|
|
Ian's digital lifestyle and Windows Media Center Blog
July 2008 - Posts
-
Listen Here (mp3) This week I am chatting with Engadget HD's Ben Drawbaugh. We will be talking about Windows Media Center, Home Automation, remote controls and the recent Extender shoot he did for Engadget HD. I also have your email and a round up of Read More...
|
-
TVTonic is a great addon for Windows Media Center, it provides a platform for downloads internet video straight in to the Media Center UI. As well as providing content channels you can use it to subscribe to any video RSS feeds ( like the one for my video Read More...
|
-
HAI have launched a developer program for their home automation solution, they have a Media Center UI for their system so interesting to see how developers can make use of the SDK and Media Center Press Release: New Orleans, LA - July 30, 2008 HAI Read More...
|
-
Open Media Library has gone in to public beta, OML is an open source Movie library application for Vista Media Center, that looks fantastic and has features like DVD streaming to Extender along with support a good selection of video formats . I have been Read More...
|
-
There have been reports of the new HP Update Slowing down MediaSmart Windows Home Servers (see David's post on The Windows Home Server Blog ) and Brian Burch )Director of Marketing for HP Connected Entertainment) has provided me with an official statement Read More...
|
-
Sean Alexander has posted details on Dell’s new Studio Hybrid. First off it looks a great, takes only 65watts of power and has HDMI. It would make a great Media Center PC either directly connected to a TV or serving Extenders. This could be an ideal Media Read More...
|
-
I am working on a series of “How To” articles that will either be blog posts, part of The Media Center Show or videos and I wanted to get your feedback on what subjects would be worth tackling. When I asked the question on Twitter I got some good suggestions Read More...
|
-
On10 video up of a tour of The Disney Innoventions Dream Home. The video shows off the technologies used in the home like Windows Home Server, Window Media Center and Microsoft Surface. What could possibly make the happiest place on Earth even happier? Read More...
|
-
You may remember me getting a bit upset by Paul Thurrott’s dismissal of the new generation of Extenders for Windows Media Center. Basically he said the extenders were no better than the old models and they were not worth looking at. I totally disagreed Read More...
|
-
I was really looking forward to getting hold of HP’s new TouchSmart PC (the IQ500) ever since I first saw the product back in Berlin . In this video I unbox the TouchSmart, fire up the unit for the first time and take a look at the TouchSmart UI. Since Read More...
|
-
Listen Here This week Microsoft put out Power Pack 1 for Windows Home Server, this includes a fix for the data corruption bug, x64 support and extra backup features. Also HP put out an update for the HP MediaSmart Server so HP's Allen Buckner joins me Read More...
|
-
Remember the Samsung Media Center Extender I saw at CES? (see this video ) well it finally due for release and has had a name change from Home Digital Media Adapter to MediaLive. This is the extender for Windows Media Center that is designed for 2008 Read More...
|
-
Due to me putting my back out yesterday I wasn't able to unbox the TouchSmart last night so today I had some help and managed to get the unit unboxed. I recorded an unboxing / first impressions video but to be honest its not until I put it in the living Read More...
|
-
Now that Windows Home Server finally gets it's demons laid to rest with the data corruption bug fixed in Power Pack 1, Windows Home Server can continue growing as a platform and hopefully it will get further integrated into Microsoft's Digital Lifestyle Read More...
|
-
Nial's blog has been quiet for a while but he is back with an update on the Big Screen applications. He has updated the installer to support future versions of Windows Media Center. Check out Niall's blog for more details In preparation for future Vista Read More...
|
-
While there has been a lot of talk about forthcoming TV features for Windows Media Center (I find it frustrating that some of the testers are breaking NDAs and giving out incorrect information while the rest of us wait for the NDAs to be lifted) and Charlie Read More...
|
-
In conjunction with the Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 update HP have announced that the HP MediaSmart Server update is live. This software update provides enhanced media streaming through PacketVideo PVConnect and server side anti-virus protection Read More...
|
-
Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 has been in beta for what seems a very long time and I have been running it on my MediaSmart server with no issues. The biggest part of the update is that it fixes the data corruption bug as well as adding x64 support Read More...
