Open Source PVR

Linux users have been proud of the fact that their favorite operating system is at the heart of the most popular personal video recorder (PVR) system around: TiVo.

Open Source PVR

Open Source PVR

  1. MythTV: The Open Source PVR
    Linux users have been proud of the fact that their favorite operating system is at the heart of the most popular personal video recorder (PVR) system around: TiVo. In May 2003, in the midst of its lawsuit with IBM, SCO sent letters to 1,500 Linux users, warning them that Linux contained unlicensed intellectual property. Each of those users received a follow-up letter last December, and SCO recently filed lawsuits against Daimler Chrysler and Auto Zone. 
       
  2. Open Sourced PVR
    I'm a big fan of the Tivo system. In fact I designed just such a system before Tivo or ReplayTV got started (I'm basing that on the invention dates listed on their patents). But both systems are getting a lot of flack from network TV because they make it easy to skip the commercials that pay for the programming on the major networks. So there is always the threat that they could push through legislation (bought and paid for through representatives like Fritz Hollings, Senator from Disney) that would make personal video recorders (PVR) like Tivo illegal. That's why it's heartening to see open source alternatives like MythTV cruising along. They let me know that even if commercial alternatives get the screws applied to them (as the RIAA did with Napster) that there will always be something available for me to use. Plus, there are always lots of limitations on commercial boxes like the Tivo.
      

  3. On2 Open Sources PVR Software
    Having open-sourced its VP3.2 video compression algorithm to strong developer reviews, compression technology company On2
    Technologies is doing the same with its Personal Video Recorder software. The New York-based On2 said the licenses and source code for its VPVision software can be found at http://www.vp3.com.VPVision was initially designed as personal video recorder software targeted for the PC, the company said. The decision to release the source code is part of a plan to upgrade and integrate the software for use in consumer appliances such as PVRs, which use a hard drive to help the user pause live video, skip commercials and otherwise alter how they view television and video. When we made VP3 available to the open source community, we did so to eliminate reliance on single source vendors for compression technology," said Douglas McIntyre, president and CEO of On2 Technologies. We think VPVision can have the same effect on the personal video recorder market.
       
  4. What is GB-PVR?
    GB-PVR is a fully featured Personal Video Recorder (PVR), allowing you to schedule TV recordings and view and pause live TV. In additional to this PVR functionality, it also acts as a media center allowing you to watch movies, listen to music, view pictures and listen to FM radio. GB-PVR also supports specialist hardware decoders including Sigma Designs XCard, Hauppauge PVR350 and Hauppauge Media MVP. GB-PVR also supports multiple tuners, allowing you to record more multiple channels at one time.