Ian Dixon's Blog

Ask Windows Expert Ed Bott on TDl

On Tuesday I will be interviewing Windows Expert Ed Bott for a future edition of The Media Center Show and so I would love some of your question for Ed. Ed has years of experience with Windows and dealing with Microsoft so send in your questions on Windows...

Published Sat, Mar 20 2010 7:09 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News

Podcast: The Custom Intergrator Show 026

We are back with the latest instalment of the Custom Integrator Show. As ever Derek has a detailed blog post to go with the show so make sure they check that out and don’t forget to subscribe We spend a considerable amount of time in Installment...

Published Fri, Mar 19 2010 1:35 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Google working with Intel, Sony on TV project

I mentioned that Google are working with Dish Networks on a Google Set top box and I speculated that we would see an enthusiasts platform as well as boxes developed for Cable/Satellite operators. On a post on Rediff.com they say that Google is working...

Published Thu, Mar 18 2010 12:09 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Google

Podcast: The Media Center Show #248 – Voice Control Media Center

This week I am talking to Eddy Carroll from Amulet Devices about there very cool voice controlled remote control solution for Windows Media Center. Their system enables full interaction with Windows Media Center via a voice controlled remote control and...

Published Thu, Mar 18 2010 11:43 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Where are we with Windows Media Center and CableCARD now?

I must admit I haven’t been following the Windows Media Center/CableCARD news recently as over here in the UK we don’t have anything like that, so after seeing the Ceton announcements and Mike Garcen’s post on ATI’s CableCARD tuners...

Published Wed, Mar 17 2010 10:44 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, CableCARD

Songler add support for Youtube

Songler is Martin Millmore’s brilliant music addin for Windows Media Center that enables music streaming from Spotify and Last.frm and now in the latest version (2.0) he has added support for Youtube music videos. The app is free and available from MadeforMediaCenter...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 10:30 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Win an Avermedia USB TV Tuner with TDL

Its only a couple months off the World Cup and whether you love or hate football its going to be hard to avoid this summer, but a new TV Tuner from Avermedia may just help. Thanks to Avermedia we are giving away 3 Avermedia DVB-T tuners (UK spec) so if...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 5:09 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7, News

Autonomic Mirage Media Server by S1Digital 1TB Cloud Storage Home Control System

Julie Jacobson at CE Pro great article on S1Digital’s new music service solution. Autonomic Mirage Media Server by S1Digital is built on Autonomic’s Media Control System which according to CE Pro “merges multistream iTunes, Windows Media...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 4:17 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: S1digital, Custom Installer

Samsung to release ‘slate’ PC

It looks like another manufacture is jumping in on the slate bandwagon. Samsung are said to be working on a new PC slate device that is targeted for consumers. Samsung are looking to make this a “primary device” and provide desktop docking, as with HP...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 2:37 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7, Hardware

No Freeview HD tuners for Windows Media Center until after the world cup?

Football fans looking to watch the world cup in HD via Windows Media Center may be disappointed, last year Microsoft and Hauppauge announced Windows Media Center would be compatible with the new Freeview HD standard (DVB-T2) and tuners would be available...

Published Mon, Mar 15 2010 11:28 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7, Freeview

Video: Create Custom WebApps In Media Center 7

There are lots of great web apps out there and wouldn’t it be great if you could access them from Windows Media Center, well you can with Mozilla Prism and Media Center Studio . Halcion1 in the TDL forums has posted a video showing step by step how to...

Published Sun, Mar 14 2010 4:12 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

GoogleReader for Windows Media Center

Recently Google launched a 10 foot interface for Google Reader (their RSS reader app) and while its not specifically designed for Windows Media Center it will work in the UI Martin Millmore of TunerFreeMCE fame has created a launched for the app so it...

Published Fri, Mar 12 2010 10:17 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Google, Addins

Remote Potato hits v0.85

Remote Potato the remote scheduling app for Windows Media Center has been updated to version 0.85. The new build adds real-time video streaming, fully-interactive Silverlight Skin, channels re-orderable by user and has multiple bugfixes and UI enhancements...

