Technology is too complex

[andrewducker]

If I were starting over from scratch with connectivity between the varius devices connected to my TV, I wouldn't be starting anywhere near here.

What we currently have is a mish-mash of devices connecting over a variety of connections, each of which is basically predicated on the idea that it connects directly to your TV. So the Wii has a component out that's designed to plug into a TV. The XBox has the same. The cable box has an HDMI connection does likewise. Switching between them is a right pain, because I have to route things through the amplifier in order to get surround sound _and_ I have to tell the TV which input to go to . Fortunately, I can use the amplifier to switch between different inputs. Except that the amplifier doesn't support HDMI, and if I switch between different input types then the outputs have to be of the same type, so I still have to change the input on the TV to go with it.

This is clearly insane.

The fact that there even _are_ 8 different cables that can connect a device to a TV is ridiculous (aerial, SCART, component, composite, S-Video, HDMI, DVI, VGA). Toss in that HDMI cables are notoriously difficult because each individual device decompresses the video and then transmits massive amounts of data, rather than letting the TV do the heavy lifting in one central place, for extra stupidity.

What I want is a bunch of devices plugged into my network. Each one says "I am here. I have some media to offer." The TV then scans the network and makes a list of devices that are offering media. I then choose one, from a simple drop-down interface. I then get a list of what that device has to offer (music, video, streams of various sorts). I then start, stop and otherwise control it all from that interface. The interface talks to the media device and then displays the video, plays the music, etc. If the quality of the media goes up then it can still be sent over the same method - I might just need to upgrade my network - no need to change to a whole new cable type. We have standards for video files - if you want to send one to the TV, it should use that to do so - transmitting 10GBits of pixels is just plain silly.

I'm delighted to discover that all of this exists - in theory - with UPNP-AV (Univeral Plug and Play - AudioVisual). There are TVs that do this. There are hard drives that work with it. The PS3 is certified - and I suspect the 360 is on its way. People are working towards the idea of interoperability. Somehow I've managed to not bump into any serious discussion of it anywhere up to now - but i'm wondering if any of my friends have been playing around with this stuff?

Comments

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

I still don't know what new tv TO BUY! WA!

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

No, but I'm interested :-)

The mess of cables behind my hifi stack is just beyond understanding :-)
Amp Inputs: Cable box, DVD/HDD recorder, MD recorder, Cassette recorder, Turntable, iPod cradle, VHS recorder, PS2, DVD player, DAB tuner. With some combination of composite, component, optical digital, coax digital and stereo audo.
Amp Outputs: most of the above plus TV (audio and visual (composite and RGB) and video projector (composite, s-video and (non-working) component). Five speakers plus a sub-woofer.
And power cables for all the input devices plus the TV, projector, amplifier and sub-woofer (so 14 in total, plus lighting!)

Remotes for all of the input devices except the turntable (Linn Basik), plus the lighting, so ten remotes!

I do have a ten-disc CD player and a Netgear MP101 MP3 network media player I could add, but don't have enough inputs on the amp really (Sony STR-DB935 ... is it sad that I can remember the model number off the top of my head? Particularly as I bought it something like ten years ago ... an amp "upgrade" is on my list, but there are other things that need updating first!) and anyway, I nearly never listen to CDs on the living room stack anymore, and the iPod cradle means most of the MP3 music I listen to comes that way ... and the video files won't come over the MP101, so they have to go on memory cards or CD-R/DVD-R into the DVD player (which has memory card slots).

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

a gazillion inch plasma :-)

Just been researching the basics of flat screen TVs so if you want comments on LCD vs Plasma I can advise on that :-)

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

I'm dreading moving to HDMI, but for the last year or so I've been happy with the SCART set up; it doesn't have a menu or picklist, but it does work and is simple enough that visitors can cope with it.

