SageTV acquired by Google

[gabrielcab]

At least we all know for sure that sagetv have been shot to death and in a year our extenders will die when they pull out the plug of the EPG unless jorton, tmiranda, plucky or other of the great gurus of sage do something about it. I hope that the sage developers "who where the only reason that i bought sagetv in the first time" doesn't give up and continue polishing sage and make a addon to replace the epg guide when google cut its throat and throw its guts in the middle of the ocean.

At least, i think all our sage license have become open sources and available as google is open source?

[drewg]

Originally Posted by gplasky

You should be able to run one of these:

XMLTV Project Then you just need to feed this download to Sage. But the EPG Guide for Sage is good for the next year.

Gerry

One year goes by quickly..

Being a US user, I've never paid much attention to the XMLTV options. Can SageTV just import an xmltv file as produced by one of the standard xmltv grabbers, like the schdules direct grabber? Or by mc2xml?

I searched for xmltv in the manual, but that takes you to a dead link:

  Note: For more information regarding using the XMLTV plugin for programming data, see our website at sagetv.com/configuration.html.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by Slugger

it'll work on Linux - my test server is Linux and that's where I've been developing it.

Install plugin, feed it a Schedules Direct id/pwd,

Great! Hopefully it will also work with mc2xml

Drew

[Brent]

Glad to hear you're working on it slugger.

For those still worrying about their existing SageTV setup, I personally think the news today was as good as can be expected. EPG data will be available even after Google turns it off via slugger's app & schedules direct. 3rd party add-ons will continue to be available (anyone check out the awesomeness of Phoenix released last night?) and the forums will continue on.

Biggest missing thing I see is the ability to purchase new licenses and new HD300's. I hope/wish Google would allow for that at least for a short time.

[SHS]

Originally Posted by drewg

Appears to require .net, which means linux users are screwed..

Drew

You got it tell next year so you not screwed we have lots of time to work on something better but in tell then, I have good felling about all this and hopely we not need worry about SageTV how ever there are I'm sure will be downside I'm sure min of you will not be happy about it anyway that what I for see in future.

[Brent]

I think it's time to build a independent SageTV Wiki. On my to-do list.

[Bluejay]

This is my first time joining or posting to any forum. (In advance, please forgive any errors of protocol - thank you.)

The SageTV / Google announcement has finally brought my fingers to the keyboard. I've been a user of SageTV for about 2 years now, and I thoroughly enjoy the experience. I say it's an experience, because I no longer passively watch TV - I interact with the media, software, hardware and constantly feel involved in the experience. Although my setup is very minimal - it has exceeded all expectations that I ever had, when taking the plunge into the realm of HTPCs.

And now, time for congratulations and thank yous.

To the entire SageTV team [/B]- thank you and congratulations. The efforts that you put into this product line have obviously been rewarded. I wish you all of the very best. Job exceedingly well done!

To the entire SageTV community - thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!
I have been absolutely astounded at the time, effort and commitment that the community members have so unselfishly given. I would like to personally thank so many individuals - developers, testers, contributors - each of you have in your own way contributed so much more than you'll ever know to making this such an outstanding and positive experience.

I wish everyone continued success - the future will be positive - with people like yourselves involved it can't be any other way.

Thank you all.

[asirota]

re the post back there about Google creating a huge DVR in the cloud and start RECORDING EVERYTHING ON THE PLANET.

Wow -- you are out of your mind. But maybe not so much!

They tried this for books after all.

[Evil_Attorney]

Originally Posted by Brent

I think it's time to build a independent SageTV Wiki. On my to-do list.

Google could make it very difficult to move forward after the year's time is over. They could send take-down notices for hosting files or other copyrighted Sage material. Not to mention the fact that using cracks or keygens would be illegal for anyone who wanted to add another computer to their system.

Maybe we should also think about starting a coordinated campaign to push Google to give us some concessions. Making Sage open source may be a bit much, but I would like to see them remove the key code restriction to the last versions, allow anyone to host those files, and any Sage manuals, FAQs, etc. that may have a copyright claim to them.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by Brent

For those still worrying about their existing SageTV setup, I personally think the news today was as good as can be expected. EPG data will be available even after Google turns it off via slugger's app & schedules direct. 3rd party add-ons will continue to be available (anyone check out the awesomeness of Phoenix released last night?) and the forums will continue on.

Biggest missing thing I see is the ability to purchase new licenses and new HD300's. I hope/wish Google would allow for that at least for a short time.

Really? As good as could be expected? I didn't really think Google was going to shut down the EPG data immediately. Why would they? The contract with Zap2it probably runs at least another 6 months, so a one year promise of continued data doesn't sound particularly special. Sure, its not bad news, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it good news either. Honestly, if the forums are still active in one year, I bet Google will keep the EPG data going. The money involved wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket for them.

