I recently emailed this letter to publicrelations@netflix.com about the negative experience I have had with their 4 computer limit on "Instant Viewing"
"To Whom it may concern,
I recently have run into your 4 device limit on computers (or installations on the same computer). I had no idea that this was a limitation. I have called and discussed this with your customer support and they have told me about this limitation put on Netflix from the content providers. The customer representative has assured me that "anywhere Netflix could, they wrote this information". This of course refers to the Terms of Service and other fine print areas scattered throughout. This is not a good solution! I am a computer savvy user and I have never heard about or read about this fixed limitation of your service. Why not let the user know about this limitation on the Browse Instant page letting them know to be careful about which computers to activate? Maybe a count of the numbers that are active and some kind of name given at activation that would identify them. Being completely above the board in this area would make it seem like Netflix was on our side looking out for the user. I would not have felt the animosity towards Netflix after blowing away multiple activations on computers that I have reformatted not being aware of this.
Other Suggestions
1. Netflix would be much better off would propose that you first try to work a solution involving an ability to reset these activations through a call to customer service. This would be similar to the way that Apple's Itunes has 5 computers that are active at a time but can be reset in case of a hardware failure etc. The user would then have to reactivate all computers at that point and then choose the 4 he or she wanted to be active.
2. Another way that may help users like me is to offer the ability to deactivate a computer before it is reformatted or sold so that one would not loose an activation. This would probably not be against copyright holders wishes. One could even limit the 4 activations down to one with this ability offering tighter control of the copyright holders content. Just be sure to offer a reset in case of a hardware failure in this case to ward off more angry callers.
Thanks for your attention, "
So if you ask really nicely they will offer a one time 5th and final activation on your account. This would not be repeated in following years. The count does reset Mid-January of each new year no matter when an account was started. The customer support representative mentioned a couple of other tips. Ghosting the Windows drive and restoring does allow one to effectively transfer the activation onto new hardware. He also mentioned that if one got another membership that that would give them 4 more activations. This might be a temporary fix if you are out of luck. You could buy the 8.99 one at a time for this. He mentioned that if one tried to activate a bunch of computers through 2 week trials etc. that the fraud team would investigate this behavior.
Please let me know in the comments of any of your experiences and tell your friends about this!
*********************
Update
Netflix response
Thank you for your suggestions and we've passed them on to the product
group.
Regards,
Netflix
Feb 12, 2008
VMWare Mythtv Frontend
I just built a really fast machine with a Core 2 Quad Intel processor. I saved a wishlist from Newegg of the specifics of the machine JarkHD Machine Wish List. I keep one windows machine to play pc games and this was my new machine for gaming. I have been annoyed that I could not watch Mythtv from my Windows box. I have tried the alternatives to watching Mythtv on Windows and none of them work well at all. I thought finally I will be able to make a frontend for Mythtv on a virtual machine with this new beast. I have tried this in the past and always blamed the machine for the 1 frame per second performance. I used the free VMWare server 1.0.4 and made a Ubuntu 7.10 virtual machine. When I installed and configured Mythtv-Frontend I tried an HD show I had recorded. Once again the frame rate was terrible so I tried a SD show with the same results. (It was a little better) I noticed that the CPU usage was close to 75% which I have never witnessed with this machine. I have tried this same setup with the VMware tools installed and have had no luck. The conclusion I have come to is the video driver can not keep up with the frame rate needed to watch Mythtv. This same problem is true of the PS3 which lacks a driver for the video card. Maybe VMWare will accelerate the graphics more and this will work in the future.
Feb 8, 2008
Mythtv: Upgrading Ubuntu 7.04 to 7.10 with the Update Manager
I wanted to write a quick note about my upgrade experience to Ubuntu 7.10. Flawless! I saved any of the config files that I had changed for some reason unless they were frivolous. This was the first time I have used the automatic upgrade for a major version change. I have it in my head that when you change OS's, and sometimes when it has just been a long time, that it is better to format the drive and start fresh. Of course this assumption was because of Windows and the ugly registry. The only thing I had to fix was to re-install ffmpeg that I had built with divx and xvid functionality. Basically I went to the source folder and I did a make install again. This cleared it right up.
Jul 16, 2007
Separating the MythTV Frontend from the Backend
The services of MythTV are divided into two major groups; the frontend and the backend. The frontend is the GUI that one sees when you are watching the content and choosing what to watch. The frontend has themes that change the look of the interface. The frontend also renders the video that is displayed which is not insignificant when it comes to high definition content. Some MythTV plug-ins are also a part of the frontend that extend functionality such as browsing weather or playing music. On the other side the MythTV backend is the brains behind the scenes. It interfaces with the MySQL database and the capture cards to schedule and record the content. The backend sends the data that the frontend displays and provides the schedule information that it has received from the selected data services company. See Zap2it article
The frontend and the backend typically run on the same computer in most setups I have seen and used. This makes the setup straight forward. MythTV has an excellent network code that allows the very efficient communication between the frontend and backend even on separate computers. This is put to the test with high definition content with a very high bit-rate but performs admirably on wired gigabit ethernet. I know what you are thinking with wi-fi but this is too much bandwidth for A/B/G wireless LAN when it comes to HD. Standard definition does work with my wireless. There are reasons and advantages to separating the frontend from the backend. The most obvious reason is to divide and conquer the tasks. Commercial flagging and compression to Xvid on the backend will not make your HD content playback choppy if they are on different computers.
