videorecorder
Comparison of PVR software packages
General information
Basic general information for popular DVR (PVR) software packages.| Name | Official Website | Windows | Macintosh | GNU/Linux | Price | Latest stable release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond TV | Beyond TV | $69.99 - $79.99; $29.99 client; $49.99 network media playback; Free mediaMVP client | 4.8.1 | Not compatible with DVB tuners See also: List of digital television deployments by country | |||
| CTpvr | CTPVR | $29.95 - Media Center; $14.95 - Client | UPDATE Mar-08: CTpvr has sold its products and TV Listings service to an (as yet) unknown company. Currently not available. | ||||
| EyeTV | Elgato | Bundled / €79.99 | 3.0 | Free with all Elgato USB tuners, but available separately for use with other tuners. | |||
| Freevo | Freevo | Limited | Free | 1.7.5 | Open source | ||
| GB-PVR | GB-PVR | Free | 1.2.13 (27 April, 2008) | Includes Integrated EPG, media server; PC client (local or networked), MediaMVP clients, web-scheduling. Very difficult for non-computer experts to set up however. | |||
| Got All Media | Got All Media | $49.95/copy, $39.95 for previous owners who want to upgrade | |||||
| CenterStage | CenterStage | Free | |||||
| MediaPortal | MediaPortal | Free | 0.2.3.0 (November 15, 2007) | Open source (built on the .NET Framework) | |||
| Meedio TV/Yahoo Go! TV | Meedio TV/ Yahoo Go! TV | Discontinued/Free | 2006 | Only available in the U.S.A. | |||
| MeediOS | MeediOS | Free | Open source (built on the .NET Framework) | ||||
| MediaPhoenix/ShowShifter | MediaPhoenix | MediaPhoenix - Unreleased ShowShifter - Discontinued (Was £30) | Supports some older TechnoTrend/Hauppauge boxes which are not BDA compliant, such as the Dec 2000-t/3000-s and first generation Nova-t USB boxes, which are unsupported by other PVR software. | ||||
| MythTV | MythTV | ¹ | Free | 0.21 (March 8, 2008) | Open source | ||
| SageTV | SageTV | $79.95 software; $29.95 client; $29.95 per mediaMVP client; | 6.3.10 | ||||
| SesamTV | SesamTV | Free | |||||
| TVedia | TVedia | $34.95 | |||||
| Windows Media Center | Windows Media Center | $110-$319 (OS Price) | 6.0.6000.16484 (November 8, 2006) | Included in Windows XP MCE and Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions. |
PVR features
Information about what common and prominent PVR features are implemented natively (without third-party add-ons).| PVR | Subscription Free Electronic Program Guide | Power Management | Multiple TV Tuner Cards Support | CableCard Support | ATSC Tuner Support | Automated Commercial Skip | Teletext | Schedule Timed Recordings | Personalized Intelligent Recording and Scheduling 1 | DRM Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond TV | 6 | |||||||||
| CTpvr | ||||||||||
| EyeTV | 8 | |||||||||
| Freevo | External add-on | |||||||||
| GB-PVR | ||||||||||
| Got All Media | ||||||||||
| CenterStage | ||||||||||
| MediaPortal | 5,9 | Using Plugin10 | 10 | Partial support | ||||||
| Meedio TV/Yahoo Go! TV | ||||||||||
| MeediOS | ||||||||||
| MediaPhoenix/ShowShifter | 5 | |||||||||
| MythTV | 5,7 | External add-on3 | ||||||||
| SageTV | Using Plugin10 | |||||||||
| SesamTV | ||||||||||
| TVedia | ||||||||||
| Windows Media Center | 11 | 4 | External add-on2 | 12 |
1 The Personalized Intelligent Recording and Scheduling feature, similar to TiVo enables the PVR application to record programs based on past viewing habits and interests.
2 Windows Media Center has the ability to skip commercials automatically after installing an external plug-in called " DVRMSToolbox" (which is not supported by Microsoft) or " Lifextender" .
3 MythTV has the ability to perform Personalized Intelligent Recording and Scheduling after installing an external plug-in called " tvwish" (which is not supported by MythTV).
4 Windows Media Center supports CableCard when used on CableLabs certified OEM Hardware.
5 Supports over-the-air epg when using cards/boxes which support this functionality, and in areas where such a service is available.
6 To take advantage of operating system power management with Beyond TV, the main user interface must be closed.
7 MythTv has switched from the now defunct Zap2It to Schedules Direct, which costs $20/year.
8 Supported in EyeTV 610 (DVB-C) and EyeTV 310 (DVB-S)
9 EPG is supported via WebEpg
10 Is Supported by 3rd party plugins
11 Out of the box MCE supports Two ATSC tuners and Two NTSC tuners, to get additional tuners you have to perform registry modifications to get more than two ATSC or two NTSC tuners.
12 Vista Media Center can do partial intelligent recordings. You can do recordings based on key words, actor(s) names, or other genres.
Video format support
Information about what video codecs are implemented natively (without third-party add-ons) in the PVRs.1 Requires 3rd party software.
Information about what video codecs are implemented natively (without third-party add-ons) in the PVRs.
Network Support
Each features is in context of computer-to-computer interaction. All features must be available after the default install otherwise the feature needs a footnote.2 retail third party plugin
3 free supported third party plugin
4 free unsupported third party plugin
5 Yes with free third party software Web Guide 4
TV Tuner Hardware
DVRs require a TV Tuner in order to work. Many DVRs, as seen above, can handle multiple tuners.See also
External links
Media PC Retailers
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Tuesday September 30, 2008 at 03:31:56 PDT (GMT -0700)
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