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Port your recording schedule from Vista MC (pre-TV Pack) to Windows 7 upgrade

If your ready to move up to Windows 7 but are worried about loosing your recording schedules then worry no more. On the Windows Media Center Team Blog they have a solution for porting your recordings from Vista (pre-TV pack) to Windows 7: Important note...

Published Fri, Nov 11 2009 12:05 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Windows 7

Microsoft Digital Cable Firmware FAQ

Microsoft have created a FAQ explaining the situation regarding the upcoming ATI digital cable firmware. It looks like that with the exception of SDV support Windows Vista uses will have the same benefits as Windows 7 users from the updated firmware including...

Published Sun, Oct 10 2009 1:16 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, CableCARD, Windows 7

My Movies 3.0 Screenshots and release date

I have some exclusive screenshots of the all new My Movies 3. On Tuesday I will have an interview with Brian Binnerup the developer behind My Movies and he is going to talk about the new features and UI in the Vista and Windows 7 version of My Movies...

Published Tue, Aug 08 2009 12:38 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins, Windows 7

June 2009 Updates for Media Center (Updated)

Jason Tsang has details of the updates coming down from Windows Update for Vista Media Center (KB967632) and Vista with TV Pack (KB966315) [UPDATE: The KB pages are up now and there have been some minor changes, thanks to peterfnet ] June 2009 Cumulative...

Published Tue, Jun 06 2009 8:20 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Windows Media Center TV Pack

Introducing the TDL Reader for Windows Media Center

I am pleased to be able to introduce the brand new TDL Reader , a Media Center addin that enables The Digital Lifestyle.co mcontent in the 10 foot Windows Media Center UI. You can get all the TDL blogs, podcasts, videos and browse them directly from Windows...

Published Thu, May 05 2009 5:03 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins, Windows 7

Service Pack 2 for Vista available to download

Still running Windows Vista ? If so you may be interested in downloading Service Pack 2 , I have moved all my machines to Windows 7 RC but I know there are lots of you out there using Vista. At some point it will be pushed down via Windows Update but...

Published Tue, May 05 2009 8:30 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista

Windows Audio Changer for Windows Media Center

Vista Audio changer is an application that enables you to change the default output device for the entire system from Windows Media Center or via a hotkey. This will be handy if you have multiple audio outputs and watch to switch them on the fly. The...

Published Tue, May 05 2009 11:22 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins, Windows 7

Vista Application to Hide Media Center Menu Strips

With Windows 7 you can easily hide Media Center menu item strips from the Windows Media Center UI but Windows Vista does not have this feature. You could go in to the registry and hide items from there but mikinho in TGB forums has come up with a nice...

Published Sat, May 05 2009 7:25 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins

New site: FixofTheWeek.com

I am helping out with a new site called www.fixoftheweek.com an IT focused site with handy little fixes and tips for IT issues. Like Windows Mobile sync errors, Xbox 360 Media Center issues and registry tips. I have just posted a handy tip on how to install...

Published Fri, May 05 2009 11:21 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista, Windows 7

Videos of Netflix in Windows Media Center

Here are a couple of videos showing the Netflix application for Windows Media Center that I thought I would highlight both are from Brandon LeBlanc of the Windows Team Blog Netflix in Windows Media Center Getting Netflix in Windows Media Center There...

Published Wed, May 05 2009 10:31 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins

Microsoft Opens the Curtain for Netflix in Windows Media Center

Here are the official details on the Netflix app for Windows Media Center: Microsoft and Netflix Enhance Movie and TV Watching on the PC Latest content addition offers more than 12,000 choices of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly on...

Published Wed, May 05 2009 7:09 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins

Netflix comes to Windows Media Center

Microsoft are going to be announcing an official Netflix application for Windows Media Center. There have been 3rd party apps that have tried this before but this is an official addin. It has features like Watch Instant, you can manage queues and use...

