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Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:17 PM

Getting Started with Lighting Control and Home Automation

This will be the first post in what I hope to make a series about using mControl to automate your home, control your thermostat, control your lighting, secure your home, and more. Home automation and lighting control is a very in-depth subject, so I’ve...
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Monday, May 12, 2008 3:42 PM

Ask Chris: mControl and Home Automation

Are you interested in getting started with a product like mControl for lighting and home automation? I want to help you get started, but I need to know where people need the most help. I've got a basic post on the way about choosing a lighting control...
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Monday, May 12, 2008 3:06 PM

Another Video Library Plug-in Goes Open Source

I’ve talked about the possibility of Sam’s Video Browser going open source to join the Open Media Library project , and last week the first step was taken with Sam open sourcing his Video/DVD Library application. The Video Browser project is now up on...
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Monday, May 12, 2008 2:01 PM

Reminder Plug-in for Media Center Keeps You on Track

Ever wanted to have Media Center remind you of specific events while you are watching TV or listening to music? A new Vista Media Center plug-in called Remind Me does just that, ensuring you never miss your appointments or forget to make a phone call...
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Monday, May 12, 2008 1:38 PM

SDV Tuning Resolver Unlikely to Work with OCURs

I’ve covered the fact that CableLabs has said they are not focusing the upcoming Tuning Resolver (TR) on OCURs, and this has become more evident in the actual specifications for the TR. OCURs, which are PC-based Digital Cable Tuners (like ATIs) are not...
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Sunday, May 11, 2008 10:54 AM

Short Bits: Catch-up

I’ve been busy finishing yet another semester (among other things), so there is a lot of news that I have missed over the past week. General mControl now has a driver to control other Vista Media Center PCs SageTV gets HD PVR support The Media Center...
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Monday, May 05, 2008 11:29 PM

Zune Community Brings New Shared Experience to Music

Spring release adds features that inspire people to explore, discover and discuss their favorite music. REDMOND, Wash. — May 5, 2008 — Last November Zune launched “Zune Social,” a music community Web site where music fans can discover new music, browse...
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Monday, May 05, 2008 1:12 PM

Microsoft: “No Plans to Introduce a Blu-ray Drive for Xbox 360”

I hope you didn’t really think Microsoft was doing an Xbox 360 with Blu-ray , because they are once again denying it . So, what do you think is really going on? These sites are flat out making up the rumors to drive web traffic OEMs think constant reports...
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Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:21 PM

Why I’m I Still Posting About Xbox 360 With Blu-ray?

Previous coverage: Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here. Latest rumor, ASUS subsidiary Pegatron has reportedly won the contract to “ assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive” according to Economic Daily News (Chinese). I’ve covered the Xbox...
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Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:32 AM

Did Someone Already Reverse Engineer the Extender Protocol?

There have been several projects to figure out exactly how Extenders work so that maybe a Software Extender (Softsled) could be developed outside of Microsoft. There is a project on CodePlex , though slow moving it seems like people are starting to get...
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Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:07 AM

Short Bits: ToDVRMS, Netflix Instant, Sage Extender, more

Andy just posted a new command line application, ToDVRMS . As the name suggests, it converts files to DVR-MS. It was developed for MPEG/VOB, so rip your DVDs as one large VOB and run ToDVRMS on them and they should playback on Extenders. Anthony Park...
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Thursday, May 01, 2008 4:35 PM

mControl 2.1 Adds Translucent Menus

Much like the Start Menu and Guide in Media Center, mControl 2.1 is going to add a translucent UI so you can continue watching your favorite show or video in the background. Other features in the upcoming update include a new INSTEON utility (also support...
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