My son just got an Xbox for Christmas - the guy at Wal-Mart said the Xbox had a lot more of a future than did Playstation 2. I guess he was right:
- Project Dreamix will turn the Microsoft Xbox into the ultimate home entertainment center. Right now we are in the alpha phase of course, but below is what we plan to complete before Beta release: -
PVR Features (Scheduled recording, fast forward, rewind, pause Live TV)
Video Playback (Based on Linux MPlayer - all popular file formats)
Audio/Music Playback (Based on Linux MPlayer - all popular file formats)
Image Viewer (Slideshow + Photo album)
Setup Menu (All configuration will be done with the Xbox controller and/or DVD Remote with the use of a graphical keypad)
Although Dreamix will be based on Debian Xbox-Linux, all necessary libraries will be included in the distribution of the CD image and will auto-excecute upon being inserted into the Xbox DVD drive. This will allow for a friendly install by the average user.
Note: There will be a need to purchase a hardware add-on for video input since the Xbox gaming console does not currently have video inputs etc.
Now going beta.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
Of course all of this is contingent on the DRM keys being broken, because an Xbox ships locked down, so you can only run what M$ allows. Since this is illegal under the DMCA, and M$ has been going after every mod chip maker, and that they came out last week at CES as the go-to guys for customer prevention software (your digital rights: short form: you don't have any, shut up), I don't see this as happening at all.
Still, I did think about an Xbox for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer game.
But for a DVR, I'd go Tivo, but they don't work in Canada. So why not build your own?
2 - Phillip Winn
Long version: This requires turning your XBox into a Linux machine and adding some video hardware, something that is currently (and will remain) illegal, as well as difficult for the average consumer. The PS2, on the other hand, is apparently going to be turned into a PVR by Sony themselves, which would obviously be a consumer-friendly legal solution.
Short version: You wuz lied to!