Vote Now! Top Feature Request!

[cat6man]

critical new information arriving on the scene!

http://www.z500series.com/forum/inde...opic=1801&st=0

Apparently, the latest version of Nero Home includes a upnp server that permits streaming live TV on networked media players, live the Zensonic z500.
Presumably also works with Buffalo Tech, IOdata and other upnp clients.
the upnp screen now shows vid/audio/pix/liveTVchannels as options!!

How about enhancing the BTV upnp server to permit liveTV streaming, scheduling recordings, etc? If this can be done in the upnp server software and works with any upnp-compliant client hardware, we have a real winner and don't have to mess with the hardware client.

By the way, Nero is coming on strong here and will be challenging in the PVR arena real soon.........BTV needs to respond, particularly if Nero has found a way to take advantage of the end clients.

I'm going to start a new thread for discussing this.
http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/show...158#post210158

[Brett]

Originally Posted by ZetaVu

For example, in your survey, BM functions were poorly represented although one can argue they show up as ability to play dvd and pics, movie etc. In this survey, BM is clearly the top winner and a function like DVD burning doesn't even show up. Based on the mass difference in results, I'd say neither makes an accurate comparison. The fact however that your survey you chose the options responses were limitted to, and this survey allowed users to create the items to choose between, well, that heavily weighs the credibility in favor of this survey. Self selecting, though not an unbiased basis, does more accurately reflect the desires of the participants.

I actually have known the results for a while. Although, I admit I am surprised Rakesh mentioned them.

The thing is the survey results for some items were polar opposites of what the forum users are obviously saying. I am trying to convince them to investigate "why", but its difficult to ignore numbers. Clearly data can be manipulated, but to have complete opposites in a focused group indicates there is an error in collection methods.

I just say we get 3000 votes here, and then we have some room for argument

BTW, I mentioned once or twice to you guys to respond to the random email surveys

-Brett

[Brett]

Originally Posted by wxboy

I'd say Vista support is number 1. After that, Firewire, and eventaully Cable Card!

Vista was not even requested once on the feature request. I imagine its assumed.

-Brett

[Brett]

Originally Posted by SurveyOptions

Beyond TV Extender
DVB-T/S support
DVD burning integration
DVD playback integration
iPod/PSP video sync
Photos, music, video integration
Picture in picture / split-screen views
Placeshifting
Wishlist recordings (by keyword)
Watch TV while browsing program guide

I would be curious to see how the option "DVD, Music, Photo, Plugin & Customizable Interface" would rank

One could easily argue that BM is split over two options "DVD playback integration" and "Photos, music, video integration". And that the biggest draw "True Plugin Support" is not even there

-Brett

[wxboy]

yea, but SS has been reluctant to develop for Vista even though the code is pretty much final.

[Brett]

Originally Posted by wxboy

yea, but SS has been reluctant to develop for Vista even though the code is pretty much final.

Not to get sidetracked, but Vista code better not be final. I still have no audio on my laptop! I have been on the beta team for Vista for years now

-Brett

[mockware]

Originally Posted by Brett

I would be curious to see how the option "DVD, Music, Photo, Plugin & Customizable Interface" would rank

One could easily argue that BM is split over two options "DVD playback integration" and "Photos, music, video integration". And that the biggest draw "True Plugin Support" is not even there

-Brett

I would have to say that by splitting up the capabilities in what they offerred would be a step backwards instead of forwards. I would not vote for those options because it would have made things more awkward to have an HTPC frontend and the TV software both offering similar features. I remember putting viewscape improvements on the bottom of another survey because I didn't want time wasted on an interface that would be obsolete once the integration happened. It would have been best to offer a full featured front end in the survey.

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by mockware

I would have to say that by splitting up the capabilities in what they offerred would be a step backwards instead of forwards. I would not vote for those options because it would have made things more awkward to have an HTPC frontend and the TV software both offering similar features. I remember putting viewscape improvements on the bottom of another survey because I didn't want time wasted on an interface that would be obsolete once the integration happened. It would have been best to offer a full featured front end in the survey.

I have to agree. I don't think the average BTV user really understands what these things in the survey mean

DVD burning integration
DVD playback integration
iPod/PSP video sync
Photos, music, video integration
Picture in picture / split-screen views

I say this because SS has targeted their software towards the "plug & play" crowd that wants to turn on the TV/program and everything just works out of the box. Lets say you asked my father for instance if he wanted Picture in Picture or DVD burning integration or photos, music, video integration. I know my dad would understand Picture in Picture because he's seen it before. He probably wouldn't even know what that other stuff is and if he did he would say "I don't need that other stuff because I have a dvd player and a cd player".

However, if I told him he could rip all of his cd collection and be able to play random songs from that collection or create his own playlist (he does know what that means), I think he would choose that over PIP. My point is the survey given to all people who purchase BTV (not BM) is going to be skewed just because so many of these people don't really understand the full potential of the HTPC.

Let's consider this, if Rakesh were starting up SS today and polled all cable tv users with a PVR box and asked them if they would rather have 1. more space to record tv shows or 2. full HTPC featureset integrated with the PC, what do you think they would pick? I know it would be overwhelming for #1 because that is what they understand. If you decide on your featureset this way you would never develop HTPC software in the first place.

Rakesh, if you take BTV & make it bm, plugin-ready, you will get very good press, instantly get more community development, sell more of your software and make more money. Oh, I forgot to mention, you would also be making the "power users" as Brett likes to call them, VERY happy. Come on, take a risk and devote some programing time to this. I really believe it will be good for Snapstream in the end. I see the DVB and QAM are inching up to a very strong second place. Another example of obviously a featureset that would sell more BTV, but you would have to poll people who don't necessarily own BTV since Europeans (or North Americans for QAM) probably wouldn't buy it until that feature is there.

o.k. enough of this too-long post.

[Khris]

Originally Posted by wxboy

yea, but SS has been reluctant to develop for Vista even though the code is pretty much final.

It doesn't make sense to start developing for a BETA OS where things *WILL* change.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by Khris

It doesn't make sense to start developing for a BETA OS where things *WILL* change.

Yet that seemed to be where SnapStream was headed instead of fixing/integrating BM...

[mockware]

Originally Posted by Khris

It doesn't make sense to start developing for a BETA OS where things *WILL* change.

I have to disagree. When software hits beta, the interfaces (API) are pretty much set in stone. It is just a matter of fixing bugs.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by mockware

I have to disagree. When software hits beta, the interfaces (API) are pretty much set in stone. It is just a matter of fixing bugs.

Except that technically Vista is at Relesease Candidate 1, yet people seem to consider that it is still should be called a beta, at best... Also MS has been cutting features left and right over the beta cycle, so that's all relative...

[mikem]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

I see the DVB and QAM are inching up to a very strong second place. Another example of obviously a featureset that would sell more BTV, but you would have to poll people who don't necessarily own BTV since Europeans (or North Americans for QAM) probably wouldn't buy it until that feature is there.

I'd have to agree with this, I bought BTV at v3.x as I couldn't get digital, then the lack of DVB didn't matter. I also bought BM as well. Since then I have been able to get Digital through DVB-T, so I would not buy now, and haven't upgraded to 4.0 as it doesn't make sense, as I need a PVR app with DVB support. Thats why I use an inferior product like MCE instead, it is not as good but it gets the job done tha BTV doesn't.

I only see the polls since I keep a fervent eye on living the dream of seeing DVB added to the tuner list.

Polling the existing user base doesn't get you to see what is needed to increase the user base, merely keeps the existing userbase happy

[queonda]

IS QAM catching uP?

[alexwbush]

Qam!!