Linux media centre integrates YouTube
Open source advantage
Neuros Technology has rolled out pre-release firmware for its Linux-based OSD networkable set-top box that allows the gadget to suck down and show YouTube content.
The firmware allows the OSD to be used to browse and play the entire YouTube video collection on any standard-definition or HD TV. The software supports keyword searching, and browsing by category and rating.
Neuros promised future updates will bring user interface improvements and added functionality such as sharing and subscriptions.
Neuros' OSD: now with YouTube inside
The company stressed the update was a direct result of its willingness to embrace the open source software model and allow its users to contribute directly to the software that allows the OSD to do what it does.
Neuros describes the OSD is a media centre that can digitise video content to connected storage - either a locally fitted USB drive or memory card; via the unit's LAN port to a networked computer or NAS box; or to an iPod, PSP or other portable media player.
In April, Neuros CEO Joe Born called on Apple TV hackers to quit messing with the Apple set-top box and work instead to improve the OSD and ensure it stays one of the few, if not the only, truly open alternatives to closed products from big consumer electronics companies.
The Neuros OSD retails for around $240 from a variety of online and US High Street retailers, and from Neuros' own website. The OSD firmware is availble here.
COMMENTS
Youtube quality
(320x240) roughly equals to the movie quality of a video cd. It's not enough compared to the basic pal cable service (720x525). They should at least go for 640x480.
Youtube capability sounds very stupid when a device can potentionally browse the internet. Adding a flash capable browser makes the device compatible with almost all flash based video services. Adding download capability to this is very simple and could be done with a smal add-on. Playing back saved youtube content offline can be done with the classical mplayer media player that also has good windows media compatibility.
About adding component to a device: component is just a simple conversion from the analog vga signal to a differencial format, adding svideo is just a simple conversion from component to two channel mode. Also it's easy to mix the two channels of svideo into a single composite output. All this above can be output on a dvi-i connector (for vga/dvi) and a 4 contact 3.5 phono jack (configurable to rgb/component/svideo/composite). Adding digital 5.1 audio output can be done with 3 combined optical/electric phono jacks, providing a stereo analog/spif coax/spidf optical output for every 3.5 jack. It's a small and cheap way to do it and users can select the right brakeout cable avoiding large and unused rows of different connectors. (for tv output the chip must use a nonstandard video mode or have a dual dvi-i/tv-out mode) For hdmi, the dvi output and one spdif output can be combined into a hdmi cable. It's just a question of 5 small connectors and some creativity when making breakout cables.
Nice of you to catch up
While the benefits of this are to be debated (yes resolution is poor but it can still be fun) this is not in nay way new. Get yourself a copy of XBMC (Xbox Media Centre) on a original Xbox with a modchip and you have this and more. Not only will in play more media types than most, but there are dozens of Python Script enhancements that include YouTube, weather, movie trailers and some things you'd never believe; caller ID anyone?
So get on Ebay spend less than a hundred pounds delivered, and a remote control and get the best media player around. Now all you have to do is hide the ugly thing!
I agree with Pascal
Video quality is a big problem for youtube. The current video quality is OK for a computer screen but is unacceptable on a 32 inch HDTV.
Youtube should split it's collection: offer all video in its standard quality for normal internet users and reencode the videos that have sufficient quality (say 640X480 minimum) at a higher bitrate for use on TVs.
If they fail to do this they will either not get a foothold on the TV or be displaced by sites offering higher quality (such as stage6) in the TV space.
And this is supposed to be a good thing ?
Color me nonplussed by this gadgetoid. No offense to the makers, but the ability to watch grainy, pixellated video on my widescreen instead of on my 20" does not really rock my boat.
MediaPortal
Mediaportal has had a plugin for a variety of online video sites, youtube metacafe googleviedeo etc for quite some time. Also a plugin for viewing trailers from online sources.
