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Its not well known but the DVB-T version of the HDHomeRun networked TV tuner also allows each tuner to work as a DVB-C tuner for Free-To-Air channels - potentially very useful in continental europe where some cable providers have a lot of FTA content. Up to now there have been two issues with this: 1...
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DBVLogic who already have a vast number of products to link a myriad of TV sources into Media Center have decided to go one further and create their own TV source. Based on the DVBDream platform this will eventually allow a significant number of pc based satellite and cable tuner cards to act as a direct...
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A lot of people seem to have had issues with Vista and HDMI when using a receiver as part of the system, it seems to be related to when you switch inputs it can mess up Windows screen resolution when using ATI hardware. In Windows 7 the problem has got even worse because the ATI drivers seem to...
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Just a quick headsup that over at the DVBLogic forums ( http://dvblogic.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1521 ) FredX21 has announced the availability of the DVBLInk for Hauppauge HD-PVR Release Candidate. This brilliant application allows you to use your HD-PVR as a source for Media Center and is...
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For Vista, TV Pack and Windows 7 Download at http://www.whittakermoore.com/mcdu.exe A couple of big new features. Take Ownership: To work round the issues with codecs being secure in Windows 7 and in some versions of Vista with TV Pack installed this option will take ownership of the default codec files...
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I don't usually post newsy posts and i know this has been covered on other blogs but Amazon UK's soft launch of it's DRM free MP3 download music service is quite significant. I have found the service to have a suprisingly wide range of music and some albums are actually reasonably priced...
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I was rather shocked to find that my Vista Media Center Decoder has just clocked up it's 180,000th download. That is an awful lot of Vista Media Center users tinkering with their codecs. I have no idea how that compares with other VMC tools out there but I'm impressed by the number. Its rather...
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If you have ever had problems getting your media center to sleep or wake up from sleep then MST the Media Center Standby Tool is probably the answer to your dreams. I recommend this utility a lot and it is amazingly effective at doing what it does. It is particularly effective at ensuring your pc goes...
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Remember the beta Windows Media Center gadget for Windows Sideshw that released back in July? ( see the review on the gadget blog ) well Microsoft have put out a Release Candidate of the gadget and It looks like it now supports Extenders. The updated version is on Microsoft Connect and the final version...
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Back at CES Microsoft where showing off the Origami Experience 2.0 for UMPCs. This is add on application for UMPCs that is designed for touch and the 7 inch screen. 2.0 looks like a complete re-write of the original software and has features like touch enabled RSS reader and browser, weather apps, picture...
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ATI have finally released a new firmware for the TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner aka OCUR box, this is the OCUR box which is pretty much shipping with all OCUR media center setup's right now, including the XPS420. Note the firmware update is only for 32bit Vista The firmware update specifically deals with...
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One of the comments that commonly appears in posts about my VMCD utility is "How do i get X decoder to show up in your utility" For decoders that are XP Media Center compatible this has been explained in this post: http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/blogs/garry/archive/2007/03/21/tip...
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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 crapware and drivers problems where reducing...
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If you have not had been offered Windows Vista Service Pack 1 yet you either have drivers on the "bad" list or you didn't get the prerequisites installed. Microsoft pulled KB937287 as it was causing some people to get stuck in multiple reboot loops. On the Microsoft update blog Microsoft say they are...
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I have had Service Pack 1 for Vista on my test machine since the beta was first launched and have also had it installed on my Samsung Q1 since it RTMed. So I thought I would update my main Media Center machine over the weekend. This was the biggest risk of any of the installs so far as it's my...
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Listen Here I have a great show this week even if your not a Media Center enthusiast. Windows expert Ed Bott joined me for a live show a couple of weeks ago talking about Vista Service Pack 1. We talked about many topics including Service Pack 1 and had some great questions from the chat room. Ed talks...
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Have you ever wondered what S/PDIF is and how you can use it to connect up your Media Center PC to your audio equipment? If so read Nick White's post on the Windows Vista Team Blog where he explains all about S/PDIF, what it is and how content like 5.1 surround sound audio is transmitted over it On a...
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While there is nothing major for Media Center users in Vista SP1 the reliability updates should make it work while. Last week Microsoft announced that Service Pack 1 had RTMed (released to manufacturing) but due to driver issues was being held back till mid March. Due to an overwhelming amount of feedback...
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I just downloaded and installed Windows Vista SP1 beta, at just over 600mb it's not a small download. I kicked the install off and about 40 minutes later my test box rebooted for the first time. It processed the update for about another 10 minutes, then shut down and rebooted. When it resumed Vista told...
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Technorati tags: Windows vista Service Pack 1 Finally confirmation from Microsoft that there is a service pack for Vista coming and that there is a Service Pack 3 coming for XP From reading the information from Microsoft the XP Service Pack looks like a roll-up of al the fixes since SP2 and doesn't contain...
