[fpd917]

For those of us with Apple Computers and the HR20, behold a solution to intel viiv, although it is a 299.00 solution. Check out apple.com for further. For those with itunes and iphoto and want to get all pics, music, and movies to our TV, this seems like a great solution.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

So how is that a solution?
Sounds more like a replacement...

Hopefully you have yet another set of inputs on your TV.

 

[sequoiadean]

Number of inputs is an issue. I have an Xbox 360 as well as an HR 20 connected via conponent video through my receiver, then to plasma TV. I can now view photos and play music (to a limited degree) with either of those devices. But UI is very clunky - I think the AppleTV user interface is MUCH better. But, then I need another component input, or a way to switch three component inputs through my receiver.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

But UI is very clunky .

The UI of the Media Features will be changing, as more features are added to it. They are not satisified with the current UI implementation of the Media Features

 

[sequoiadean]

The UI of the Media Features will be changing, as more features are added to it. They are not satisified with the current UI implementation of the Media Features

Yes, looks like very early beta version. I am hopeful, but I would rather interface to ITunes than WMP anyway. But then again, I'd rather avoid yet another $300 device to display photos, etc.

 

[machavez00]

Like my wife is going to let me spend another $300 on my entertainment center!

 

[slaz55]

According to most here Macs are not in the plan anyways so any interface change will have no value to us. What we have is a D* DVR only. AppleTV may be our only option.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

According to most here Macs are not in the plan anyways so any interface change will have no value to us. What we have is a D* DVR only. AppleTV may be our only option.

Why, again... do you say that?

Because DirecTV is an official "ViiV" enabled product..
Again, that only means that it complies to a standard.
And that Intel provides a Media Server them... (Which is the KEY the entire equation).

Right now, it is LPCM that is the hangup on the MAC.
Whey there isn't a LPCM add-on for any of the MAC media servers... I don't know... as it is part of the growing standard for these types of products. (DLNA Clients)..

And also. the "ViiV" piece, kind negates about 95% of the Existing Windows world too.. If not more.
So is it DirecTV's fault that there are Media Servers out there that have LPCM support for the PC... but not many for the MAC.

I don't really ever expect support for "iTunes"... Unless Apple cuts a contract with DirecTV to build that kind of support... but I don't see them running out and doing that... they want their own product.

DirecTV does plan to expand to allow other, non DRM based audio formats.
But they had to start somewhere.

So 4 weeks into the "media" support... you are ready to state that they are not going to support Mac... for all eternity...

Did you happen to notice the MAC laptop used for the presentation at CES?
So that means at least one of those executives have a MAC... So I think they are aware there are customers out there with them.

They started with maintaing two standards... ViiV and DLNA...
Key word.. started... They are not "done" with the feature...

 

[slaz55]

In all fairness the HR20 is not pushed as a multimedia center yet, and I do expect that it will continue to progress. But Apple has produced some of the best products and software (mpeg4 is an Apple product) on the market and have well thought out strategies, AppleTV will be a great multimedia product. Apple may be a small percentige in the business world but they are much larger than you think in the home. I have no problems with D* approach to multimedia but multimedia is the next frontier for Microsoft, Apple, ATT and all the big players out there and I think D* is playing with fire. If they resolve all these issues in the near future I think the HR20 is a winner but the longer this goes on the more frustrated people become. Everyone says we are just a small group here but if this group is having problems just think what issues the vast majority of users are having (just ask a D* CSR about the HR20). This forum is supposedly monitored by D*, hopefully they listen.

 

[LoganDzwon]

I've been playing with maintaining support for various media sharing technologies for about 2 years now. (Since I started with an iPod, then got MythTV, then added firefly media server and roku, then iTunes, then xbox360, then iTunes7, and then the HR20.) I've decided today anything that doesn't legitimately support mac is of no use to me. It's not worth the hassle. I believe the majority of mac users feel the same way.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

I've been playing with maintaining support for various media sharing technologies for about 2 years now. (Since I started with an iPod, then got MythTV, then added firefly media server and roku, then iTunes, then xbox360, then iTunes7, and then the HR20.) I've decided today anything that doesn't legitimately support mac is of no use to me. It's not worth the hassle. I believe the majority of mac users feel the same way.

