Auto-Install a TV Viewer If Chipset is Detected.

[LavianoTS386]

I was thinking that maybe for those newbies installing Ubuntu for the first time and in addition help 'sell' the OS to them, perhaps it would be a good idea to have the system installer automatically install a TV - viewing app, when the system detects that a video capture chipset is present.

When I was less informed, I remember one of my big hang ups about putting Ubuntu on my desktop was that I wasn't sure if my capture card would be detected (Bt878) and if it was, how would I use it? It kept me from putting it on my machine for a long time, until I got smart, installed an app from add/remove, that I discovered it worked.

So basically what I'm saying is, that if on a LiveCD somebody can see that that they can watch TV in Ubuntu, like they did in windows, they'll be even less apprehensive in regards to making the switch.

Anybody else feel the same way?

[AusIV4]

I would tend to disagree. The LiveCD should avoid having things that aren't going to be used by a significant portion of users. Anything else should be made easily available, but not included by default. I haven't used the live CD lately, but as I recall, TVTime is only a few clicks away in the repositories.

I do think it would be nice if there were an optional Live DVD that included a wider variety of apps in the base install, but I like that Ubuntu can be run from a single CD, and I don't think that CD should be any more bloated than necessary.

[CarpKing]

Best option would be for Totem to support television viewing if the proper video card features and drivers are there. Actually, I think it might in some limited cases. I know Mplayer and VLC can support TV input if the card/driver does V4L (video for Linux) or somesuch.

[LavianoTS386]

...as I recall, TVTime is only a few clicks away in the repositories.

Well that was part of my point, a typical end user won't know that their TV card has even been detected, unless they know what their chipset numbers are, in 'hardware information' So when they install Ubuntu, go to 'sound and video' and see that there's no TV program like there is in their Windows machine, they could assume that Ubuntu doesn't know their card exists.

IMHO having Ubuntu (where the proprietary device software isn't available, ie WinTV) not include a TV viewer in a system with a TV tuner is like, had Apple not included a Paint program with the original Mac.

Best option would be for Totem to support television viewing if the proper video card features and drivers are there. Actually, I think it might in some limited cases. I know Mplayer and VLC can support TV input if the card/driver does V4L (video for Linux) or somesuch.

Assuming you're right, I can't imagine that's as easy to use as clicking an icon only once and seeing your device work.

I just think that if somebody can't be pretty sure that they're going to be able to do something as easy as they would do in windows, or they perceive a loss in functionality, they'll stick with windows and for a lot of people the TV tuner in their computer was a major selling point, encouraging them to buy the the computer in the first place.

[hexion]

I like this idea. But we have the problem with the space in the LiveCD.

Other way would be detecting if the system is TV capable, and if so, placing a shortcut in the desktop with a web page with info or something like that. Or even a page with the apt-get command (now that firefox can be used as a front-end of apt-get)

[madmetal]

I would tend to disagree. The LiveCD should avoid having things that aren't going to be used by a significant portion of users. Anything else should be made easily available, but not included by default. I haven't used the live CD lately, but as I recall, TVTime is only a few clicks away in the repositories.

I do think it would be nice if there were an optional Live DVD that included a wider variety of apps in the base install, but I like that Ubuntu can be run from a single CD, and I don't think that CD should be any more bloated than necessary.

i totally agree....
this should be quoted and put in the top of UF suggestions topic...
its so easy to install TVtime thats its almost useless to waste space to include it at ubuntu cd..

but if a tv card is detected then to be more easy to install and configure TVtime or similar programs yeap thats fine..

[ronacc]

the apps wouldn't need to be on the cd , if a tv card was detected it could offer to dl and install them.

[LavianoTS386]

Right, on the Live-CD boot up it could just mention ina dialogue window that the card was detected and will be accessable once install is complete.

[ronacc]

IIRC it was just a matter of modprobing cx88dvb and installing mplayer to get my pchdtv5500 up and running with fiesty.

[b3n87]

I always thought this about ubuntu compared to other OS's like Opensuse, mandriva etc

TV Cards are tricky to set up and to actually get working!

If gnome added support then that would be the best option IMO