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Android phone as DVR?

So I love my HTC Desire. Had it about a month and I'm constantly amazed at how awesome it is. And yes, it's my first smartphone.

But can it do this....

Would like to be able to plug it into my TV via USB and simply record what is on.

TV is an LG.

I know there's a lot of variables, but is this even close to being possible?

Thanks.
 
I have searched google and i dont think this is possible. Sorry buddy gotta upgrade your box with the cable company.
 
I've got a great digital cable box.

If I have to set up my own dvr in the form of a re-purposed computer I will. But with all the great things a smartphone can do, I was just wondering if this was possible.

Anyone have other opinions that could possibly give me some hope?

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NO. If you really want me to explain why I will.

First off, there are no physical hardware inputs on the phone. I.e. there are no rca inputs, no component inputs, no hdmi inputs. So there is no way to get a video signal into a phone.

Second, there isnt hardware in the phone to decode those signals. You would need an analog and digital interface to convert the video input signals into digital signals the phone can understand. And you would need an ATSC tuner to get OTA broadcasts, which as of right now are pretty big, and wouldnt physically fit into a phone.

Third, Android doesnt have support for peripherals like this, so even if your phone had inputs, and a hardware decoder, it wouldnt be able to support it.

Fourth, NO android phone right now has the processing power to decode the signals. From my experience on pc's, you need at least 1.5ghz to fully decode analog signals, and at least 2.5 ghz for digital HD.

Fifth, storage. Recording TV takes a lot of space. HD requires about 5GB an hour just to record it, and SD is just a bit less.

Sixth, playback. No phone has the ability to playback full HD 720p of 1080i yet. SD, yes, but not hd. My evo can playback 720p files, but only at a bitrate of less than 5MB/s. Broadcast HD is at LEAST 15MB/s, no phone processor can handle this.

Need any more reasons why it cannot be done?
 
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