Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Other Software
SoftSqueeze is a software emulation of the Squeezebox hardware and available from
http://softsqueeze.sourceforge.net ; it supports Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, and most platforms with
a good Java implementation. This is good for testing a new server and for using as a standard media player; however,
because of its overzealousness at emulating the two-line LCD emulation, navigation is a little tiresome. However,
you can use the SqueezeCenter software—through its web interface—to control the playlist, if you like. Naturally, by
opening the appropriate ports, you can do this remotely.
Videobox ( http://videobox.sf.net ) is a means of using a (hardware) Squeezebox to pass its IR signals back
to the server so it can trigger external scripts and code. One example given is that of starting movie playback on the
server so that it can be viewed on-screen.
Emprex ME1
This modern device hails from 2007 and is one of several media playback devices now available. It claims to support
HD output but lacks an HDMI port; therefore, it provides its highest quality through upscale via YPbPr in 720p or
1080i. It can also function as an AV recorder, but only through composite inputs. Where this unit benefits most users
is in its low cost and local storage support. This can be with either IDE hard disks (or SATA disks, with more recent
versions, which also increases the storage space from 500GB to 750GB) or through USB, be they memory sticks or
USB hard drives.
As with much technology, utilizing the latest firmware is recommended; it now supports NTFS (the default
filesystem was the ill-chosen FAT32, which limits the maximum file size), and there have been stability issues with
the internal hard disk. Fortunately, an internal disk is optional on later firmwares, allowing you to use one attached
to USB.
Naturally, the device can also read movie files from the network, and you can also use it to remove movies
recorded on the ME1's local storage for archive elsewhere. This method is detailed on the (very) low-traffic web page
http://emprex-me1.blogspot.com along with their Google Groups lists.
Just Linux
The GNU/Linux operating system has appeared in so many distributions (aka distros ) over the years that it's difficult
to keep up with them. Many people adopt one early in their careers and never change. When using a Linux machine
as the basis for a media player, these rules need to be reconsidered because what's good for the desktop isn't
necessarily good for media playback. Consequently, I'll consider the necessary benefits and features of a suitable
Linux distribution and only mention specifics as examples because, as in the case of hardware, the field moves too
quickly to give definitive “best” answers.
The Operating System
The OS comprises, in the truest sense, a kernel, its drivers, its modules, and its associated software. These components
are packaged in distributions to make them easy to install. Consequently, there are very few variables to consider
when choosing a suitable distribution.
First, and most obviously, you need to have access to a healthy supply of drivers built for the supplied kernel.
Hardware, especially in high-end fields such as graphics, requires high performance and specific drivers to ensure
that it is utilized effectively. Although most graphics cards don't have accelerated onboard video decompression,
they do have hardware acceleration for a lot of other features, which will show a marked improvement in performance
for video.
Second, you should consider the bootup time. xPUD, for example, takes around ten seconds, making it appear
like a true set-top box rather than a small computer. XBMC, as you saw in Chapter 2, is also in this range.
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