Re: the same page

[Alan Cox <alan redhat com>]

> using little bits and pieces of X, Linux, and perhaps GNOME (say gtk
> framebuffer) as suits their needs. Having GNOME itself perform well is

gtkfb is a joke. If you are that worried about size you use nanogui. The
current first generation TV people use nanogui + video4linux like stuff
with some improvements for things like Alpha channel.

> not really an issue. Some sub-libraries of GNOME probably will need to
> adapt to this, but I don't suspect embedded device manufacturers are
> much in the habit of using things like components etc anyway.

They love them. Device flogging people hate writing code. Writing code
is not a profit centre, its where all those evil software consultants scam
you for megabucks. Do you honestly think the average digital tv vendor
(although actually I guess you dont have them in the US yet - in the EU
digital terrestrial TV is becoming the norm) writes all the code. They buy
in java vm's, mpeg2 codecs, surround sound decoders, pcmcia interfaces and
glue them together. (Yes EU digital TV is java based)

When it comes to set top boxes then they want components even more, and in
the more "gui" world too.

Cable operators want to sell you more services. Right now that means
broadband followed by services targetted at the other 99% of the population
who'd like to chuck the computer in a bin and then shoot it full of holes.

So what does your set top box of the future have

	-	Broadband IP
	-	Digital TV
	-	Digital video recording
	-	802.11 wireless base station
	-	Scheduling
	-	Email
	-	Instant messaging
	-	Web browser
	-	Downloadable addons at a monthly fee
	-	"secure" digital music downloads

Do you want to pay $10/month for wordprocessing/etc, or $5/month for the
educational pack ? Many people will. That means pushing heavily component
based software onto fairly smart boxes.

(and before you have a happy tv ui rant remember HDTV means monitor grade
 images so the blurry NTSC mess goes walkies)

Alan