Hi there,

I would like to put forward a scenario, here. I have demonstrated it graphically also, for a quick glance of the situation.

We have third party Applications for the benefit of the users, that can be installed on every major device that is highly consumed, like a PC or a Mobile-phone.

There is another device whose consumption is equally high. And that is the Set-top-box. But are there any, third party Applications for the benefit of the users that can be installed on the Set-top-box? No, there are none.

Why?



For example: We have third party media players that can be installed on Windows, Linux, Mac, or Android. However, for a Set-top-box, there are no third party media players that can be installed on the Set-top-box.

Is it because of memory constraints? That shouldn't be. There is already the slot for the USB which can be inserted into the STB for recording TV programmes for viewing later. The same USB can be used for installing third party Applications like Media player, Video games, Browsers, Paint programs, Task schedulers, Business apps etc, like we do it on Android.

Or, placing a small memory card say of about 32GB, would greatly enhance the capabilities of the STB.

The other day I started a thread here and on another forum, seeking to know how to use the STB for playing videos copied to the USB from the laptop for viewing on the TV. All it required is a media player software. And behold, a media player is already there in the STB, that can replay recorded videos. But alas, it cannot access videos placed on the USB. Honourable and knowledgeable members of the forum gave their valuable opinions. And it all came down to codec compatibility issues, AV Format issues, Propriety issues. All really no big issues, that cannot be surmounted. The STB has been here for decades and it is a wonder that it hasn't evolved much. All it has been doing till now is convert & transmit. A very recent evolution is the ability to record & replay. Not much to pat on the back.

Why hasn't this been done?

What is the obstacle?

If there is any obstacle, I feel it is purely misconceived. And it has stopped the STB from opening up to become a great utility tool.

What am I missing out here? I seek your valuable opinions.

Thank you

Regards

This functionality exists with so called smart TV's

I have just bought a Sony KDL32R503CBU Smart TV and this allows you to insert a USB stick or HDD and play videos, covers a wide range of formats.

The only restriction seems to be is that it has to have a dedicated drive for it's own recordings using it's own file system and worst still .. encryption.

Best Regards
Dave

External media brings competition.

Most STBs are made for one provider only and deliberately "bricked" to stop you from adding any extra source of media.

I'm using Telenet (Belgium), their first boxes used to be much more useful (and hackable), though this was illegal because you could only rent them.
This was considered as unfair competition by our court and Telenet was forced to make them available to buy. As a result Telenet started providing a new and ultra stripped down version.

In short: It's not a technical issue.

It is not the same as adding more functionality to the STB.

Besides being a Technical issue, this also is a case of, a oversight and lack of care for the consumer.

Of course, the money the consumer spends on the STB, is to get just, a window to the Distributor's content, but not to get a personal utility device and the STB only needs to be able to deliver programming and services that the provider wants to sell to its subscribers.

However, the manufacturers haven't cared to recognize the potential of the STB to evolve and gather greater abilities and be highly useful to the consumer, because;

"the user anyhow pays for the STB, even though it is a simple transmitter-converter, since users are in want of the TV channels. The manufacturers get back what they have invested in, [to manufacture just a simple transmitter-converter], even with an added profit. However the users are at loss, not getting the full benefits of what their money could potentially do."

So this ultimately boils down to consumer care. It is evident that there is no bother to give more value to the customers for their money invested.

What actually can be done, and this where the issue also becomes Technical[?] if the makers of the STB care to give more value to the consumer, is;

"while the makers are customizing or stripping down the embedded Linux OS, for their STB, they can, take for example; make provisions to place a "Shared Folder" [of sorts] into the USB when the user gets the USB ready, for first use. And that folder is where the users are allowed to copy-paste their videos after converting them, through their own effort, to appropriate formats, that can be recognised by the STB for playback. In this way, the users have at their disposal a Video player with which they can watch their own videos on their TV, at no extra cost."

Simple; an extra service is given to the users, at no extra/least cost on both sides. This is giving more value for money. This is consumer care.

From a consumers point of view, the least amount of boxes and wires behind the TV the better. Having a NAS drive with embedded DLNA capabilities seem to be the way that the world is going.

When I used to dabble with such things, a dreambox was the tool of choice.

Regards
Dave.