MythMobile: MythTV Streaming for Mobile Devices

I am a long time user of MythTV. I am also a recent user of Apple's iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch mobile devices. One of my personal projects has been to figure out how to watch my MythTV recordings on these and other such mobile devices.  For example it should work on Android based devices as well. After much research and trial and error, I have finally come up with a solution that seems to work well.

The solution is relatively straight forward.  I transcode the recordings and store them in a user friendly naming scheme in a folder that is shared via Apache web server and Samba file share.  For extra convenience, I copy the recordings via rsync to an Internet accessible web server so that I can watch my recordings from anywhere.

The biggest challenge to this project was getting the transcoding right. Here is a sample invocation of ffmpeg that works for me.

# nice ffmpeg -y -i "${input_file}" -s 480x352 -r 29.97 -g 300 \
   -vsync 1 -vcodec mpeg4 -b 1280k -maxrate 1536k \
   -async 1 -acodec libfaac -ab 1024 -ar 44100 -ac 2 \
   -flags +aic+mv4 -mbd 2 -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 -bufsize 2M \
   "${output_file}"

The three main video codecs that I recommend are MPEG-4 (e.g. mpeg4), DivX (e.g. libxvid), and H.264 (e.g. libx264).  The best video quality to me was a tie between MPEG-4 and DIVX.  You also can adjust the bitrate/maxbitrate to find the video quality/file size that best meets your needs.  A bitrate/maxrate combination of 1280k/1536k resulted in good video quality and about a 10x reduction in the file size from the native format (e.g. MythTV mpg) to mp4.

To simplify and automate my environment, I wrote two perl scripts that manage creating and presenting the mobile friendly video files.  The first perl script (e.g. MythTV2mp4.pl) transcodes, renames, and stores the video files in /var/www/MythMobile.  Note that Apache Web Server and Samba File Server have been configured to make /var/www/MythMobile available on my local network.  When running this script, you can specify via the optional flags the recordings directory with --r recordings_dir and the web directory with --w www_dir.  If no flags are specified, the default locations are /var/lib/mythtv/recordings for the recordings directory and /var/www/MythMobile for the web directory.

The second perl script (e.g. index.cgi) can be placed into a folder within your web server document root.  For example, I placed it in /var/www/MythMobile on my server.  This script facilitates presenting the video files in a Mobile device friendly format.  Note that I had to modify the Apache web server configuration (e.g. httpd.conf) with the following modifications.

1. Add index.cgi to the DirectoryIndex.
2. Add the .cgi handler by adding "AddHandler cgi-script .cgi".
3. Add ExecCGI to the Options of the containing Directory.

With the installation of the index.cgi script and these three web server changes changes applied, the video files are presented with much more user friendly format as you can see from the pictures below.

Here are the vertical and horizontal views on an Apple iPhone.

Here is the vertical view on an Apple iPad.

Here is the horizontal view on an Apple iPad.

I bundled up the two perl scripts and a README and made them available as a zip file named MythMobile-1.0.zip.

Check it out and try it for yourself.

Enjoy!

Brad

NTTA a scam and violating civil rights

This weekend I was shocked to receive the following (redacted to protect the innocent ... me) letter from a collection agency on behalf of the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) stating that they were collecting $182.34 for unpaid toll violations.

I thought about it and there were only three different scenarios where I could conceive there to be a possible infraction.

• First, I recalled a time several years ago when upon returning home from a family trip we couldn't safely change lanes to get out of the Toll tag lane and into the toll lane in time. I received a bill a couple of weeks later for that incident and promptly paid it.

• Second, there have been several times when going through the North Dallas Tollway the money collector does not properly tabulate your change. For example, in one occasion I put over 2 dollars worth of quarters into the basket and the counter never showed that I had paid more than 75 cents. I eventually just pulled through even though the light never turned green. As a side note, there ought to be a federal or at least state regulation that requires all toll agencies to contribute the excess to a noble cause or something useful other than lining their pockets... It looks like from this youtube video that this scenario this isn't all that uncommon.

• Third, there were a couple of occasions where I drove through the George Bush Turnpike (GBT) after they had taken out the toll booths and replaced them with some sort of automated tolling system.