In my case I wanted to have a central server that was located in my office running the backend. This was most convenient for my cable drops in my house and it allowed me to use this computer as my main office computer as it was the most up to date computer. I wanted to watch the MythTV in my office so I also put a frontend on it but I also wanted to watch the content on my main TV in the living room. I made a frontend computer with relatively good components that were as silent as possible. I used an overclocked AMD FX-55 with an Artic Cooling CPU fan that was very quiet. I used a Nvidia 7600GS video card that was passively cooled for no noise. I used the bare minimum of hard drive capacity because nothing was recorded on this computer. I used an off brand case with large 120 mm fans to be as silent and efficient as possible. Finally I put a creative sound blaster Audigy sound card to have good sound. One other thing I did was to not plug in any of the blue LED's that would flash and turn on with the case because I did not want the distraction of these watching TV. The simple power on / off LED was all I needed to see. I could make all of these decisions based on the specialized function of the computer being a frontend only. One thing this really helped with was cable clutter. I could have a single power cord, audio cable, network cable, and video cable coming out of the frontend computer which helped make the system look very clean. No coax from the wall and splitters opon splitters to the multiple tuners etc.
Setup
The preparation for separating the frontend from the backend is making the MySQL database that MythTV uses accessible to the LAN.
sudo nano /etc/mysql/my.cnf
You need to comment out the bind-address line like so:
#bind-address = 127.0.0.1
Then you can restart your computer so that this new parameter is passed into the MySQL database as it initializes.
The frontend box is just a base install of Ubuntu 7.04 that has been fully updated. Instead of installing Mythtv from the application manager you search for mythtv-frontend. When you install this package all of the packages needed for just the frontend are installed.
The frontend and the backend typically run on the same computer in most setups I have seen and used. This makes the setup straight forward. MythTV has an excellent network code that allows the very efficient communication between the frontend and backend even on separate computers. This is put to the test with high definition content with a very high bit-rate but performs admirably on wired gigabit ethernet. I know what you are thinking with wi-fi but this is too much bandwidth for A/B/G wireless LAN when it comes to HD. Standard definition does work with my wireless. There are reasons and advantages to separating the frontend from the backend. The most obvious reason is to divide and conquer the tasks. Commercial flagging and compression to Xvid on the backend will not make your HD content playback choppy if they are on different computers.
In my case I wanted to have a central server that was located in my office running the backend. This was most convenient for my cable drops in my house and it allowed me to use this computer as my main office computer as it was the most up to date computer. I wanted to watch the MythTV in my office so I also put a frontend on it but I also wanted to watch the content on my main TV in the living room. I made a frontend computer with relatively good components that were as silent as possible. I used an overclocked AMD FX-55 with an Artic Cooling CPU fan that was very quiet. I used a Nvidia 7600GS video card that was passively cooled for no noise. I used the bare minimum of hard drive capacity because nothing was recorded on this computer. I used an off brand case with large 120 mm fans to be as silent and efficient as possible. Finally I put a creative sound blaster Audigy sound card to have good sound. One other thing I did was to not plug in any of the blue LED's that would flash and turn on with the case because I did not want the distraction of these watching TV. The simple power on / off LED was all I needed to see. I could make all of these decisions based on the specialized function of the computer being a frontend only. One thing this really helped with was cable clutter. I could have a single power cord, audio cable, network cable, and video cable coming out of the frontend computer which helped make the system look very clean. No coax from the wall and splitters opon splitters to the multiple tuners etc.
Setup
The preparation for separating the frontend from the backend is making the MySQL database that MythTV uses accessible to the LAN.
sudo nano /etc/mysql/my.cnf
You need to comment out the bind-address line like so:
#bind-address = 127.0.0.1
Then you can restart your computer so that this new parameter is passed into the MySQL database as it initializes.
The frontend box is just a base install of Ubuntu 7.04 that has been fully updated. Instead of installing Mythtv from the application manager you search for mythtv-frontend. When you install this package all of the packages needed for just the frontend are installed.
Jul 7, 2007
Ultimate Mythtv Remote
I bought a Nokia N770 from the recent Woot.com offering. I had immediately envisioned a wireless remote scheduler for my Mythtv backend in the other room. Using Mythweb allows for one to schedule and manage the recordings on the Mythtv. If you have Mythtv just use the application manager in Ubuntu to search and install Mythweb. This install is insecure as in it allows anyone on the LAN to access and change your Mythtv recordings etc. Use on a private LAN or take some mesures to secure the accessibility.
