer onto the hard drive.
Re:Dying Concept (Score:5, Informative)
wow, brilliant deduction! because, up until now we were all expecting to receive internet access for free.
anyone who's looked at broadband costs/availability in different parts of the world knows that ISPs in certain countries have a charge-more-for-less attitude. part of this is due to their being unregulated natural monopolies, thus being able to do whatever they want. part of it is due to pro-business/anti-consumer attitudes that dominate our culture. but at least part of the blame rests on ignorant members of the public who buy the "pirates are stealing your internet speeds!!!!11" BS put out by greedy ISPs, who all the while continue to oversell far beyond their network capacity.
bandwidth isn't a limited natural resource. if public demand for internet bandwidth increases, you just increase the network capacity and make more money. if you want to increase your subscription base, you need to upgrade your network to match the increase traffic load. that's just common sense. but some ISPs seem to want to increase their number of subscribers without matching increases in network capacity. and now they're trying to shift blame for the poor service quality on "power users" for actually using the internet connections they paid for.
so rather than upgrading their networks to conform to changes in internet usage like Japanese, Korean and European ISPs are doing, U.S. ISPs are instead wasting money on traffic monitoring & packet analysis/shaping technology. in other words, rather than increasing network capacity to meet public internet usage, they're trying to manipulate public internet usage to conform to their insufficient network capacity & business model.
it's no wonder many communities are establishing their own municipal WiFi/WiMax networks rather than getting reamed by commercial ISPs for subpar service.
Re:Boxee (Score:5, Informative)
They definitely run linux, and you can install from a USB stick. We know, we've lots and lots of them running as dedicated servers.
http://www.mythic-beasts.com/appletvdedicated.html [mythic-beasts.com]
Re:Boxee (Score:3, Informative)
boxee is just repackaged xbmc which has been rocking for many, many years before boxee came along.
xbmc is available for OSX, Linux, Windows, AppleTV and if you still have one thats chipped, original XBOX.
Installing boxee/xbmc on appletv is as simple as building a bootable USB device, and booting off of it -- you don't even need to open the box (or void your warranty..)