LinHES Forums :: View topic - Zap2It Service Stops on Sept. 1, 2007

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

For several years we have offered a free TV listings service to hobbyists for their own personal, noncommercial use. In October of 2004 we posted here an open letter saying the future of Zap2it Labs was at risk because of certain growing misuses of the Zap2it Labs data. Unfortunately this misuse has continued and grown. These misuses, combined with other business factors have led to the decision to discontinue Zap2it Labs effective September 1, 2007.

We thank those users who have honored the terms of the agreement, and we suggest you consider the many TV listings options offered by the commercial licensees of TMS TV listings data.

If you would like to discuss how to license TV listings for commercial use, please let us know by e-mail (labs@zap2it.com) and include your company name, telephone number and the best time to reach you. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

We anticipate this decision will generate discussion and invite you to respond via the Zap2it Labs forum. We will do our best to respond to relevant questions posted on this forum in a timely manner.

From the Zap2It website:

Quote:

From the Zap2It website:

Quote:

jakep_82 wrote:

Human,

I don't mean to start a flame war, but it seems to me you're one of the contributing factors to the shutdown of zap2it. You're selling a commercial product that makes use of data that is strictly forbidden from commercial use. In other words I don't think you have much to contribute to this conversation.

Sincerely,
A MythTV hobbyist

As the other commercial vendor (Australian Dragon) I have to mention that Human only sells hardware. Any hobbyist can buy a Dragon and tweak, install, reinstall anything he or she wants, including Windows MCE.

I'm not sure why Human's excellent product exclude him from the right to contribute to this discussion? I believe that if it affects you, you have the right to comment. It certainly affects Human, as he will now have to pay as well.

Human has also done loads of research and contributed all of his findings back to the KM community. There's no doubt in my mind that everyone has benefited from his work.

How has Human contributed to the demise of the free service? Selling hardware that's ideally suited to KM hardly constitutes abuse. In fact, Dragons are set up to grab once a day, at the time suggested by the grabber. Abuse?

At best, I think you are mistaken, and very rude to a community member who has contributed more than anyone (other than Cecil) to your hobby. What have you contributed to KM?

One more thing, in case you weren't aware, when you start by saying "I don't mean to start a flame war", you want to start a flame war, in the same way as you may say "I'm not racist, but...", I'm not sexist, but..." etc.

Cheers

Mike

As a parting shot, in case you weren't aware, when you start by saying "I don't mean to start a flame war", you want to start a flame war, in the same way as you may say "I'm not racist, but...", I'm not sexist, but..." etc.

Cheers

Mike

I don't mean to start a flame war, but it seems to me you're one of the contributing factors to the shutdown of zap2it. You're selling a commercial product that makes use of data that is strictly forbidden from commercial use. In other words I don't think you have much to contribute to this conversation.

Author:	mihanson [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Zap2It Service Stops on Sept. 1, 2007
From the Zap2It website: Quote: IMPORTANT MESSAGE: For several years we have offered a free TV listings service to hobbyists for their own personal, noncommercial use. In October of 2004 we posted here an open letter saying the future of Zap2it Labs was at risk because of certain growing misuses of the Zap2it Labs data. Unfortunately this misuse has continued and grown. These misuses, combined with other business factors have led to the decision to discontinue Zap2it Labs effective September 1, 2007. We thank those users who have honored the terms of the agreement, and we suggest you consider the many TV listings options offered by the commercial licensees of TMS TV listings data. If you would like to discuss how to license TV listings for commercial use, please let us know by e-mail (labs@zap2it.com) and include your company name, telephone number and the best time to reach you. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. We anticipate this decision will generate discussion and invite you to respond via the Zap2it Labs forum. We will do our best to respond to relevant questions posted on this forum in a timely manner.

Author:	Too Many Secrets [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Zap2It Service Stops on Sept. 1, 2007
mihanson wrote: From the Zap2It website: Quote: IMPORTANT MESSAGE: For several years we have offered a free TV listings service to hobbyists for their own personal, noncommercial use. In October of 2004 we posted here an open letter saying the future of Zap2it Labs was at risk because of certain growing misuses of the Zap2it Labs data. Unfortunately this misuse has continued and grown. These misuses, combined with other business factors have led to the decision to discontinue Zap2it Labs effective September 1, 2007. We thank those users who have honored the terms of the agreement, and we suggest you consider the many TV listings options offered by the commercial licensees of TMS TV listings data. If you would like to discuss how to license TV listings for commercial use, please let us know by e-mail (labs@zap2it.com) and include your company name, telephone number and the best time to reach you. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. We anticipate this decision will generate discussion and invite you to respond via the Zap2it Labs forum. We will do our best to respond to relevant questions posted on this forum in a timely manner. Bad news. This I see as the achilles heal of MythTV.

