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windows media center
Microsoft adding internet TV to Windows Media Center
by Brad Linder, posted Sep 8th 2007 2:00PM
It's been a while since Microsoft added any content to the Online Media showcase for Windows Media Center. But it looks like the company is getting ready to make up for that with the launch of an internet TV platform for Windows Media Center.
Engadget managed to get a few details about the upcoming service, but it looks like we'll have more to tell you on September 27th when Microsoft launches the service at Digital Life.
Here's what we know so far. The platform will feature on-demand advertising supported content in categories including Sports, Entertainment, News, Top Picks, Music, and Movies. The video will not be HD quality, but it should be better than standard definition, which means it should look great on an old fashioned TV and hopefully passable on your HDTV.
With Microsoft building Media Center capabilities into Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate, ad-supported online video seems like a great way for the software company to make a few extra bucks. Depending on the content available, it might also be a way for consumers to save a few bucks on their cable bills.
But while we can hardly wait to see this feature for ourselves, we remain a bit skeptical. For example, just because one of the categories is titled "Movies" doesn't mean you'll be able to watch ad-supported new releases, or even hits from yesteryear. It could just be a library of movie trailers.
Engadget managed to get a few details about the upcoming service, but it looks like we'll have more to tell you on September 27th when Microsoft launches the service at Digital Life.
Here's what we know so far. The platform will feature on-demand advertising supported content in categories including Sports, Entertainment, News, Top Picks, Music, and Movies. The video will not be HD quality, but it should be better than standard definition, which means it should look great on an old fashioned TV and hopefully passable on your HDTV.
With Microsoft building Media Center capabilities into Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate, ad-supported online video seems like a great way for the software company to make a few extra bucks. Depending on the content available, it might also be a way for consumers to save a few bucks on their cable bills.
But while we can hardly wait to see this feature for ourselves, we remain a bit skeptical. For example, just because one of the categories is titled "Movies" doesn't mean you'll be able to watch ad-supported new releases, or even hits from yesteryear. It could just be a library of movie trailers.
Microsoft announces first v2 media extenders
by Brad Linder, posted Sep 6th 2007 11:01AM
A media center extender is basically a box running software the lets you access content from your Windows Media Center in another room. So far, the only v2 media center extender has been the Xbox 360. If you're not a video game fan, you've been out of luck.
But Microsoft has finally announced that three companies plan to release new v2 media extenders. Linksys, D-Link, and Niveus all plan to launch devices that will act as media center extenders. The new platform allows increased functionality including:
- HD video
- Wireless networking
- Expanded support for audio and video codecs including DivX and Xvid
[via Chris Lanier]
New beta of Big Screen Headlines 2 coming soon
by Brad Linder, posted Aug 22nd 2007 7:29PM
It looks like developer Nial Ginsbourg is putting the finishing touches on the next version of of Big Screen Headlines and expects to push out a new beta within the next week or so. Here are a few of the new features you can expect:
- New menu system with 4-way navigation
- Support for displaying thumbnails, comments, and other extensions
- More options for sorting/filtering/viewing feeds including forward/reverse ordering and the ability to change text size
- Support for dynamic OPML 2.0
[via Ian Dixon]
TV Toolbox for Windows Vista Beta2 released
by Brad Linder, posted Aug 20th 2007 9:30AM
MCEDev has released a new beta of TV Toolbox, a Windows Media Center application for editing recorded shows using your remote control.TV Toolbox lets you convert DVR-MS files to other video formats or perform basic video editing tasks without getting up from your couch. The latest beta includes a number of bug fixes and updates including:
- Fixed a problem that caused TV Toolbox to hang on startup
- Fixed a problem with file name generation
- TV Toolbox refreshes list of recordings when grouping changes or application restarts
- You can now create rules to convert any recordings created by Windows Media Center when the files include a certain keyword
[via Aaron Stebner]
Free PVR software users will have to pay for program guides
by Brad Linder, posted Aug 8th 2007 12:25PM
There's good news and bad news for users of free PC-based PVR suites like MythTV, Media Portal, and GB-PVR. While Zap2it Labs plans to cease offering the free television program guide data used by these programs in September, there are at least two groups planning to offer similar data. And both are close to having tools in place to pick up where Zap2it leaves off in September. That's the good news.
