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

Windows Vista SP1 and XP SP3 Coming soon

Technorati tags: Windows vista Service Pack 1 Finally confirmation from Microsoft that there is a service pack for Vista coming and that there is a Service Pack 3 coming for XP From reading the information from Microsoft the XP Service Pack looks like...

Published Wed, Aug 29 2007 5:00 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista

The DigitalLifestyle.com Video Show #6 Sony XL301 / XL302 Bluray Media Center PC

Watch the video in HQ WMV - The RSS feed for the Video Show is HERE In this video I take a look at Sony's XL301 / XL302 (Bluray) Media Center PC complete with Bluray drive. I connected the PC up to my TV via HDMI (the only output avaible) and was impressed...

Published Wed, Aug 29 2007 2:03 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

New DRM scheme will let consumers stream cable TV over home networks

Thanks to Fieldhouse over in the forums for pointing this out: Cable subscribers should soon be able to stream cable TV programming over their home networks, as CableLabs has announced its approval of a new streaming protocol. Called DTCP-IP (Digital...

Published Sat, Aug 25 2007 10:59 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Computers and Internet

The Media Center Show #120 - Andrew Cherry

Yes it's a day early but I am working away and didn't want you to miss out! By Ian Dixon (16.9mb 49mins 02sec) Vote for the show on Podcast Alley Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS On this week show is Microsoft MVP and Media...

Published Wed, Aug 22 2007 11:37 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Big Screen Headlines 2

Nial has posted an update on Big Screen Headlines 2 an RSS reader for Vista Media Center. It is a great application for reading RSS feeds, listening to Podcast and watching videos. The blog post has some details of the new version and some nice screen...

Published Wed, Aug 22 2007 11:03 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Vista After Hours - see you there?

Microsoft are touring the UK showing off some of the fun side of Windows Vista to IT professionals by looking at Media Center, Sideshow, Windows Home Server, Xbox 360 and other things. The events are run in the evening and include food and refreshments...

Published Tue, Aug 21 2007 3:25 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: None

The Digital Lifestyle.com Video Show #5 - Sony UX1 UMPC

Watch the video in HQ WMV It's been a while since I did any videos, so here is the first of a couple I have coming out. This show looks at Sony's UX1 UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC). All my videos are posted on TheDigitalLifestyle.com had the video show has it...

Published Tue, Aug 21 2007 11:16 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

TV TOOLBOX Beta 2

Olcay from MCEDEV sent me an email to let me know that beta 2 of TV Toolbox is out. TV Toolbox is a 10 foot application for editing and converting your Recorded TV directly from Media Center What did change since the last beta? Fixed - Generated file...

Published Mon, Aug 20 2007 4:04 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Pictures of the Sony UX1 in the Photo Galleries

I have a video review of the Sony UX1 I was sent for review out soon, so I have posted some pictures of it in the Photo Galleries . I must admit to taking a liking to the device, at first I couldn't get used to the small 4.5" screen but after a bit...

Published Mon, Aug 20 2007 3:15 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Computers and Internet

Bluray v HD-DVD my take

Last week I got a review unit of Sony's XL301 Media Center PC complete with Blu-ray drive. I recorded a video review and in the review (out soon) in the video I said it was a shame that I had no Blu-ray film to try with it. So on Saturday I visited my...

Published Sun, Aug 19 2007 9:34 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Computers and Internet

S1 Digital shipping CableCARD soon

According to Chris Lanier S1Digital has become a Microsoft Direct OEM, this means that they can now offer CableCARD PC's. Only the larger OEMs are able to ship CableCARD so this is great news for S1 Digital. Their Media Center servers are excellent machines...

Published Fri, Aug 17 2007 5:33 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Major Skype Problems

I noticed today that one of my machines would not sign in to Skype. Well it turns out that Skype have a major problem at the moment, I noticed only 241,725 users online which is a lot less than the millions normally logged in to Skype. I hate to think...

Published Thu, Aug 16 2007 5:18 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Computers and Internet

The Media Center Show #119 - Richard Miller

By Ian Dixon (16.6mb 48mins 21sec) Vote for the show on Podcast Alley Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS This week Microsoft MVP Richard Miller joins me to explain how to integrate Windows Home Server with Windows Media Center...

Published Thu, Aug 16 2007 12:30 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Testing a new device - Sony UX1

Just received a new unit to review. The Sony UX1XN is a neat UMPC, much smaller than I expected with a very clear 4.5" display it makes my Samsung Q1 look like a monster. In terms of performance the unit feels quick, I think its going to take some...