The TV stays permanently on AV1, which is its RGB input. I have a smart SCART box, which cost about £40 I think (I think I got it from Maplin but am not certain). It has one SCART output (to the telly) and I think six inputs. I think it must also have audio leads out, which lead into the TV setting on the amplifier. The amplifier always works (ie delivers surround) if turned on and set to TV (but works better with DVD if set to DVD 6ch, but kids and visitors don't need to know that).

The clever thing is that the SCART box prioritises the inputs in the following order: Mac Mini, Wii, PS2, video, cable box. So if you want to watch telly, you just ensure all the other machines are turned off or slept. 'If you don't want to use something, turn it off' is an instruction anyone can manage. I do run a coax from the cable box to the video so theoretically I could record video. J complains bitterly because he can't just pause a game for an evening (and you know, just gotta finish this level... save points too far apart... but I. Don't. Care.). But it works, and it's simple in use.

In general though, AV connection is a complete fucking nightmare and HD is going to make it much worse. The reason HDMI boxes don't output the HD signal is DRM; just another example of companies being complete idiots in the pursuit of something pointless and hopeless.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

We can play CDs on the DVD player (it's a NAD so actually plays CDs fabulously) but don't in practice. It's great having a small computer in the stack because it delivers internet (for itself, but also for youtube etc), streams all the music, that sort of thing. I would sort of like to have a better telly, so the output from the computer would be as clear as you get with a monitor.

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Connecting the laptop to the projector is something I should do at some point, but haven't done yet ... with the Wi-Fi it means I should be able to stream from the main machine upstairs ...

... yes, I play CDs on the DVD player when I need to, as the "good" (for its age) CD player is out of the stack at the moment.

I have a spare PC that could live in/near the stack, but the rack is full (I do have spare hifi racks ...yes I know, sigh) so where to set it up?

[guyinahat.livejournal.com]

I've found all my devices let me send the audio to the amp and the video to the screen. I't somewhat annoying having to use two controllers when I change inputs, but I can live with it.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

I just want the cheapest one that nothing is actually wrong with!! I am not a boy :)You guys are all way ahead of me..
What would you rec for that?

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

You mustbe kidding (re visitors) _ I can't even turn your Tv on! (usually admittedly because te remote has vanished..)

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Find a supermarket with some of last year's spec TVs being sold off cheap (e.g. I believe Sainsburys had some moderately big ones, 37", going for around £400, and Tesco's had a tiny one (15" I think) with built in DVD player going for £89. They won't be full HD, they may not have many HDMI sockets or other bells and whistles, but they are cheap and there's nothing actually "wrong" with them.

[andrewducker]

If switching inputs on the TV was simpler, I'd go for that.

[bookzombie.livejournal.com]

We've actually moved from a plasma to an LCD recently (the LCD is fully hi-def), though mainly on the grounds that the company we rent from has pretty much stopped doing plasma.

The upside of the LCD is that the colours are noticeably sharper than the plasma, the downside is that the angle of vision is not so good, though not enough to be a problem for us.

We've also actually gone for a smaller tv this time. Our old plasma was 42", the new LCD is 37". The 42" was actually too big for what is a small room; you ended up cricking your neck trying to look at it.

Let's see, we have a HDMI connection for the PS3, the PS2 & VHS (yes we still have one - though hardly used!) and component for the Wii. I'm sure we have something else connected, but I can't think what it is right now (the PS3 is our DVD player).

[bookzombie.livejournal.com]

We've actually moved from a plasma to an LCD recently (the LCD is fully hi-def), though mainly on the grounds that the company we rent from has pretty much stopped doing plasma.

The upside of the LCD is that the colours are noticeably sharper than the plasma, the downside is that the angle of vision is not so good, though not enough to be a problem for us.

We've also actually gone for a smaller tv this time. Our old plasma was 42", the new LCD is 37". The 42" was actually too big for what is a small room; you ended up cricking your neck trying to look at it.

Let's see, we have a HDMI connection for the PS3, the PS2 & VHS (yes we still have one - though hardly used!)