The bad news is that neither group will be able to offer this data for free. It's not surprising. Zap2it was offering the TV episode data in an XML format in addition to its online TV guide. The company was is owned by Tribune Media Services, so providing data to the open source community cost Zap2it nothing.
That's not true for CTpvr or Schedules Direct, the two new groups planning to offer TV episode data. Both now say that they will be charging users for access to the data, although pricing has not yet been set.
Most users of commercial PVR applications like BeyondTV, SageTV, and Windows Media Center won't be affected. Those companies get their data from alternate sources. So you have a choice. Pay for the software, received the program guides for free. Or get free software and pay for the program guides.
MCEDev TV Toolbox: 10 foot interface for editing videos
by Brad Linder, posted Aug 3rd 2007 3:30PM
Those industrious developers at MCEDev are at it again. A few months ago, we told you about a beta program that would allow you to edit DVR-MS files using your remote control with a Windows Media Center PC. Now it looks like that feature and several others have been bundled into TV Toolbox, which is now available for download.TV Toolbox lets you edit recordings, convert DVR-MS files to other video formats, and set rules to automatically convert new recordings. And it's designed to work with your remote control. No keyboard and mouse necessary.
The current version of TV Toolbox is a public beta that expires at the end of August. It will likely either be replaced by a new beta or by a commercial version of the application.
[via Ian Dixon]
Trust RC-2400 remote control for Vista Media Center
by Brad Linder, posted Jul 19th 2007 2:20PM
If you've never heard of Trust, you must live a very sad and lonely existence. Oh wait, no. We meant the consumer electronics manufacturer. If you've never heard of them, you're not alone.But the company's new RC-2400 remote control for Windows Vista Media Center looks sexy enough that we're willing to overlook the company's obscure name and drool at the pretty picture in all its retro style goodness.
The RC-2400 is a 49 button remote with the big ole "green button" we've come to know and love in the middle. The RF remote control comes with a little USB RF dongle. And the RC-2400 is Microsoft certified and should work with your Windows Vista machine, no drivers required.
The remote should be available this month, although there's no word on pricing.
[via FloppyHead]
Gyration launches new motion-sensing remote control
by Brad Linder, posted Jul 14th 2007 8:00AM
Motion-sensing remote control makers Gyration are at it again, this time with the Gyration ULTRA R4000. Like Gyration's existing line of products, you can use the remote as a standard controller for your media center, or you can use it like a mouse to control an on-screen cursor by waving your hand.The ULTRA R4000 also includes a view screen that presents information about your music playlists without even turning your television on. Of course, this is only useful if you've got a set of speakers hooked up to your media center independent from your television set.
It supports RF and IR, meaning you can control your PC without a direct line of sight. You can also use the ULTRA R4000 as a universal remote, replacing TV, cable, and other A/V remotes.
The remote should be available in the fall of 2007. No word on pricing yet.
Organize ripped HD movies with My Movies 2.31
by Brad Linder, posted Jul 10th 2007 12:00PM
Now, we're not going to bother telling you how to rip or download those movies, because that would be illegal. But here are some more updates in My Movies 2.31:
- Add HD-DVD and Blu-ray metadata (such as cover art, disc IDs, etc) to your library and associate it with ripped movies
- Use My Movies data in Media Center's "DVD library" if you prefer the default interface
- Movie information now includes aspect ratios and sound track information
[via FloppyHead]
Microsoft releases Vista Media Center update
by Brad Linder, posted Jun 27th 2007 8:00AM
Microsoft has released the June 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista. If they'd waited any longer they would have had to change the title, and really, who wants to download the July 2007 cumulative update?You can get this operating system update through Windows Update, or you can download the 32 bit or 64 bit installers from the web.
What goodies are wrapped up in this update?
- Fixed: Windows Media Center does not correctly configure a combo TV tuner that supports both ATSC and NTSC signals
- Fixed: When you resize the Windows Media Center window, video playback may stop
- Fixed: No audio during DVD or Live TV playback after waking your computer from sleep
- Several fixes for the Media Center Extensibility Platform
- Update to the Digital Card component to provide better support for interaction between the digital cable tuner, the CableCard, and Windwos Media Center
- Includes April 2007 Cumulative Update
Are your Windows Media Center plugins up to date?
by Brad Linder, posted Jun 16th 2007 11:40AM
One of the coolest things about Windows Media Center is that you can plugin a ton of 3rd party applications to add the ability to do things like read RSS feeds, check your email, or even make video phone calls. OABsoftware has updates its line of Vista Media Center plugins that do just those things.All of the plugins have been updated to work with Windows Vista. You can also use Media Center RSS Reader and Media Center Mail on an media extender.
OABsoftware has also released a new Vista-compatible applications called Media Center Outlook. The plugin lets you access all your MS Outlook information including your calendar, contacts, tasks, notes, and emails.
[via Aaron Stebner]
Moneaul release media center PC for under $1000
by Brad Linder, posted Jun 14th 2007 8:00PM
Ever since I moved our tower PC from the office to the living room to serve as the home media center, I've been struck by just how loud the spinning fans are in your typical desktop. And that's one of the reasons the Moneaul 301B looks so attractive to me right now. While most home theater PCs that come in a stylish case with a a quite cooling system will set you back thousands of dollars, the 301B starts at just $995. It sports:
- An AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core 4400+ processor
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- 2GB RAM
- 250GB hard drive
- Dual layer DVD/CD Burner
- HDMI out
- A wireless keyboard and remote
- Liquid cooling
- Your usual USB 2.0/Ethernet/Firewire/audio/VGA and other inputs and outputs
EMUcenter brings classic video games to Windows Media Center
by Brad Linder, posted Jun 11th 2007 4:04PM
Steven Harding, the developer behind Yougle has issued a major updated to his MAMECenter plugin for Windows Media Center. In fact, it's a big enough update that Harding gave the program a new name, EMUCenter.EMUCenter provides a 10 foot interface for launching classic console games using emulators including MAME, ZSNES, KEGA Fusion, and CCS. In other words, if you've got Roms for Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis or Commodore 64 games lying around, EMUCenter helps make it easier to play them on your media center PC.
EMUCenter is Windows Vista only, and it's currently in beta, so don't be surprised if you find a glitch or two. Harding gave the MAMECenter interface an overhaul, and added the ability to launch Windows games.
You'll need to download and install the emulators separately, and of course you need to legally own any of the games that you want to play using EMUCenter. But we didn't have to tell you that, now did we?
[via Ian Dixon]
Big Screen Movies for Windows Media Center
by Brad Linder, posted Jun 10th 2007 12:07PM
The Media Center add-in is similar to the Big Screen TV Shows application Ginsbourg first previewed in December. But while the TV Shows program has been held up by copyright concerns (Ginsbourg's trying to determine how to let users access series and episode data without breaking any laws), Big Screen Movies will be ready when it's ready, which is why it's code-named "fatlady."
Big Screen Movies gives you more control over the metadata available (cover art, descriptions, actor info etc) for your video collection. It also lets you browse your offline DVD collection. Windows Media Center only shows you info about your DVDs when you insert them.
The software is not yet available to the public, but it looks like you can expect a beta release of Big Screen Movies long before you'll ever get your hands on Big Screen TV Shows.
[via Aaron Stebner]
Podcasts in Windows Media Center
by Brad Linder, posted Jun 6th 2007 11:57AM
There are also a ton of obvious online features missing. For example, no built in weather forecast application? What's up with that? Luckily there are plugins for pretty much anything you could ever need (including weather forecasts).
But what about podcasts and video blogs? Surely there must be an easy way to download and enjoy online media from Media Center's 10-foot interface. Well, there kind of is. You can subscribe to feeds and automatically download enclosures with Internet Explorer 7 or the podcatcher of your choice. Then you can tell Windows Media Center to monitor your download folder and your files will show up in your My Videos and My Music folders. This is hardly an elegant solution, so here's a few better options for you:
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