[mythtv-users] Is this possible??? The **ultimate** system...

[Stephen Mowry]

Responses below...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org 
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Bret Schuhmacher
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 1:54 PM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: [mythtv-users] Is this possible??? The **ultimate** system...
> 
> 
> Hey all - getting into this late in the game, I guess, 
> although I've been following MythTV for some time now.  I've 
> had the following ideas about the
> **ultimate** TV/PVR for a few years now.  MythTV and SageTV
> (www.freytechnologies.com/sagetv.html) seem pretty close to 
> making this happen, but I don't think all this is possible - 
> yet.  The streaming video from www.videolan.org seems good, 
> too.  www.prismiq.com is close, too. Please take a look at my 
> PDF architecture attached and let me know if I'm off in the 
> weeds or not ;-).
> 
> Here's a short feature list:
> o output to TV *AND* PC monitor (PC monitor doesn't have to 
> be as pretty as TV output.  TV output should look very 
> polished like MythTV currently does)

Done. Albeit in hardware external to myth.  Were you thinking of having
different information outputted to each, or the same?

> 
> o skinnable (MythTV does this, the rest don't)
> 
> o see page 2 of the pdf - output should be totally 
> customizable, with windows for each tuner or input (i.e. CNN 
> in one, ESPN in another, DVD in another, web browser in 
> another, webcam/security cam in another).  You'd be able to 
> select the current one for audio via mouse or remote.  You'd 
> be able to shrink the unused ones and enlarge the current 
> one, but still have the others available at the touch of a 
> button. It'd have customizable plugins scattered around the 
> screen (news, weather, stocks, etc.)  Ideally there'd be a 
> GUI that'd help people customize this on-screen using their 
> mouse or remote...  Very user friendly - no XML or HTML 
> hacking required!

Done, except the customization.  Keep in mind that the more options you give
the more complex it becomes.  The vast majority of people just want
something that works well, they don't necessarily want the ability to tweak
everything.  As much of a tweaker that I am, I'm not even sure that I would
do that much customization (except using better themes - kudos to the myth
theme people)

> 
> o would support both hardwired TVs (i.e. local to the Myth 
> backend) as well as wired/wireless, streaming video to all 
> front-ends via TCP/IP.  Hey, I watched the Matrix DVD on an 
> 802.11b stream using vlc from www.videolan.org, so you ought 
> to be able to get 3-4 streams easily enough on an 802.11g connection.

Done.  Many people are using wlan for their front ends.  How many streams
depends on bandwidth and recording quality.  A half hour recorded on my
PVR-250 at MPEG2 is about 1 GB.

> 
> o user profiles - I'd be able to set up my configuration 
> separately from my kids' or my wife's.  I'd select it from an 
> OSD menu and my configuration would come up (i.e. 4 PIP, 
> multiple tickers, etc.)

I don't know about this being the default option, but it could be something
to choose in setup and a place to create a new user profile etc.

> 
> o wireless keyboard and mouse for web surfing (I think this 
> is already in place).

Already done.

> 
> o Intelligent acquisition of tuners - if someone is watching 
> a program using Tuner1, don't barge in and steal it.  
> Instead, switch to another tuner or pop up a message saying 
> "all tuners are in use, do you want to kill a recording or 
> watch a recording"  or something similar.

Already done.

> 
> o along with profiles, permissions would be nice... Maybe I 
> don't want the kids watching '24' or 'Threat Matrix' that I 
> recorded...

Good idea.

> 
> o of course, playlists for still images, videos, and music.  
> It'd be nice to string several different things together for 
> many hours of uninterrupted viewing/listening (i.e. string 4 
> Blues Clues and 7 Bob the Builder episodes together as a 
> playlist to keep junior busy).  Or a "playlist"/slideshow of 
> all the images on the inserted memory card while playing a 
> playlist of MP3s (there's your screensaver/picture frame.  
> That'd look awesome on a large
> LCD...!)

Good idea.

> 
> o EXTREMELY simple addition of new tuners... such as USB.  
> You buy a new USB Tuner, plug it into your USB hub, MythTV 
> finds it and starts using it to schedule new recordings - all 
> automagically.

This is more of a "Linux thing" than a Myth issue.  The changes to myth
might be to poll for supported PVR cards/tuners on start up and possibly
assist in loading/unloading modules.  The dangerous thing here is how much
Myth needs to be aware of various distributions etc.

I think this type of functionality might be better asked or pushed for with
the Knoppmyth guys.  They have a "controlled" distro in which this
functionality is more of a possibility.

> 
> I envision a mini-itx based client box at each TV, running a 
> CF based Linux distribution (list price < $200USD).  All data 
> would come over the network (preferably 802.11g), streamed to 
> the client and decoded locally.  The clients would never see 
> the OS - it'd boot right into the front-end (like Tivo does). 
>  FWIW, VIA is coming out with a new mobo soon, called MII, 
> that will have a PCI slot, a CF connection *and* a PCMCIA 
> connection, so you won't have to get the riser card 
> everyone's using.  The mobo was intended for wireless ISPs, 
> but will work well for MythTV, too!

Already done.  Umm.. XBOX?  $99 on ebay + wireless adapter.

> 
> The webcams could eventually be used for videoconferencing, 
> security, or just to watch the kids play.  I eventually see 
> plugins for home automation via X10 (with onscreen images of 
> what you're controlling).

Good idea.

> 
> What can be done already?  How can I help out?
> 
> Rgds,
> 
> Bret
> Sr. Software Architect
>

Myth's features are not superbly documented at this point.  Since Myth is
still very much in early development.  This may be why you were having
trouble with understanding it's capabilities.

I have a question for everyone else which I posed to the KnoppMyth guys..
Does anyone know of a comprehensive MythTV user's guide or tweakers guide?
There's always trial and error, but it would be nice to have a central guide
that explains each feature in detail and cause/effect of choosing it and
combinations.  The tweakers guide I'm looking for would be a central place
(in addition to googling for microscopic errors) where one can get a
comprehensive look at tweaking mythtv for optimum performance, picture
quality, and for troubleshooting choppy video/sound etc (which seem to be
very common issues).