Published Wed, May 05 2009 5:02 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins

How to Remove Commercials from Windows Media Center TV Shows

[This is an article I wrote for the February's Windows Vista magazine and its now available online , they have kindly allowed me to reproduce it here. This is designed for Windows Vista and will not work with Windows 7] The great thing about using Windows...

Published Mon, Apr 04 2009 4:46 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Addins

February 2009 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista

It’s patch Tuesday again and this week month there is a patch for Vista Media Center, all the details are on Microsoft.com Microsoft has released the February 2008 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista. This update rollup is intended...

Published Tue, Feb 02 2009 8:39 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 beta available for downloading

If you like living on the edge you can download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 beta from Technet : SP2 Beta Standalone updates for computers with one or more of the following five languages: English, French, German, Japanese , and Spanish. If your computer...

Published Fri, Dec 12 2008 11:25 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta hits Technet and MSDN

I am looking forward to getting my hands on Windows 7 beta but before that a beta of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista being made available for download. SP2 has a number of fixes and adds some new features. The beta is available for MSDN and Technet subscribers...

Published Tue, Dec 12 2008 10:23 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista

HP introduces the multi-touch consumer Tablet PC: TouchSmart TX2

One of my favourite Media Center enabled laptops is the HP Tx2500, it has a tablet PC digitizer and touch enabled screen which makes it great for using as a tablet PC and as Media Center device. HP have updated the device to the TX2 series which features...

Published Wed, Nov 11 2008 11:48 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: HP, Windows Vista, HP TouchSmart

Video: Windows Media Center Sideshow gadgets on Windows Mobile

I had been meaning to take a look at the Windows Media Center sideshow gadgets for some time now and since Windows Mobile can host Sideshow gadgets I thought I would give it a try on my HP Mobile. The first part of the installations is to download and...

Published Tue, Nov 11 2008 12:34 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Sideshow, Video, Windows Vista, Windows Mobile

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 details start to come out

Mike Nash on the Windows Vista Blog has posted details of Windows Vista Service Pack 2. Service Pack 2 contains all the fixes in Sp1 plus some interesting features: Windows Vista SP2 adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches...

Published Fri, Oct 10 2008 8:16 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista

Tweak Vista Media Center with Tweak MC

Remember TweakMCE for XP Media Center? Wondered where the Vista equivalent is? Wonder no more as Microsoft have released TweakMC for Vista Media Center (what took you so long guys!) The new application is available on MSDN is also available in source...

Published Thu, Jul 07 2008 10:37 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

Ten Reasons Why Vista Isn't That Bad – Gizmodo

Over the last year Windows Vista has come in for a tremendous amount of criticism, some of justified but most of it not and lots made by people that had never used the OS but I get the feeling that the perception is slowly starting to swing back Microsoft...

Published Fri, Jun 06 2008 1:22 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

New Innoventions Dream Home Presents Tomorrow’s Connected Lifestyle at Disneyland Resort

Are you going to Disneyland Resort? If so make sure you checkout the new Dream Home, and I will be talking about the home on a future show: ANAHEIM, Calif., June 16, 2008 - Today, the Innoventions Dream Home became latest attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim...

Published Mon, Jun 06 2008 11:50 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server, Microsoft Surface, Windows Vista

Ed Bott on Fixing Windows Vista, Part 5: Faster, smarter search

I have really enjoyed Ed Bott’s series on on getting Vista to work for you and he is back the the final part talking about search. Search is one of my favourite features of Vista, I never go hunting in All Program to launch a program I just type it’s...

Published Fri, Jun 06 2008 4:59 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista

Fixing Windows Vista, Part 3: Top Troubleshooting Tools

I have covered Ed Bott talking about fixing Windows Vista before and his latest post is worth reading. I agree 100% with Ed, if Vista is installed with good drivers, no crapware and unobtrusive security packages you get a great experience in fact all...

