April 2007 - Ian Dixon's Blog - The Digital Lifestyle.com: Windows Media Center news, podcasts, videos, forums and wikis

"Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center" now shipping on Amazon

I noticed today that my book "Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center" is shipping from Amazon.co.uk now. So anybody that has pre-ordered the book should be getting they copy soon. Please email me ( ian@thedigitallifestyle.com ) if you get...

Published Sun, Apr 29 2007 8:16 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Big Screen Photos v2 - Video on The DigitalLifestyle.com

Over on TheDigitallifestyle.com video show I have posted this: Nial Ginsbourg posted a video of his great new application "Big Screen Photos v2" on MSN Soapbox. Nial kindly allowed me to host a high quality WMV version to show the program off...

Published Fri, Apr 27 2007 12:58 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Ed Bott on Windows Home Server

Technorati tags: windows home server Ed Bott has a great post about Windows Home Server as he says " Microsoft hits a home run with Windows Home Server " and I have to agree with him, the latest build is a big improvement over the last beta...

Published Fri, Apr 27 2007 10:18 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Omura new Media Center PC Design

A anonymous listener of The Media Center Show sent me these leaked pictures of a Omura Media Center PC design It's a nice looking slim case design with what looks like a slot loading DVD drive, it will be interesting to see the finished PC Technorati...

Published Thu, Apr 26 2007 10:07 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #105 Anthony Park

The Media Center Show #105 Anthony Park (2007-04-26) By Ian Dixon (21.1mb 1Hour 1min) Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes This week on the show MVP and developer Anthony Park joins be to talk about his Media Center application mceBrowser a great...

Published Thu, Apr 26 2007 1:07 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Big Screen Photos v2

Nial Ginsbough is developing with v2 of Big Screen Photos. It's an application for browsing Flickr content on Media Center. V2 is now a full MCML application and looking at the video Nial has put up the application is very slick. Take a look at his video...

Published Thu, Apr 26 2007 10:03 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Device Simulator for Windows SideShow

Developers looking to write applications for Windows SideShow can download a simulator for Windows. So if your thinking of writing a Sideshow app you don't have to wait to get hold of the hardware to have a go. It would be nice to see some Media Center...

Published Wed, Apr 25 2007 11:39 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center available to buy now!

Got the good news from the publisher today that my book "Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center" co-authored with Tony Campbell is out today. It has been a great experience writing the book and a pleasure writing a book on such a great product...

Published Wed, Apr 25 2007 10:20 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

HiPe PC launches a in car PC system

Something that every gadget lover would like in the their car (well I would!) is a in car PC System, HiPe PC have launched a range of in car systems based on Windows Vista Media Center and featuring One Voice voice control software. Their range of car...

Published Wed, Apr 25 2007 8:41 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

April 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932818 Microsoft has released the April 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista. This update contains several improvements, and it resolves several issues. This cumulative update is intended for computers...

Published Tue, Apr 24 2007 9:58 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Replies to "What Features would you like to see added to Music in Media Center"

Last month on my blog and in the forums I asked "What features would you like to see added to Music in Media Center". I got some interesting reply's, so here are some of the requests: Music playback to be able to easily jump to a particular...

Published Tue, Apr 24 2007 9:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

MCE Virtual Remote

Its been a quiet week on the Media Center news front, so it was good to see Chris Lanier post on a new tool for remote controlling Media Center via another PC Ryan Tollefson over at The Green Button has created my new favorite application for Media Center...

Published Mon, Apr 23 2007 4:19 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #104 - Julie Jacobson (2007-04-29)

By Ian Dixon (MP3 22.9mb 61min 11sec) Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes This week on the show Julie Jacobson Editor-at-large at CE Pro magazine joins me on the show to talk about how Professional AV installers are taking to the Vista edition...

Published Thu, Apr 19 2007 12:02 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Windows Home Server CTP Build

Looks like a new build of Windows Home Server is out , this product is now an essential part of my network, serving Remote Access, shared files and backups. If your looking to share Recorded TV with Media Center follow this guide on The Digital Lifestyle...

Published Thu, Apr 19 2007 8:49 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Want to beta test next version of of Windows Media Center?

If you want to be considered for beta testing the next version of Media Center then head over to the connect site and complete the survey . More details on The Green Button If you like playing with bleeding edge software then apply. Note: Not everybody...

Published Wed, Apr 18 2007 9:21 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Microsoft Silverlight - What is in it for Media Center?

Microsoft's Silverlight technology looks interesting, integrating the media experience with the web much more that downloading video files or watching flash videos. This is is an excerpt from Sean Alexander's blog What is Microsoft Silverlight? It's our...

Published Tue, Apr 17 2007 9:29 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Using Windows Home Server to store Recorded TV

Out of the box Windows Home Server will store and share music, pictures and other files but getting it to play nice with Windows Media Center to store Recorded TV is not that simple. So Richard Miller (with a little help from me) has come up with a nice...

Published Sun, Apr 15 2007 8:05 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Gizmodo first look at Ricavision's SideShow Remote

Gizmodo managed to get there to get their hands on a Ricavision Sideshow remote. These are the remotes with a LCD display that talks to Vista so you can read email, control Media Center and browse guide data I saw them at CES ( see my pictures ) and they...

Published Sun, Apr 15 2007 8:57 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Getting Start Developing Windows Media Center Applications

Over on The Digital Lifestyle Developer Blog Steven Harding has started a series of posts taking a step by step view of developing a application for Windows Media Center Steven takes you step by step through starting out and developing your own Media...

