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Ian's digital lifestyle and Windows Media Center Blog
March 2008 - Posts
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A quick post on two new Media Center systems. First Meriso's nice looking PC with sleek case, prices start at €999. The standout feature here isn't the 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo T5500 processor, 250GB internal HDD, dual-layer DVD burner, GMA950 graphics accelerator, Read More...
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If you waiting for the Hauppauge HD-PVR you will have to wait a bit longer and if your waiting to use it with Media Center you could be waiting even longer... The Hauppauge HD-PVR device which was originally to be available by March 31st and then "April Read More...
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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 Read More...
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There is a nice advert for the Extender functions of Media Center on Xbox.com showing how the Xbox can be used for home entertainment. It's good that Microsoft are highlighting the Extender function of the Xbox. With it being it being on Xbox.com it's Read More...
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When you have a music collection that you play via Media Center at some point you come across the problem of having missing or incorrect meta data. This is especially a problem if you download mp3 files, and having missing album art looks really bad when Read More...
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Chris is reporting that the D-Link Extender is now available for ordering and some retailers are offering it at $250. It's a shame D-Link are not offering the unit out side of North America as there has been good feedback from the beta testers. As Chris Read More...
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If your after a cheap Extender for Windows Media Center and can put up with a bit of fan noise then the Xbox 360 Arcade is now a very attractive. Digital Spy are reporting that Tesco and other UK retails have started offering the Arcade for £149 Read More...
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Channel 10 have a nice video showing Autonomic audio distribution system for Media Center, which uses a 7.1 sound card to distribute 4 separate stereo pairs. Also shown in the video is a neat solution for controlling Media Center via a UMPC or a Read More...
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Listen Here Welcome to show 150! Joining me this week is Microsoft's Charlie Owen, Charlie is a Program Manager on the eHome team and his area is the Media Center Platform and the SDK. Charlie talks about how the Media Center vision has changed since Read More...
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Anthony Park has updated MyNetflix which includes a new search feature and the ability to pick a bit rate. I just finished working on a few new features for MyNetflix, so I wanted to get this out there in public beta. The new version can be downloaded Read More...
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HP have a video up demonstrating it's Media Smart TV and there is a demo showing off Media Center Extender functions (top right of the main video). It's a good background on the features that Extenders offer. It's a pity that HP are not planning to launch Read More...
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Microsoft UK have put up some videos off digital lifestyle products, the videos show off how Microsoft products fit in with the digital life e.g. guy on a skateboard using Windows Live Messenger on a Windows Mobile phone. It does show off Media Center Read More...
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A debate that has raged since Microsoft launched the SDK for Windows Media Center is should Media Center apps look and feel like native Media Center or should they have their own look Steven Harding has posted this question on his blog: Microsoft are Read More...
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Chris Lanier highlights that posters over on TGB are reporting that SP1 gives the Extenders a speed boost, improving the screen transitions. As I have said before I don't think that transitions are that bad but it would be good to see and improvement. Read More...
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WeGotServed.co.uk has an update on a couple of new addins and one that caught my eye was MCE Collections Beta. This is a new Vista Media Center application that provides access to TV collections on a Windows Home Server created with Recorded TV Manager Read More...
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Microsoft are running a new competition to win a digital home makeover complete with Media Center and Extenders Our makeover team will use Windows® Media Center and Extenders for Windows® Media Center to turn one lucky person's home into a connected Read More...
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There is a new Remote Control application in development that enabled you to control Media Center from a mobile device like a PSP or an iPhone. It's an open source project that is available from sourceforge.net , I will be giving it a try over the weekend Read More...
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I have already mentioned my disappointment of Paul Thurrot's dismissing of the Linksys Extenders ( here ) and Steve Lindsay expresses his thoughts. He mentioned some points that Paul completely missed, things like form factor, weight, power consumption, Read More...
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Engadget are asking who makes the best HD DVR, and TiVo has taken the lead so you need to get voting for Media Center . To some, DVRs are a like a religion and switching shouldn't be taken lightly, but others will take whatever their provider gives 'em Read More...
