March 2009 - Ian Dixon's Blog - The Digital Lifestyle.com: Windows Media Center news, podcasts, videos, forums and wikis

Video: The Digital Lifestyle Hardware - ATI Digital Cable Tuners

I have been wanting to get more video content on to the site and I was talking with Mike Brown about doing a hardware review show and Mike picked up the challenge and has completed this first video which is a detailed look at his favourite hardware, the...

Published Tue, Mar 31 2009 2:30 PM by Ian Dixon

TDL Post Roundup

This week saw the release of Power Pack 2 for Windows Home Server which includes a Media Center addin and on The Media Center Show Andrew Edney explains what is new in Power Pack 2 and he tells us about the new Windows Media Center Addin (I also posted...

Published Sun, Mar 29 2009 10:39 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News Roundup

Video: How to install the new Windows Media Center addin for Windows Home Server

The new Power Pack 2 update for Windows Home Server includes a Windows Media Center addin that enables Media Center to consume content stored on the Windows Home Server. Prior to PP2 you had to jump through some hoops to get it working involving shares...

Published Sat, Mar 28 2009 9:18 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, How To

Podcast: The Custom Integrator Show Installment 008

Derek has posted installment 008 of The Custom Integrator Show, this really dives in to the details of Cablecard installation and troubleshooting. Derek has also posted a very detailed blog post to accompany the podcast with some great content on it This...

Published Fri, Mar 27 2009 9:58 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Gizmodo: Windows 7 Might Block Third-Party Video Codecs

Gizmodo have a post up about Windows 7 blocking 3rd party codecs in the beta , first let me say I am not a big fan of 3rd party codecs and especially the codec packs that every time I have installed any they seem to break something else. Anyway according...

Published Thu, Mar 26 2009 9:33 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7

Video: Unboxing and First Impressions of a AMILO Notebook Sa3650 with GraphicBooster

This video is an unboxing video of Fujitsu Siemens AMILO Sa3650 which comes with what Fujistsu calls a GraphicBooster which is a external box that has an extra graphics card built in to it. The box connects via a special cable and has 2 USB ports, a HDMI...

Published Thu, Mar 26 2009 1:40 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Video, AMD

Podcast: The Media Center Show #199 – Round Table and Windows Home Server PP2

Listen Here (mp3) A bumper show this week as I welcome Simon May , Richard Miller and Josh Shenkle to the show and we talk Windows 7, Play To and the Windows 7 SKUs. I also have Windows Home Server MVP Andrew Edney on the show to to explain what is new...

Published Thu, Mar 26 2009 12:03 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, The Media Center Show, Windows 7

Loss of Media Center TV on the South Coast? Update: All working now

Just a heads up to Windows Media Center users on the South Coast of England. Brian Frost has come across a problem with the guide since the channel frequencies have changed today Brian said: “On the S.Coast here today was a planned switchover of...

Published Wed, Mar 25 2009 10:01 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

TDL Coffee Morning – Sunday 10am

This Sunday morning I will be recording a live show / round table. Joining me for coffee will be Andrew Edney, Adam Thursby (getting up unbelievably early!), Simon May and a couple others. On the menu will be Windows Home Server and it’s new Windows Media...

Published Tue, Mar 24 2009 9:50 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Live Streaming

Windows Home Server now on MSDN , no really it is!

It was on for a matter of minutes last week but it is really on now, Windows Home Server is available on MSDN . I really enjoying developing my Media Center Health Monitor addin for Windows Home Server, its a nice platform for developing on so its great...

Published Tue, Mar 24 2009 10:05 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Official: Windows Home Server Power Pack 2 will be available via Windows Update starting Tuesday, March 24

It's offical Windows Home Server Power Pack 2 will be available via Windows Update starting Tuesday, March 24. The main feature of interest for Windows Media Center users the Windows Media Center addin that is part of Power Pack 2, its an addin that enables...

Published Tue, Mar 24 2009 2:09 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server

Windows Media Center to get Freeview HD

Not sure how I missed this, according to James Stables on the WindowsVistaMangazine.com Microsoft are working with NXP to make a DVB-T2 tuner for Windows 7. This will enable Windows Media Center to work with the new Freeview HD service that is being started...

Published Mon, Mar 23 2009 3:46 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

TDL Postround

This weeks edition of The Media Center Show we talkedt AMD and The Custom Integrator Show was all about TV tuners and CableCARD. We had The Windows Media Center Ultimate Enthusiast Contest 2009 and some great other posts including plenty of hacks for...

Published Mon, Mar 23 2009 2:21 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News Roundup

Media Center Ultimate Enthusiast Contest: Custom Wall Hanging PC

I have had a few entries in to The Windows Media Center Ultimate Enthusiast Contest 2009 (come on guys show us your setups!), and one picture I thought looked great was the custom self-contained hanging Wall-PC. I have often thought about doing something...

Published Sun, Mar 22 2009 8:03 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup

The Windows Media Center Ultimate Enthusiast Contest 2009

Announcing The Digital Lifestyle.com Windows Media Center Ultimate Enthusiast Contest. This is the 2nd running of the competition and this year its about integration. I want to show off how Windows Media Center integrates with systems like Windows Home...

Published Fri, Mar 20 2009 4:54 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup

Podcast: The Custom Integrator Show Installment 007

Derek has posted Installment 007 of The Custom Integrator Show , this week looking CableCARD in Windows Media Center and we aldo talk about international standards like DVB-T and DVB-S The Custom Integrator Show Installment 007 is live. In this installment...

Published Fri, Mar 20 2009 2:41 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Update on Windows Media Center OTA Guide Data Problems

Yesterday I wrote about the EPG issues affecting ATSC users which was causing some headaches. Today Microsoft have updated the thread on TGB to say they have a fix. Hi all, As reported, some Windows Media Center users experienced guide data missing for...

Published Thu, Mar 19 2009 10:06 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Podcast: The Media Center Show #198 – AMD Dragon

Listen Here (mp3) This week I am talking Sasa Marinkovic from AMD about the new AMD Dragon Platform and the new platform for Notebooks. I also talk to Sasa about AMD’s Graphics booster for notebooks which would be great for Media Center systems...

Published Thu, Mar 19 2009 12:02 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, The Media Center Show

Fix It For Me:When I used the Online Media feature of Media Center Extender on a Windows Vista-based computer, I received an error message: "Video Error"

Another Fix It for Me solution KB931364 When you try to use the Online Media or Internet TV features of Media Center Extender on a Windows Vista-based computer, you may receive the following error message: Video Error Files needed to display video are...

Published Thu, Mar 19 2009 10:36 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Fix it for Me: Error message on a Windows Vista-based computer that is running Windows Media Center: "Media Center has stopped working"

Microsoft have released another “ Fix It For Me” fix for Windows Media Center (this is where clicking on the button on the KB page fixes the problem), this one is for the error message “Media Center has stopped working” KB947464...

Published Thu, Mar 19 2009 10:32 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Media Center Health Monitor for Windows Home Server Beta

I have wanted to try Windows Home Server development so I thought the best way to start would be to work with one of my existing project so I have created a Windows Home Server addon for Media Center Health Monitor . The addon monitors the health of all...

Published Wed, Mar 18 2009 5:31 PM by Ian Dixon

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

Windows Media Center OTA Guide Data Problems

Looks like there are some nasty EPG issues for the OTA HD channels for US users. Ben Drawbaugh on Engadget HD is saying than there are a number of reports on TGB about guide data going missing and it to do with the way pre-TV pack Media Center uses old...

Published Wed, Mar 18 2009 3:06 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Windows 7 to have “Convert to DVR-MS” Feature

JayC on the Members Adventure blog has written about a nice little feature on the latest leaked build of Windows 7 (7057), “Convert to .DVR-MS”. This will be great for people keeping Windows Vista systems running alongside Windows 7 and good...

Published Wed, Mar 18 2009 2:23 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

College Hoops and Bracket Goes Live in Windows Media Center

Microsoft have updated the Sports feature in Windows Media Center, the College Hoops feature went live today in time for Thursday’s games, with an interactive bracket which serves as the portal for accessing game coverage, including the option to...

Published Tue, Mar 17 2009 8:42 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Windows Home Server Now Available on TechNet and MSDN

Philip Churchill has a post about Windows Home being available on MSDN and TechNet, which I think is great news as it opens up WHS for more developers and tinkerers. The way I originally got in to Media Center was by downloading Windows XP Media Center...

Published Tue, Mar 17 2009 5:34 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Atomoo Chooses Microsoft Windows Home Server as Operating System for Servers

Just as I was talking with Derek on The Custom Integrator Show about about bringing Windows Home Server to the custom integration channel yesterday Atomoo announced they were using Windows Home Server as the operating system for their management appliances...

Published Tue, Mar 17 2009 11:55 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Podcast: The Custom Integrator Show Installment 006

Derek has posted installment 06 of The Custom Integrator Show looking at storage and devices like Windows Home Server and NAS boxes, 32bit and 64bit versions of the OS and the RAM requirement for supporting multiple extenders. I think the next topic Derek...

Published Mon, Mar 16 2009 2:00 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Registration open for UK Windows Media Center and Home Server User Group Meetup

Registration is open for the UK Windows Media Center and Home Server User Group Meetup. The event will be held at at Aston Science Park in Birmingham on April 21st from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM with food provided. There will be sessions on advanced Windows...

Published Mon, Mar 16 2009 1:49 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, Windows 7, UK User Group

TDL Postround up

Later today I will open registration for the first UK Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server event which will take place April 21st, I am really looking forward to the meetup with the community. This week on The Media Center Show I talked to Derek...

Published Mon, Mar 16 2009 11:12 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News Roundup

Watch high-definition movies and TV shows in Windows Media Center

[This is the first in series of posts aimed a potential or new Windows Media Center users] So you have got a nice new 50” high-definition TV and now you want some great looking content to go with it. Included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows...

Published Sun, Mar 15 2009 9:28 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, How To, Clubhouse, how-to

Video Demo of Media Browser 2.0.10.0 (Vanilla)

I blogged about new beta of Media Browser last week and nunosilva in The Digital Lifestyle.com forums has posted a nice video overview of the new build. I really like the UI in this new version it looks great and it really adds to the media capabilities...

Published Sun, Mar 15 2009 7:57 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

April 21st – The first UK Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server Usergroup Event

I know it’s been a long time coming but I finally have a date and location for the first UK Windows Media Center User Group Event. April 21st at Aston Science Park in Birmingham will be the place to be to meet like minded enthusiast and industry...

Published Sat, Mar 14 2009 8:21 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, Windows 7, UK User Group

New public beta of Open Media Library

Thanks to Scott for the tip, OML (Open Media Library) has a new public beta out. The latest build is a targeted for public testing rather than the daily developer build so if you want to test OML this is the build to use. You can listen to David Shulitz...

Published Fri, Mar 13 2009 5:29 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Octava HDMI Cat5 Extender

The one of the problem with connecting your PC up to a TV is having to have the PC located close to the TV, I know you can get long HDMI cables but what if you want to have the PC located in another room or even on another floor? This is where HDMI Cat5...

Published Fri, Mar 13 2009 3:11 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Home Automation

Media Browser Beta 10

One very cool application for Windows Media Center is Media Browser and today Jas has revealed details of version beta 10. The first thing about new the build is that its .NET 3.5 only and it has a new vanilla theme and I must say it’s looking fantastic...

Published Fri, Mar 13 2009 9:37 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Microsoft, Media Center Integrator Alliance Announce 2009 Ultimate Install Contest

Microsoft's Ultimate Install Contest is back for 2009, last years winner was cyberManor (who I interview last year and at CES ). Here are the details from Microsoft and don’t worry if you an enthusiast and want to show off your setup I will be running...

Published Thu, Mar 12 2009 1:17 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #197 – Almost Live from EHX Spring 2009

Listen Here (mp3) This week we are almost live from EHX in Florida, well I am in Manchester and Derek Flickinger is in Orlando at the show. Derek talks about the EHX show (Electronic Home Expo) and explains what the show is all about. He found CE Pro’s...

Published Thu, Mar 12 2009 11:39 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, The Media Center Show

First Look at CableCard Diagnostics Tool for Windows Media Center

Derek mentioned the Cablecard diagnostic tool from the Media Center Integrator Alliance last week and today Julie Jacobson has the first screen shots and details of the new tool. According to Julie the tool ensures Channel Pairing, looks a channel strength...

Published Wed, Mar 11 2009 5:17 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Engadget HD Podcast talks Media Center and The Customer Integrator Show

This weeks Engadget HD Podcast is all about Windows Media Center as Ben Drawbaugh interviews Derek Flickinger and they talk about our new podcast The Custom Integrator Show , HDMI and the Media Center Integrator Alliance. Ben also tackles the old Enthusiast...

Published Wed, Mar 11 2009 3:33 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Windows Home Server – The Next Version Webcast

Andrew Edney has details of a webcast looking at the new version of Windows Home Server called “5W/50 Series – Windows Home Server – The Next Version”. The webcast is free and takes place Friday 5th June 9am PST and Andrew thinks...

Published Wed, Mar 11 2009 3:07 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

March 2009 - Ian Dixon's Blog

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