Published Sat, Apr 14 2007 8:10 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Goodbye PDA2K, hello Treo 750v

At work I have been rolling out the Palm 750v Windows Mobile device and I thought it was about time I left my i-mate PDA2K phone behind and switch to the Treo. My first impressions are that is a nice phone, finally switching to Windows Mobile 5 from Windows...

Published Fri, Apr 13 2007 5:18 PM by Ian Dixon

Mike's Digital Home : Niveus teams up with MusicGiant for HD Music downloads in Vista Media Center

Niveus have been at it again, now its HD audio from MusicGiant in there 2007 range of Media Center PC's. Now I really want a Niveus Media Server! Link to Mike's Digital Home : Niveus teams up with MusicGiant for HD Music downloads in Vista Media Center...

Published Thu, Apr 12 2007 4:48 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #103 - Francis Hogle (2007-04-11)

By Ian Dixon (MP3 18.1mb 52min 45sec) Direct Download Link This week on the show Francis Hogle Development Manager for Windows Media Center joins me to talk about Windows Media Center and how its progressed over the last five years and especially for...

Published Thu, Apr 12 2007 9:46 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Getting High-Performance Audio from Media Center

CE Pro have a great article on getting HD audio out of a Media Center PC, this is from a presentation that Scott Varner of Niveus Media presented at EHX It highlights the various connection types and options , an interesting read CE Pro - Getting High...

Published Tue, Apr 10 2007 5:48 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Get Windows Movie Maker running on a Vista UMPC

One thing I noticed doesn't work on my Sanmsung Q1 UMPC running Vista is Windows Movie Maker. While I don't expect to be doing major movie edits on the UMPC it is handy to be able to do a quick edit on a video podcast. When you try to launch it you get...

Published Sat, Apr 07 2007 10:18 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista

Software Development Kit for Windows Home Server

Something I have been waiting for since I got my Windows Home Server setup is the SDK (Software Development Kit) The possibilities with an always on connected device are endless and just as I loved playing with the Windows Media Center SDK I am going...

Published Sat, Apr 07 2007 8:47 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

The Digital Lifestyle Video Show #3 - UMPC

Get the RSS feed for the video show here I recently got hold of a Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC and have been impressed by its media capabilities. So I have made a short video looking at three different options for consuming media on the UMPC. First up is...

Published Fri, Apr 06 2007 7:54 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Charlie Owen on High Contrast Settings in Media Center

Charlie Owen continues his excellent Mailbag feature, and this week its on the High Contrast settings for the visually impaired. I would have thought that Media Center is good in that respect anyway with the big UI and clear text, but as Charlie points...

Published Fri, Apr 06 2007 7:43 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #102 - Bryan Socha on Decoders

By Ian Dixon (MP3 21.0mb 1Hour 1min 11sec) Direct Download Link This week Microsoft MVP Bryan Socha joins be to talk about codecs also know as DVD decoders or just Decoders. These are the mysterious pieces of software that enables Windows to play different...

Published Thu, Apr 05 2007 8:57 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Big Screen Blog gets an MVP

Nial Ginsbourg the developer behind Big Screen Headlines and author of the Big Screen Blog has been awarded a MVP ( Microsoft Most Valuable Professional ) for his work with Media Center. Big Screen Headlines is a great application and Nial's blog and...

Published Mon, Apr 02 2007 9:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

MCE Live TV Buffer Manager

Doug Knox has a nice utility for increasing the Live TV Pause buffer from 30 minutes up to two hours. More details on Doug's site Technorati tags: Windows Media Center

Published Mon, Apr 02 2007 9:10 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Video coverage of the UK Smart Home Show

If your in to home automation and you didn't get chance to visit the Smart Home Show in Birmingham (UK) check out these videos from AutomatedHome.com There is a nice short tour of the sights , plus videos of home automation. Check out the videos on Youtube...

Published Sun, Apr 01 2007 8:43 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Computers and Internet

April 2007 - Ian Dixon's Blog

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"Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center" now shipping on Amazon

Big Screen Photos v2 - Video on The DigitalLifestyle.com

Ed Bott on Windows Home Server

Omura new Media Center PC Design

The Media Center Show #105 Anthony Park

Big Screen Photos v2

Device Simulator for Windows SideShow

Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center available to buy now!

HiPe PC launches a in car PC system

April 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista

Replies to "What Features would you like to see added to Music in Media Center"

MCE Virtual Remote

The Media Center Show #104 - Julie Jacobson (2007-04-29)

Windows Home Server CTP Build

Want to beta test next version of of Windows Media Center?

Microsoft Silverlight - What is in it for Media Center?

Using Windows Home Server to store Recorded TV

Gizmodo first look at Ricavision's SideShow Remote

Getting Start Developing Windows Media Center Applications

Goodbye PDA2K, hello Treo 750v

Mike's Digital Home : Niveus teams up with MusicGiant for HD Music downloads in Vista Media Center

The Media Center Show #103 - Francis Hogle (2007-04-11)

Getting High-Performance Audio from Media Center

Get Windows Movie Maker running on a Vista UMPC

Software Development Kit for Windows Home Server

The Digital Lifestyle Video Show #3 - UMPC

Charlie Owen on High Contrast Settings in Media Center

The Media Center Show #102 - Bryan Socha on Decoders

Big Screen Blog gets an MVP

MCE Live TV Buffer Manager

Video coverage of the UK Smart Home Show