[Articles] Google purchases SageTV

[CT Droid]

Wow, I did not see this one coming. SageTV sent out an e-mail to its customers explaining how SageTV has been purchased by Google. It looks like the store has been shut down already, but existing customers will continue to receive support from SageTV. As a SageTV customers myself, I'm not sure how I feel about this, SageTV was pretty unique since it supported so many file formates, broadcasting various TV sources real time to any location using the extremely energy efficient extenders, while also supporting DVD/Blu-Ray libraries.

Best case scenario, Google replaces Google TV with a SageTV based system (a SageTV set top box is not that far fetched), and everyone wins, or Google has something else planned, which doesn't offer much to SageTV customers. Hopefully this won't become another Meedio fiasco (Yahoo purchased the Meedio software several years ago, only to rename it and shut it down).

From their site:

We're thrilled to announce that SageTV has been acquired by Google.

Since 2002, we've worked to change the TV viewing experience by building cutting-edge software and technology that allows you to create and control your media center from multiple devices. And as the media landscape continues to evolve, we think it's time our vision of entertainment management grows as well. By teaming up with Google, we believe our ideas will reach an even larger audience of users worldwide on many different products, platforms and services.

We've seen how Google's developer efforts are designed to stimulate innovation across the web, and as developers have played a core role in the success of SageTV, we think our shared vision for open technology will help us advance the online entertainment experience. We look forward to joining Google, and while we don't have anything specific to announce at this time, we encourage interested developers to email:

[email protected]

Full speed ahead!

The SageTV Team

The e-mail:

Greetings,

We're writing to let you know that SageTV has been acquired by Google.

Since 2002, we've worked to change the TV viewing experience by building cutting-edge software and technology that allows you to create and control your media center from multiple devices. And as the media landscape continues to evolve, we think it's time our vision of entertainment management grows as well. By teaming up with Google, we believe our ideas will reach an even larger audience of users worldwide on many different products, platforms and services.

We've seen how Google's developer efforts are designed to stimulate innovation across the web, and as developers have played a core role in the success of SageTV, we think our shared vision for open technology will help us advance the online entertainment experience.

Although we will be shutting down the SageTV store, we will continue to support existing users. We'd also like to continue our dialog with the SageTV community by keeping the forum open for discussion.

We really appreciate everyone's support over the years, and we hope you'll stay tuned as we embark on new projects at Google.

The SageTV team



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[BraveSirRobbin]

Actually, I did see something like this coming! I even posted THIS comment stating

...now is not the time to invest in SageTV

a year and a half ago when I found out they had no intention of supporting the new Silicon Dust cable card tuners at CES 2010. I just don't think they have the funds to invest in the cable license development scheme required to pull off such a feat.

A real disappointment as I along with most of us have a lot of money invested in their software and media extenders. :angry2:

 

[michelkenny]

Actually, I did see something like this coming! I even posted THIS comment stating a year and a half ago when I found out they had no intention of supporting the new Silicon Dust cable card tuners at CES 2010. I just don't think they have the funds to invest in the cable license development scheme required to pull off such a feat.

A real disappointment as I along with most of us have a lot of money invested in their software and media extenders. :angry2:

It is a sad day indeed.

 

[Rupp]

I don't get it. As long as our licenses work then we still have what we have which is good right?

 

[electron]

The store has been shut down already, so we can't buy more extenders, plus there is the concern about EPG data. Meedio went through this, and ended up getting shut down. This definitely could be a good thing, but the sudden store shut down, and lack of info is usually a bad sign.

 

[DaveW42]

Dan,

You noted on the SageTV forums that you could create a SageTV forum on Cocoontech.

Build it, and they will come.

Dave

 

[electron]

Problem with turning it on is that it will force people to check 2 locations, since not everyone will move until SageTV posts their intentions.

 

[IVB]

Back from the dead, or at least 5 games of soccer/week trying to get back into shape now that I'm in my 40s, I have 2 thoughts:
A) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU


B ) Regardless of what the future holds, the current state is fine. Hardware works, software works. Matter of fact, I just found a disillusioned guy who'll sell me 2 HD300's with IR Receiver & WiFi dongle and SageTV V7. Well, for about $400 or so. I have 2 functioning HD200's, and the drop-dead situation of 2 HD100's which I really don't want to get to. My HA/HT system has been nearly untouched for 24 months, that should buy me another 18-24 months. By then Google will have come up with their next rev, competitors may have responded.

