RSSYahoo Releases DVR Software for PC
By Nate Mook | Published April 26, 2006, 5:56 PM
Just a week after acquiring the technology assets of television software company Meedio, Yahoo has rolled out a new DVR solution called "Go for TV." The software turns a Windows XP PC with TV tuner card into a digital video recorder, and connects the viewer with Yahoo services such as photos and music.
Yahoo! Go for TV is the latest component of Yahoo's Go platform, which is intended to bring the company's content from the PC to other devices such as mobile phones and televisions. Google and Microsoft have undertaken similar efforts as the PC continues its transition to a full-fledged entertainment device.
With the software, Flickr photos could be viewed on TVs, and users could even play games or listen to music via Yahoo's entertainment sites while sitting on the couch. DVD playback is supported, along with TV show recording capabilities much like those offered by SnapStream and Windows Media Center.
Jupiter Research vice president Michael Gartenberg questioned Yahoo's recent initiative, however, noting that Microsoft is much father along and offers a better out of box experience.
"What I don't understand is why Yahoo is spending the time and effort to do this," Gartenberg commented. "There's no reason that Yahoo can't offer the unique services it brings to the table, like Yahoo Photos or Music via the MCE interface. This is one of those things where it just doesn't make sense to re-invent the wheel."
Yahoo! Go for TV is currently in beta and only available to users in the United States.
Nice Idea but I didn't see anything about developing your own plugins. There are some missing features that need to be on it before I'd use it. I think GBPVR or Media Portal is better in that aspect. Or if you are looking at Linux MythTV, or Freevo. All of them are free and look pretty good.
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|Why? Because in order for the general population to get MCE you need to buy a new computer. This is a way for people to spend $100 for a tuner card and get at least some of the features of MCE. Makes a lot of sense to me.
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|:( US ONLY....
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|This Jupiter Research company intrigue me.
I've not heard much of them before, except for their recommendation that MS buy the Opera browser and incorporate all the good bits into IE.
My thoughts on Michael Gartenberg would be this - "Originally one company comes up with a product, like say - television. In his opinion, obviously it would be a mistake for *any* other company to try and make and sell televisions also. That why televisions are virtually unchanged (no competition, hence no need for innovation) since their creation and can only be bought from Universal Television Corp.
It's still early days for this type of product! Yahoo can follow behind, offering a similar product, watching and learning from any mistakes MS make, and fixing them in advance, Perhaps they might make a product that their customer's like and want, as opposed to Windows MCE, for example."
I mean, if this seems obvious to me after a few moments reading the info, how come this guy probably gets paid a hell of a lot more than I earn for churning out nonsense opinions like that?
We want *lots* of competiting companies making this product. Then we can *chose* which one we like the best.
Choice is good - no choice is bad!
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|US only
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|Fantastic idea... too bad i only have an s-video out plug :(
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|They make converters to the RCA Video out jack. You could probably find one for a few bucks
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