Upgrade to support HDTV, HDDVD & Blu-Ray

[dman_lfc]

Originally Posted by kerpow

I am just a little bit concerned here for you guys. How willing are you to walk away from this idea if people genuinely aren't interested enough. It seems opinions are mixed, but does the poll show it?

We are willing to walk away from this idea hence the poll to gauge interest and solicit feedback which has been great. As I read the poll alot of people would consider a PCI or PCIe solution. Further points suggest HDCP & AACS support is a must which on ontrack with current thinking.

Originally Posted by kerpow

The poll only asks about "if you were planning" which leaves no room for anyone who does not need to upgrade. Think about this, IF 90% of users had no need for this hardware solution, then only 10% of users could possibly answer the poll, so IF that was the case the poll results would not mean much, not to mention there is no choice for the ‘I don’t know’s. But with the current question, we don’t know the answer to these ‘IF’s.

If you don't need to upgrade becuase your HTPC is HDTV or next gen optical drive capable then you're not require to answer the poll question at all. Valid point about the number of not requireds although I think you're in the minority at the moment. If there are enough users looking for such a solution it's probably worth investing.

Originally Posted by kerpow

So DMAN, when you say "The poll suggests people would need to upgrade or look to a h/w decoding solution thus suggesting something like this is worth investigating further." I don't see how you can be so sure, it sounds like you guys might be getting a bit carried away, which is easy to do (I know) when dollar signs are floating in the air.

It's got nothing to do with dollar signs. More about providing a viable solution to some of the community. MediaPortal will get donations as a result.

Originally Posted by kerpow

The introduction of a commercial link in this way (much more direct than any I have seen before with MP) needs to be thought of very carefully so that MP doesn’t loose any of the qualities that people have grown to love. And I personally don't think that this poll will help much in that huge decision.

Let me make this clear - it will have little effect on MP as you know and love. As stated numerous times other software solutions using latest alternative hardware technologies will be supported if flexibility allows.

Originally Posted by kerpow

Me? I can’t answer your poll, because I am already using HDTV, and I don’t see any reason that my box wouldn’t run high def content from any source.

I hope my opinions are received in the constructive way they are intended.

Yup thanks for you feedback. Always appreciated.

DMAN

[DogBoy1169]

upgrade AGP video card - currently ATI Radeon 9600. Have only got low profile slot so limited options. Of course, still need to buy the new TV too ...

[FlipGer]

Hi DMAN,

interresting idea. IMHO this could be the solution for small mini-itx boards. Manufactures of those boards praise there hardware for being able to decode this and that, but the results are often very disappointing. Mostly due to bad drivers / decoders not being able to use the hardware. So a bundle of a hardware card and a very good decoder could be a great solution.

But for how long? Bigger computers (HTPCs) will have sooner or later enough CPU and GPU power (in about a year I would guess). So I see the market niche, but its a small one I think.

Like Inker I am a fan of ffdshow and its postprocessing features. This is something still very CPU intensive. So if this board would do upscaling to HD and sharpening of all input sources (mpeg1/2 / divx / xvid / etc.). It would be my thing.

My HTPC currently is strong enough for HD, it could use a better GPU though. But my ffdshow settings let the CPU (CoreDuo) spike up to 75% so a solution for that, would be very nice.

Flip.

[dman_lfc]

Originally Posted by FlipGer

Hi DMAN,

interresting idea. IMHO this could be the solution for small mini-itx boards. Manufactures of those boards praise there hardware for being able to decode this and that, but the results are often very disappointing. Mostly due to bad drivers / decoders not being able to use the hardware. So a bundle of a hardware card and a very good decoder could be a great solution.

But for how long? Bigger computers (HTPCs) will have sooner or later enough CPU and GPU power (in about a year I would guess). So I see the market niche, but its a small one I think.

Like Inker I am a fan of ffdshow and its postprocessing features. This is something still very CPU intensive. So if this board would do upscaling to HD and sharpening of all input sources (mpeg1/2 / divx / xvid / etc.). It would be my thing.

My HTPC currently is strong enough for HD, it could use a better GPU though. But my ffdshow settings let the CPU (CoreDuo) spike up to 75% so a solution for that, would be very nice.

Flip.

Hi Flip,

Yup I understands it's a limited time window solution but will extend your HTPC life unless you plan the use something like mini-itx for a long period.

Try July for something decent in GPU from ATI (AMD). Nvidia will be there with XP drivers in June on select decent chipsets.

Hrmmm upscaling :-) I have taken a note...

DMAN

[deebo]

why would hdcp and aacs need to be supported?

i would buy one if it just acted as a "directshow hardware filter" so to speak.

my graph would have a decoder that would forward all data to the card and back.

aint aacs a player issue anyhow? i bet vista is gonna include a bluray/hddvd api similiar to the current DVD api that even MP uses

hdcp would require licenses etc, most should have hdcp capable graphics cards anyhow if they are serious about HD stuff if they dont, do they really need it? (actual bluray/hddvd discs instead of .mkv downloads)

[dman_lfc]

Originally Posted by deebo

why would hdcp and aacs need to be supported?

If decoding future HD-DVD & Blu-Ray discs HDCP would be a requirement. But yes if your GPU already has it then it's not required. The fact is most GPU's don't have it and if you upgrade to the latest GPU with this support you're almost there in terms of full acceleration / decoding anyway.
If we want to play back these new disc formats and use MediaPortal to do it internally then AACS support is necessary.

Originally Posted by deebo

i would buy one if it just acted as a "directshow hardware filter" so to speak.

my graph would have a decoder that would forward all data to the card and back.

Yup it would do that easily and maybe a lite version of the card without HDMI, HDCP and AACS support could be offered.

Originally Posted by deebo

aint aacs a player issue anyhow? i bet vista is gonna include a bluray/hddvd api similiar to the current DVD api that even MP uses

Not yet that I know of I hope so.

Originally Posted by deebo

hdcp would require licenses etc, most should have hdcp capable graphics cards anyhow if they are serious about HD stuff if they dont, do they really need it? (actual bluray/hddvd discs instead of .mkv downloads)

Yes HDCP, HDMI & AACS licences raise the cost of the solution but it's minimal per card. I would guess most of the community who hasn't looked at HDTV & next gen optical formats seriously and upgraded does not have a HDCP capable GPU.
HDCP & AACS is for all that legal stuff

DMAN

[deebo]

isnt aacs ~ css? dont think it needs hardware support

[dman_lfc]

Originally Posted by deebo

isnt aacs ~ css? dont think it needs hardware support

No it doesn't but the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray navigator / playback software does.
If the cards are marketed as being able to help facilitate the playback of these discs in various software applications then those without AACS currently like MediaPortal would need it.

DMAN

[Mati24]

I can look HD Video but i want update my video card maybe later

[tom1502]

I seriously hope the mac mini with 1.83 Ghz will be able to do HDTV decoding. But if not, i will not be able to plug in a new PCI card. isnt there any USB / firewire hardware available?

Cheers
tom