Quote:
Originally Posted by
oshunluvr 
@Kei: Thanks for the response and I agree that's likely how they see it. However, I would argue;
1. At least for now, in the US market there are no competitors for the TViX hardware.
True, but there really isn't a big demand either. That's one of the biggest problems with an EPG, if the manufacturer has to pay up front, and monthly, it can get reallly expensive so sales have to consistent.
Quote:
2. Open Source does not mean without license. Anyone who applied their software outside of it's license would be subject to legal action and they could open things like the menus and function without releasing driver source (unless they found a need).
With work, their firmware has been reverse engineered. Unfortunately, the guys who do this stuff are outside legal jurisdiction. The only fix to this is ever chaniging code and updates. For instance, there are locked Korean models that sell cheaper in their market. They can be cracked and sold, but the subequent firmware update breaks the English menu.
Quote:
3. The fact that the software was readily modifiable would be huge plus for sales.
And possible headaches. Firmware has been known to brick media players.
Quote:
4. The cost benefits of freely enhanced software would likely increase hardware sales well beyond any loss due to piracy and they could (via a proper license) incorporate any improvements created publicly into the delivered software without cost to them.
That's one of the reasons why Minevox is focusing on the Android platform. It would let programmers write apps that can be distributed freely, and some possibly as a purchase.
Quote:
5. Anyone with the desire and skill to build their own "home-brew" dual tuner DVR has plenty of freely supported software available. So why rip off this software which is generally inferior to others available?
If you look around, there aren't many great ATSC tuners that can record. And when they can, the recorded content is often difficult to access. Aside from a PC, that is. Minevox/DVICO started in the PC business, and staked their future in the media box with the knowledge they gained building PC cards for US consumption, they are one of very few companies that understand the broadcast system here. Note, Korea is the only Asian market that uses ATSC, specifically so they could export here. The TV market is not friendly to anyone outside the major service providers and their hardware vendors.
All I can suggest is that you load the file into whatever picture display app you use on the Mack and then use its equivalent to "Save As" to specify that it be written as a "normal" JPG file.
Proper computers are like air conditioners - neither work well when you open Windows! I'm a dot-slash geek, currently running Kubuntu. But back to the topic...
)
