Ian Dixon's Blog

Big Screen EPG now natively supported by Remote Potato

If you want to be able to remotely schedule recordings with Windows Media Center then there is Remote Potato and if you haven’t got access to good EPG data then there is Big Screen EPG and now Remote Potato natively supports Big Screen EPG Niall Ginsbourg...

Published Mon, Feb 08 2010 10:15 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

Use a Zune Remote Control with Windows Media Center

One thing I do like about the Apple TV is the tiny little remote control, what it lacks in buttons it makes up for in elegance. The remote that comes with the Zune AV Dock is equally as elegant and could make a simple alternative to the clunky...

Published Sun, Feb 07 2010 9:15 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Zune, Windows 7

Windows Phone 7 Zune-like UI, no multitasking?

Engadget have some more Windows Mobile 7 rumours . Apparently the OS will be called Windows Phone 7, have a Zune like UI and will not have multitasking, instead apps will pause when they are in the background but it will have a notification service. As...

Published Sun, Feb 07 2010 9:47 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Zune, Windows Mobile

Diamond 0.3 Beta theme for Media Browser

I know how many of you love Media Browser so I thought link to Jas Manghera latest post , he has a preview up of the new Diamond theme for the Media Browser. With the release of the next update of Media Browser the home screen will feature multiple backdrops...

Published Sat, Feb 06 2010 8:27 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Video: Controlling Windows Media Center with an iPhone

There are lots of apps for controlling Windows Media Center with an iPhone and I thought I would start talking a look at how good they are. The first app I tried is vmcMote , I used the lite version which is free and there is a full version priced at...

Published Fri, Feb 05 2010 3:52 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, iPhone

S1Digital Launches Blu-ray changer for Media Center and WHS

S1Digital have launched a 100 disc Blu-ray changer for their Entertainment Server, it works with My Movies and can be used to to rip Blu-ray’s or DVDs to a Windows Home Server. If you have a lot of movies to archive then this may be a good solution. Details...

Published Thu, Feb 04 2010 3:05 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Podcast: The Media Center Show #242 – OABSoftware apps

Joining me this week is Oebele Beetstra from OABSoftware talking about his great range of apps for Windows Media Center. Oebele has been developer for Media Center since the XP days and has a great collection of apps including email, Twitter and stock...

Published Thu, Feb 04 2010 12:07 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Sky Player on Windows 7 Now Available in Ireland

Good news for Sky subscribers in Ireland, the Sky Windows Media Center addin that UK users have had access to is now available in Ireland. Here is the full press release: Sky Player on Windows 7 Now Available in Ireland Watch TV from Sky Live and...

Published Wed, Feb 03 2010 7:13 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7, Sky

Podcast: HDMI and CEC - Installment 024

The Custom Integrator Show is back after the break for CES and Derek has re-jigged the format of the blog post to make it easier to find. This week we talk HDMI 1.4 and CEC: Installment 024 is live. It has been a while. We decided to let the...

Published Tue, Feb 02 2010 11:16 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: HDMI

Welcome to the TDL eBook and Gadget Blog

Garry has got the first post up on the new TDL eBook and Gadget Blog , the blog is going to focus on the eReaders and other similar devices. Garry and I saw many eReaders at CES, some good and some not so good. One of the ones I did like was the enTourage...

Published Tue, Feb 02 2010 2:04 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: eReaders, eBooks

Track UPS and FEDEX packages within Windows Media Center

Ever wanted to track your UPS or FEDEX packages in Windows Media Center? Well you can with My Tracker for Windows Media Center, you can track using the tracking number directly in Media Center and it works with Extenders too, very handy for tracking...

Published Mon, Feb 01 2010 10:47 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Made for Media Center

ExoPC Slate is a slate I could use

I saw the ExoPC Slate on Engdaget today and I have to say this is a slate I could use. There are the obvious comparisons to Apple’s iPad but this is a full featured Windows 7 device with standard netbook insides and and will have a multitouch capacitive...

Published Mon, Feb 01 2010 5:19 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Tablet PC, Windows 7, Slate

Auto Rip n Compress for Windows Media Center

If you like archiving your DVDs and Blurays to Media Center system or Windows Home Server then there is a great app for doing this from the 10 foot Media Center interface. The application called Auto Rip n Compress uses 3rd party apps to do the...