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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 Read More...
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Some times I like Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott and some times the show really gets on my nerves. Normally Paul and host Leo Laporte seem to forget about Media Center completely while Paul gets his facts mixed up on Windows topics. This week Paul Read More...
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Here is a top tip from the forums that I thought was worth posting. It's a complete list of Media Center keyboard shortcuts: A friend of mine gave me a little book on VMC and XBOX 360 etc. It contained a list of all the keyboard shortcuts for VMC, thought Read More...
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As you may have read I am running The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition and as well as giving away mControl and Big Screen Headlines thanks to a very generous anonymous donor the winning entry will get a brand new Xbox 360 Elite + extra Read More...
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It looks like Microsoft have pushed the button and released SP1 via Windows Update. It's not being pushed down via automatically yet, that is coming mid April but it should be listed on Windows Update for download now. If you want to know all about Windows Read More...
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Don't forget Chris Lanier will be live on The Media Center Show today (or tonight depending on your time zone!) 8pm GMT / 1pm PST. We will be taking Media Center, Extenders, Blu-ray on Xbox and lot more Listen and watch the video stream live and join Read More...
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If your a Last.fm user you will like the new addon for Windows Media Center by Damian Mehers . MceFRM is a a Last.FM addon Vista Media Center with features like using the More option from Media Center to select MceFM and then listen to more artist like Read More...
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Enthusiasts have started posting entries for The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup on the Flickr group . As I said on my blog on Friday: The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup is for Media Center enthusiasts to show off their home installations. Read More...
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If your technical and want to know more about the Windows Home Server bug you should read the article on AnandTech . When it rains, it pours, and sometimes you get hit by lightning too which will really ruin your day. Since very late last year, Microsoft Read More...
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Another press release! This time about FUZE media who I interviewed at CES From Chris Lanier FUZE Media Systems Introduces Entry-Level Whole-Home Media Solution for Smaller Residences FUZE “Mini Edition” Is a Complete, One-Box Solution | Electronic Read More...
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Niveus is rolling out a new user interface for Media Center that shows artwork and metadata for combined media sources such as recorded TV, downloaded and HD content The details from CE Pro: 03.14.2008 — Niveus Media is rolling out a new user interface, Read More...
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Steve Linsdsay has posted a new video showing 5 things you didn't know you could do with Media Center, some of them you will know and others you may not. The areas Steve covers are: Advanced Scheduling Internet TV Sports Windows Home Server Media Center Read More...
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Microsoft Ultimate Install competition is a great idea and it's a great opportunity for custom AV installers to show off their installation skills but it's only open to customer installers, enthusiast are left out of it so I have a new competition! The Read More...
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Steven Harding has updated Yougle to 0.4.0 and I got a chance to play with it tonight. It's a small install and then you can watch Youtube, MSN video and other Internet video sources all in Windows Media Center. Steven has done a great job with the application Read More...
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You may have heard Mike Seamons on The Media Center Show in the past talking about Life|ware and Windows Media Center (I talked to him at CES), well Mike is leaving Life|ware and going to work at Microsoft as a Product Manager in the eHome group, according Read More...
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ORLANDO, Fla. — March 13, 2008 — Today at the Electronic House Expo (EHX) in Orlando, Fla., Microsoft Corp. announced the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest. This exciting design contest, now in its second year, seeks Read More...
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Listen Here This week I am talking Windows Media Center Extenders with Microsoft's Todd Bowra. Todd talks about the new generation of Media Center Extenders,how to connect them and the various types of devices available . I have email, news items Read More...
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If you have a passion for Media Center and fancied working on the product. Microsoft are looking for Software Design Engineers in Test to work on Media Center. Following the links to Microsoft's jobs site one of the roles is working on a "newly-formed Read More...
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Embedded Automation have announces mPanel, a touch screen for accesing digital media and home automation. I hope to find out more from Embedded Automation and get an update on the show. Here is the press release: Integrated Touch Screen is a Portal for Read More...
