The relationship between traditional television and the Internet is still going through growing pains. With so many hardware options, geographic limitations, missing channels, and exclusive agreements, consumers are easily confused and often look for simpler alternatives. Even so, the idea of recording TV programs still holds appeal, and the folks at SiliconDust believe their HDHomeRun DVR software can become a useful resource.
The End of Windows Media Center
Many readers probably already know that Microsoft decided to close the curtains on Windows Media Center Edition. Although it was available in Windows 8 as an add-on, very few users saw the Redmond software as a viable option, and as a result, there will be nothing similar under Windows 10. So... what can be used as a replacement? Some might think of things like Kodi (formerly XBMC) and MediaPortal, but there are companies that propose different ideas, such as SiliconDust with its HDHomeRun DVR. It doesn't matter if it's several NAS boxes or a computer with multiple hard drives, HDHomeRun DVR promises to adapt to those configurations without a hitch, and without demanding advanced work from the user. Another critical detail in favor of HDHomeRun DVR is its ability to record protected content, something that usually becomes a headache.
Pricing and Requirements
Early access to the software via Kickstarter requires a payment of $30 that qualifies as a subscription and lasts exactly one year. Of course, to take advantage of all the resources of HDHomeRun DVR, we will need a tuner from the same company, which can be a bit difficult to obtain around the globe (its European page indicates an average price of 200 euros). This causes the whole idea behind HDHomeRun DVR to lose a bit of luster along the way, although it will surely manage to cover the needs of many interested parties. However, the underlying problem is that HDHomeRun DVR provides a solution for what is slowly becoming an obsolete option. Cable is a fossil, more and more users are turning to the Web, and the only logical path for traditional television to continue is the adoption of an on demand model.
