Cable TV on the Internet?

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

I can't quite figure this out. Free cable TV over the internet. There're no popup ads or any other advertising. The programs appear to be 'tape-delayed'. Once the buffering catches up, the picture quality is quite good.

http://www.viidoo.com/en/index.php

The software is free and seems to work well. The network channels appear to be from San Fran. They had HBO but replaced it with another movie channel.

Strange. Where are they making money on this thing?

slakjaw · 10-02-2006, 04:53 PM

Sweet!

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

Holy Shyte.

Go check out Telecapri

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Yeah, I think Telecapri is being viewed at like 2AM from Italy, so we get to see all the smut commercials!

slakjaw · 10-02-2006, 05:22 PM

WTF

Is that a snapping turtle I see?

HA!

masraum · 10-03-2006, 07:34 AM

I got bored waiting for smut commercials on the Italian sports channel, but this is pretty interesting. I wonder how long it'll last.

motion · 10-03-2006, 07:55 AM

No Speed Channel!!!! Grrrrrrrrr

Joeaksa · 10-03-2006, 08:12 AM

I have been overseas the last month and watched America TV anywhere and anytime I wanted.

Had heard about it but finally Fry's put them on sale a month ago. Google "slingbox" and see what this puppy will do.

Was in Africa and watching the Italian Formula One race on my laptop, clear as can be. Then watched my normal programs whenever I wanted, same thing. Last weekend from Berlin watched the Chinese race again from my system at home through the internet but anywhere in the world I could get a good internet connection.

Joe

PS, yes it still has commercials, as you are watching your television system at home, just on the internet.

kang · 10-03-2006, 09:40 AM

I'd be worried that the download contains spyware or adware or something....

Joeaksa · 10-03-2006, 12:10 PM

Kang,

On the system I am using, there is no download. You are connecting from one port on the laptop to the port on the hub or switch at your house. Its all assigned and coded. Guess someone could break in but not your average hacker.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I hooked up a Slingbox to my home LAN so my old boss (who got transferred to Volvo in Sweden) can watch the Detroit Red Wings and Lions on his PC in Sweden. It is very secure, legal and reliable. You can only watch TV (we use the TIVO) "remotely" on a single PC at a time. Using the Slingbox to remotely control and watch the TIVO works well.

kang · 10-03-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Kang,

On the system I am using, there is no download. You are connecting from one port on the laptop to the port on the hub or switch at your house. Its all assigned and coded. Guess someone could break in but not your average hacker.

Really? When I clicked on the link above, it said I needed to download the TVU player.

Joeaksa · 10-03-2006, 04:11 PM

I did not post any link. The link above is something totally different.

The link for the slingbox is here: http://us.slingmedia.com/page/home

You get a CD with the slingbox and install it after hooking the unit up to your home internet and computer. Then it configures your laptop to talk to the hub or switch and from there to the Slingbox. From there you can change channels or do anything you could in person with the cable remote control.

No downloads needed and the feed is direct from your home television/internet system to your laptop, and secure.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Joe,
Be sure to install the latest version of the firmware and the player that came out in late August, I believe. It improved the playback significantly and the person using my TiVO from Sweden (my old boss) says it works great!

Joeaksa · 10-03-2006, 04:50 PM

Art,

Thanks and will take a look now. I got my unit in early September but bet it had been sitting in the box in a warehouse for a while.

I am really sold on this after being stuck overseas and missing some of the formula one or le mans races. Now I can watch anything anyplace in the world and thats a big plus for someone who travels or someone like your boss.

Joe

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

>>>>>No Speed Channel!!!! Grrrrrrrrr <<<<<<<

That does suck. But CTITV had the Chinese GP on last night ...... in Chinese!

I'm still trying to figure out why I need free TV on my computer.

Joeaksa · 10-03-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cegerer
>>>>>No Speed Channel!!!! Grrrrrrrrr <<<<<<<

That does suck. But CTITV had the Chinese GP on last night ...... in Chinese!

I'm still trying to figure out why I need free TV on my computer.

That was my loophole using Sling in Berlin on Sunday. The television had the race in German and on a nice big screen. I logged onto the net and picked up the race on Speed on the laptop from home, then watched the television for the video but with the sound muted, then listened to the commentary on Speed at the same time.

Nice big screen television and commentary in English. Worked well...

HardDrive · 10-03-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
That was my loophole using Sling in Berlin on Sunday. The television had the race in German and on a nice big screen. I logged onto the net and picked up the race on Speed on the laptop from home, then watched the television for the video but with the sound muted, then listened to the commentary on Speed at the same time.

Nice big screen television and commentary in English. Worked well...

Joe, we'll make an IT guy outta you some day, just as soon as you stop flying those newfangled flying machines.

kang · 10-04-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
I did not post any link. The link above is something totally different.

The link for the slingbox is here: http://us.slingmedia.com/page/home

You get a CD with the slingbox and install it after hooking the unit up to your home internet and computer. Then it configures your laptop to talk to the hub or switch and from there to the Slingbox. From there you can change channels or do anything you could in person with the cable remote control.

No downloads needed and the feed is direct from your home television/internet system to your laptop, and secure.

Thanks, looks like the link in the first post and the system you are using are two completely different things.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

I still haven't figured out who or how people are making money off of this free cable TV thing. They've added a few channels - NHL and NHL2 for example.

There's also free TV shows on at least 2 websites?? All of the Seinfeld episodes, for instance. There're also shows from HBO and Showtime - like 'Weeds', which I had been buying per episode on iTunes for $1.99 until now.

http://tvlinks.voodeedoo.org/

http://bleenks.com/