|
-
Charlie Owen now back blogging has gone for a less controversial post and posted a handy tip on how to get rid of the pesky games that install themselfs in the Program Library in Windows Media Center I'll admit it somewhat irks me we shipped games inside Read More...
|
-
There has been no official information from Microsoft but according to Engadget HD Windows Media Center TV Pack was released yesterday. I wish I could say more about it but I can’t! Wow, we didn't see this coming, at least not this fast -- just a week Read More...
|
-
Amazon are launching a video streaming service that once again cries out for a Media Center UI. The service can stream content via a browser or if you have a Sony Bravia with Bravia Video Link will steam directly to the TV. So add that to the list of Read More...
|
-
I am planning guests for future shows and I thought I would take the opportunity to find out the community opinions. So what kind of shows would you like to see? More developer shows? More interviews with OEMs and Microsoft? Or features looking at related Read More...
|
-
Charlie Owen is back blogging and seems to have gone straight for a controversial post! He has posted this thoughts on why DVD streaming is not a feature of Media Center (and properly never will be). So far it’s been left to the community to come up with Read More...
|
-
Listen Here This week I am talking to old friend of the show Ted Singh from Embedded Automation . Ted will be talking about mPanel a new wall-mountable touch screen that you can play music from and control the home, Ted will also be updating us on mControl Read More...
|
-
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 Read More...
|
-
Videogiants and Musicgiants are offering HD video and audio content for Windows Media Center viand I will be interviewing CEO Scott Bahneman on a future show to find out how we get the content. Today Videogiants won Electronic House 2008 product of the Read More...
|
-
CE Pro have details of a interesting new product from Vidabox. The PicoPC is a tiny little box with no moving parts and Windows XP, so you can browse the web, listen to music and watch pictures all from the 13 ounces device. It has USB and R232 designed Read More...
|
-
Don’t forget today/tonight at 8pm UK/ 12pm PST I will be chatting with Kevin Tofel about Cloud computing. You can watch live on Yahoo Live and ask questions in the chat room. See you later! Read More...
|
-
Damian Meher the developer behind BeebMC has created two screencast on how to create Media Center applications. Part 1 looks at the tools used for Media Center development and starting a new project and part 2 looks at using a template to create a BeebMC Read More...
|
-
The Consumer Electronic's blog has with part 2 of Todd Rutherford's presentation (part 5 of the Media Center University series) looking at integrating Windows Media Center into a whole home solution Download: iPod | MP3 | WMA | WMV | WMV (high) | Zune Read More...
|
-
Looks like the rumours where true, Microsoft are enabling Netflix streaming straight in to the Xbox 360. It would be nice to see an smiler official solution for Media Center users. Details from Engadget : After months of speculation and rumors , Microsoft Read More...
|
-
I really liked the HP Touchsmart PC I saw in Berlin (see this video ) and for US consumers it's available in stores now. If you get chance to have a play with the Touchsmart I would recommend taking a look at as the UI is very nice. I asked about UK availability Read More...
|
-
As more companies offer us web based services that reduce the dependency of client based applications (think Gmail, Google Documents, Live Mesh) we are storing more of our data in the cloud. So does that mean we can leave desktop app behind or are there Read More...
|
-
It looks like Microsoft are getting the idea that for Media Center and Extenders to be a success they need to show them off in stores. They have just completed fitting out all 13 Magnolia AV stores with a merchandising rack showing off the Windows Media Read More...
|
-
A few people have mentioned to me about the possibility of running Windows Home Server on a virtual machine and I did try it with Virtual PC back when Home Server was in beta but while it worked I found the performance was not very good and it didn’t Read More...
|
-
While I was at Silverstone over the weekend I hired a Kangaroo TV, this is a hand held unit that enables you to watch live TV pictures, in car cameras, timing data and audio commentary and over on the Digital Home blog on Techradar I have posted Read More...
|
-
On the Gadget Blog Justin has reviewed the Windows Media Center Sideshow gadget , this is the gadget (in beta at the moment) for controlling Media Center from a Sideshow device such as a Windows Mobile Device or a Ricovision Remote Control. I keep meaning Read More...