I don't need Ms. Right, I need Ms. Right Now. And for the next 18 months, assuming this dude doesn't change his mind, I have my Ms. Right Now.

 

[drvnbysound]

Wow. I recently picked up an Elk, and was soon planning to purchase Sage. I definitely didnt see this coming, and I am not sure if I wish I would have purchased already and had the working product, or glad that I didnt purchase a product that may now be sunset :unsure:

Definitely in for updates to see how this unfolds.

 

[drvnbysound]

Here are a couple of my major concerns with this transition (taken from posts on the Sage forum):

1) From fidget, "I am not seeing this as a good thing for the user community. GoogleTV is not up to the caliber of SageTV and I don't expect them to support things such as ripped DVDs...."

- I already have 70+DVD's ripped....


2) From toricred, "This may also mean DRM is coming. I would really hate that."

- I am really not smart enough on the DRM implication, but I have only heard/read things in the past regarding how hard it would be to integrate into an 'open' architecture, etc. so I can only foresee this as being a negative.


3) From srothwell, "alas, now I fear there will NEVER be an ipad version of Placeshifter :-( Over my dead body will I ever use an Andriod tablet..... "

- Im not on the iFan bandwagon, so I really dont care all that much about this, but I assume others have similar concerns.

 

[electron]

Back from the dead, or at least 5 games of soccer/week trying to get back into shape now that I'm in my 40s, I have 2 thoughts:
A) http://www.youtube.c...h?v=UPw-3e_pzqU


B ) Regardless of what the future holds, the current state is fine. Hardware works, software works. Matter of fact, I just found a disillusioned guy who'll sell me 2 HD300's with IR Receiver & WiFi dongle and SageTV V7. Well, for about $400 or so. I have 2 functioning HD200's, and the drop-dead situation of 2 HD100's which I really don't want to get to. My HA/HT system has been nearly untouched for 24 months, that should buy me another 18-24 months. By then Google will have come up with their next rev, competitors may have responded.

I don't need Ms. Right, I need Ms. Right Now. And for the next 18 months, assuming this dude doesn't change his mind, I have my Ms. Right Now.

Welcome back, glad to have you back!

I pretty much agree with you. In fact, I downgraded back to V6, and the platform just works, no maintenance is needed (am sure V7 is the same). As long as EPG data is available, I have no reason to make any changes.

As for your HD100, don't throw them out, once I replaced the caps in mine, the unit ran much quicker, and in fact performs just as well as the HD200 when it comes to things like Blu-Ray playback etc.

 

[Waynedb]

Welcome back, glad to have you back!

I pretty much agree with you. In fact, I downgraded back to V6, and the platform just works, no maintenance is needed (am sure V7 is the same). As long as EPG data is available, I have no reason to make any changes.

As for your HD100, don't throw them out, once I replaced the caps in mine, the unit ran much quicker, and in fact performs just as well as the HD200 when it comes to things like Blu-Ray playback etc.

Google responded to Brent on the SageTV forum that the guide data will be available for at least a year, after that we have other options.

I will stick with SageTV for as long as it is the best option, I doubt I would ever want any version of Google TV.

 

[jwilson56]

I have a brand new HD300 sitting in the box. Maybe I will sell it since I have not deployed it yet.

 

[IVB]

well my plan fell through once the dude saw how much the eBay ones were going for. I'm not spending $300 per HD300, I'll just (ugh) build a mini or shuttle based HTPC for that. You can get fanless ones nowadays, i'll bet by the time my stuff dies I could get a damn nice one for $250ish. I still have 3 SageTV client licenses unused from my HTPC days.

Man WTF am I doing on HA/HT forums again, I'm supposed to be @soccer. Well, thank god I have 5 games in the next 4 days, that'll get me too tired to stress about this.

and as mentioned on the other fora, if Dean ever even considers selling to Google (which is down the street from his apt), I will personally drive down and kick his ass. I haven't even touched CQC in 2 years, it'll be fast to replace Sage with a tv-only equivalent like DirecTV/Comcast, but no way can I handle re-setting up my whole shtick with another HA mfr.

Although i'm also really wondering why I don't just totally bail out and stick with HD OTA. If i'm going to mess with life, I may as well cut $75/month out from expenses.

 

[electron]

Ok that's insane:

http://cgi.ebay.com/...1#ht_500wt_1156

If you have a spare HD300, might as well sell it. Crazy!

As for Dean, CQC will run forever, even without updates, so that's not too big of a deal should something like that happen. I would love to cut cable as well, but BBC America (and DIY/HGTV, but not as important) are holding me back :/