Mythweb seems to be perfect for use with the Nokia's 800 x 480 native resolution. I just put the IP address of the computer with the \mythweb and load the webpage. This would presumably work just as well with Apple's new IPhone. I think the screen of the Nokia 770 is slightly more high resolution than the IPhone but it would work.
I also found an application that will stream video and audio to the Nokia 770 called GMyth
Jun 23, 2007
Making your PS3 into a HD Tivo
I have been doing some research on what else I can do with my HDHomerun and thought it would be perfect for use with the PS3 turning it into a HDTV recorder. Since the tuner lets you stream from the LAN without installing any drivers or PCI cards it will work with the PS3 as long as you have some software that will tune it. I got the idea from this blog PS3 USB Tuner where the person got some drivers for a USB capture device and used them to turn his PS3 into a PVR using Mythtv. This is possible because Sony has allowed alternate operating systems to be put on the PS3 like most flavors of Linux. The cell processor is a PowerPC core so most Linux versions are compatible that have a PPC version. I like the ease of use of Ubuntu so I found this guide to get Ubuntu on the PS3. Ubuntu on PS3
The next challenge is to install Mythtv on Ubuntu for PS3 either from source or pre-compiled binaries (which I don't know if they exist). Since the support for the HDHomerun is built into Mythtv that would be all that was needed to have a Mythtv Box. Given that the 80 GB drive is small under Linux you could just plug in a number of USB harddrives to store the HD content
The biggest problem in this setup is that Sony has not granted access to the video card in the PS3 for fears of open source developers making games for the PS3 that would edge Sony out of the game development. I find this funny given all the games that are out there for Linux are pretty basic. So what if I play Tron on the PS3; I don't think that will stop me from buying Madden. This means that the video card works but does not help with rendering. Without a good driver for the video card I have read that HD playback is choppy. This is a problem now but it may be resolved in the future by reverse engineering or Sony relenting. There is a petition to Sony to open up the Video Card Petition. This still does not leave out the PS3 from becoming a Mythtv backend that would be great for turning the HD into Divx or Xvid given the processing power of the Cell. Look at what the Cell processor is doing for research Folding at Home
The next challenge is to install Mythtv on Ubuntu for PS3 either from source or pre-compiled binaries (which I don't know if they exist). Since the support for the HDHomerun is built into Mythtv that would be all that was needed to have a Mythtv Box. Given that the 80 GB drive is small under Linux you could just plug in a number of USB harddrives to store the HD content
The biggest problem in this setup is that Sony has not granted access to the video card in the PS3 for fears of open source developers making games for the PS3 that would edge Sony out of the game development. I find this funny given all the games that are out there for Linux are pretty basic. So what if I play Tron on the PS3; I don't think that will stop me from buying Madden. This means that the video card works but does not help with rendering. Without a good driver for the video card I have read that HD playback is choppy. This is a problem now but it may be resolved in the future by reverse engineering or Sony relenting. There is a petition to Sony to open up the Video Card Petition. This still does not leave out the PS3 from becoming a Mythtv backend that would be great for turning the HD into Divx or Xvid given the processing power of the Cell. Look at what the Cell processor is doing for research Folding at Home
Jun 20, 2007
Zap2it Labs Retires Sept 1st
Sad Sad Day
Posted from labs.Zap2it.com; Zap2It is the provider of free tv listings used in Mythtv extensively.
Back in 2004 the Mythtv crowd would scrape xml data from free sources which is slow and inaccurate at times. Zap2It started offering free data service and this was very good! I want to somehow convince them to rethink things. I have submitted a comment in their forums offering a small monetary payment. This would have to be a tenth of what Tivo service offers or something in that range. Digg the article in My Digg Dugg links to raise an internet buzz about the issue so that they will reconsider or offer an alternative.
Posted from labs.Zap2it.com; Zap2It is the provider of free tv listings used in Mythtv extensively.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
For several years we have offered a free TV listings service to hobbyists for their own personal, noncommercial use. In October of 2004 we posted here an open letter saying the future of Zap2it Labs was at risk because of certain growing misuses of the Zap2it Labs data. Unfortunately this misuse has continued and grown. These misuses, combined with other business factors have led to the decision to discontinue Zap2it Labs effective September 1, 2007.
We thank those users who have honored the terms of the agreement, and we suggest you consider the many TV listings options offered by the commercial licensees of TMS TV listings data.
If you would like to discuss how to license TV listings for commercial use, please let us know by e-mail (labs@zap2it.com) and include your company name, telephone number and the best time to reach you. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
We anticipate this decision will generate discussion and invite you to respond via the Zap2it Labs forum. We will do our best to respond to relevant questions posted on this forum in a timely manner.
Back in 2004 the Mythtv crowd would scrape xml data from free sources which is slow and inaccurate at times. Zap2It started offering free data service and this was very good! I want to somehow convince them to rethink things. I have submitted a comment in their forums offering a small monetary payment. This would have to be a tenth of what Tivo service offers or something in that range. Digg the article in My Digg Dugg links to raise an internet buzz about the issue so that they will reconsider or offer an alternative.
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