Recent Comments:
Who cares if the analog hole is closed? {Engadget HD}
Jul 24th 2008 4:51PM I believe he is referring to the og in analog... haha
Open Tech plans to release Mac clones {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Jul 21st 2008 6:47PM Actually, it's a backwards analogy. As the seller of the burger, I'm all for you buying it from me and taking it somewhere else. In gets the advertising out of the store, and somewhere else, and I don't have to clean up after you for using my tables and services.
The analogy is more like buying their ketchup/special sauce, so you can put it on someone else's burger.
Octava unveils HDMI over Ethernet extender {Engadget HD}
Jul 13th 2008 9:22PM This isn't an ethernet device, it simply uses two 4 pair CAT5 cables to run longer distances.
The Media Center Extender shootout {Engadget HD}
Jun 19th 2008 4:11PM It's clear that you favor VMC, but SageTV is a great alternative for those that don't. I for one HATE the VMC interface, it reminds of me the PS3, which I also hate. I have an XBox 360, I just use it for games.
1. The Sage HD Extenders are silent, support 1080p, and are cheaper than all of the options you listed out. (no, they don't have wifi)
2. The HD-PVR, while it is a second generation copy, the quality is extremely good, and the codec is more efficient for disk space.
3. By not being tied to cable card, I won't have to deal with an issue with Switched Digital, or if I want to use DirecTV or Dish Network, I can without needing new tuners.
4. I have support for virtually EVERY audio and video codec
5. I don't have to buy a special PC that is certified for Cable Card, and I don't have to be limited in the number of premium tuners I can have
6. Did I say, commercial skip?
7. Yes, IR blasters do suck, but you can also use Serial ports and firewire to reliably change the channels on most boxes. I use the USB-UIRT, and blast three boxes independently, and it works fine.
Yes, the HD-PVRs cost more, than a cable card tuner, but that's no big deal when you consider the cost of buying a brand new PC, versus using something perfectly adequate that I already have.
The Media Center Extender shootout {Engadget HD}
Jun 19th 2008 1:48PM "There really isn't any other option out there that will allow you to watch premium HD cable in every room of your house while at the same time centralizing all your media in one place."
Well, I'm doing exactly this with my SageTV setup and two Hauppauge HD-PVR units. I have DRM free HDTV from Comcast all through one central system with all my movies, music, podcasts, and with HD Extenders from Sage, all over my house. It's also cheaper than buying a CableCard Ready MCE machine, and the extenders are silent and cheaper than VMC Extenders. Also have an HDHomerun and Live commercial skip processing...
Kensington unveils Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone / iPod {Engadget}
May 5th 2008 7:01PM check out www.proclipusa.com. I really like their mounts, and they can go in just about any vehicle. iPhone mounts are cool too.
Ask Engadget HD: Is switching from cable to satellite worth it? {Engadget HD}
Apr 30th 2008 5:23PM I just took Comcast up on a great offer. HD DVR with Tivo, HBO, and HD channels for $39.99 for 12 months, with no commitment. And I didn't have to mount a dish on my roof, run extra cables (I hate when they run cables on the outside of your house), or deal with less of my local channels in HD. Yeah, I want FX in HD, but there's nothing to watch on that right now anyways.
Hauppauge HD-PVR shows itself, pre-order said to be coming soon {Engadget}
Apr 4th 2008 2:47PM A little thing called HDCP. And this device is supposed to be able to handle 1080p component, though very few devices output at that level.
There are HDMI capture cards out there, but they are so limiting, you can't actually use them for DVRs. This device leverages the analog hole so that Cable/Satellite HD boxes can be recorded like they used to be, and nothing on those is higher than 1080i anyways. I plan to do all my recording at 720p, as my TVs are all only 720p.
MythTV 0.21 available, adds ClearQAM support via HDHomeRun {Engadget HD}
Mar 10th 2008 1:14PM Hmm... I don't understand why anyone would go for MythTV anymore (or ever, actually). SageTV is the best suite I've come across, and I have replaced my Tivos with it. I spend weeks and weeks working on MythTV at different points, and now I just run a Server with Windows and SageTV, and all is well. HD Extenders, HD Homerun, all been rock solid for months with minimal work getting up and running. Yeah, it costs $80, but small price to pay for how well the software works. It can even run on Mac or Linux, if you want.
Sneak peek at the White House home theater {Engadget HD}
Feb 26th 2008 9:48PM Yes, yes, it would be far more practical to send the president down to the local movie theater or blockbuster and get his own damn movies...
The security costs associated with doing something like that would cost more than that theater on the first trip.