But that is the thing...

The HR20 talks to a MEDIA SERVER, looking for a specific type of data stream.
One being similar to XML... One being a binary data stream.

The HR20 doesn't CARE if it is a PC or a MAC... it is just want's to talk to a MEDIA SERVER that can give it the files that it wants.

DirecTV doesn't put the Media Server out there.
They partnerned with Intel to comply to ViiV so that they (Intel), would provide a Media Server.

It also works with several other Media Server.

So all that is needed is a Media Server that complies to the standards the HR20 wants. That's it....

DirecTV is not writing a Media Server... They are not writing a software platform for the Windows PC... They want to talk to a Media Server on a local network, that provides the data streams they are looking for.

now.. with that said.
I do hope DirecTV will provide the "specs" for that data stream that it is lookign for... So that appropriate software can be developed for the Mac or any other computer... be it Windows XP, Vista, Mac, Linux, Unix, Server versions, what ever...

 

[LameLefty]

I believe the majority of mac users feel the same way.

Yep.

But even more than Apple TV, I want an iPhone. Oh, god help me I want one BAD!!! Bad enough that I'm gonna pay to cancel my Verizon contract (whom I've been with for 10 years) and buy two of 'em - one for me and one for my wife.

 

[Steve Mehs]

Yep.

But even more than Apple TV, I want an iPhone. Oh, god help me I want one BAD!!! Bad enough that I'm gonna pay to cancel my Verizon contract (whom I've been with for 10 years) and buy two of 'em - one for me and one for my wife.

Why would you need to cancel Verizon to get an iPhone, anyone can use Skype? :lol:

(Yeah, I know that isn't what you're talking about I just find it hilarious that Cisco got the trademark for iPhone, not Apple.)

 

[LameLefty]

(Yeah, I know that isn't what you're talking about I just find it hilarious that Cisco got the trademark for iPhone, not Apple.

Apple must've paid Cisco because they certainly call it the iPhone: www.apple.com/iphone

 

[machavez00]

"Right now, it is LPCM that is the hangup on the MAC.
Whey there isn't a LPCM add-on for any of the MAC media servers... I don't know... as it is part of the growing standard for these types of products. (DLNA Clients).."

Elgato EyeConnect has an audio to WAV/LPCM plugin. (shows photos just fine) You see the music note next to an audio file instead of an X, but when I try and play it, SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
D* needs to work with Elgato Systems to resove this issue. Elgato and D* are members of UPnP and DLNA.

 

[slaz55]

I just can't believe I have to search the internet for some third party software to interface with the multimedia functions of the HR20, thats something I used to do ten years ago. This is supposed to be a UPnP devise but it doesn't support software like Elgato Eyeconnect which is very compatible software, even Elgato doesn't know why.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

This is supposed to be a UPnP devise but it doesn't support software like Elgato Eyeconnect which is very compatible software, even Elgato doesn't know why.

Where has it been stated that the HR20 is a certified UPnP device?

The only certification it has been given is that Intel has approved it as a ViiV device. ViiV <> UPnP

If the HR20 was a certified UPnP device, then yes... I coudl understand some of the angst... but right now....

 

[machavez00]

Where has it been stated that the HR20 is a certified UPnP device?

The only certification it has been given is that Intel has approved it as a ViiV device. ViiV <> UPnP

If the HR20 was a certified UPnP device, then yes... I could understand some of the angst... but right now....

Because D* and NDS are members of both UPnP and DLNA, as is Elgato and Twonky

 

[Earl Bonovich]

Because D* and NDS are members of both UPnP and DLNA, as is Elgato and Twonky

Just because they are members, in defining the standard.
Doesn't mean the HR20 is UPnP certified yet.

"Technically" the media features are in Public Beta right now (per forums.directv.com)

 

[Steve Mehs]

Apple must've paid Cisco because they certainly call it the iPhone: www.apple.com/iphone

Wow I'm shocked. Apparently something happened just today involving the trademark according to the Wikipedia entry on iPhone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone