I think the extra effort (if you can call it that) is trivial. I personally hack on my Tivo because I enjoy working on it as much as I enjoy using it. It helps keeps my unix skills sharp. For casual users who are only interested in the payout (end user functionality) and not interested in learning anything than maybe a canned solution is a better approach. I haven't checked in on Myth lately and know exactly 0 about AppleTV, but I would think that if they had the ability to decode premium (non-OTA) digital content Television shows in Hi-Def would have heard about it by now. As far as sticking with an S1/S2, I don't think screwing with what is essentially a dead format (analog TV) is particularly good advice but suum cuique.omeganet said:
I'd hardly call analog TV a dead format, especially when you consider that HDTV has only invaded a relatively small percentage of homes in this country. Many people will never make the switch to HDTV. The standard definition channels on DirecTV aren't going away just because of the new mpeg4 HD channels. FYI - the S1 and S2 DTivos are all digital until they output a signal. The HDTivos can output both digital audio and video via HDMI, and it doesn't have to be in Hi-Def. There are a lot of reasons people would want to "screw" with these units. I agree that HDTV is the way of the future but it's going to take some people a lot longer to make the change.WTFover said:
You obviously haven't read through the Zipper support thread (over 10,000 posts last time I checked). Having the latest technology isn't always possible for some people so you have to go with what you've got. S2 SA Tivos and DTivos will still be around for many more years so why not get the most out of them? Hacking these puppies is a snap these days. In other words, it's no trouble at all for many of us.
I am not saying throw away your S2 just because Tivo has come out with the latest and greatest if it's not what you need or want. The OP was asking about S3 hacks and what the story was and what was now capable. The thread derailed somewhere ^^^ when the reply was (paraphrased heavily), just stick with an S2 or go by AppleTV or Myth because a series3 wasn't an easy hack, which is somewhat ironic considering he is posting it @TCF anyway and the shortcomings of those individual solutions. The point in my posts is that, as a "hacker"or more appropriately, one who the enjoys a technical challenge of making something do more than what it was supposed to whether I am using someone else's techniques or my own, I don't pick my projects because the amount of skill or effort not required, but quite the opposite. The S3 is the future, not the past, The hacks are mostly there now, with the glaring discrepancy being extraction and streaming. It makes a lot of sense to start looking at the platform now if hacking is what turns your screws as opposed to sticking with the status quo. If you are already considering a S3 than you are looking at that functionality and hardware requirements anyway, the two boxes don't even really compete with each other.captain_video said:
