May 2008 - Ian Dixon's Blog - The Digital Lifestyle.com: Windows Media Center news, podcasts, videos, forums and wikis

Would you like to see a Media Center Development book?

Steven Harding on The Digital Lifestyle Developer Blog is working on a Media Center development book and is asking would you like it in traditional book format or an inexpensive PDF copy. I think a PDF is a great idea as its a much cheaper way of distributing...

Published Fri, May 30 2008 9:38 AM by Ian Dixon

Cannon PC quad-CableCARD Media Center

I know Chris posted about this earlier this week but I had to show the picture that Engadget is showing off. Cannon PC have become the latest OEM to get CableCARD certification and are offering some pretty high end devices including dual CableCARD ...

Published Thu, May 29 2008 7:39 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

WegotServed.co.uk review Alienware's HD Media Server

Over on Wegotserver.co.uk Richard Hay got to review Alienware's High Definition Media Server. While WeGotServed normally focus on Windows Home Server Alienware's Media Server is actually a Windows Vista Home Premium machine which makes it an excellent...

Published Thu, May 29 2008 7:23 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #158 - Fuze Media Systems

Listen Here Back at CES in January I came across FUZE Media Systems ( see this video ), they have a different approach to Media Center using a hybrid system of their own code and parts of Media Center to create a locked down whole home media solution...

Published Thu, May 29 2008 12:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Podcast, The Media Center Show

The 31 Days of the Dragon continues

There are still plenty of chances to win the fantastic HP HDX Dragon Entertainment PC, check out the list bellow and get entering! 23 May - 30 May www.planetx64.com 24 May - 31 May www.thegreenbutton.com 25 May - 01 Jun www.istartedsomething.com 26 May...

Published Thu, May 29 2008 8:22 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

Don't forget to Vote for The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup

There is still time to vote for your favourite Enthusiast Setup from our Flickr group and if you vote you get chance to win some great prizes, here are the nominations: jbworks mattingly47302 elootos fyiguy1 DWAnderson Take a look at their pictures send...

Published Wed, May 28 2008 5:40 PM by Ian Dixon

TeVeStream CaptionSeeker - New Software for Locating Recorded TV Scenes by Captions

Not sure if anybody has tried this but I just spotted a post on TheGreenButton.com about TeVeStream CaptionSeeker, an application for searching captions in TV shows and then you can seach for text in the show and jump to the scene in Media Center. Looks...

Published Mon, May 26 2008 9:28 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

BleepingComputer.com takes it's turn to giveaway the Dragon

Still trying to win that HP Dragon? Today it's the turn of BleepingComputer.com to start their competition BleepingComputer.com

Published Mon, May 26 2008 8:48 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

istartedsomething.com giveaway starts today

Another chance to win the HP HDX Dragon PC this time with istartedsomething.com , so head over and get winning HP HDX “Dragon” notebook giveaway starts today - istartedsomething

Published Sun, May 25 2008 7:38 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

Niveus Media add Weather application

Niveus Media continue rolling out custom applications to their setup and the latest is a Weather application. It has Real-time updates on your local 5-day forecast and adds Niveus "Weather Strip", which incorporates weather updates from...

Published Sat, May 24 2008 8:40 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Niveus

Having problems setting up an Extender on XP SP3?

Microsoft's Aaron Stebner details the issue that is causing Extender setup to fail on some XP SP3 installations and while the eHome team work on an update he has a manual workaround to resolve the issue Root cause of the issue I looked in the source code...

Published Sat, May 24 2008 8:26 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Consumer Electronics Installer Blog : In-room Extender Design Strategy

Previously Microsoft's Consumer Electronics installer blog talked about using Media Center with a rack mounted solution for distributing content around the home. While this was a interesting solution the idea of having all the equipment in a rack (including...

Published Sat, May 24 2008 8:12 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Extenders for Windows Media Center

The Green Button give away the Dragon

It's the turn of The Green Button to give away the HP HDX Dragon Entertainment PC, so head over to this thread for details The Green Button - Contest Rules

Published Sat, May 24 2008 7:29 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

Microsoft Investigation of the Digital Cable Tuner Restricted Content Error

If you having problem with Restricted Content Errors on your CableCard setup Microsoft want to hear from you : Microsoft is investigating the Restricted Content Error many of you have reported in various threads. We are attempting to reproduce the problem...

Published Fri, May 23 2008 4:25 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

AMEX RM-mp1 Media Center Remote

Engadget have a nice picture of AMEX's RM-mp1 Media Center Remote. It has a touchpad, laser pointer, wireless USB receiver and it works with Media Center. It sure looks nice, shame there are no more details AMEX offers up RM-mp1 media center remote...

Published Fri, May 23 2008 3:46 PM by Ian Dixon

The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup Vote

No we haven't forgotten about The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup . All the pictures are in and now it's your chance to pick the winners. Here are the nominations: jbworks mattingly47302 elootos fyiguy1 DWAnderson Take a look at their pictures...

Published Fri, May 23 2008 2:43 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup

CinemaNow now available through Windows Media Center

Just got an email from Microsoft saying that CinemaNow is available on Media Center , I think this is US only which is a real shame as it's the solution I am looking for Media Center. Would this be a solution for you over DVD and Blu-ray? CinemaNow’s...

Published Fri, May 23 2008 9:06 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Still want to win a HP HDX Dragon PC?

Still want to win a HP HDX Dragon PC? If you do there are still plenty of chances to win. www.geek.com started their competition yesterday and today www.lockergnome.com will start theirs.

Published Thu, May 22 2008 2:29 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

How do you use Home Automation?

On The Media Center Show we talk about Home Automation frequently, with packages like mControl home automation is affordable and can scale from a single light switch all the way to full security systems and environmental control. I want to know how you...

Published Thu, May 22 2008 1:42 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Home Automation

The Media Center Show #157 - Microsoft's Hakan Olsson

Listen Here Continuing on from last weeks conversation about Extenders, Hakan Olsson from Microsoft returns to the show to talk about HP's entry into the market and the other Extenders available. I also have an interview with the winner of the HP HDX...

Published Thu, May 22 2008 11:23 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Podcast, Media Center Show, The Media Center Show

TiVo and cable companies to offer switched-digital video adapters

It looks like Tivo is going to get switched digital video adapters so the DVRs will work with multiplexed digital cable signals. Great for Tivo owners but no news from ATI on when or even if their CableCard solution for Windows Media Center will support...

Published Wed, May 21 2008 11:45 PM by Ian Dixon

Beta Test Windows Home Server Power Pack 1

In the coming weeks Microsoft are planning to put out the beta of Power Pack 1 for Windows Home Server on the connect beta site and as Philip Churchill says on his blog "with the primary focus on getting the Server Storage component tested". As Power...

Published Wed, May 21 2008 10:01 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

FUZE Media Systems incorporates Blu-Ray capability

I met with FUZE Media Systems at CES back in January and they will be on the show in a couple weeks. Today they added Blu-Ray capabilities to their whole home media systems. They are partnering with ArcSoft to provide the Blu-ray support and Arcsoft seems...

Published Wed, May 21 2008 8:34 PM by Ian Dixon

CyberLink Live 2.0

Cyberlink have launched 2.0 of CyberLink Live a placeshifting application that looks to rival to Orb and Webguide. With Cyberlink Live you can watch Live TV, browse your EPG and schedule recordings and as with Orb and Webguide you can also stream...

Published Tue, May 20 2008 11:36 PM by Ian Dixon

Neowin start their Dragon giveaway

Neowin have started their Dragon giveaway, they have come up with an unusual way of winning: Continuing from the dragon-themed prize, we want you to record a short audio clip, no more than one minute in length, telling us what you'd do if you had a real...

Published Tue, May 20 2008 12:22 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Ed Bott continues writing about how to get the best out of Windows Vista and debunking many of the myths around the operating system. In part 4 Ed looks at services and counters the myth that you should disable many of the Windows services. Today’s...

Published Mon, May 19 2008 4:20 PM by Ian Dixon

MyNetflix developer heads to Netflix

Anthony Park the developer behind mceBrowser and recently MyNetflix has announced that he is going to work for Netflix. Anthony is a great developer of Media Center application and I am sure his skills will be very useful for Netflix and I hope this means...

Published Mon, May 19 2008 9:43 AM by Ian Dixon

The Dragon winning continues

I may have given my HP HDX Dragon away but there are still plenty of chances to win. Over the weekend www.labnol.org , www.notebooks.com and today www.slashdotreview.com started their competition. I am going to interview Paul the winner of my unit so...

Published Mon, May 19 2008 8:57 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

Do you want MediaFlo on your mobile in the UK?

Slightly off topic for Media Center but definitely digital lifestyle is TV on mobile devices. There are a few ways of achieving it, using the data service and streaming TV via Orb or Webguide is one way or using something MediaFlo where the TV signal...

Published Fri, May 16 2008 8:15 PM by Ian Dixon

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Paul Appleyard form the UK, Paul wins the HP HDX Dragon Entertainment PC and massive bundle of software to go with it! The Dragon is an amazing machine and it's a fantastic prize. I will get the machine packed up and ship it out. Don...

Published Fri, May 16 2008 4:19 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: HP, 31 Days of the Dragon

TheDigitalLifestyle.com HP HDX Dragon winner announced today!

I have been through the hundreds of entries for the HP Dragon and have the got the randomiser working (a little bit of Visual Basic code I have written), so today I am going to pick the lucky winner. Thanks to everybody than entered I only wish I had...

Published Fri, May 16 2008 12:07 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

I have just closed competition for the HP HDX Dragon PC

I have just closed competition for the HP HDX Dragon PC on this site, however you can still enter at the other sites. Today its the turn of mediablab.com so head over to their site and get your entry in. Tomorrow at 4pm UK time I am going to draw the...

Published Thu, May 15 2008 6:00 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: HP, 31 Days of the Dragon

Hauppauge Releases QAM Plug-in for Vista Media Center

Chris Lanier has details of an beta plugin for Hauppauge HVR-1250, HVR-1600, HVR-1800 and HVR-2250 that enable unencrypted QAM on Media Center. Hauppauge has taken touch from AVerMedia and created an unencrypted QAM plug-in for Vista Media Center. It...

Published Thu, May 15 2008 1:17 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #156 - HP on the MediaSmart TV

Listen Here A couple of weeks ago HP updated their MediaSmart TV to add Media Center Extender functionality making it the first TV with a built in Extender, so this week I am talking to Brian Burch, Director of HP Connected Entertainment about the MediaSmart...

Published Thu, May 15 2008 12:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Podcast, Media Center Show, The Media Center Show, HP, Extenders for Windows Media Center

VidaBox TOUCHCLIENT12

Premium Media Center manufactures Vidabox have launched a in-wall touch panel, it has a 12.1" touch screen and Windows XP Embedded. I love the idea of in- wall touch screen applications and with it being XP Embedded you could run home automation...

Published Wed, May 14 2008 11:36 PM by Ian Dixon

Bink.nu start their HP Dragon contest!

The latest of the 31 sites giving away a HP Dragon Entertainment PC is Blink.nu , you have join their site and answer some questions to have a chance to win. Don't forget you have till 6pm UK time tomorrow to win my Dragon PC! Bink.nu | The HP Dragon...

Published Wed, May 14 2008 9:36 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: 31 Days of the Dragon

Tuning Adapter support for Media Center imminent? - Engadget HD

Engadget HD tried to find out whether Media Center will support Switched Digital Video , which seems to be a way of multiplexing HD TV signals to provide more channels on the available bandwidth. It looks like a TiVo adapter maybe out soon so Engadget...

Published Wed, May 14 2008 9:32 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

MCE Media Manager - uTorrent monitor for Windows Media Center

The pace of Media Center development seems to be picking up recently and here is another new project. MCE Media Manager for managing different types of Media from the Media Center UI. At the moment the project is focusing on a display that shows the status...

Published Tue, May 13 2008 8:54 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

19 Remotes For Your Next Install - CE Pro Article

Remotes control can be your route to digital lifestyle heaven or digital lifestyle hell. Get the right one and you have an elegant solution with a high WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) or get it wrong and have remote controls scattered all over the place...

Published Tue, May 13 2008 5:43 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Remotes

Want to find out more about Home Automation?

Chris Lanier is definitely getting in to Home Automation! If you want to know about using software like mControl for home automation and don't know where to start then head over to Chris' blog and ask him in the comments. It could be about controlling...

Published Tue, May 13 2008 4:33 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Home Automation

May 2008 - Ian Dixon's Blog

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