January 2009 - Ian Dixon's Blog - The Digital Lifestyle.com

Video: Review of Atomic Systems’ iStyle Media Center PC

Atomic Systems’ new iStyle is a very small stylish system that is unlike many other I have seen. It’s an Intel Atom powered slim line PC that with the wall mounting kit would make a great Media Center system. The system is is configurable...

Published Fri, Jan 30 2009 1:44 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Video

Video Resume finally a reality

Last night I was recording a video looking at Windows 7 Media Center features and I totally missed one big new feature: Video Resume. Fellow Media Center MVP Mike Garcen points out that one of the most annoying aspect of previous versions for Media Center...

Published Fri, Jan 30 2009 10:43 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

Media Center University at EHX

As a sign of how Media Center has progressed in to the Custom Integrator world this years EHX show will feature the a much more in depth Media Center university than previous years. Without the need to raise awareness of Media Center in the integrator...

Published Fri, Jan 30 2009 12:25 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #191 – Vidabox and Netbooks

Listen Here (mp3) This week I have the final interviews from CES, Vidabox’s Steven Cheung talks about the touchpad, bluray servers and their Media Center systems and Warner Crocker talks Netbooks and the demise of UMPCs I also have email and a round...

Published Thu, Jan 29 2009 11:26 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Podcast, The Media Center Show, CES 09

The Digital Lifestyle.com Survey + giveaway

Every now and then I like to do a little survey to test how various elements of the site are doing and over the last year TheDigitalLifestyle.com has been upgraded and lots of new content added. So I have a short 10 question survey that I would like you...

Published Wed, Jan 28 2009 2:27 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News

January, 2009 Update for Windows Home Server

The Windows Home Server team has had a minor update today for WHS, there will be a knowledge base article published shortly . More details on the Windows Home Server blog Today the Windows Home Server team is releasing a small update to the product. The...

Published Tue, Jan 27 2009 8:47 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Media Center and iTV application: Lots of promise but don’t get your hopes up

Nial Ginsbrough has been taking a look at the Media Center SDK for the beta build of Windows 7 and has picked up on the update iTV framework (internet TV) in Media Center. This framework allows for applications to be closely tied to the broadcast content...

Published Tue, Jan 27 2009 10:29 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, development, Windows 7

Integrators Get Opportunity to Influence Windows 7 Media Center

Microsoft are talking feedback on Windows Media Center in Windows 7 from the Media Center integrator Alliance (MCIA) in a private Windows 7 beta focusing. MCIA is aimed at Custom Integrators and their feedback will mean that the custom integrator issues...

Published Mon, Jan 26 2009 2:26 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

TDL - Post Roundup

I have not done a post roundup for a while so here are some posts from the last week. There seems to be lots of Windows 7 talk and if you testing the new Play to feature make sure you checkout the Wiki The Media Center Round Table Invitation Loading Custom...

Published Mon, Jan 26 2009 1:42 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News

My Windows 7 Play To experiences on the Play To Wiki

If you playing Windows 7’s Play To feature please check and update the “Play To” wiki page created by Simon May. With the feature being new to Windows but with a whole range of devices supporting DLNA there is a need for a community...

Published Mon, Jan 26 2009 8:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7, Play To

Playing FLAC files in Windows 7 Media Center

I can’t say I have ever used the FLAC format but I know lots of enthusiasts like the format for lossless music files and out of the box Windows 7 will not play FLAC or OGG. On the Hacking Windows 7 Media Center blog there is nice tutorial on how to get...

Published Sun, Jan 25 2009 9:53 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7

Updated version of Sideshow for Windows Mobile released

I really liked the Windows Media Center Sideshow gadgets when I tried it on my Windows Mobile device ( see this video for a demo ) and I used it it quite a few times since then. So I disappointed to see that after January 1st the Sideshow platform no...

Published Sun, Jan 25 2009 9:35 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Mobile

Behind cyberManor’s Media Center Ultimate Install

CE Pro have a feature on cyberManor , the winner of Microsoft’s 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest. The article looks at the technology cyberManor used to deliver the complete system, there is also a great slideshow showing how everything...

Published Fri, Jan 23 2009 2:49 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center on a Netbook

Today I got chance to play with a Samsung NC10 netbook, which must be one of the best netbooks around. It’s miles away from the EEE PC 701 I have and for most tasks could replace my Tablet PC as my main devices. So as I have done with just about everything...

Published Thu, Jan 22 2009 9:33 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Samsung, Netbooks, Windows 7, Play To

The Media Center Show #190 – The Awards Show

Listen Here (mp3) I have a great show this week, I have an interview with Microsoft’s Scott Evans talking about the New American Home which includes a whole home Media Center solution and I have The Digital Lifestyle.com Awards show recorded live...

Published Thu, Jan 22 2009 10:23 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Podcast, Windows Home Server, The Digital Lifestyle.com Awards, CES 09

Workaround for in-band loading issue in Windows 7 Beta Media Center - UK and New Zealand

So far my Windows 7 experience has been very good apart from struggling with Xbox 360 issues and network congestion problems with Windows 7, it turns out it could be a beta problem. According to a post on TGB from Microsoft there is a problem with in...

Published Wed, Jan 21 2009 4:00 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

New Windows 7 Forums

I had done a bit of a re-org of the forums on TheDigitalLifestyle.com and created a dedicated forum for Windows 7 with sub-forums for some of the major Windows 7 feature areas that we would be interested in such as Windows Media Center, "Play To”...

Published Wed, Jan 21 2009 10:30 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7

Live TV on a Netbook

Telegant are launching a hybrid tuner card designed for Netbooks , the half-mini PCIe tuner card would fit straight in to a Netbook or notebook and supports DVB-T, PAL/SECAM/NTSC and FM radio. With Windows 7 running so well on Netbooks this tuner card...

Published Wed, Jan 21 2009 9:31 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Netbooks

Pictures from the New American Home 2009

As you will have seen from the press release Microsoft had a lot of Media Center technologies in the New American Home, I saw at least 8 Media Center screens as well as a load of Xbox 360 being used as Extenders, a fantastic home theatre system and a...

Published Tue, Jan 20 2009 5:18 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, CES 09

Microsoft Named Platinum Technology Sponsor for the New American Home 2009

I got chance to visit this home while I was at CES and I will have an interview Microsoft’s Scott Evans on this weeks The Media Center Show , I should have some photos up soon as well. Here is the press release: LAS VEGAS — Jan. 20, 2009 —...

Published Tue, Jan 20 2009 5:05 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

S1Digital offer Windows 7 upgrade program

S1Digital makers of some very nice Media Center systems are offering a free upgrade to Windows 7 for new purchases of their S1Digital Media Centers and servers. The promotion runs from January 19th to March 31st 2009 and involves S1Digital performing...

Published Tue, Jan 20 2009 3:37 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, S1digital, Windows 7

Windows 7: Play To feature turns your PC into a Universal Remote Control

Already posted by Simon (he is becoming the the Play To guy!) but worth posting again. On10.net have a video with Gabe Frost (who we will be interviewing tonight for a future show) of the Windows team showing Play To which is one of my favourite features...

Published Tue, Jan 20 2009 10:53 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7, Play To

Play to compatible devices

Simon just posted a link to a list of Play To compatible devices ahead of our interview with Microsoft tomorrow, so If you have questions for Microsoft on Play To then let us know here Play To, it’s a fantastic feature of Windows 7, one that you...

Published Mon, Jan 19 2009 11:27 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7

Installing Windows 7 on a HP TouchSmart IQ500

Today I installed the 64bit version of Windows 7 on a HP TouchSmart IQ500, I partitioned the drive and setup a dual boot with Windows 7 and Vista. Installing Windows 7 is very simple and took about 20 minutes but unlike some of the installs I had done...

Published Sun, Jan 18 2009 8:28 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, HP TouchSmart, Windows 7

Enqrique Rodriguez: Microsoft’s Vision for Connected TV

Maybe some evidence to back up Chris’ claim about Media Center focus being switched back to the PC screen or advances in the platform with TV on the PC, the TV and the mobile devices: Yesterday we posted a video of Enrique Rodriguez, Corporate VP...

Published Sat, Jan 17 2009 8:44 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Tools for Windows 7 Media Center developers and testers

Charlie Owen a couple of tips for Windows 7 Media Center developers and tester. First he has details of the new version of MCDiag , a tool for troubleshooting Media Center: “The Media Center Diagnostic Tool gathers a lot of pertinent information...

Published Sat, Jan 17 2009 8:36 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

DISH on Windows Media Center with Windows 7

I said in the post yesterday the changes in the PBDA drive model in Windows 7 (started with the work in TV Pack) means that OEMS can bring tuners to Media Center without the need for assistance of Microsoft so the Dish Media Center work could be of the...

