The Digital Lifestyle Media Center Expert Blog by Garry Whittaker

TVGorge drops content

A few weeks back that was a bit of a stir about a new source for Internet TV. TV Gorge had content from all round the world and no international restrictions on viewing. It seemed to good to be true and unfortunately it was. They recently released thisannouncement...

Published Sun, Mar 14 2010 10:14 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: internet tv

New version of DVBLink for HDPVR released (No network pack support yet)

Over at www.1Geek1Tool.com the guys have announced the release of DVBLink for HDPVR 2.0. First of all let me say the version number is confusing as this is not a version for DVBLink server 2 and does not include any of the network pack functionality....

Published Fri, Feb 12 2010 2:31 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: dvbLink, hdpvr

DVBLogic releases fixes for DVBLink V2

Again I am incredibly impressed by how quick DVBLogic are in their customer service. A couple of issues affecting a very few people have already been fixed and in one case I know of in less than a day of being reported. DVBLogic have bundled these fixes...

Published Thu, Feb 11 2010 12:27 PM by Garry [WMA]

Official release of DVBLink V2 with Network Pack software

Its actually hard to believe this wasn't already a release as the beta versions have been so stable but today DVBLogic officially released DVBLInk of V2 This is the european release of the product and I am afraid our US friends will have to wait a little...

Published Fri, Feb 05 2010 7:58 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: dvbLink

Changes in the DVBLink V2 release from the release candidate

Just got the following information from Oberon over at DVBLogic The big change is a fix in DVBLink for IPTV, which was unable to play some of the streams where PMT pid was less than 0x1F. Couple of small things: - ability to assign channel numbers according...

Published Fri, Feb 05 2010 4:27 PM by Garry [WMA]

Why DVBLink is not just about network tuners

Jason's post really sums up the excitement over DVBLogic's DVBLink's network ability but for me its not just the networking that is significant. Even without the network tuners the DVBLink TVSource enables quite a few scenarios: 1, Tuner that cannot be...

Published Sat, Jan 30 2010 5:41 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Extender, Windows Media Center, 7mc, HD-PVR, DVB-C, dvbLink

DVBLink v2 Release Candidate 1 is available!

Over at the DVBLogic forums ( www.dvblogic.com ) Oberon has just posted about DVBLINK RC 1. The first line amused me. Looks like they have fixed some of the things that people have been asking for. I am pleased with the "default recorder" and the RTP...

Published Thu, Jan 28 2010 1:00 PM by Garry [WMA]

Looking for a step by step guide to setting up DVBLink server in WHS may I recommend...

http://mswhs.com/2010/01/22/setting-up-dvblink-on-whs/ Phillip Churchill has put together a really good guide with pictures at almost every step. EDIT: Credit where credit due although posted on Phillip's site this article was actually written by Al West...

Published Fri, Jan 22 2010 7:17 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Blogs, WHS, dvbLink

How close to SoftSled can you get? Pretty close! DVBLink + Recording Broker

For many years the holy grail for a lot of Media Center users has been a mythical creature known as 'Soft Sled.' This was muted quite a few years back as a Software version of a Media Center Extender that was supposedly being developed by Microsoft. Where...

Published Fri, Jan 22 2010 11:00 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: 7mc, dvbLink, softsled

DVBLink - How tuner pooling works

I asked Oberon over at the DVBLogic forums if he could clarify how the tuner pooling works in the new version of DVBLink as it is causing a lot of confusion, this was his reply:- This is simple, but at the same time a complicated topic. With the variety...

Published Wed, Jan 20 2010 6:00 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: 7mc, dvbLink

DVBLink V2 instructions posted

Over at the DVBLogic forums Oberon has just posted a quick set up guide for DVBLink V2. For your convenience I have copied it here with some of my comments in bold italics and underlined DVBLink Server installation and configuration. 1. Install DVBLink...

Published Mon, Jan 18 2010 7:34 AM by Garry [WMA]

Tip: What to do if Media Center TV setup gets stuck Loading TV Setup Data

This is a tip I keep meaning to write up and as this situation just happened to me again I thought it was about time I did. If Media Center hangs Loading during TV Setup Data there are two possible solutions I know of First try pressing Windows Key R...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 6:35 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Tips, 7mc

DVBLink Network Pack - it works (well at least in the UK and Europe - sorry USA)

I have been asked quite a few times today what I think of the new DVBLink Network pack and I have to say my initial impressions are very good. Once you have the DVBLink TV sources configured on the server it is incredibly easy to set up the network component...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 10:00 AM by Garry [WMA]

Using DVBLink in USA - the word from DVBLogic

Ok so since I posted about the new DVBLink network server I have been getting a lot of questions about US tuner support. I wasn't totally sure on this so I thought I would go to the horse's mouth and ask Oberon over at DVBLogic. Below is his reply which...

