How would you build the ultimate Digibox?

Owenw

What sort of features would you put in a digibox if you were the product designer?

I'm not imposing any limitations although the ideas should be in the realms of possiblilty!

Just for starters:

* 200Gb HDD
* 1 month EPG
* Picture in Picture
* Picture and Guide (similar to Picture and Text on some TV's)
* Dolby & dts surround output
* A third tuner & triple record
* A way of hiding channels you never watch from the EPG
* HDTV ready

seano

Originally posted by Owenw
What sort of features would you put in a digibox if you were the product designer?

I'm not imposing any limitations although the ideas should be in the realms of possiblilty!

Just for starters:

* 200Gb HDD
* 1 month EPG
* Picture in Picture
* Picture and Guide (similar to Picture and Text on some TV's)
* Dolby & dts surround output
* A third tuner & triple record
* A way of hiding channels you never watch from the EPG
* HDTV ready

and

A Tv (the Satcruiser )
I x magic cam card reader. (from the Xtreme)
Built in UCAS and positioner
Enternet (from the Dreambox)
USB (from the Topfield 5000)
RF out.

byte

• Large high speed HDD
• Fast Processor
• Lots of memory
• Stereo RF Out
• Optical/Coaxial outputs for digital audio
• Slot in Tuners for ease of replacement!
• Memory function where it remembers the last channel it was on during power failure
• Synopsis for later channels without having to go through the Sky Guide
• A 2 way LNB accessory for broadband internet (free with subscription to Sky World)

Capt'n Midnight

It's been built already - all that is missing is the decryption algorithm

Most of the linux powered boxes would do, more features that you could shake a stick at..

SPAWKER

One that would unscramble any type of encryption method without the need for a subscription.:rolleyes:

Capt'n Midnight

Yeah the NSA have one, maybe..

DaithiSurfer

i'ld settle for one that had software written by decent developers which was stable

Mossy Monk

motorised
all SR etc. etc.
room for more cams
customisable EPG
a 3rd tuner for recording
ability to watch different channels on different tv's with one box

that's all for the moment

telecinesk

As above.However my change would be no EPG, or annoying red dot software.
I have a linux box (nok dbox2) and I found it read the old V1 sky card with the right vers of software img loaded up.All card info was listed inc IRL version etc..
Pity it didnt last too long and sky changed the cards at the same time so I never got to watch....
Best thing is an ethernet socket to stream the raw mp2 data. Works great here on the other packages!

Owenw

Some interesting replies indeed

What strikes me is just how outdated and limited Sky STB technology is by today's standards. I suppose this is to be expected with a closed system like Sky digital where they want everyone to have identical hardware.
It shows the downside of propriety systems and monolopistic attitude.

Telecinesk, why would you remove the EPG? It's one of the few useful things about digital TV (up to a point).
Have to agree the DOGS & RED DOT are the 2 worst things about digital TV. I notice MTV dance is already using animated DOGS now
I shall continue to boycott music channels and others with ridiculous use of DOGS (Channel U for example).

I can't see Sky adding anything which will allow viewers to tune on non-sky channels
(CAMs, motorised dish control etc.) because it's not in their interest financially.
Same goes for such things as copying MPEG2 data to PC via ethernet or including a DVD recorder in the STB.

With regard to a Customisable EPG, wasn't a law passed in the UK earlier this year where broadcasters had to give viewers the ablility to hide certain channels in the EPG (parents hiding "adult channels" from their children was the main reason given.) and Sky was expected to upgrade the software by the autumn??? This would have the knock-on benefit that we could hide any channels we never watch?