website hit counter March 2007 - Posts - Chris Lanier

March 2007 - Posts

PC Mag Previews Dell's XPS 410 with CableCARD

I guess I’m a little late with this one due to me Spring Break fun, but PC Mag got a review unit of Dell's XPS 410 with CableCARD.  Their quick review points make the system look great, with Cons that relate more to CableCARD 1.0 than Vista and Media Center (Good sign!)

They note correctly in their Cons that you “Can't use on-demand or pay-per-view with CableCard reader.”  This is because CableCARD 1.0 is only uni-directional (one-way), so services that require data to be set back to your Cable Co. can’t work.

They also note that “CableCard tuner not available separately” which has been discussed for the past two years here

Overall, I can’t wait to see what PC Mag has to say with the final review.

Thanks to everyone who sent this to me!

Update on Xbox 360 Extender with CableCARD Recordings

About a month ago, I ran across a Knowledge Base article that described issues with using an Xbox 360 to view recordings made with a CableCARD.  Clearly this set off a red flag since the article Currently, there is no resolution for this issue.

However, I’ve been informed that this issue is very isolated as I commented in the post.  It shouldn’t be a major factor in your decision to purchase a system with a Digital Cable Tuner.  This seems like one of those things that had a minor bug and a KB article was incorrectly published about the issue.  It should be noted that beta testing with CableCARD's and Xbox 360's has been going on for a long time, and the experience should be great now!

The first CableCARD-enabled PC's are starting to ship now, so if anyone does run into problems, as always feel free to e-mail me and I’ll be sure to pass on the issues.

The Media Center Show #99

The Media Center Show #99 | 14th March 2007 (42mins 04sec) MP3 - 14.5MB (Download Here)

This week Ian Dixon talked with Daniel Reynolds from Proxure about mceTunes the application for sharing your iTunes content with Media Center even if its protected tracks you have purchased.  Also talk about a TV recommendations application they have developed for Media Center called MyTV Genie.

Posted by chrisl | with no comments

Life|Ware 2.0 For Windows Vista Launches A New Interface, Increased Performance

Columbus, OH – March 8, 2007 – Life|ware digital entertainment and automation solutions announces the launch of Life|ware 2.0 which introduces an entirely new, Microsoft® Windows® Vista interface while enhancing its performance managing a home’s subsystems through Windows® Vista Media Center to create a comprehensive digital living experience. 

Life|ware 2.0 provides at-a-glance, gallery-style view of home subsystems – lights, thermostats, security, surveillance and more. By replicating the distinctive Windows Vista interface look, feel and navigation, Life|ware 2.0  presents a crisp interface that is intuitive, simple to learn and easy to use.

By simply integrating Life|ware into Windows® Vista Media Center, you have your entire music collection, complete with album art, all on screen. Users can enjoy slideshows of  their digital photos, schedule and record their favorite television programs, call up home videos and watch DVDs. Life|ware also lets homeowners control a home’s lighting system, thermostats and security system, distribute music throughout the house, enact homeowner-defined Life|scenes .  What’s more, Life|ware lets users enjoy the experience anywhere and everywhere—through a TV with a Media Center PC, Xbox 360™ as a Media Center Extender, from a home or office PC or notebook, a wireless device like an Ultra Mobile PC, or from a Life|point high definition touch panel.

The key to Life|ware’s flexibility is its use of Web Services for Devices (WSD) to communicate between different home systems. Designed from its inception to support a wide range of controllable subsystems, Life|ware comes into its own in Windows Vista, which supports WSD natively.

“Lifeware was designed from the beginning with an eye towards Windows Vista,” said Mike Seamons, Vice President of Marketing. “Vista’s native support of WSD means swifter, more seamless integration projects for Lifeware dealers.”

Instead of writing proprietary drivers, Life|ware builds web service-based software bridges to all Life|ware Connected™ partner products that make each subsystem fit the flexible, cross-platform WSD standard, which enables rapid two-way communications that are reliable and robust. This open, standards-based approach to home automation creates a system that is both affordable and scaleable and can easily be expanded as new vendor partners are added.

Features of Life|ware 2.0

  • 100% digital experience.
  • Share digital content across your home network.
  • Distribute audio where you want it, when you want it.
  • Easy navigation for all users.
  • Choose how you want to interact with Life|waremouse, keyboard, remote, or touch screens.
  • Seamless integration with Microsoft® Windows® Vista Media Center
  • Multi-vendor hardware support gives you more choices among PCs and subsystems.
  • Schedules for common home control and security tasks.
  • Life|scenes™ set a mood using all of your home’s systems.
  • Extend the experience around the house using Xbox 360s as Media Center Extenders.
  • Life|ware is completely scalable to meet your changing needs—big or small.

Life|ware pricing varies based on the scope of the installation.

For more information on Life|ware by Exceptional Innovation, please visit www.life-ware.com.

One Voice Launches Media Center Communicator Version 3

One Voice Technologies, Inc., developer of 4th Generation voice solutions for the Telecom and Interactive Multimedia markets, today announced the availability of its new Media Center Communicator(TM) version 3 for Windows Vista Media Center. Media Center Communicator allows users to simply speak to play music, view photos and videos, watch TV, place Skype calls and control your Xbox 360. Media Center Communicator MSRP is $79.95 with a 30-day trial download version now available. For more information regarding Media Center Communicator, please visit www.onev.com/mcc

"We are very excited to announce the launch of our new Media Center Communicator version 3 for Windows Vista," said Dean Weber, president and CEO at One Voice Technologies. "We have added tremendous features to this product and a seamless integration with Windows Vista along with voice commands to control up to five Xbox 360 game consoles. Media Center Communicator is a must have product for Windows Vista to create the ultimate Digital Home experience!"