I must admit that in this third case I was a little freaked out the first time I drove through the GBT seeing the toll lanes blocked and signs like this one [left].

Trusting that they would send me a bill, I promptly and gladly forgot about the toll fully expecting to receive a bill that I would of course promptly pay. However, the bills NEVER CAME!!!!!

Instead, the letter from a collection agency arrived several months later on behalf of NTTA.

In all three of these scenarios, I am completely innocent of any wrong doing. Upon receipt of a bill, I paid it. Despite being robbed by an automated toll change collector, I paid more than was expected before driving on. And lastly, I couldn't be responsible for paying a bill that I never received!!!!

Back to my story... I called the NTTA (waiting for nearly an hour before I could talk to a real person). Lisa from the NTTA was kind enough to take my call. I asked if the NTTA had ever sent me a bill for these alleged violations. She recited several dates where the NTTA had sent a bill and then followed up a month later with a late notice bill and then after that handed the bills off to a collection agency. I told Lisa that I had NEVER received a bill pertaining to these charges. She insisted that the computer system shows that bills had been sent.

I then verified my billing address to insure that the NTTA had the correct information. Throughout our conversation I re-verified the billing address two other times just to be sure that it was correct. Indeed it was.

Lisa said that since this was my first offense she would give me a one time opportunity to pay my overdue bills without penalty. The sum total of my bill less penalty charges was a mere $7.34. I couldn't believe that the sum total was less than $10. They charged me an extra $175 in penalties for a $7.34 bill that I had NEVER SEEN! If this isn't a scam I don't know what is.

Here is a redacted copy of the receipt for my toll fees:

I asked Lisa to show me how to login to NTTA.org so that I could see the toll violations for myself. Lisa looked up my NTTA account number, which I can't get unless they send me a bill. We then entered the account number and the assocaited license plate number. Here were the 7 offenses.


Not sure if you can see it or not but the first two were from 2008. That was over two years ago!!! I haven't moved in over 5 years, so there is no excuse for not having sent the bills to the appropriate address. The NTTA simply just didn't send them!!!

Now that you have heard my lament, you are probably thinking just buy a toll tag and quit griping.... right? Well in researching for this blog post I have discovered that my situation appears to be more the norm than the exception. This youtube clip from CBS11 is a good example but there are many more. Just google on NTTA scam and you will find many more similar stories.

This begs the question, how does this situation line up with the law?

The Eighth amendment to the Constitution of the United States (e.g. the Bill of Rights) states

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

This statement is echoed in the section 13 of the Bill of Rights section of the Texas Constitution as well.

I am not sure what constitutes an excessive fine but the multiplier effect of each use of the tollway should be taken into consideration. For example a $25 fine for an unpaid $1.00 toll seems excessive. However, if the person used the toll 20 times, the fines would be $500 for a $20 toll bill. That seems very excessive to me.

Further, if people are intentionally not provided a bill in a timely manner so as to negate their opportunity to pay in a timely manner should be a criminal offense in my humble opinion. This was clearly the case for me and it doesn't appear that I am the only person in this situation as you can see from the many comments on this thread.

In researching this matter I saw several justifications of the fines stating that they are legitimate because the effected people were informed via their NTTA bill that a $25 fine would be imposed for every unpaid toll bill. I can understand that if people actually got a bill in a timely manner. However, I (and apparently many other people) have NEVER received a bill before receiving a collections notice.

The collection noticed cited Section 366.178 of the Texas Transportation Code which states that you can be fined up to $250 per incident plus an additional $100 administration fee per incident. That means that the NTTA can charge you up to $350 per $1.00 toll that you don't pay in a timely manner. That is insane! This law needs to be repealed or modified to limit the scope to a lower maximum per incident and capped at a maximum annual fee and for that matter a maximum lifetime fee!!! Further, someone needs to file a class action law suit to recover damages for everyone that hasn't stood up for their rights.

CBS stated that there are an estimated 500,000 people that use the George Bush Turnpike every day. If only 20% are scammed in the same way that I was scammed, the NTTA is earning nearly an extra $2.3 million in fines alone every day.

