Media centre of the future?
The motto of media companies seems to have become, how can we make sure people can do less so we can charge them more. Savvy consumers have to be careful what they purchase, or risk restricting their own rights. Please comment on your thoughts.
Earlier this week I visited a Best Buy electronics store. My friend was really excited to show me a HP Media Centre computer — his favourite display. I love the TiVo convenience of recording and pausing live television, control of radio tuner, and DVD’s all through a single interface, but it’s hard to imagine spending a dime on a TiVo, or HP system; instead of buying something, you are subscribing to the whims of private interests. Frankly, I can’t bring myself to buy an expensive media centre system that actually force DRM — an industry term for software that allows content creators (producers, broadcasters, etc) to limit what you can do with the content you pay for; often the restrictions are far beyond what is within your legal rights. My dream entertainment system is based on MythTV, a free program, with no restrictions, no subscribtion fees, no DRM.
Kamloops blogger, Arjun Singh commented on the convenience of these media centres, but the belief in their usefullness is based on flawed information. The question is, would you purchase a VCR if you knew that your VCR would erase your tape automatically after one or two weeks. Right now I can legally record a TV show and watch it as long as I choose to, under the specific condition that it’s for personal use. If you buy any system based on Windows XP: Media Centre, or almost any other commercial recording system, you will gain the ability to pause live TV, you’ll save on blank tapes, but you’ll lose many of the freedoms you’ve already come to expect with a VCR. It’ll also cost you a lot more for the system itself, and, if you go with the Windows-based version, will require another anti-virus program, probably spyware-removal tools, and other programs, just like any other Windows computer you might own.
Someone, please help me out here: Why would anyone pay so much more, in return for so very little?
January 7th, 2005 at 11:01 pm
I think DRM concerns have to be balanced with consumer rights. And I would accept a fair balance between the two. I am not necessarily a proponent of XP Media Centre. I am really excited however about the general concept of easier access to the tv, music, video, pictures and games that I have in my place. MythTV looks very interesting as well.
I myself don’t think that the concept, properly implemented, dictates paying so much for very little. People pay a lot of money for entertainment and if a computer can make it much better, folks will likely pay a lot for that. Its fun rather than work.
Just one request: instead of calling me a Kamloops Blogger on this one (other non tech times are okay), would you mind calling me a “famous and very smart technology blogger”. Thanks.
January 8th, 2005 at 12:15 am
I don’t mean to suggest anything specific about the Windows platform; my beef with PVR’s centres on their unnatural restrictions. The average consumer does not understand how copyright law, and fair use provisions, apply to modern media, which is why groups like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and others, have gotten away with comparing downloading of digital files with stealing physical property; however, through their assertion and lobbying, some law-makers have made DRM mandatory — an example would be the broadcast flag laws in the USA.
While I obviously do not support this type of restriction of the freedom of individuals, the net effect reduces incentive to give up a VCR. Personally, I love the idea of pausing live TV, but that’s not worth a several hundred dollar device and a monthly subscription — not to me personally. Even if time-shifting is your only reason for buying a TiVo, if you wanted to record a movie off TV and keep it for personal use, it would not be possible without a VCR — unless you have the explicit permission of the broadcaster provided through DRM.
On the other hand, with a system based on MythTV, you would not have those draconian measures preventing you from fully enjoying your recordings. MythTV is, regrettably, too complicated to setup for most people, but it’s just as easy to use as any commercial product once it’s running. Bottom line: we can’t expect the world to embrace MythTV. So to get the fullest media experience consumers seem to be stuck with an expensive machine that gives them fun and convenience while explicitly restricting certain allowable uses, but they can’t give up the old VCR that, while may be a pain to program, will do what you want, not what someone else wants.
Personally, if I was to spend the money, I’d want full convergence, not some half-assed version that makes the media companies squirm. I want the computer, because DVD’s take up less space than tapes, the quality is nicer, etc. I want the computer, not just because of the things that become easier, but because I can eliminate remote controls. The lowly VCR, the ugly, cheap, unfriendly beast it is, still has it’s place in a modern entertainment unit — so much for the media centre of the future.
January 8th, 2005 at 1:05 am
My writing is tainted by a bit of a bad mood lately. I normally don’t like to rant as much as I like to discuss.