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Open Letter to SnapStream CEO, Rakesh Agrawal

By Alexander Grundner | July 27th, 2005 Interest Level: SMOKING HOT


snapstream logo[FYI, We've corresponded on this topic on previous occasions] I’m still thinking SnapStream is missing an opportunity with Linux. My suggestion would be to create a cross-platform version of SnapStream that can be installed on Windows, Mac, or Linux — similar to what Mozilla is doing with Firefox and Thunderbird. I know that there will be limitations with TV tuner card compatibility, but if SnapStream goes through with this, they would have the largest PVR market share of any developer. What do you think?

The other reason I’m pushing for SnapStream to come to Linux is because many consumers are getting fed up with Apple and Microsoft’s upgrade path (especially since the next version of Windows Vista requires a locked down PC platform) — personally, I’m moving full-time to Debian Linux, but keeping the PC as a dual-boot system with Windows XP. Also, a couple months back I went to the EFF “HD-PVR Build-In” in San Francisco and was thoroughly disappointed by how difficult it was to get MythTV up and running. Desktop Linux users (not the Star Trek, pocket-protector geeky types) need a better alternative, an alternative that a commercial vendor with experience can bring. So, if you build it, they will come!

I remember that your concern is that Linux users only like to use FREE, open-source software (for the most part that’s true), but as more mainstream Windows and Apple users migrate to Linux, commercial vendors will see a stronger demand for their products to be ported to Linux. In any case, Beyond TV is only $69.99. Who in their right might would turn that down if they can get an exceptional PVR experience (throw in Beyond Media and you can add extensible, as well)?

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____________
Alexander Grundner is the Editor & Publisher of eHomeUpgrade. He has been following "Digital Home" developments since 2003. He's also a fan of cross-platform, open development software and industry standards related to media, networking, and the web. You can catch his daily tech musings on Twitter: @agrundner.
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  • rakesh said: Alex got our main reservations... with desktop linux, who is going to pay? I'm encouraged that desktop linux is getting a broader audience -- as this happens, I think this business problem will change. But today, the main opportunity for a linux product is in the "embedded" space -- ie selling software to OEMs that turnout integrated single-function boxes. Anyways, I'm all ears for facts and arguments that would change my mind.
    Well, Rakesh, it looks like this post/request didn't get much activity. Parting thoughts... liken the idea to what commercial Linux OS distributors like SuSe, Redhat, Linspire, Xandros, Mandrake, etc., are doing with freely available Linux... they're providing a boxed product (support included) that's easy to install and is bundled with all the applications (some developed in-house) that makes Linux productive and feasible for the corporate and desktop markets. And they are doing a great job at it, I might add.




    What I can see happening is SnapStream (or some other developer) partnering with these companies to provide "one-click" installation through their software market place (see Linspire Warehouse, as an example). Obviously, if users are at the point where they can download software, they already have all their hardware configured to work with Linux. The only caveat would be that, as part of the one-click description, the vendor would need to provide links to compatible TV tuner cards and possibly even drivers. Sounds like a win-win to me! :D
  • alister
    Alexander Grundner said: We're trying to convince a commerical developer to port their software to Linux, not recommend which open-source projects readers prefer. That defeats the purpose of this posting.





    I was just making a statement that there are alternatives if Snapstream does not port to Linux :) As Linux improves, more users (expecially more experienced users) will make the switch and most of these advanced users are the ones more likely to use this type of software. Most basic users only use their computer to browse the web, send/receive e-mail, and use IM.





    With the improvements that Linux has made in the past fews years, I am starting to consider making the switch. The only thing that holds me back is software, but that is beginnig to be less of a problem because of much better apps becoming available to Linux (MythTV, Firefox, OpenOffice, etc...). If the big software companies do not jump onboard then they miss the boat because the open source community will get more volunteers and more people make the switch and the open source apps will continue to improve to a point that software companies will have a hard time competing with the open source apps once they decide to support Linux.





    Some of the big software companies are releasing Linux versions of their apps, especially games -- the quake series, Unreal, Doom, etc... I have read that Adobe is even looking to start porting to Linux....





    Alister
  • alister said: MythTV is a good alternative for Linux.
    We're trying to convince a commerical developer to port their software to Linux, not recommend which open-source projects readers prefer. That defeats the purpose of this posting.
  • Rakesh,




    What are your thoughts on making Beyond TV a cross-platform application? The logical next step is to port the application to run on Macs (a UNIX system), why not code it in such a way, that with minor tweaking, you can have it up and running on Linux, as well?





    rakesh said: ...with desktop linux, who is going to pay?
    Answer: Customers who are willing to pay for a mature product that is much easier to install, comes with technical support, and provides the necessary TV tuner cards to make it work. The last point is a BIGGEST roadblock in the process. The majority of TV tuner cards don't have the proper drivers to make them work correctly. So, a vendor like SnapStream should step in and take over the R&D and provide configured/compatible tuner cards as part their offering.





    -Alexander
  • alister
    MythTV is a good alternative for Linux.




    Alister
  • rakesh
    Alex got our main reservations... with desktop linux, who is going to pay? I'm encouraged that desktop linux is getting a broader audience -- as this happens, I think this business problem will change. But today, the main opportunity for a linux product is in the "embedded" space -- ie selling software to OEMs that turnout integrated single-function boxes. Anyways, I'm all ears for facts and arguments that would change my mind.
  • I just double checked the SageTV site and the Linux version is still only available to interested OEMs, not the general public :(




    However, readers should checkout: Linux Pipeline - Linux In Your Living Room? (features SageTV for Linux)





    Excerpt:


    Frey Likes Linux



    A commercial software maker, Frey Technologies, LLC, has also entered the Linux PVR market. In early April, the Illinois-based company launched a Linux version of SageTV, which the company bills as a "Tivo-like product." Like most PVR software, when coupled with a TV tuner card, SageTV can record and pause live TV broadcasts, and users can schedule recordings of programs up to two weeks in advance. The product, which also functions as a media jukebox serving audio and image files, is currently available to OEMs and will be sold direct to consumers later this year,





    Although SageTV was previously available only for Windows PCs, according to spokesperson Elizabeth Ash, the company developed a Linux version after concluding that the OS offered "higher reliability and lower cost for our users." While Linux users with technical backgrounds are often content to spend more time and effort to use an open-source PVR, Ash said Frey will market SageTV to customers who are willing to pay for a product that is much easier to install and comes with technical support.The last line is EXACTLY MY POINT in the post!
  • TimC
    How about Sage TV, they already have Linux support.




    http://www.sage.tv
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