I have read of many people electing to not use toll roads. I'm not so sure that is very practical for most north DFW commuters. In addition, it doesn't defend the rights of unsuspecting and defenseless people that pass through our state that will not stand up for themselves and just pay the fines.

So, to all of you lawyers and television news networks out there that want to see real justice, please look into this matter and see to it that the NTTA is held accountable for this abusive scam and violation of the civil rights of Texans and every other person that happens to pass through a North Texas toll road.

Thanks in advance!

Brad

Don Bowen Memorial Service

I had the great pleasure to participate in a life well lived. Watch Don's memorial service video and you will see what I mean.

Don Bowen's Memorial Service from Steve Bowen on Vimeo.
Blessings to you and yours!

Brad

90 Minutes in Heaven

In light of the recent passing of my good friend Don Bowen from earth to heaven, I thought that people might enjoy hearing about the book 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life. This book has been a great encouragement to me.

Here is a brief synopsis provided by ChristianAudio.com followed by a brief video teaser that includes photos from the accident as well as commentary from the author.

On the way home from a conference, Don Piper's car was crushed by a semi that crossed into his lane. Medical personnel said he died instantly. While his body lay lifeless inside the ruins of his car, Piper experienced the glories of heaven, awed by its beauty and music.

Ninety minutes after the wreck, while a minister prayed for him, Piper miraculously returned to life on earth with only the memory of inexpressible heavenly bliss. His faith in God was severely tested as he faced an uncertain and grueling recovery. Now he shares his life-changing story with you.

90 Minutes in Heaven offers a glimpse into a very real dimension of God's reality. It encourages those recovering from serious injuries and those dealing with the loss of a loved one. And now it is available in this audio edition, emotionally read by Don Piper himself. The experience dramatically changed Piper's life, and it will change yours too.



I hope this is a blessing to you!

Brad

To You Be The Glory

To You Be The Glory is one of my favorite songs from Glory Revealed II. This song puts to music Romans 11:33-36.

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen

Even if you could care less about the scripture reference or words of the song, I hope that you will enjoy the music. However, this passage and beautiful song are a reminder that He is worthy of all my praise. To Him be the glory!

You can listen to the song and watch a video related to it by clicking the picture below.


I hope this is a blessing to you and yours!

Brad

Until We Meet Again Friend...

This is a personal tribute to my friend Don Bowen to keep his smiling face etched in my memory forever.

Don, you have always been a great friend through the years. I loved discussing all things Directory Services with you during your tenure at Sun. I loved even more swapping spiritual encouragements during good times and hard times. These last couple of years though, Don raised the bar on encouragement not only to me but to everyone that followed his pilgrimage through his blog. Even my mom, a cancer survivor herself has followed your blog and been encouraged immensely by it.

To Eileen and the girls, my prayers continue on for God's comfort and provision for you in the days and years ahead.

2 Corinthians 5 reminds us that to be away from the body is to be present with the Lord. Many have been praying for a big miracle for Don these last couple of years. On October 31st of 2009, Don finally got the biggest miracle of all to be embraced by the loving arms of his Lord. I look forward to seeing you again one day my friend. Until then, blessings to you and yours!

Your friend and brother in Christ!

Brad

What Should I Do If I've Become A Victim Of Identity Theft?

A friend recently reached out to me regarding what to do when they have been victimized by identity theft. This can be a rather thorny subject because the solution may not necessarily be as clean as one would like it to be. That being said, I would refer them to expert resources that deal with this issue.
The top two resources that I have found thus far are the Identity Theft Victim's Guide by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) and the US Department of Justice Identity Theft and Fraud page, which is just a subset of the PRC's checklist.
At a minimum, both encourage you to:

• notify all of your bank and credit card accounts of the fraudulent activity (in writing) and request new cards with new account numbers,
  
• monitor your account activity,
  
• monitor your credit report,
  
• contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
  
• and contact the fraud units of the three principal credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian (formerly TRW), and Trans Union)

And be sure to do all these things as soon as possible.

I highly encourage you though to read through the full PRC checklist to determine what actions best fit your needs.

Blessings to you and yours!

Brad