Published Fri, Jan 15 2010 7:32 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Windows Media Center, 7mc

Want Networked Tuners?! - DVBLogic will give them to you

Just wanted to get this out quick so I am going to post below the announcement from Oberon over at the dvblogic forums. This looks superb and has already been patched to allow install on Windows Home Server. I love the fact it can act as uPNP server....

Published Tue, Jan 12 2010 5:53 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: WHS, Windows Media Center, 7mc, Windows 7

As Seen at CES: More E-Books, Soundolier wireless speakers

I spent the morning touring the E-Book/E-Reader showcase and I can confidently predict the cost of ownership for e-reader technology is going to come down this year. With so many manufacturers pushing very similar form factors with similar e-ink technologies...

Published Sun, Jan 10 2010 11:19 PM by Garry [WMA]

As Seen At CES: Amulet Voice Control Remote for Media Center

Way at the back of the south hall in the EHX section Amulet are showing off one of the coolest bits of Media Center kit at CES. Their prototype Amulet 2nd Generation Voice-enabled Remote looks like a fairly normal Media Center Remote but has a built in...

Published Sun, Jan 10 2010 8:07 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Windows Media Center, 7mc, DVB-C, CES 2010, CES2010

As not seen (but heard about) at CES Dolby Volume

Ian and I were lucky enough to visit Dolby’s Showcase yesterday and one technology which I could see some really interesting possibilities for is Dolby Volume. This is an intelligent volume levelling software. This ensures all sources are at a consistent...

Published Sat, Jan 09 2010 4:30 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: CES2010, Audio

As Seen at CES: Set Back – where your Media Center will be

One trend I am really noticing this year is the number of small ION based PC’s which you can mount on the back of your TV using the VESA mounts. I was standing by the Microsoft stand earlier and someone asked about a large screen-size all-in-one pc and...

Published Sat, Jan 09 2010 3:42 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Windows Media Center, 7mc, SFF PC, CES2010

As Seen at CES: Arcsoft

Ian and myself went to see Arcsoft today to talk about 3d support in Total Media Theater within Media Center. Whilst this was certainly amazing to see I was even more impressed by their support in an upcoming version of High Bit Rate HD audio directly...

Published Sat, Jan 09 2010 1:50 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: HD-DVD/Blu-Ray, Windows Media Center, Windows 7, CES2010

As Seen At CES: NXT technology

I attended NXT’s press breakfast this morning and was impressed with a couple of things. First an upfront disclosure I have a small number of shares in NXT. Amongst many iPod docks and radios etc using NXT’s flat panel technology were a couple...

Published Fri, Jan 08 2010 7:06 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Home Automation, haptic, CES 2010

As seen at CES: eBooks and lots of them

It certainly looks like this is going to be the year of the eBook reader at CES. Marvel in conjunction with AU Optronics were showing some ultrathin reader's base on AU's EPD (electronic paper display) E-Ink displays The quality and refresh rate of these...

Published Wed, Jan 06 2010 9:04 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: CES 2010

As seen at CES: Fit PC2 - A media center for the palm of your hand

Compulab's FitPC is astoundingly small when you see it in the flesh - it truly is a PalmSize PC but a powerful one as, harnessing the GMA500 chipset's hardware acceleration, it is quite capable of running HD Video - in fact it was demoed running an h...

Published Wed, Jan 06 2010 8:42 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Windows 7, CES, SFF PC, CES 2010

DVBLink 2.02 beta out

If you are running DVBLink 2 then you need to head over to the forums at www.DVBLogic.com and download the latest beta update. As well as fixing a memory leak this will extend the beta period which is due to expire shortly. I've been trying the new patch...

Published Thu, Dec 31 2009 11:47 AM by Garry [WMA]

Sites you should know: HTBananas

Got a question about setting up your Home Theater equipment. Don't know your Dolby from your DTS? Can't plug your HDMI in a round hole? HTBanas is porbably going to have the answer. Run by Home Theater enthusiasts for Home Theater enthusiasts this is...

Published Thu, Dec 31 2009 11:42 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Blogs, Music, Windows Media Center, Opinion, HD-PVR, Off Topic, IPod

DVBLink 2 1st Beta Here

Oberon just posted this over at the DVBLogic Forums - shame that the Network Functionality hasn't made it yet but the appropriate word is yet. Network BDA drivers coming soon. Having said that the new release already improves an awful lot of things as...