Published Thu, Mar 11 2010 7:56 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Podcast: The Media Center Show #247 – Jose Ortiz

This week I am talking TDL Mobile podcaster Jose Ortiz about mobile devices and gadgets, with a new mobile platform from Microsoft and new devices from Apple plus Apple suing HTC there is a lot to talk about and Jose has boundless enthusiasm for mobile...

Published Thu, Mar 11 2010 11:55 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Denon Announces A/V Receivers Compatible with Windows 7

Interesting to see Denon announce their range of AV receivers have earned “Compatible with Windows 7” logo. This means that they are Play To compatible so you can stream music to it from Windows 7 (and other DLNA devices), in fact one of the devices can...

Published Wed, Mar 10 2010 9:49 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows 7, DLNA

HP announces HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo

HP have announced a nice little addin for their MediaSmart range of Windows Home Servers called HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo. The addin enables Tivo owners to manage video content from an HP Home Server and best of all its free! Press Release: ...

Published Wed, Mar 10 2010 9:10 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Calling Seattle-area WMC Enthusiasts!

If your a Media Center enthusiast in the Seattle Microsoft want to here from you: We’re looking for a Seattle-area Windows 7 user who has incorporated Windows Media Center and related Microsoft entertainment products and services into their home entertainment...

Published Tue, Mar 09 2010 9:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Google developing Android set top boxes

It seems Google are pushing Android in all directions and the latest is the set-top boxes. According to PC Pro Google are testing software that enables users to search TV,video streams and create a personalised schedule on the boxes. The service is being...

Published Tue, Mar 09 2010 1:59 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Andriod

HP release more videos of the Slate

Apple don’t have the monopoly of slate videos , a couple of days ago HP posted two videos on its youtube channel showing their slate in action. One video focuses on Adobe AIR apps and HP’s own UI running and the 2nd video is a shorter marketing...

Published Mon, Mar 08 2010 9:45 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Hardware

Zune International User's Guide

I love my Zune HD but currently the Zune ecosystem is only available in the US (hopefully that will change with the new bread of Windows Phones) so there are a few hoops you need to jump through to get the best out of a Zune if your not in the USA. ...

Published Mon, Mar 08 2010 5:42 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Zune

Podcast: The Custom Integrator Show 025, CEC & 3D

Dr Flick has posted the latest edition of The Custom Integrator Show , in instalment 025 we talk about DLNA/UPnP apps for the iPhone, 3D and CEC in HDMI. As ever Derek dives in to the details as we talk about CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) There has...

Published Mon, Mar 08 2010 9:16 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Big Screen EPG by Remote gets more updates

Niall continues working on his remote scheduling app “By Remote” (a remote EPG scheduling application) and over the last few days has added some interesting new features. By Remote v0.5g now runs as a service so that you don’t need the machine logged...

Published Sun, Mar 07 2010 8:29 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Microsoft Courier pictures and update

Engadget have some more details on Microsoft’s Courier “digital journal” tablet, there has been no official confirmation from Microsoft but Engadget have some new pictures and they have more details on what the device will be. Apparently it will function...

Published Fri, Mar 05 2010 5:18 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Microsoft, Hardware

TDL Mobile Edition

For a while I have been thinking thinking about whether we should have an iPhone app for TDL but I didn’t want to get into iPhone development or restrict myself to one platform so I decided to go with a special version of the site for mobile web browsers...

Published Fri, Mar 05 2010 3:08 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: mobile

First look at Meta<browser/> 2.0

Jon over on theHTPC.net has a first look at the upcoming meta<browser/> 2.0 metadata manager. His review is pretty detailed and in fact he says we should treat it as a reference guide for now. Meta<browser/> 2.0 is metadata manager Media...

Published Fri, Mar 05 2010 2:06 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Podcast: The Media Center Show #246 – Media Streamers

This week blogger Chris Oldroyd joins me to talk about Media Streaming devices, boxes from Netgear and devices like the Popcorn hour are offering an easy way to get video and internet content on to the TV and could offer an alternative to Extenders. Chris...

Published Thu, Mar 04 2010 11:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Big Screen EPG by Remote gets updated, supports mobile devices!

Niall has been busy at work on his remote scheduling application “Big Screen EPG by Remote” , the new build adds a preview of the iPhone UI which adds the mobile pieces to equation. This means that when you will be able to browse the EPG and...

