linuxmce.com — LinuxMCE is a free, open source add-on to Ubuntu including a 10' UI, complete whole-house media solution with pvr + distributed media, and the most advanced smarthome solution available. It is stable, easy to use, and requires no knowledge of Linux and only basic computer skills.
Mar 19, 2007 View in Crawl 4
nintiMar 20, 2007
"This cannot possibly work as advertised. There is no way for anything to automatically detect what kind of TV and/or receiver you have and set up the control codes. [...] how does it know if you're piping video through your receiver or directly into your TV? And what video source is connected to what input?"Agreed to everything you said, there is a lot of BS going on here. Same thing goes for the supposed X11 system he has got going, how does it know the codes for the lights in the room? I use MythTV, and I like it, but I have pages and pages of notes on getting things set up correctly, and if I had to reinstall it tomorrow, it would take me several days to get it right. There is no way most of this stuff "just works" like he says it does.
Closed AccountMar 20, 2007
"Maturation? Like what?"Try using it. You'll see.
robotcitizenMar 21, 2007
Press the Media BuT-Ton.
blackoperMar 21, 2007
I've used pluto in the past and I have to say the features are there, but you have to spend a *lot* of time in the menus setting things up. There is plug and play support for some tvs and receivers/security systems/HVAC systems though. Just most of it has to be done by looking things up and creating rules. Completely automatic setup is a lie/misrepresentation however.The bluetooth phone part is true. It's set to automatically be on and if you have a certain type of bluetooth phone it will automatically popup a window that asks to install the software.If you spend the money and the time I would have to say Pluto (or linuxmce I guess they are calling it now) is a very good program. Hopefully the interest will bet there to keep expanding it's features.Oh and they make money from their hardware sales for the system. They have their own media extenders/servers they will sell you.
thetripperMar 21, 2007
Is it me, or does that guy sound like Super Dave Osborne? Linux MCE was installed with "genuine Saskatchewan seal skin bindings."
semwMar 21, 2007
> It's not like the wiimote detects some magic new form of motion other motion detectors don't.Uh, yes it does. Not all other motion detectors, but certainly gyroscopic mice. A gyroscopic mouse is basically a set of accelerometers; which can detect *changes* in position, but not *absolute* position. That is, you can't 'point' them at something (like a menu item) directly. A wiimote also has accelerometers, but in addition it triangulates it's absolute position and orientation from a set of infrared LEDs in the bar you put over your television. Thus, you can point it directly at an item on your TV and the cursor will be at that exact point. You understand the difference now?
semwMar 21, 2007
> Did you read the part about using the nVidia utility to instantly activate two screens (no X restart)?As I said above, I have an ATI card. All the nVidia utilities in the world are not going to do much good.
porksmashMar 22, 2007
@djloschThe automatic control of the TV and other A/V equipment is handled by an IR blaster. It is pretty much the same thing as a remote except controlled by the PC and not your hand. They are wonderful :DKeep in mind that the TV isn't really 'off' its just waiting for the power signal from the remote to turn the tube on.
cyburdineMar 22, 2007
I find it odd that there is this much certain doubt about a product that no one has played with! How do you know it doesn't work out of the box? did you bother to try it? or at least go to plutohome.com and read about the technology this guy is using? I certainly don't think this is going to be "so easy even a child could do it" but if it does even HALF of what this guy is showing you out of the box, it's one big step forward for Linux. (which is always good) Having said all that I think this is a horrible video that actually does more to discredit his work. My comment to Paul, the developer, would be to tone down the Microsoft sucks stuff and focus on what your product can do.
cyburdineMar 22, 2007
yeah, I dugg you down too... worked for me!!! ;)
trilithMay 16, 2007
Quite doubtful. I'm not impressed. Not even a bit.
blandymanFeb 4, 2008
Oh yeah, because that's f**king common knowledge.Elitist assh**e.