About Media Center Communicator

Imagine walking into your home and using your voice to tell your Media Center to play MP3 or iTunes music, call to order a pizza(a), set the thermostat or home theater lighting, play a photo slideshow, watch and record live TV, read and send E-mail or video chat with a friend. Media Center Communicator delivers on this vision today! For more information, please visit www.onev.com/mcc or for an online demonstration go to www.onev.com/videos/mccoverview.wmv.

Features include:

  • Simple to use voice commands
  • No voice training required
  • High accuracy with wide range of accents
  • Play MP3 or Apple iTunes music using voice commands
  • PC-to-Phone calling using Skype to anywhere worldwide
  • Control up to five Xbox 360 game consoles using voice commands
  • Home automation for setting thermostats, lighting, security cameras and much more
  • Read and send email
  • View photos and photo slideshows
  • Create your own custom voice macros to launch websites and applications
  • Works with Microsoft Windows Media Center DVD players (Sony and Niveus)

Recommended System Specs:

  • Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz or higher with HT
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 350 MB free disk space
  • Quality microphone (not included)

About One Voice Technologies, Inc.

One Voice Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:ONEV - News) is the world's first developer of 4th Generation voice solutions for the Telecom and Interactive Multimedia markets. Our Intelligent Voice(TM) solutions employ revolutionary, patented technology that allows people to send messages (E-mail, SMS, Instant Messaging and paging), purchase products, get information and control devices - all by using their voice. The company is headquartered in La Jolla, California. For more information, please visit http://www.onev.com/

Posted by chrisl | 3 comment(s)

The Media Center Show #98

The Media Center Show #98 | 8th March 2007 (50mins 25sec) MP3 - 17.3MB (Download Here)

This week Ian Dixon talked with Steven Cheung of Vidabox about their Dual HD Systems and about the pros and cons of HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

Posted by chrisl | with no comments

Another $200 Sony DVD Changer Deal

Sony VAIO XL1B2 DVD/CD Media Changer (TigerDirect) | If you didn’t get in on the $200 Changer from JR.com don’t worry because you are getting anther chance at TigerDirect!

Posted by chrisl | 4 comment(s)

Orb Releases 10' Web Based Media Center Extender

Speaking of SoftSled and Orb, Ian Dixon points to Orb’s new Web based Windows Media Center Extender and finally brings a 10’ UI to the platform!

Sweet!

image

Review of Webguide 4: Your Content... Anywhere

Missing Remote has a review of Webguide 4: Your Content... Anywhere.  Is it really that good?  Mike gave is 5 out of 5 remotes, so it’s got to do something right!  WebGuide is really a great program that fills the void between MSN Remote Record, Orb, and SoftSled.

I highly recommend checking out the review for more.

Posted by chrisl | 1 comment(s)

ZuneTVWatcher Helps Zune To Play Nice With Media Center

ZuneTVWatcher | A new program out today, ZuneTVWatcher kind of starts to pick-up where Microsoft left off with lame Media Center and Zune integration.  It will automatically monitor your Recorded TV folder, and then convert your recordings to go on the Zune.

You might be saying, “Hey, I can do this already”.  But that one thing that you might not already be able to do is sync the shows and have the metadata put them into the "TV Shows" section on the Zune.  Right now, if you use third party tools to convert your recordings, they will likely be put in the “Videos” section.  That's not much fun!

ZuneTVWatcher also can delete shows off your Zune when Media Center deletes a show.  I don’t have a Zune, so I have no idea how it works but give it a shot.  Currently in beta, and I believe you can register and grab a copy here.

Having a Bad TiVo Day?

Via Digg

(RSS Readers click here, YouTube video embedded)

Posted by chrisl | 2 comment(s)

Aufero (BitTorrent Plug-in) Goes Into Alpha

If you were interested in Aufero, the BitTorrent plug-in for Media Center, now is your chance to get in on the alpha.  Requires Vista Media Center, and you can Sign up here.
 

Posted by chrisl | with no comments

HP MediaSmart HDTV Doesn't Include Built-In Extender

During CES, Engadget posted about the HP MediaSmart HDTV that supposedly had a Media Center Extender built-in.  The only problem was that the PDF they linked to said nothing about it acting as a media Center Extender!

Well, thanks to Mike who posted a comment in my post about it yesterday and confirmed that it doesn’t have any true Media Center Extender functionality.  It’s basically just a Windows Media Connect type UPnP device that can connect to a Media Center PC.  That’s nothing special, since a Media Center PC really just means a Windows XP PC.

Sadly, this was not the Media Center Extender HDTV that we have been looking for.

The Media Center Show #97

The Media Center Show #97 | 1st March 2007 (1Hour 04mins 45secs) MP3 - 22.2MB (Download Here)

This week Ian Dixon talked with Todd Headrick, Product Planner on the Windows Home Server team at Microsoft, diving in to the features of Windows Home Server, finding out how it works and what it can do.  Vote for the show on Podcast Alley.

And as always Ian has fantastic set of prizes to giveaway this week.  Listen to the show for more!

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