Published Mon, Feb 01 2010 11:28 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7, Made for Media Center

TunerFreeMCE adds SeeSaw video streaming

Project Kangaroo was going to be a video on demand site offering content from BBC worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC), ITV and Channel 4 but was blocked by the UK Competition Commission last year. The technology behind the project was purchased...

Published Sat, Jan 30 2010 8:47 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Video: Dell Mini 5 Android Tablet

At CES I saw lots of Android based Tablets and along with the Windows 7 HP Tablet these interest me more than Apple’s new iPad. One I didn’t see at CES that looks like it could have a lot of potential is Dell’s Mini 5 which was captured on video by TechCrunch...

Published Fri, Jan 29 2010 2:58 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Andriod

Podcast: The Media Center Show #241 – Remote Potato

Great interview this week with Carl Partridge the developer of Remote Potato , a remote scheduling app for Windows Media Center. With this app you can browse the EPG and schedule recordings via a web browser (including mobile phone browsers), this is...

Published Thu, Jan 28 2010 12:13 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Zune software hints and Zune Phones and international roll out

As soon as the Zune software update was released people are poking around the install files to see if there are any hints of future plans. The first hints come from Long Zheng and he says that an three extra USB devices in Zune.inf point to there...

Published Tue, Jan 26 2010 4:42 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Zune

Remote Potato gets official logo source - My Channel Logos

Just after we finish recording the interview for this weeks podcast Carl the developer gets an official partnership with My Channel Logos (My Channel Logos is available at MadeforMediaCenter.com ) Starting with the next release (over the next couple of...

Published Tue, Jan 26 2010 3:48 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Introducing mcBackup 3.0 Beta (at last!)

A few years ago after suffering the frustration of having to setup my series recordings after a clean build I decided to create a tool that would backup my schedules and enable me to import that back in to Windows Media Center. Version 1 was designed...

Published Tue, Jan 26 2010 2:30 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins, Windows 7

Zune updates adds Windows 7 Libraries support

The Zune desktop software has been updated today to version 4.2.202.0 and the main change seems to be support for Windows 7 Libraries. The update combines the monitored folders with Windows 7’s libraries and enables you to pick the default save locations...

Published Tue, Jan 26 2010 12:16 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Zune

Video: HP talking about their new slate

At CES Steve Ballmer showed off HP’s yet to be released slate PC, there was lots lots of interest but not many details. HP have released a video with CTO Phil McKinney showing off the new slate. In the video they say its a real product, not just a prototype...

Published Tue, Jan 26 2010 9:30 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: HP, Windows 7

Remote Wizard for Windows Home Server

You wait years for a remote guide application for Media Center and then a couple come along almost at the same time. I am happily using Remote Potato but there is another solution which utilises Windows Home Server. Remote Wizard for Windows Home Server...

Published Mon, Jan 25 2010 9:40 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server

BBC to restrict Freeview HD with DRM?

I am looking forward to when I can record BBC HD content via DVB-T2 in Windows Media Center and I thought it was as simple as waiting for was new tuners but I maybe wrong as the BBC want to try and impose DRM on its HD channels. It wants to prevent DVRs...

Published Sun, Jan 24 2010 9:14 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: BBC

Remote Potato gets even better

One of my new favourite apps is Remote Potato, this is the remote scheduling app similar to the classic Webguide app. I got it up and running on Friday and last night the developer Carlos has released a major update to the app. On the thread on TGB he...

Published Sun, Jan 24 2010 8:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Intel Wireless Display is a Happy HTPC Experience

Fellow Media Center MVP Barb Bowman has a great post on Intel’s Wireless Display and how she is using it with a HTPC . Using Netgear Push to TV bridge she has got a laptop screen being pushed to a TV so you get the PC on the TV without having to connect...

Published Sat, Jan 23 2010 8:46 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Networking

Microsoft reorgs the Media Center and Zune parent group

Looks like the group Windows Media Center comes under is shuffling again. Windows Media Center fell under the TV, Video and Media group group (which also includes Zune and Mediaroom) and was headed by Enrique Rodriguez the Corporate Vice President of...