Published Wed, May 05 2008 11:42 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Vista

Video: Unboxing a HP HDX Dragon Entertainment PC

As part of the 31 days of Dragon I am giving away a HP HDX Entertainment PC and in this video I unbox the monster machine and take a quick look at the Vista performance rating and Windows Media Center. As I said in my first impressions post it is the...

Published Tue, May 05 2008 1:38 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: HP, Video, Windows Vista, 31 Days of the Dragon

First Impressions of the HP Dragon

Last night I recorded an unboxing video of the HP Dragon that I will be giving away ( as part of the 31 Days of the Dragon ), I should have the video up in a couple of days so in the mean time I thought I would post my first thoughts. The first thing...

Published Mon, May 05 2008 8:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, HP, Windows Vista, 31 Days of the Dragon

What Power Settings do you use on your Media Center system

A question came up in the forums about power settings and sleep mode and how even with Vista some people don't risk Sleep mode on their Media Center system. I have to admit I don't use Sleep mode on my Media Center box as it now operates more like a server...

Published Sat, May 05 2008 8:23 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

New addin: mcShoutCast

Alexander at eHomeUpgrade has details of a new plugin for Vista Media Center ShoutCast users. It looks like nice looking MCML application for listening to Internet radio on ShoutCast. If you use Shoutcast checkout the details on eHomeUpgrade

Published Wed, Apr 04 2008 9:27 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

Consumer Electronics Installer Blog : Installing & Configuring WebGuide

If your thinking of installing Webguide and want some assistance checkout the guide on Microsoft CE Installers blog . The guide explains some of the detailed setup options that Webguide has, including how to setup port forwarding (one of the trickiest...

Published Sat, Apr 04 2008 8:32 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Webguide

VMC Schedule DeDuper

I spotted this little handy tool: VMC DeDuper is a tool for removing duplicate recording entries from the schedule, it seems to scan through Recordings.xml and checks if any scheduled recordings have recorded already. VMC Schedule DeDuper is a workaround...

Published Tue, Apr 04 2008 2:43 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

Ed Bott on Crapware and driver problems that disrupt the Windows Vista experience

Ed Bott talks a lot of sense and this is another article he has written that I agree with. Ed has written about a couple of problems that have blighted Windows and particularly Windows Vista and namely Crapware and bad drivers. He gives two examples where...

Published Tue, Apr 04 2008 12:55 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista, Windows Vista, Drivers, Crapware

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Port your recording schedule from Vista MC (pre-TV Pack) to Windows 7 upgrade

Microsoft Digital Cable Firmware FAQ

My Movies 3.0 Screenshots and release date

June 2009 Updates for Media Center (Updated)

Introducing the TDL Reader for Windows Media Center

Service Pack 2 for Vista available to download

Windows Audio Changer for Windows Media Center

Vista Application to Hide Media Center Menu Strips

New site: FixofTheWeek.com

Videos of Netflix in Windows Media Center

Microsoft Opens the Curtain for Netflix in Windows Media Center

Netflix comes to Windows Media Center

How to Remove Commercials from Windows Media Center TV Shows

February 2009 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 beta available for downloading

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta hits Technet and MSDN

HP introduces the multi-touch consumer Tablet PC: TouchSmart TX2

Video: Windows Media Center Sideshow gadgets on Windows Mobile

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 details start to come out

Tweak Vista Media Center with Tweak MC

Ten Reasons Why Vista Isn't That Bad – Gizmodo

New Innoventions Dream Home Presents Tomorrow’s Connected Lifestyle at Disneyland Resort

Ed Bott on Fixing Windows Vista, Part 5: Faster, smarter search

Fixing Windows Vista, Part 3: Top Troubleshooting Tools

Video: Unboxing a HP HDX Dragon Entertainment PC

First Impressions of the HP Dragon

What Power Settings do you use on your Media Center system

New addin: mcShoutCast

Consumer Electronics Installer Blog : Installing & Configuring WebGuide

VMC Schedule DeDuper

Ed Bott on Crapware and driver problems that disrupt the Windows Vista experience