Published Fri, Aug 10 2007 5:12 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista

Vacancy for Podcaster still open

As I mentioned last month I am looking to add another podcast to TheDigitalLifestyle.com to compliment The Media Center Show . It could be a show on Home Theater, or mobile devices. Anything that your passionate about. So if your interested send me an...

Published Fri, Aug 10 2007 9:32 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

DNS Problems

It looks like my DNS host is having problems, so to get to TheDigitalLifestyle.com try TheMediaCenterShow.com until the DNS problem is fixed

Published Thu, Aug 09 2007 9:25 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: None

HomeServer.com

If you using Windows Home Server for remote access (like I am) you will have seen that you get a domain name as part of the package. So you got examplename.Livenode.com and you could then browse your system on the web via that Dynamic DNS without having...

Published Thu, Aug 09 2007 5:36 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

The Media Center Show #118 - Jason Dunn

By Ian Dixon (23.1mb 1 Hour 9mins 1sec) Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS This week Digital Media Thoughts founder, blogger and Media Center enthusiast Jason Dunn joins me to talk about Windows Media Center, trouble with...

Published Thu, Aug 09 2007 12:47 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Podcast

Vista Update Packs

Microsoft have released two update packs for Windows Vista. The Performance and Reliability Pack the Compatibility and Reliability Pack This two update packs were released to beta testers a couple of weeks ago and I have been running with them since last...

Published Wed, Aug 08 2007 2:10 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista

Keyspan RF Remote

eHomeUpgrade has details of a new remote for Vista from Keyspan . The difference with this remote is that it's RF (Radio Frequency) rather than IR (Infrared) which means you do not have to have line of site with the receiver for the remote to operate...

Published Wed, Aug 08 2007 10:55 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center SDK 5.2 Now Available

Over on The Media Center Sandbox blog Charlie Owen has posted details of the updated SDK for the Vista edition of Windows Media Center. The updated SDK has the following changes: The Windows Media Center Application Step By Step document which helps you...

Published Tue, Aug 07 2007 8:50 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Squirrel Stash for Windows Media Center

Have you ever wanted to password protect your Media Center content? If so then Squirrel Stash is an application that may interest you, it's a Vista Media Center add-in that helps you keep media content private, hmm can't think of any uses for that then...

Published Mon, Aug 06 2007 4:56 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #117 - Todd Bowra

By Ian Dixon (20.1mb 55mins 1sec) Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS This week Todd Bowra from the Media Center team at Microsoft joins me to talk Windows Media Center Extenders. We talk about how to get the most out of Extenders...

Published Thu, Aug 02 2007 12:17 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Microsoft Case Studies: Showtime Networks on Media Center

If you seen Showtime on the Vista version of Windows Media Center you know how impressive Windows Media Center Presentation layer applications can be. They are light years away from the old HTML applications in terms of richness and are as Charlie Owen...

Published Thu, Aug 02 2007 9:34 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

TV Toolbox Beta for Windows Media Center

MCEDev are doing some good Media Center development at the moment, and their latest project is TV Toolbox, this is a 10 foot editor and converter for recorded TV files. It allows you to edit recordings, convert recordings and define rules to automatically...

Published Wed, Aug 01 2007 9:03 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

August 2007 - Ian Dixon's Blog

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Windows Vista SP1 and XP SP3 Coming soon

The DigitalLifestyle.com Video Show #6 Sony XL301 / XL302 Bluray Media Center PC

New DRM scheme will let consumers stream cable TV over home networks

The Media Center Show #120 - Andrew Cherry

Big Screen Headlines 2

Vista After Hours - see you there?

The Digital Lifestyle.com Video Show #5 - Sony UX1 UMPC

TV TOOLBOX Beta 2

Pictures of the Sony UX1 in the Photo Galleries

Bluray v HD-DVD my take

S1 Digital shipping CableCARD soon

Major Skype Problems

The Media Center Show #119 - Richard Miller

Testing a new device - Sony UX1

Vacancy for Podcaster still open

DNS Problems

HomeServer.com

The Media Center Show #118 - Jason Dunn

Vista Update Packs

Keyspan RF Remote

Windows Media Center SDK 5.2 Now Available

Squirrel Stash for Windows Media Center

The Media Center Show #117 - Todd Bowra

Microsoft Case Studies: Showtime Networks on Media Center

TV Toolbox Beta for Windows Media Center