Windows XP PVR-in-a-radio
By Dan Wu 
posted Dec 23rd 2004 1:11AM
posted Dec 23rd 2004 1:11AM
Not satisfied with the current PVR offerings
from TiVo, ReplayTV, nor Windows Media Center (not to mention associated fees), The Last Minute decided to build their
own personal video recorder, using Windows XP Pro, with SageTV and Zap2it as a program guide and recording software.
They've even managed to set their recorder to automatically detect and skip commercials, and they are still able
to surf the Web via TV, since it is still Windows, afterall. And the big bonus? They jammed it in an old-school lookin'
radio just for kicks. Props, props.
Anyone know how he is able to automatically skip Ads like he claims?
How effective is it?
There should be a way of somehow performing some analysis of tv programs after they've recorded and working out that repeating 2 min sequences are in fact ads no?
Sounds interesting. I can't stand ads
Actually, one of the strengths of Windows Media Center (vs. TiVo, ReplayTV, cable provider) is that it doesn't have any associated fees. (Of course, the initial outlay is generally a lot more, but you are getting a whole new PC).
I've been using Beyond TV by Snapsstreem (www.snapstream.com).
Very stable, nice interface, good company, and alghough it doesn't delete commercials, it flags the beginning and end of a commercial block. This allows skipping of a block with one remote click. Very nice.
Much better than my cable companies PVR that makes you fast forward - you still see the commercial, and always flip past the restart of the show...
The best part is that it has passed the wife test! She loves it.
I'm only a happy customer, not linked to Snapstream in any way. There is a one month free demo too I think.
I've been running SageTV for over a year and it rocks! The commercial skip code is not offered directly by Sage (probably for legal reasons) but is available at the link below via a community dev project that has no direct relationship with Sage but has been wired already by other Sage users for easy setup.
http://www.sage-community.org/
The old radio case is schweet!
Now you just need to install HomeSeer.com so you can be the true master of your domain from the sofa.