Published Wed, Mar 03 2010 1:14 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

ARCHOS launch Android based Home Tablets

Yesterday at CeBIT ARCHOS announced two new touch screen tablets running Google’s Android OS. The ARCHOS 7 and ARCHOS 8 Home Tablets are aimed at home users and could be an interesting addition to the home network. The ARCHOS 7 is powered by a 600mz ARM...

Published Tue, Mar 02 2010 12:34 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Andriod

Zune HD Facebook finally released

It seems ages since Microsoft released the Twitter app and mentioned the Facebook app for the Zune HD and finally the Facebook app is available.If you sign in to the Zune marketplace you should see it listed in the Apps section where you can download...

Published Tue, Mar 02 2010 11:08 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Zune

Video: In The Movies 2.0 for Media Center

I have been meaning to write about MCEZone’s latest app In The Movies 2.0 since it was released last week but thankfully Brian the developer has recorded a video showing the application in action The app collects info on currently showing movies in your...

Published Mon, Mar 01 2010 11:29 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins, Windows 7

Big Screen EPG ‘by Remote’ (Silverlight Web Access for Windows 7 Media Center)

We have been waiting a long time for a remote EPG solution for Media Center, we have the recently launched Remote Potato and now we have “by Remote” from Niall Ginsbourg . By Remote differs from other solutions by being a Silverlight app with the richness...

Published Sun, Feb 28 2010 8:13 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

TDL Live Community Twitter Service

We have a new live twitter service here on TDL . From the live page you can see the latest twitter updates from around the digital lifestyle community. We have bloggers, experts, developers and enthusiasts tweets all in one location updated automatically...

Published Fri, Feb 26 2010 1:02 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News

Boxee beta comes to Apple TV

Last year I got hold of an Apple TV and have to admit I haven’t used it very much, if your full invested in the Apple ecosystem then its great but I am not. I found it more useful once I got the alpha version of Boxee on it, but the once the beta...

Published Thu, Feb 25 2010 5:31 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Apple TV, Boxee

Podcast: The Media Center Show #245 – Networked Tuners

This week Garry Whittiker and Jason Coombes join me to discuss networked tuners using DVBLink , Jason has all his tuners pooled in a Windows Home Server and then is using DVBLink to distribute the tuners around the network. Its an interesting solution...

Published Thu, Feb 25 2010 10:21 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Windows 7 Media Center update fixes 3rd party apps issue (Updated)

UPDATE: I was wrong, the fix is not included in the Windows Media Center update and you have to download the fix directly from Microsoft, if your experiencing the problem you can get the hotfix from Microsoft x86 or x64 Today I wrote about the update...

Published Wed, Feb 24 2010 5:46 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

February 2010 Windows Media Center Cumulative Update for Windows 7

I know Da1ek already posted on this topic but I thought I would comment on it to, Microsoft have released a cumulative update the Windows 7 version of Windows Media Center. The update comes in 64bit and 32bit version and resolves the following issues...

Published Wed, Feb 24 2010 9:19 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

EngadgetHD speculate on the future of Extenders

Ben Drawbaugh on EngadgetHD has an interesting take the future of Extenders for Windows Media Center. Ben thinks that Extenders may not be dead and even speculates that a new bread come come out. He also talks about DLNA and play to and maybe that...

Published Mon, Feb 22 2010 8:55 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Extenders for Windows Media Center

Video: First look at Avermedia’s AverTV Volar USB Video Capture

I have been a big fan of Avermedia''s USB tuners and I has keen to try out there latest hybrid tuner that includes video capturing. The device is a USB DVB-T tuner that works with Windows Media Center and features video capture from composite or s-video...

Published Fri, Feb 19 2010 12:36 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Hardware

XBMC Integration Integrates XBMC with Windows 7 Media Center

Hot on the heals of Boxee integration comes an XBMC addin for Windows Media Center. This was created by the same developer as the Boxee addin and works exactly the same way, you just download the installer and away you go. I am not sure how many of you...

Published Thu, Feb 18 2010 5:23 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #244 – 40TB Home Server

This week joining me is Dale Kirkwood a Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server enthusiast, we will be talking about his massive 40TB Windows Home Server and how he is integrating it with his Media Center setup. Dale talks about the hardware he used...

Published Thu, Feb 18 2010 12:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

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