Published Tue, Dec 15 2009 8:52 AM by Garry [WMA]

DVBLink 2 - coming very soon

Oberon over at DVBLogic.com has dropped me a mail following on from this week's podcast to say that DVBLink 2 is only day's away and to prove they really do listen it removes the requirement to turn off UAC. I am really excited to see what DVBLink 2 has...

Published Mon, Dec 14 2009 4:12 PM by Garry [WMA]

Sites you should Know (particularly if your are in the UK): Rathes Blog

http://thegreenbutton.com/blogs/rathe_media_center_blog/default.aspx From what appears to be an insider in the Dublin dev team for Media Centre, this blog is in its early stage but already has some reall nuggets of information. At the time of posting...

Published Sun, Nov 29 2009 6:11 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Blogs, 7mc

DVBLogic release DVBSource for DVBLink

Great to see the announcement posted over at www.dvblogic.com that they have released their DVBSource program which allows the use of DVBLink to view TVSources directly without the need for further third party software (dvbviewer, dvbdream etc) This new...

Published Sun, Nov 22 2009 1:28 PM by Garry [WMA]

A bit more news from DVBLogic and 1Geek1Tool

Really pleased to see this post from Oberon over at DVBLogic's forum: We are working hard on DVBLink v2. Alpha may be expected next week (5-10 days). DVBLink TVSource will be released next week. Users of DVBLink TVSource will get free upgrade to DVBLink...

Published Fri, Nov 13 2009 7:18 PM by Garry [WMA]

Sky Player in Media Center - the wheel turns slowly but it does turn

With all the excitement over here in the UK about the integration of Sky Player into Media Centre - which I have to say does look extremely well done particularly the integration into the guide - I got to thinking about slow cogs moving at big business...

Published Wed, Oct 21 2009 4:35 PM by Garry [WMA]

DVBLogic TV Source reaches beta 2

I posted a little while ago about DVBLogics TVSource for DVBlink and have to say the team over there are coming along leaps and bounds with this. If you don't know the DVBLink technology acts as a bridge to allow a number of sources (for example IP TV...

Published Tue, Oct 20 2009 6:01 PM by Garry [WMA]

Silicon Dust fix tuner 0 issue for DVB-C in latest beta

I mentioned in my last blog post that some of our European friends were having some success in viewing free to air cable channels using the DVB version of the HD Homerun Network tuner from Silicon Dust but with one puzzling feature - only tuner 1 was...

Published Sat, Oct 17 2009 10:36 AM by Garry [WMA]

SiliconDust bring DVB-C FTA into Windows MC in latest HDHomerun beta build

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...

Published Thu, Oct 08 2009 9:34 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Vista, ADD-INS, Windows Media Center, 7mc, DVB-C

Off Topic: Need to get a new iPod to work with an old dock. Sites you should know: CableJive.com

I had an email pop in today from CableJive.com about two new iPod synch cables "duraSync is the world's toughest sync cable for iPod and iPhone, and xlSync is an extra-long sync cable for iPod and iPhone" This reminded me of a blog post I had been meaning...

Published Tue, Oct 06 2009 5:30 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Zune, Off Topic, IPod

DVBLogic beta testing tuner platform

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...

Published Sun, Oct 04 2009 11:20 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Vista, Windows Media Center, 7mc

BBC look to copy protect BBC HD on freeview

Interesting article on the BBC News site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8259154.stm Basically it looks like the content providers are pushing the Beeb to impose content protection once Freeview HD is up and running. Have to say it sounds like...

Published Thu, Sep 17 2009 12:35 PM by Garry [WMA]

Zune HD - Dock - Big screen UI video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cMi_Qp7eb4 Suspect this will be taken down soon. Someone sneaked some video at the GDGT event last night where MS were demoing the UI for the Zune HD when connected to a big screen using HDMI from the dock. All very interesting...

Published Wed, Aug 05 2009 7:51 AM by Garry [WMA]

Virgin Media launches new HD channels in the UK - How to watch them in your Media Center

I have been planning to write up my experiences trying to get HD content from my Virgin Media V+ cable into my Media Centre. Up to recently there didn't seem a lot of point as Virgin only had 1 HD channel but today 3 more launched and with ESPN covering...

Published Thu, Jul 30 2009 10:25 PM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Windows Media Center, 7mc, HD-PVR, Virgin

Quick Headsup - DVBLINK for HDPVR RC is up in DVBLogic Forums

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...

Published Tue, Jun 09 2009 5:26 AM by Garry [WMA]

Filed under: Vista, Windows Media Center, 7mc, HD-PVR

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