Series 3 vs home media player

[kas25]

Please let me know if you feel the series 3 will handle the following. I'm looking at media extenders but would LOVE to have it integrated with my HD Tivo. I can wait a few months if the general feeling is that the Series 3 will handle most, if not all, of these.

1) Play mp3 files (hopefully showing album art)

2) ability to play mp3 files while at the same time searching for other mp3 files to play

3) Handle mp3 playlists

4) Play jpeg playlists while listening to mp3s in the background

5) Play the jpeg in HD

6)Play video files in MPEG 2 format.

7) Play video files in VOB/IFO format

8) Create video playlists

[classicsat]

1,2,3 can be done by Galleon now, I am sure.

6,7 I thing TGivoGoBack can do now, the S3 will surely do.

[MighTiVo]

Series 3 questions should be more like Play mp4, aac, built in enet, store audio content locally, rip disks from built in drive to HD, support wireless keyboard, use PIP for accessing the menu while playback continues, etc.

[DVDerek]

Also, is there any reason why you think this wait will be only "a few months"?

[kas25]

Also, is there any reason why you think this wait will be only "a few months"?

Whether its May or the summer, I'd rather not buy a media player if the Series 3 is going to handle these items. Do you think it will provide these services? I know little about Series 2 so maybe some of these items are already available.

[Aflat]

Most of these can be done by a series 2. The only thing the series 2 can't do is play HD, or play anything other then MPEG2.

[kas25]

Most of these can be done by a series 2. The only thing the series 2 can't do is play HD, or play anything other then MPEG2.

Series 2 can play music while viewing pics and play music and browse music at the same time? I didn't see this in the manual. Was it an update? Thanks.

[DVDerek]

The S2 cannot do these things with the default TiVo Desktop application. However, some homebrew apps that you can run from your PC and access through the TiVo might be able to do what you want. Not sure.

The deal is this - the S2 added "Home Media" features as an afterthought. The S3 is built with the connected home in mind. If I had to bet, I'd say the S3 will admirably handle all that you're concerned with, but I obviously can't gaurantee this.

When will you be able to get your hot hands on a S3? Who knows? Last I read (Mid-February), they were still mum on the release date. I wouldn't be shocked if it was sometime in 2007, personally. And you can expect to pay a pretty penny for it...

[kas25]

The S2 cannot do these things with the default TiVo Desktop application. However, some homebrew apps that you can run from your PC and access through the TiVo might be able to do what you want. Not sure.

The deal is this - the S2 added "Home Media" features as an afterthought. The S3 is built with the connected home in mind. If I had to bet, I'd say the S3 will admirably handle all that you're concerned with, but I obviously can't gaurantee this.

When will you be able to get your hot hands on a S3? Who knows? Last I read (Mid-February), they were still mum on the release date. I wouldn't be shocked if it was sometime in 2007, personally. And you can expect to pay a pretty penny for it...
Thanks. Can I pick up a cheap Series 2 Directv? If so, any recommendations? I did some more research and Galilieo looks like a great add-on.

[dsb411]

Dont worry, All S3's will be run on Vista. Then the world will explode.

[Maynard1]

The Directv tivos don't have home networking capability. The stand alone's do. Then you can use galleon to play mp3's, view photos, etc.

[kas25]

The Directv tivos don't have home networking capability. The stand alone's do. Then you can use galleon to play mp3's, view photos, etc.
Are stand alone's difficult to use? I've always had Directivos.

[Maynard1]

Don't seem difficult to me, but I've only had a standalone.

Do you have a wireless network in your home already?

[kas25]

Don't seem difficult to me, but I've only had a standalone.

Do you have a wireless network in your home already?
Yes. I've tried several wireless media player to stream from my pc to my home theater and they generally work ok. Ideally, though, I would have it integrated with my tivo so I don't have to keep changing inputs. I have a HD Tivo but I could add a second series 2 tivo if it makes sense. I think the real answer, though, is series 3, if I can live with Comcast. I assume series 3 will have the home media features in mind so the question is what to do until series 3 are out? Wait or try to get a cheap Series 2.

If I get a series 2, will I pay additional fees for the home media features or is it included in my regular monthly tivo fees?

[Maynard1]

The home media features are included. Galleon is an open source project created by Leon Nichols (galleon.tv) for free, although I'm sure he'd be happy with donations.

I know with standalone tivos, your second tivo subscription is less than the first, but I don't know if that works when your first subscription is an already discounted Directivo subscription. One thing to keep in mind: the standalone tivos don't have dual tuner capability. Hopefully that will come out with S3. However, if you still use your other tivo, that shouldn't matter.

[santa8claws]

The Directv tivos don't have home networking capability. The stand alone's do. Then you can use galleon to play mp3's, view photos, etc.
This is not entirely correct, since many people have hacked their boxes to add networking capability with a USB Lan network adapter. Of course this is not for the average user since it requires pulling the drive from the box and some know-how about linux.

However, if you are willing to pay for it there are "pre-hacked" drives available from ptvupgrade[.]com

Do a little "Googling" for "PTVNet HR10-250" or "HR10-250 FAQ killhdinitrd"

Also look in: groups.yahoo "dot" com /group/hdtivo/
for yahoo support groups and simple how-to's.

Good Luck!