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A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

arnorhs.com

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Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#71

Post by mistermann »

ttol wrote: post #50
arnorhs wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. Awesome ipad project. And the remote access does look nice. My blog post was originally about a device that just worked like I described out of the box with no other requirements. Preferably it would be a small box like my media playing storage device that I have or like the tonidoplug, which costs $100 and is already set up. Your WHM solution is super awesome, but it's not something I can buy from the store, pl…

If you want to buy a pre built solution, you're looking for HP MediaSmart. See: http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/mediasmart-server/... Size wise, it's small (photo: http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/wp-content/uploads/hp_mediasmart... ). Cost wise they're relatively cheap (considering it comes with enclosure, cpu, motherboard, hard drives, etc), I've seen them for ~$300-350. It uses Windows Home Server plus their…

100% agree, I have an HP MediaSmart and am very happy. Small, attractive, and very quiet.

Setup was a breeze, plug it in, let it do the windows update thing, while still running pop in additional hard drives (4 bays total), configure them, done.

For video clients I have both the Asus O!Play and the WD HD Live, they both work great but lack search and content download features.

The Acer Aspire Revo running XBMC seems to be a very popular and affordable option for that. The UI is beautiful, downloads movie info and covers from IMDB, very slick.

Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#72

Post by mistermann »

pragmatic wrote: post #17
kenjackson wrote: post #8

There's also Windows Home Server, which does everything you're looking for I believe. Here's a list of features from the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Home_Server ):

Yes. I do this, although I also use a dedicated HTPC by my TV. A little expensive but gets used all the time and I can stream Netflix, Hulu, watch a movie in almost any format including Blu-Ray. I've looked into alternatives, (PS3, dedicated media players, etc, etc) but nothing else has everything I wanted.

What do you use as an HTPC (Hardware, Software)?

Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#73

Post by mistermann »

ericb wrote: post #10

I would look at a Myth TV box for this. I wonder if someone will build a good business around creating and selling Myth Boxes.

MythTV is awesome...my MythTV box from ~8 years ago was light years ahead in terms of features and UI than my cable companies (Shaw cable in Canada) PVR today.

Does anyone know why the software is so bad on cable boxes? I mean, it is just so incredibly bad, in so many ways, it seems like it has to be deliberate.

Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#74

Post by ttol »

mistermann wrote: post #73
ericb wrote: post #10

I would look at a Myth TV box for this. I wonder if someone will build a good business around creating and selling Myth Boxes.

MythTV is awesome...my MythTV box from ~8 years ago was light years ahead in terms of features and UI than my cable companies (Shaw cable in Canada) PVR today. Does anyone know why the software is so bad on cable boxes? I mean, it is just so incredibly bad, in so many ways, it seems like it has to be deliberate.

consumers are not used to paying for set top boxes. steve jobs stated as much in a recent interview when they were evaluating going after the tv market or the phone market. they chose mobile over tv for that reason.

there are many failed attempts at cracking the living room -- the cable companies make most of the money and they have little incentive to truly innovate the boxes that they are "renting" out to their customers.

to get truly elegant UI's that are powerful enough to do anything useful with all the TV signals (HD, etc) requires significant hardware. when Tivo was ported over to comcast boxes, most of the features that make it tivo were slashed since the boxes comcast gives to customers were significantly cheaper and underpowered.

most cable companies have a monopoly in the physical area they are servicing. where's the incentive to increase cost by upgrading equipment for your customers when the minimal viable product is happily received by the smith household?

Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#75

Post by mistermann »

ttol wrote: post #74
mistermann wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MythTV is awesome...my MythTV box from ~8 years ago was light years ahead in terms of features and UI than my cable companies (Shaw cable in Canada) PVR today. Does anyone know why the software is so bad on cable boxes? I mean, it is just so incredibly bad, in so many ways, it seems like it has to be deliberate.

consumers are not used to paying for set top boxes. steve jobs stated as much in a recent interview when they were evaluating going after the tv market or the phone market. they chose mobile over tv for that reason. there are many failed attempts at cracking the living room -- the cable companies make most of the money and they have little incentive to truly innovate the boxes that they are "renting" out to their cus…

True, but the software is so bad, it almost would have to be out of spite, they could do so much better for the same cost.

Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#76

Post by pcbaldwin »

Doh... missed the conversation. I am one of the lead developers for the open source ClearOS server/gateway. The software is targeted at small and distributed organizations and you can find the gory details @ http://www.clearfoundation.com/Software/overview.html

We have always talked about adding a new edition for the home market. In fact, it is on the project roadmap for next year. It will be a labor of love of course since it would be difficult to build a business around an open source home server. As already mentioned in this thread, all the pieces already exist -- it's just a matter of putting them together into a coherent package. The "storage device of his dreams" is running in my house.

- file server w/ RAID - media center with PVR - backup to the cloud (documents, music and photos -- videos are too large for my crappy DSL line) - remote access via iPhone or web

Unfortunately, geek credentials are required to get it working and keeping it running. It saved the day when I had to start recording the World Cup overtime on Sunday. Fired up the iPhone on the road and added the new recording -- screenshot @ http://www.mythtv.org/w/images/7/7c/MythWebList.png

Re: A startup should create this storage device. I would buy it.

#77

Post by pcbaldwin »

Doh... missed the conversation. I am one of the lead developers for the open source ClearOS server/gateway. The software is targeted at small and distributed organizations and you can find the gory details @ http://www.clearfoundation.com/Software/overview.html

We have always talked about adding a new edition for the home market. In fact, it is on the project roadmap for next year. It will be a labor of love of course since it would be difficult to build a business around an open source home server. As already mentioned in this thread, all the pieces already exist -- it's just a matter of putting them together into a coherent package. The "storage device of his dreams" is running in my house.

- file server w/ RAID - media center with PVR - backup to the cloud (documents, music and photos -- videos are too large for my crappy DSL line) - remote access via iPhone or web

Unfortunately, geek credentials are required to get it working and keeping it running. It saved the day when I had to start recording the World Cup overtime on Sunday. Fired up the iPhone on the road and added the new recording -- screenshot @ http://www.mythtv.org/w/images/7/7c/MythWebList.png

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