|
-
Listen Here This week I am talking to Tony Leung from TeVeStream about CaptionSeeker and application that enables you to locate a scene in a recorded TV show by searching for a keyword or phrase in captions and jump to the scene in Media Center. We also Read More...
|
-
Welcome to Justin Smith, he has taken over the Gadget Blog on TheDigitallifestyle.com . He will be focusing on new and interesting software gadgets, as well as customizing gadgets and maybe developing new gadgets. I plan on using this Blog a couple of Read More...
|
-
There will be no shortage of Media Center training at CEDIA this year with Niveus offering training courses on their hi-end equipment. They will be covering topics including network storage, mulitroom A/V and home control. Obviously Niveus will focus Read More...
|
-
HP are continuing their series of Webinars coving HP MediaSmart devices. Tomorrow (July 10th) Mike Garcen is the guest on a Webinar covering HP’s new MediaSmart Connect extender and July 17th & 22nd HP are presenting webinars on their MediaSmart Server Read More...
|
-
Damian Mehers has developed a BBC Radio addin for Windows Media Center that enables listening of BBC Radio streams directly from the Media Center user interface. It’s a simple app that Damian originally developed for his own use and has made it available Read More...
|
-
It looks like Engadget HD have some details on potential future updates on Media Center: The update expected this month is mainly focused around International support, which has evidently really been lacking up until now. The Japanese can expect ISDB-T Read More...
|
-
Sean Alexander has details on Acer's new min HTPC. The X1200 is a very small compact AMD Dual-Core processor equipped system complete with HDMI, GeForce 8200 and two PCIe slots (great for fitting TV cards in). Maybe this would be a good machine Read More...
|
-
Microsoft continues [edit thanks Jim for the correction] to target Media Center at Custom Installers: At CEDIA Expo 2008 they will be training installers on setting up Windows Media Center and other related topics like Windows Home Server, Extenders and Read More...
|
-
I am still using my HP MediaSmart extender full time at the moment and am very happy with it and Mike Garcen at Missing Remote has written a great review of the unit After including their extender technology strictly with their HP branded flat panel televisions, Read More...
|
-
Todd Rutherford presents part 4 of the Media Center University this time looking at Whole House Integration. You can download the video in a variety of formats including including iPod , WMV , WMV (high) and Zune Media Center University: Whole House Integration Read More...
|
-
First I want to say I have no inside information on this one way or another but Engadget HD are saying that “H.264 and DirecTV support have been pushed to Windows 7” here is one other possibility though, at least one well respected member of DBSTalk reported Read More...
|
-
While I was busy as Silverstone over on TheGreenButton they have announced that the site has been sold to Microsoft. I think this is great for the Media Center community as its a central point to communicate with the eHome team. It will be interesting Read More...
|
-
Regular readers will know I love my motor sport and this weekend I will be taking the family to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. I am really looking forward to trying a Kangaroo TV , this is a handheld devices (based on Linux) that you rent for Read More...
|
-
Listen Here This week Pete Stagman Windows Media Center MVP talks about how to stream DVDs to Extenders from a Media Center System. Pete worked on the project with a group of Media Center MVPs and they have put together a guide on how to setup your system Read More...
|
-
I have been looking forward to seeing a Media Center Sideshow gadget that will run on my Windows Mobile device since I first saw Sideshow in the first Vista beta and it looks like finally Microsoft have one in development. Eagle eyed Stuart Thailand spotted Read More...
|
-
On WeGotServed.co.uk they have details of a new plug in designed for Windows Home Server and Windows Media Center. The application called TV Manager is an addin or Windows Home Server that copies recordings from Media Center to Windows Home Server for Read More...
|
-
Steven Harding has made available for download his Media Center development book, while the book is not complete (call it a beta) if you interested in Media Center development its well worth a look. There is over 150 pages of detailed Vista Media Center Read More...
|
-
|
If you didn't get chance to catch the webinar I participated in a replay has been posted online. The session was introducing HP's new MediaSmart Connect a Media Center Extender and digital media adapter and was hosted Brian Burch, Director Marketin | |
|