Published Fri, Jan 16 2009 8:34 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

Video: Random collection of videos from CES

While at CES I carried a little Flip Mimo around with me and recorded various random clips from the show floor. Here are the things included in the video (or order of appearance) Bloggers HP photo frames, netbooks and TouchSmart Logitec Harmony 1110 Lenovo...

Published Fri, Jan 16 2009 3:33 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: CES 09

Loading Custom EPG Data (and Channel Logos) in Windows 7

Niall has done something that will make a lot of Australian users very happy! He has figured out the EPG format of Windows Media Center (Windows 7 and TV Pack) and created a XML TV to Media Center converter (XMLTV to MXF). I am not sure some at Microsoft...

Published Thu, Jan 15 2009 10:40 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

The Media Center Round Table Invitation

We had such a great time recording the Round Table at CES last week and having enjoyed The Home Server Show Round Table I have decided to dedicate one show a month to a round table. On the first Tuesday of each month at 12pm PST / 8pm UK (well that is...

Published Thu, Jan 15 2009 9:03 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, The Media Center Show

Media Center is still a Platform!

I was undecided on whether to respond to Chris Lanier’s post where he basically says Microsoft have ditched Media Center as a platform and its now just about just watching TV on a PC but I thought I would with a bit of rambling, (if anybody would...

Published Thu, Jan 15 2009 2:29 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, Zune

The Media Center Show #189 – CES Interviews

Listen Here (mp3) I had a great time at CES, it was good to see Windows Media Center looking so well on Windows 7. I have an interesting selection of interviews taken from CES. There is Gordon van Zuiden from Cybermanor , Lenovo talking consumers products...

Published Thu, Jan 15 2009 8:00 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Podcast, Windows Home Server, The Media Center Show Awards, Windows 7, Windows Live, CES 09

NextGen home at CES

For the last 3 years I visited the NextGen home at CES, this year due to timing issues I had to give it it a miss (and I saw something way better that I can’t talk about yet) Fortunately Microsoft’s Pete Brown captured some video : 2009 CES...

Published Wed, Jan 14 2009 5:03 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, CES 09

MyNetflix Update

There was a lot of buzz around getting Netflix on to TVs and other devices at CES, Media Center has access to Netflix via Anthony Park’s MyNetFlix application but after a recent update to Netflix’s website a couple of features of MyNetflix...

Published Wed, Jan 14 2009 4:01 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

On10 show off Windows Media Center at CES

On10 have a video of Windows Media Center with Microsoft’s Ben Reed. Ben shows off the UI in Windows 7,some of the new TV features,Turbo Scroll and Play To CES 2009: Windows Media Center on Windows 7 with Touch

Published Tue, Jan 13 2009 5:30 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7, CES 09

Q & S Icons in Recorded TV on Windows 7

I have noticed that some TV shows have an S icon in the thumbnail and some have Q icon. In this example both are on the same machine, both are WTV files recorded by the same Vista machine running TV Pack. Anybody know what Q & S indicates? Edit There...

Published Tue, Jan 13 2009 4:26 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

Video: Vidabox vPad8 Touch Tablet at CES

Vidabox had a great suite at CES, they have a great range of products for high end installs including a 16TB RackServer, wall mounted touch panels and a great 8 inch touch tablet called the vPad8 . In this video Steven Cheug gives us a demo of the vPad...

Published Tue, Jan 13 2009 2:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vidabox, CES 09

Do you have questions for Microsoft about "Play To"...then ask!

Simon has details of a bit of a scoop for TheDigitalLifestyle.com : This is a bit of fantastic news! We've been contacted by Microsoft following our coverage of the Play To feature in Windows 7 pointing us to a white paper that has some great information...

Published Tue, Jan 13 2009 1:42 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7

Video: Allio 42-inch HDTV with Integrated PC and Blu-Ray Player

If you want the full power of the PC on your TV but want to keep things simple then the Allio all in one HDTV PC could be want you want. On the show floor I saw a demo of the Allio 42 inch unit and the Allio 32 inch which has an integrated touch screen...

Published Mon, Jan 12 2009 4:20 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, CES 09

How make Windows 7 task bar to look like Vista

I love the new task bar in Windows 7, but some people like the old Vista way and while there isn’t a one click way to changes Windows 7 taskbar to look like Vista Windows Media Center MVP Andrew Cherry has come up with a quick 6 step guide on how...

Published Sun, Jan 11 2009 5:17 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7

January 2009 - Ian Dixon's Blog

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