Published Fri, Jan 22 2010 3:48 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Microsoft

Remote Potato – Remote Record for Windows Media Center (UPDATED)

An app I have been remiss in talking about is Remote Potato, its a remote record tool much like Webguide that enables you to schedule recordings via a web ui. With the changes to Windows 7 breaking Webguide remote access to the EPG has been missing from...

Published Fri, Jan 22 2010 12:02 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows 7

Please welcome Chris Oldroyd to TDL

I want to welcome Chris Oldroyd as the latest blogger to join TDL. Chris has has blogger for some time and has been a guest on The Media Center Show talking about mobile devices. After a break from blogging he is back focusing on network streaming and...

Published Thu, Jan 21 2010 4:37 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: News

Podcast: The Media Center Show #240 – Final CES 2010 Interviews

This is the final batch of interview from CES. I have Arcsoft talking about how to get 3D movies in Windows Media Center using Total Media Theatre, they have some great solution for movie watching in Media Center including HD audio and upscalling. Of...

Published Thu, Jan 21 2010 11:34 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Coming soon: Boxee Payments

Boxee continues to evolve as a great platform for delivering internet video to the TV and today they announced a payment model for pay per view content. Later this year content providers will be able to offer premium content via Boxee and charge for the...

Published Wed, Jan 20 2010 10:11 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Boxee

On 10:How to Watch TV and Movies in Media Center without a TV Tuner

Sarah Perez over at Microsoft’s On10 has a great guide on the various was to get TV in Windows Media Center without having a TV Tuner installed. One of the strengths of Media Center is its ability to consume internet content and it’s impressive the amount...

Published Wed, Jan 20 2010 3:15 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

I am on this weeks TDL Mobile podcast

Having seen lots of great mobile gadgets at CES I thought I would drop in on the TDL Mobile podcast and chat with the guys about tablets, Windows Mobile and what may be coming from Apple next week. I love the TDL Mobile podcast and it was great to join...

Published Tue, Jan 19 2010 9:20 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: mobile

Songler for Media Center now available

I wrote about Sonlger the updated version of Martin Millmore’s Spotify app last week and today Martin has released the new version of the app that adds last.frm integration along with the Spotify features. The app is available to download in the Windows...

Published Mon, Jan 18 2010 9:49 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Media Center Addons, Addins

Return of the user group, the UK Media Center group is coming back

I know its almost a year since the last get together but the UG is coming back with another meeting later this year. We are working on the agenda and the location so we need your feedback on where, when and what. Last year was a great event and we really...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 5:09 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: UK User Group, User Group

Songler for Media Center now with Last.fm and Spotify

Martin Millmore continues to develop his Spotify application and due to popular request he has added Last.fm integration. Even non-premium users can use it, if your are a premium users can listen to radio stations and band stations directly from Windows...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 1:34 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Addins

Video: TDL at CES 2010

I have ended up with a collection of videos taken at CES that I haven’t used so I have put them together in to one video. Looks out for: Intel’s Twitter wall D-Link’s colour storybook Track pad remotes Shuttle’s touch all in ones Microsoft’s Surface Ceton...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 11:28 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: CES 2010

Video: enTourage eDGe eBook Reader

One of the more interesting eBook readers I saw at CES was the enTourage eDGe. This is a dual screen eBook reader with with a colour display, it can be used as a e-reader, netbook, browser and and media player. Powered by Android it has great potential...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 4:46 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: CES 2010

Video: Elan Capacitive Touchpad enabled remote

At CES Elan where showing a Capacitive Touchpad enabled Media Center remote. With it having dual touchpads it can be used as a multi-touch controller in Windows 7. So you can turn your TV into a multi-touch monitor, this video shows the unit in action...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 3:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: CES 2010

CES 2010 Photo Gallery

CES has past for another year so I thought I would post some photos from the event: Steve Ballmer’s Keynote Lenovo’s Q110 nettop PC has full 1080p support and HDMI (prices user $200) Lenovo had lots of all in one PCs on show Microsoft’s...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 2:08 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: CES 2010

Podcast: The Media Center Show #239 - CES Interviews

Lots of interviews from CES this week. I walked miles to get you a good selection of interviews and this week I have: Microsoft’s Ben Reed talking Windows Media Center Avner Ronen from Boxee talking about the new Boxee box and the new version of...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 11:53 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, CES 2010

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