SageTV acquired by Google

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by curtvm

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).

Keys are not "activated" to back to SageTV, however client keys are "activated" on your server. So, if you move a client key from one PC to another, you need to restart your SageTV server before it will allow the new PC to connect (and now the "old" client PC will no longer be allowed to connect, if it's still using the same key).

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Fountainhead

And probably illegal. I'm sure at the very least they were gagged by Google, but beyond that giving people a "heads up" about a potential buyout involving a publicly traded company like google likely would violate a dozen SEC laws. There's nothing Sage LLC could have done, I imagine.

they could have had a one week blowout sale...50% of anything in the store, before the announcement. That would have broken no rules and given those who whined about being "on the fence" little reason to whine post-acquisition.
As far as Jeff et al having no control...the seller always has control before the sale. I sold a house once and took $2500 less because the person offering more wanted to use the house solely as a rental address to get their kid into a local school, then they were going to flip the house. I liked my neighbors, so I didn't sell to that person. It depends what kind of seller you are, doesn't it?

[starfire]

Originally Posted by Brent

Now that Google owns SageTV, what's next for SageTV customers? Some answers from Google/SageTV:http://www.geektonic.com/2011/06/wha...mers-post.html

The one thing that's really annoying is that Narflex/Jeff accepted Google's offer to buy SageTV and he could negotiate the terms of this as his own company and IMHO should have negotiated that the store should stay open for a short period so people could purchase anything they wanted.

He had the power to do this and did not, that's disappointing and left a lot of loyal customer's in a difficult situation .

[Torkild]

Originally Posted by starfire

The one thing that's really annoying is that Narflex/Jeff accepted Google's offer to buy SageTV and he could negotiate the terms of this as his own company and IMHO should have negotiated that the store should stay open for a short period so people could purchase anything they wanted.

He had the power to do this and did not, that's disappointing and left a lot of loyal customer's in a difficult situation .

Do you know that to be true? Sure you don't.

If Google terms was close down your shop.... then I would close it.
We do not know if the shop is closed for good.
If SageTV still has some hardware left, then surly Google would trade them for $.

I think that the shop will open again for a last buy out.

And again, surly you would stay with SageTV even if something better and cheaper came along ......
You are that loyal.... No one is that loyal in the end.

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by brainbone

Keys are not "activated" to back to SageTV, however client keys are "activated" on your server. So, if you move a client key from one PC to another, you need to restart your SageTV server before it will allow the new PC to connect (and now the "old" client PC will no longer be allowed to connect, if it's still using the same key).

And if, for arguments sake, you knew my keys and I knew yours then we would both have plenty of licenses. Don't ask me though, I won't share my keys to software that's not been abandoned.

S

[curtvm]

Thanks for the 'key' info.

That is good news. I can upgrade hardware with no worries. I have family members with hd200's, so I have a supply of them also (convince them to switch to something else when I need another or a replacement).

I wish I would have upgraded to ver7, but ver6 ran for a number of years and did what I wanted, so didn't want to mess with success (and will continue to run for several more years, I suspect).

[SHS]

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)

I said ocen before activation is done local with in the app depend the key you have, SageTV dose not have phone home far I know of.
The product keys will alway work no matter what WindowsOS you have
How ever there are 10 diff type product keys
Linux SageTV Media Center Server License Key
Windows SageTV Media Center "Server" License Key
Windows SageTV Media Center "Server" 5.1.6 Upgrade & 7.0 Upgrade License Key
Windows SageTV Media Center Client License Key
Linux/Windows SageTV Placeshifter License Key
Windows Sage Recorder License Key "Only use full with older PVR 250/350"
Windows SageTV Studio License Key "I belive it got caned"
Windows SageTV MVP License Key
The MediaMVP and SageTV HD100 extenders are not stand-alone devices and required media extender license.
The SageTV HD200 and 300 Media Extender don't used any product keys it will automatically be recognized as a valid extender or placeshifter client.

[bastafidli]

The problem is that for now Sage is a dead end road. You cannot expand and you cannot refresh/fix. If your extender dies, you are out of luck. If you have old extender, you are out of luck. If your need new extender you are out of luck. So you can stay and wait and hope in a year there will be a path forward or you can start looking for an alternative.

[bastafidli]

Originally Posted by asirota

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.