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Most people will know Chris Lanier and his great Media Center Blog, and he is going to be the next guest on the live media center show. Monday 17th 8pm GMT / 1pm PST I will be streaming the recording of The Media Center Show via live.thedigitallifestyle.com Read More...
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One tool I couldn't live without is FolderShare , I use it to sync folders across my Tablet PC, UMPC and Media Center PC. It works by you installing the FolderShare client and then picking a folder (or folder tree) you want to sync up and it does the Read More...
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The Microsoft knowledge base article about the data corruption bug that has hit Windows Home Server has been updated. It looks like a fix is being worked on with a delivery June 2008. This issue can now be reliably reproduced, and a fix is in development. Read More...
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I have updated my Media Center Health Monitor with a Twitter addin. So if you have the monitor running and it detects a Windows Media Center issue it will update a Twitter account with the issue. It will also Twitter when the general status of the system Read More...
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Writing applications for Windows Media Center is a very challenging but you can build some fantastic application with MCML (Media Center Markup Language) and you can never to many resources available when you start out developing Media Center apps. So Read More...
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If your a HP MediaSmart users you can earn yourself a $20 credit at hpshopping.com by completing a 10 minute survey. HP want to find out how people have adopted the product into their homes and what they are doing with it. So have your say and head over Read More...
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The Media Center Show sponsor One Voice have launched VoiceTunes, an application for controlling Windows Media Player and iTunes via voice (plus it will control media playback in Windows Media Center) One Voice have a trial version available in TheDigitalLifestyle.com Read More...
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I thought I would update you on the changes to the membership on TheDigitalLifestyle.com forums . There are going to be two main levels of membership: Silver - Silver members are registered members of theDigitallifestyle.com forms, and members will have Read More...
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Listen Here This week Galileu Vieira from Microsoft Brazil chats about how Media Center and digital lifestyle products are being used in Brazil. With the launch of Windows Vista, Media Center is officially supported in Brazil for the first time and Galileu Read More...
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A quick press release to start the day. Vidabox are announcing new a HD DVD & Blu-ray storage and streaming server WESTBURY, NY – March 5th – VidaBox LLC is proud to announce new HD DVD & Blu-ray storage and streaming abilities on Read More...
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Microsoft have launched a new site called UltimatePC.com that seems to be a new marketing site for Vista and tries to show off Ultimate PC setups. Whether this has anything to do with the missing Ultimate Extras I don't know. But what I did find looking Read More...
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(via Missing Remote ) While I am happy with the transcoding features in the Zune software it doesn't work for other platforms like iPods and PSP etc. This is where Druid 1.0 comes in. Druid is trancoding software for DVR-MS files (Media Center recorded Read More...
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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 Read More...
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One of my favourite features of my Zune is the podcast syncing and Alan at Missing Remotes is just getting in to wireless syncing. Alan's Tip of the day is using a dock and wireless syncing to get podcasts automatically down to the Zune. Alan is also Read More...
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I have seen this video showed at Microsoft events but I don't think it's been available for public viewing before. The video features Zune, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and Windows Media Center in a "day in a life" type lifestyle video. It's Read More...
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I saw some interesting stats today, The 2008 Digital Entertainment Survey commissioned by media lawyers Wiggin surveyed "digital entertainment consumption patterns, trends, preferences and attitudes across all forms of entertainment activity" Read More...
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It's been a year since I moved the The Media Center Show to my own site and re-launch the site as TheDigitalLifestyle.com and I wanted to thanks all the listeners and readers that have moved with me to here. I wanted to expand the reach and improve the Read More...
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I have been recording music with my HP TC1100 Tablet PC for a while so I thought it may be interesting to show how well the Tablet PC form factor works for me. Since using the tablet I use more virtual instruments and my other keyboards are being used Read More...
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I had great fun recording the live show on Friday Evening with Windows expert Ed Bott . Ed is always great to interview as he has a fantastic knowledge of Windows plus he is an excellent speaker. Streaming the show live via ustream.tv really adds an extra | |
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