The Need for a Beyond TV Media Extender

[Kevin]

Let me start by saying that I am a full fledged Snapstream fan. Been a proud supporter since I started my HTPC venture 3 years ago. I've got the full rig so far...BTV, BM, and 3 x BTV Links, with 4 Hauppague tuners in all.

But in my struggle to truly make my media accessbile to me at anytime, anywhere, and at any place, Snapstream thus far has dropped the ball in one key area; The Media Extender. Yes I know that BTV Link was develeped for this reason. And it's great if you have a wireless laptop and want to watch some shows in your backyard. But let's face it. I'll be the first to tell you that I love my tech toys, but to place a PC next to every TV I own just to "extend" the Beyond experience that my family knows and loves....that's stretching it. I've been tempted many times to sway the MS way...due to their industry setting pressures that have 3rd party companies jumping to get onto the Media Extender bandwagon. So what does Snapstream have in plan for this. Surrely they must see this loopwhole in their business plan and want to fully address it. BTV Link as cool as it is, is honestly not the answer. And I think everyone who reads this would agree. What we need is a fanless, noiseless...extender type device that similiar to MCE's Media Extender, can extend the wonderous SS experience to other TVs in the house. What is required to make this work. I sometimes wish I worked for a Networking company like D-Link or Linksys so that I could approach Snapstream to initiate a project. Is something already in the works like this? I mean, if Microsoft can do it, I'm confident that Snapstream can. This I believe will truly put SS over the top. It already hands down kicks MCE feature for feature. But convenience is important too, and with XBOX extenders, MCE Extenders both leaning in MS's favour.

With all that being said...I am resorted to buying yet another PC (can't wait to explain this to the wife) for my master bedroom, just so I can extend my beautiful SS experience to my TV there. I have to go through pain staking measures to ensure that the case..fan...etc...are whisper quiet...not to mention to foot a bill of close to $650 CDN. The point here is that I can't wait to fulfill that vision. A SS Media Extender $1 less than what I am going to have to put out for this new PC would get me to switch in a heartbeat. Of course that' not to say I would like to see it retail for that much...but lets say a $299 CDN pricepoint would be feasible. I don't know. I guess I'm just ranting hear...but I sincerely think that SS needs to address this moving forward, because practically speaking the way it is now...it just doesn't make sense.

And that's just my 2 cents as a dedicated and loyal SS Evangelist. Replies welcome and encouraged

[optikhog]

Man, I really can't support this post enough. I would *LOVE* an extender which contained the features of BM and BTV. Or just BTV!

[queonda]

I 3rd it!

[foltz61]

Me also. There should be a poll for this.

[bshinkle]

I 4th it!

Me too. Running a non-Microsoft OS, for security and stability reasons.

[cncb]

Yes, please.

[btvfreak]

I wouldn't run off to MCE and the Microsoft media extenders. They are not very good right now. Maybe the 360 will change this. It would be interesting to hear Snapstream's response to this. Maybe in their blog Q&A?

My feeling is that they are stretched thin trying to march to their current BTV4 and beyond roadmap. Although it would be interesting to see if they could find someone to partner with on this.

[queonda]

Maybe we need to ask in the Q&A forum and hope it get's answered in the next Q&A POST.

What they need is to *not* make the extender box themselves. After all, they barely managed to make a remote control and did no or very little real market research before launching that.

What they need to do is *enable* the extender market.

*Licence* a *client* to OEMs and leave it at that. Let OEM's make the hardware, remotes, etc and integrate in the Snapstream client. Snapstream has no real expertise in hardware design, Firefly notwithstanding - it's a long way from an RF-only remote that barely reaches from the TV to the sofa half the time to a set top box that has to be reliable on the network (zero administration -none- plug and forget) and have a high quality picture on a big HD set.

But lets be realistic here - first they have to make a *non*-Microsoft client. No set top maker in their right mind would use Microsoft software. The license fees alone would keep costs prohibitive. Only one of the reasons that Linux is the market leader in the set-top-box market.

Which is one reason why I've been begging Snapstream to make a Linux version.

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by foltz61

Me also. There should be a poll for this.

As I recall, it was on the list of things polled by Snapstream itself in an email sent out not long ago...

[optikhog]

I've not seen the Media Center extender boxes in action - are they actually running some version of Windows on them?

[dequire]

While it's not an 'official' SS product, wouldn't the Hauppage Media MVP be condsidered a media extender? OK, not for BM, but at least for BTV?

[optikhog]

Well, since a bunch of the functions are not implemented and it can apparently no longer see recordings in-process, then I would vote "no". I had 2, but have given up on them since the release of 3.7.4.

Also, there appears to have been no development work in a long time on the interface.

[Schro]

Having an extender box would certainly be a nice thing, however, I was able to build a link client for under $300 that is whisper quiet-

Shuttle SN41G
800mhz Athlon
256mb RAM
80GB HDD
External DVD-ROM

Bill of materials, including my Link license was about $250.