Can you describe your Apple based setup please?

[Evil_Attorney]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

The problem is that for now Sage is a dead end road. You cannot expand and you cannot refresh/fix. If your extender dies, you are out of luck. If you have old extender, you are out of luck. If your need new extender you are out of luck. So you can stay and wait and hope in a year there will be a path forward or you can start looking for an alternative.

Maybe, but you could always buy a mini-ITX system and put the client software on it. It would be more expensive than an HD300, but it's still possible.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Fountainhead

And probably illegal. I'm sure at the very least they were gagged by Google, but beyond that giving people a "heads up" about a potential buyout involving a publicly traded company like google likely would violate a dozen SEC laws. There's nothing Sage LLC could have done, I imagine.

Such restrictions relate to material non-public information. Google has a market cap of $168 Billion - its acquisition of SageTV is not material - I am guessing the price would have been from $5-10 Million.

Sage could have also given a heads-up that did not say who the acquirer was - no securities violations there. Or they could have said - "We may be shutting down operations in 30 days - but all you need ASAP."

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

Maybe, but you could always buy a mini-ITX system and put the client software on it. It would be more expensive than an HD300, but it's still possible.

How would you buy the client license?

[dealsdyker]

Well, leaving a "final" release of version 7 at beta status is *bad* news for us customers. The owners eff-d us all in the axx. Screwing over an entire client base who made them who they are.

Do no evil? The day Google pushed me to MS and xbox.

[Micco]

The feedback to Brent (thanks!) in regard to the beta was:

The beta versions do not expire. SageTV/Google does not currently have plans relating to posting a final release of V7.1; the current release candidate is of 'release' quality based on SageTV’s prior standards.

So what does that mean?

I was within a couple of weeks of shutting down my WHS and buying a Win7 version of the software. I really need to do that as my WHS machine is getting flaky.

Can I install the Beta version of SageTV for Win7 and expect it to work indefinitely based on that comment?

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

Well, leaving a "final" release of version 7 at beta status is *bad* news for us customers. The owners eff-d us all in the axx. Screwing over an entire client base who made them who they are.

Do no evil? The day Google pushed me to MS and xbox.

at the moment, it kind of seems like that. And if that is indeed how it pans out, I for one will NOT be a supporter of future Google products unless there is absolutely no alternative.
Here's to hoping the Sage creators had a heart

[Polypro]

I tested out network encoding years ago. I installed SageTV Server on another box and input the one server key that I own. It hummed along quite nicely for a couple months. If I was going to stick with network encoding, I was going to buy another license, but I ended up moving and didn't need network encoding. So the same key works on multiple versions of the server, all running at the same time. With a centralized recording directory, I *think* you would have the same functionality as the client only software. Just something you can try if the worst happens (vanishing).
...

P

Edit: Uh-oh, someone is watching :-) Fair enough. And for goodness sake, BACK UP YOUR KEYS NOW! LOL.

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by wayner

How would you buy the client license?

Exactly. Unless a client is released with no key, the source code is released, or they decide to start selling them again (all unlikely) -- SageTV as we know it is dead.

Google's statement that the latest beta should be considered a stable release sums up the future plans for our current setups. Nothing.

In a year, most of us will have moved on to something else. The question is, will Google have an acceptable alternative within that year?

[wayner]

Originally Posted by Slugger

Install plugin, feed it a Schedules Direct id/pwd, restart Sage server, forget about it. That's the goal, that's what I expect it to be. However, before I could release it, I'd need an exemption from Schedules Direct, which I've already applied for. Given that we have a year, that shouldn't be a problem now.

This shouldn't be too hard - I used to (starting in 2002) run a very painful process to get Canadian guide data from XMLTV into a Series 1 TiVo as TiVo did not support guide data for Canadians at the time. That required all sorts of processes including ftping the guide data from a PC to the TiVo and running processes on the TiVo. This should be a piece of cake as Schedules Direct also made it much simpler than the original XMLTV scraping.

[mistergq]

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

They could send take-down notices for hosting files or other copyrighted Sage material.

When has google ever done this though? Can they do that? Absolutely. Are they likely to do it? I don't see google as that type of business.

[brainbone]

Originally Posted by mistergq

When has google ever done this though?

see:
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...+google+letter