Building a home media center with MythTV
TV IN LINUX
MythTV and its extensive ecosystem of add-ons let you turn your Linux computer into a full-featured home media center.
MythTV is a collection of software tools for TV in Linux. The MythTV website [1] calls MythTV “a GPL-licensed suite of programs that allow you to build a mythical home media convergence box on your own using Open Source software and operating systems.” MythTV provides an interface from your computer to your cable or satellite television service. You can use MythTV to pause, rewind, or fast forward television programs. MythTV with a video capture card lets you record TV programs. And MythTV runs on a network-ready Linux system, so you can configure several front-end devices in your house to view and access a common set of video resources. At first glance, MythTV looks like nothing more than a Open Source clone of Tivo – a hard-disk-based video recorder that’s basically a digital version of a VCR. But MythTV offers much more functionality than Tivo. Yes, it can record, pause, and playback your favorite TV shows, but it also offers a huge suite of add-on applications that can do much more. Also, because MythTV is an Open Source project, it is not feature-encumbered like many of the commercial DVR systems. For example, MythTV provides automatic commercial skipping. On the other hand, although you used to be able to hack your Tivo to skip commercials, Tivo is now implementing flash-based pop-up advertisements that will display when the user is fast forwarding.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs