Digital Lifestyles Reference Guide

Aug 27, 2004

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 108 of 443 Next >

Beyond TV

Snapstream was one of the first companies with a robust PVR solution. Beyond TV 4, the latest version of their software boasts support for unlimited tuners, although I’m sure there’s some theoretical limit based on hardware constraints. The latest version records to DivX format video, which provides a substantial storage saving over the more traditional MPEG-2 recording common to software PVR solutions. Category browsing is an interesting way to search for content, although searching is still one area Beyond TV could improve. Broadcasts with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround are fully supported. HD over-the-air broadcast and recording is supported. One area Beyond TV does well is in offering convenient ways to convert content for playback on portable devices within the Beyond TV interface. Snapstream dramatically improved configurability of the guide in this version making it easier to eliminate channels and display the times on screen. Beyond TV is compatible with Beyond TV Link, which provides remote playback from other PCs across a network. One new feature I haven’t tried is the backcapture option, which starts recording a show from the beginning even if it already started. Windows 2000 or XP required.

GB-PVR

GB-PVR supports a shorter list of TV tuner cards than the commercial offerings on this list, but it’s also free. The software includes standard guide and recording features which are functional but not as robust as commercial offerings. The guide is available in several different views, providing more or less detail, ranging from show title only to show title and detailed description, but lacks some of the customization found elsewhere in this product category. A long list of extended features including RSS feeds, weather, IM, theater listings, FM radio, email, music and photos make GB-PVR a full fledged media manager. Windows 2000 or XP required.

Meedio

As an onscreen interface, Meedio looks like a virtual clone of Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center Edition. It’s infinitely more configurable, with a number of different styles customizable to your favorite colors, look and feel and even the sound effects you hear when clicking on specific items during navigation. Meedio comes in three flavors, although the Meedio Essentials package isn’t worth mentioning in this context because it lacks television support. Meedio TV is the basic package with PVR functionality for recording your favorite shows, but lacks other features like browsing photos and music on your hard drive. If what you want is something like TiVo, Meedio TV is exactly what you need for a very reasonable price. Meedio Pro combines Meedio TV with Meedio Essentials to give you PVR functionality and a full-fledged home theater PC. Meedio TV offers what I consider among the best navigation interfaces in the PVR category. Meedio falls short in the search options because it’s optimized for remote only use, not the keyboard. Windows XP required.

SageTV

SageTV is among the more recent entries in the PVR and home theater space. The program guide is easy to navigate and schedule. It seems to do a better job of avoiding duplicate recordings than other apps in the space. SageTV offers both TV output and support for network playback of video and music as part of the standard package. Record in MPEG-2 by default and will record MPEG-4 or DivX if you have one of the approved tuner cards. SageTV offers one of the best search experiences in the media manger interface. In addition to recording favorite shows, SageTV does an effective job of recording programming based on favorite actors and categories. Over-the-air HD support is included with unlimited tuners. SageTV seems to do a decent job recommending shows with its intelligent recording and scheduling feature, which works much like TiVo’s recommended viewing option. A 15-day free trial is available. Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 and XP supported.

Windows XP Media Center Edition

Media Center remains head-and-shoulders above the rest of the class in many key areas. Over-the-air HD is supported. External DVD changers are supported for interfacing a large library of DVD media. Up to 4 tuners (a maximum of 2 HD tuners) will record and playback your television in Media Center. Extender solutions provide hardware options for playing back audio and video or browsing your photos from any room with an Extender. Media Center includes a plug-in architecture with dozens of third-party applications for things like weather, RSS, home automation and file conversion. One area Media Center falls short is ease of portability. The only way I can easily take my recorded television with me is by having a Windows Media compatible device. This is great for some cases, but iPod and PSP owners need a hack for effective portability which leaves out a large percentage of the market.

MythTV

Most of the PVR solutions are Windows based. MythTV is the one major exception, offering a Linux solution for PVR and home theater PC options. MythTV is somewhat challenging to configure and install if you aren’t a geek. And in some cases, being a geek is only a slight advantage. Finding compatible parts is a little more complicated, although support for the major tuner manufacturers is consistent with the product category. The guide interface is less configurable than virtually every other competitor, which comes with being free. One interesting option for MythTV is to download an Ubuntu Linux live CD, which makes it possible to boot any Windows PC into the PVR solution without installing anything.

< Back Page 108 of 443 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address