Personal Video Recording from your TV

You've heard of TiVo and ReplayTV. But there are alternatives out there, such as MythTV (mythtv.org), software that turns your computer into a TV recording device and more.

Some approaches don't even require a device. For example, my local cable provider, Patriot Media (patmedia.net) offers a PVR (personal video recording) service for a monthly fee. PVR offers TiVo-like capabiliites, but all the hardware and software is maintained by the cable company.

Suffice to say, if you want to record TV shows or find copies of existing movies and shows, there are many alternatives out there, both legal and otherwise. I'm of the belief that most people want convenience and legality in one reasonably-priced package. The success of iTunes proves that. And mainstream America doesn't have the time, technical savvy, or malice aforethought to go hunting for bootleg copies. But media and hardware companies will continue to shoot themselves in the foot. I'd really like a copy of "Jump London", a UK DVD currently available only in Region 2 format. So I have to go buy a multi-region DVD player, not with the intention of anything nefarious, but just to get the content I want. Most consumers simply won't go to the trouble, so the publisher is simply losing revenue.

These silly hardware and software digital content controls do nothing to stop piracy and simply inconvenience and hinder law-abiding consumers. Listen up media content, service, and hardware providers: Spend half the money making your products easy to obtain and consume that you do trying to make them secure. We'll all be better off for it. We live in a global, digital economy. We're here, we're clear, get used to it.

posted on Wed, 02 Mar 2005 at 11:35 | path: /multimedia | perma link