Author:	slowtolearn [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Zap2It Service Stops on Sept. 1, 2007
mihanson wrote: From the Zap2It website: Quote: IMPORTANT MESSAGE: For several years we have offered a free TV listings service to hobbyists for their own personal, noncommercial use. In October of 2004 we posted here an open letter saying the future of Zap2it Labs was at risk because of certain growing misuses of the Zap2it Labs data. Unfortunately this misuse has continued and grown. These misuses, combined with other business factors have led to the decision to discontinue Zap2it Labs effective September 1, 2007. Ouch! That certainly doesn't come as good news. I have never even looked, are there viable alternatives (viable as a MythTV user)? Perhaps the folks at Zap2It will consider a pay-for option. I've already read a few posts from users hoping for that.

Author:	s1148625 [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:
Back to XMLTV? I can't imagine they'd appreciate the extra load on their servers... but what choice do we have?

Author:	quaffapint [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:58 pm ]
Post subject:
Funny thing - I just renewed tonight to 9/27/07. I did post in their forums - tossing my hat in the 'pay a few bucks for the service' ring.

LinHES Forums http://forums.linhes.org/

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Author:	jakep_82 [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:
I'd also pay for the service. This really makes me sad

Author:	Human [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:
dugg: http://digg.com/tech_news/Zap2It_To_Dis ... ting_Feeds

Author:	jakep_82 [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:
Human, I don't mean to start a flame war, but it seems to me you're one of the contributing factors to the shutdown of zap2it. You're selling a commercial product that makes use of data that is strictly forbidden from commercial use. In other words I don't think you have much to contribute to this conversation. Sincerely, A MythTV hobbyist

Author:	Xsecrets [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:46 pm ]
Post subject:
man I hate to even think about going back to xmltv. I remember that nightmare.

Author:	manicmike [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:
deleted

Author:	manicmike [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:
manicmike wrote: jakep_82 wrote: Human, I don't mean to start a flame war, but it seems to me you're one of the contributing factors to the shutdown of zap2it. You're selling a commercial product that makes use of data that is strictly forbidden from commercial use. In other words I don't think you have much to contribute to this conversation. Sincerely, A MythTV hobbyist As the other commercial vendor (Australian Dragon) I have to mention that Human only sells hardware. Any hobbyist can buy a Dragon and tweak, install, reinstall anything he or she wants, including Windows MCE. I'm not sure why Human's excellent product exclude him from the right to contribute to this discussion? I believe that if it affects you, you have the right to comment. It certainly affects Human, as he will now have to pay as well. Human has also done loads of research and contributed all of his findings back to the KM community. There's no doubt in my mind that everyone has benefited from his work. How has Human contributed to the demise of the free service? Selling hardware that's ideally suited to KM hardly constitutes abuse. In fact, Dragons are set up to grab once a day, at the time suggested by the grabber. Abuse? At best, I think you are mistaken, and very rude to a community member who has contributed more than anyone (other than Cecil) to your hobby. What have you contributed to KM? One more thing, in case you weren't aware, when you start by saying "I don't mean to start a flame war", you want to start a flame war, in the same way as you may say "I'm not racist, but...", I'm not sexist, but..." etc. Cheers Mike

Author:	slowtolearn [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:
jakep_82 wrote: Human, I don't mean to start a flame war, but it seems to me you're one of the contributing factors to the shutdown of zap2it. You're selling a commercial product that makes use of data that is strictly forbidden from commercial use. In other words I don't think you have much to contribute to this conversation. Sincerely, A MythTV hobbyist I disagree. It seems to me the only thing that Human is supplying is the hardware and software that you and I are both already using. In other words, the means to use the Zap2it service. The same service you and I would (probably) readily agree to the need for and use. EDIT: manicmike got in before I did. I think this sums it up: manicmike wrote: As a parting shot, in case you weren't aware, when you start by saying "I don't mean to start a flame war", you want to start a flame war, in the same way as you may say "I'm not racist, but...", I'm not sexist, but..." etc. Cheers Mike

Author:	Human [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:
jakep_82 wrote: I don't mean to start a flame war, but it seems to me you're one of the contributing factors to the shutdown of zap2it. You're selling a commercial product that makes use of data that is strictly forbidden from commercial use. In other words I don't think you have much to contribute to this conversation. We have never shipped Dragons with zap2it data or accounts pre-configured on them. The reason we have contributed lots of automation to the KnoppMyth installation process is to make it easier for customers to install KnoppMyth themselves, which is quite in line with zap2it labs' usage policy. Way back when zap2it first posted their message about people using their data without permission, I contacted them to make sure they weren't referring to us, and indeed they were not. I still don't know who exactly they are referring to, but I'm not going to make wild speculations about it. jakep_82 wrote: A MythTV hobbyist I'm a MythTV hobbyist, too, or else I wouldn't be making Dragons and running the store Thanks to the others who defended me, by the way. I love this community

Author:	jakep_82 [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:
I don't disagree that he has contributed back to the community. The problem is without zap2it, Dragon systems are nothing more than expensive desktop systems here in the US. Yes, someone could install Windows MCE or some other crappy software, but it's advertised as a MythTV system. That means he's profiting from a service that is forbidden commercially. Disagree if you want, but it seems that zap2it is viewing it this way. EDIT: Well now Human is saying that he contacted zap2it and they said he was not a contributing factor. So now I will apologize. It appears I jumped to an incorrect conclusion.

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