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Watch the video in HQ WMV It's been a while since I did any videos, so here is the first of a couple I have coming out. This show looks at Sony's UX1 UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) It's a nice device with a 4.5" screen and slide out keyboard running Windows Vista Business. I didn't have much time to do the video...
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Just received a new unit to review. The Sony UX1XN is a neat UMPC, much smaller than I expected with a very clear 4.5" display it makes my Samsung Q1 look like a monster. In terms of performance the unit feels quick, I think its going to take some time to get used to the small screen but I am going...
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Microsoft have released two update packs for Windows Vista. The Performance and Reliability Pack the Compatibility and Reliability Pack This two update packs were released to beta testers a couple of weeks ago and I have been running with them since last week and can say I have not noticed any changes...
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Link to product on AVSoft's site I had forgotten just how good this product was until I had to reinstall my Media Center last week (yes even 'expert's' have to do reinstalls). It basically scans all your music and prompts you where there are problems like missing artwork or Album Artist entries. It then...
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I've tried valiantly. I've scoured registry dumps that readers have kindly sent in. I've analysed all the relative entries I've even worked out where a 64 bit version of my decoder utility should post the entries. The only problem is that my current 32 bit app is posting in the right place. Unfortuantley...
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Could there be a surprise beta of Windows vista SP1 out next week? According this post Microsoft could be preparing the beta for sometime next week with a RTM of November. It will be interesting to see if there is a Windows Media Center update included, if it does then that would fit with the eHome teams...
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I had the chance to visit Grand Designs Live at the Excel in London's Docklands over the weekend. For our non-UK viewers Grand Designs is a TV programme on the UK's Channel 4 which each week follows the trial and tribulations of a self-build house project from empty site to interior design. Excellently...
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A lot has been written about the performance advantage of adding a memory card or usb stick to your Vista machine to make use of the ReadyBoost feature but one interesting side effect is that it can also reduce the amount of access needed to your hard disk and appear to make it quieter. To quote the...
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I recently took up a challenge to build a media center PC for a friend. Having scoured Ebay I found what I thought looked like a really nice case for not too much money. It was also a Barebones system coming with DVD, Floppy and Motherboard. The motherboard only supported a Pentium III up to 800mhz but...
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Hi there, Just a quick post to let you all know that, for those of you that have not yet upgraded to Vista, you can now do so online at the Windows Marketplace. From Microsoft: Have you heard the news? Windows Vista upgrade editions are available to download now through your digital locker at Windows...
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One thing I noticed doesn't work on my Sanmsung Q1 UMPC running Vista is Windows Movie Maker. While I don't expect to be doing major movie edits on the UMPC it is handy to be able to do a quick edit on a video podcast. When you try to launch it you get a message: "Windows Movie Maker cannot start...
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I recently got hold of a Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC and have been impressed by its media capabilities. So I have made a short video looking at three different options for consuming media on the UMPC. First up is the Origami Experience , a program by Microsoft designed for the UMPC form factor, then I...
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John G posted a great tip in the comments of my Vista Media Center Decoder utility post. He said... "People have asked me how to get the WinDVD and DSCALER codecs to work in Mediacenter as i reported on their use. I noticed that whether by accident or design, the Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility...
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I want to welcome Tony Campbell to TheDigitalLifestyle.com , Tony will be manning the Windows Vista Blog , a new blog that is looking at all aspects of Vista not just Windows Media Center. Tony is an author, author, journalist and consultant and also is co-author of our new book Using Windows Vista Media...
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Since the early days of Windows Movie Maker 1.0, Microsoft has been aspiring to the version they have shipped in Vista (version 6.0). This version has a multitude of interface and capability enhancements, such as an improved preview pane and enhanced transitions and effects, but more importantly, the...
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A user on the forums on TheDigitalLifestyle.com reported a problem with a brand new HP Pavilion M7775 running Windows Vista Home Premium and Media Center Extender sessions crashing. The user did all the usual stuff, checked network connections, firewall and AV software but it still kept crashing. It...
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As I mentioned on the blog before I have decided to install Windows Vista on my main Media Center PC. Unlike any other installations I have this is THE main box in the house that does all the TV recording and Media serving and having something not working on this box is not good for the WAF ( wife acceptance...
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While US users of Media Center have been enjoying new Vista version of he Online Spotlight content over in the UK no such content had shown up. Over on The Media Center Show forums I noticed that someone had spotted more content for the UK was here . BBC7, and others have been spotted, on my machine...
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This week on the Extra show I continue my CES coverage. First is a look at the Gyration Remote Control that was on show at CES which is a great motion controlled remote control, it was the first chance I had to play with one and I must say I am impressed. Then Ted Singh from Embedded Automation showed...
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One of the ways I record Skype chats for podcast on XP is to set Skype to use my headset mic as the input and the PC's sound card for the output so that with Adobe Audition I can record my voice and the guest voices and separate channels. It makes it much easier for editing and cleaning up of the audio...