The worst news seems to be their position towards future releases. I didn't expect them to say, "sure, the old Sage guys will put out a couple more maintenance releases" but to come out and say the recent RC that hasn't been tested very much will be the last release is pretty telling. Google's position on future work on SageTV seems pretty clear: there won't be any.

Honestly, I was hoping they wouldn't close the door on future releases quite so much. Keep in mind the last beta cycle had a total of 7 release candidates. Do you really think v7.1.9RC would have turned into the v7.1 if the acquisition didn't happen? Time will tell I suppose, but Google seemed to be shutting the door pretty quickly.

They haven't completely stated the store is down for good, so I think there's still hope. I think it probably makes sense to take down the public store, but it would be nice to have a way for existing customers to get replacement extenders or maybe even to complete their systems. The "no comment" response wasn't great news, but I don't think it was nearly as bad as their response to the question on a final version of v7.1.

[gabrielcab]

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

Google could make it very difficult to move forward after the year's time is over. They could send take-down notices for hosting files or other copyrighted Sage material. Not to mention the fact that using cracks or keygens would be illegal for anyone who wanted to add another computer to their system.

Maybe we should also think about starting a coordinated campaign to push Google to give us some concessions. Making Sage open source may be a bit much, but I would like to see them remove the key code restriction to the last versions, allow anyone to host those files, and any Sage manuals, FAQs, etc. that may have a copyright claim to them.

Why using cracks is illegal for a software that was killed illegally, sagellc doesn't exist anymore and i bought it from sage not google? Anyway, cracks aren't even necessary, sage doesn't require activation and i don't think it can check if license are used in different places.

[Evil_Attorney]

Originally Posted by gabrielcab

Why using cracks is illegal for a software that was killed illegally, sagellc doesn't exist anymore and i bought it from sage not google? Anyway, cracks aren't even necessary, sage doesn't require activation and i don't think it can check if license are used in different places.

No, Sage won't let multiple clients on the network if they have the same keys. So if you have 4 computer clients, they all need different, valid keys.

[asirota]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You know I had a thought after reading the CQC comments and the earlier refernce to Android@Home. I think maybe we're all thinking too small so far. I mean the the most common theory is that Google wanted a DVR for GoogleTV, but if you really think about that, surely Google has enough smart people to deliver the simple DVR necessary for a "mass market" system. Placeshifting, again, I don't see a problem for Google to come up with that on their own.

What's Sage's strength? It's the multi-platform, whole-house system. And we all know Google dreams big, I mean Google only wants to organize the worlds data....

What if, just if, the plan for Sage is far, far bigger. What I'm thinking is:

GoogleTV + Android@Home + SageTV

Just think about it, a home automation system with SageTV's backend (DVR and media serving), GoogleTV as a frontend (built into boxes and TVs), placeshifting to android devices. Complete "organization", integration and control of all the media and all the connected devices in your home.
Now that sounds like something ambitious enough to warrant Google purchasing a whole company and not just devoting an internal team or two.

If you take a looked at Microsoft Mediaroom you will see that IPTV STB makers already have this whole home automation available. What's missing though is all the access to YOUR media. Clearly most people have tons of media outside of a closed proprietary STB, so I do believe what you describe approximates the project. Check http://iptvforum.ca for more.


And Apple with AppleTV has this as well -- I moved off a sage system to an AppleTV with a cheap USRobotics NAS adapter to create a personal cloud for my media. Much cheaper than building an STB, and where Google wants to go I am pretty sure.

[Torkild]

Originally Posted by gabrielcab

At least we all know for sure that sagetv have been shot to death and in a year our extenders will die when they pull out the plug of the EPG unless jorton, tmiranda, plucky or other of the great gurus of sage do something about it. I hope that the sage developers "who where the only reason that i bought sagetv in the first time" doesn't give up and continue polishing sage and make a addon to replace the epg guide when google cut its throat and throw its guts in the middle of the ocean.

At least, i think all our sage license have become open sources and available as google is open source?

Your extenders will NOT die.
You can get your egp from xmltv over the world wide web....
Thats the way I get my epg, and if you would read before you write, you would know that you can do that too.


http://www.lmgestion.net/@en-us/4/22...86/article.asp

You just need an xmltv source - mine is from www.ontv.dk

[gabrielcab]

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

No, Sage won't let multiple clients on the network if they have the same keys. So if you have 4 computer clients, they all need different, valid keys.

On the same network, but if you have 2 house?

[asirota]

Originally Posted by peternm22

I think we need to look at this asking the question "What does SageTV have that Google couldn't easily replicate in house?". I have a few ideas:

1) The DVR functionality. I don't think there are many DVR's that have any where near the flexibility and features that SageTV has. All of the shortcomings of SageTV are directly related to licensing and DRM (Netflix, cablecard, etc). The core functionality is solid.
2) The people who work at SageTV. Often times big companies will buy up smaller companies for no reason other than to get the talent.
3) Patents. I don't know if SageTV owns any, but if they do this could be why Google is interested in them.


Reasons that I think can be safely ruled out:

1) Placeshifting. This has been speculated about, but at the end of the day, I don't see anything particularly unique about SageTV placeshifting that Google couldn't implement themselves. Several companies have similar technologies: Slingbox, Air Video, and Orb. The core of SageTV placeshifting is ffmpeg, so there isn't a lot of unique backend to it (at least not to justify buying the whole company)
2) Shutting down a competitor. SageTV is really too small to be a threat to Google.

Maybe Google is envisioning the next iteration of GoogleTV not as a box you connect your receiver to, but as the receiver itself. I think most people see GoogleTV today as a huge letdown, Google must know this as well. Slapping SageTV into the existing GoogleTV platform seems like a silly idea. Google develops the software, and then cable, satellite and TV companies can load up the software on a device they sell. Just like Android.

If they do go this route, it's not outside the realm of possibility that they open source the software.

All speculation of course, but we have nothing else to do...

Of course they could have just bought 16,000+ rabid SageTV afficinados as a way to create adoption for Android@Home+SageTV+GoogleTV monster of the future.

[curtvm]

The info Brent got is about as expected, but I am a little unsure how the product keys work.

Existing, PurchasedPurchased keys from SageTV products will continue to be valid. There is no time limit on them.

Does that mean for example, if I want to change my current setup to use Windows 7 (or 8, 9 ,10 ...) in the future, I will be able to reinstall using my current product key?

For some reason I was under the impression that product keys were 'activated' somehow with their servers (to prevent multiple pc's from using the same key).

So 'no time limit' means one of the following-
1- the currently 'activated' keys will work forever on your current install with your current hardware (since they no longer need 'activating', which of course makes sense)
2-the activation server will be around forever (not likely)
3- there never was an 'activation' server (maybe it was a 'too many installs denial server')

If the answer is 1, and there actually is an activation server needed, then there is no way to install on different hardware in the future (unless the activation method was one of 'denying' a multiple install, where an activation server on permanent vacation would not be 'denying' anyone).

I'm sure backing up the current sagetv folder is all that is needed for current hardware (I keep images of my system drive anyway), but if I change hardware (mac address, I suspect would be the key piece of hardware for any product key verification method), then it would be nice to know beforehand what could be in store.

Someone straighten me out.

(I do have an unused ver6 key I bought with a hd200 bundle)

[Evil_Attorney]

AFAIK, no Sage software "phones home". BUT, it will look for other identical keys on your home LAN. I have had to deal with this before during OS reinstalls and forgetting which key was on which client.

[gabrielcab]

Originally Posted by curtvm

The info Brent got is about as expected, but I am a little unsure how the product keys work. Does that mean for example, if I want to change my current setup to use Windows 7 (or 8, 9 ,10 ...) in the future, I will be able to reinstall using my current product key?

For some reason I was under the impression that product keys were 'activated' somehow with their servers (to prevent multiple pc's from using the same key).

So 'no time limit' means one of the following-
1- the currently 'activated' keys will work forever on your current install with your current hardware (since they no longer need 'activating', which of course makes sense)
2-the activation server will be around forever (not likely)
3- there never was an 'activation' server (maybe it was a 'too many installs denial server')

If the answer is 1, and there actually is an activation server needed, then there is no way to install on different hardware in the future (unless the activation method was one of 'denying' a multiple install, where an activation server on permanent vacation would not be 'denying' anyone).

I'm sure backing up the current sagetv folder is all that is needed for current hardware (I keep images of my system drive anyway), but if I change hardware (mac address, I suspect would be the key piece of hardware for any product key verification method), then it would be nice to know beforehand what could be in store.

Someone straighten me out.

(I do have an unused ver6 key I bought with a hd200 bundle)

There are no activation server, you only cant use the same key on the same network.

[OneOfMany]

Originally Posted by curtvm

The info Brent got is about as expected, but I am a little unsure how the product keys work. Does that mean for example, if I want to change my current setup to use Windows 7 (or 8, 9 ,10 ...) in the future, I will be able to reinstall using my current product key?

I've rebuilt platforms numerous times, different hardware/different OS, and have never had a problem using one of the multiple Client licenses I purchased. However, in hindsight, I wish I had bought a couple more

Grant