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

My Movies to open up back-end systems

It looks like Brian Binnerup at My Movies is planning to open up their back end services to other Movie clients such as DVD Library in Windows Media Center or other applications like Media Portal. This is a change from the current model and means that...

Published Wed, Apr 30 2008 10:04 PM by Ian Dixon

mControl on the iphone

Chris Lanier has details of a new iPhone interface for Embedded Automation's mControl software. Checkout the forum post on Embedded Automation's forum . So there is the excuse you need to buy an iPhone :)

Published Wed, Apr 30 2008 9:31 PM by Ian Dixon

New addin: mcShoutCast

Alexander at eHomeUpgrade has details of a new plugin for Vista Media Center ShoutCast users. It looks like nice looking MCML application for listening to Internet radio on ShoutCast. If you use Shoutcast checkout the details on eHomeUpgrade

Published Wed, Apr 30 2008 9:27 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

Entries for The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition close tomorrow

We are up to 191 pictures entered, and tomorrow (Thursday) is the last day to enter your submission in The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition I will keep the group open after the competition as the pictures are great and could...

Published Wed, Apr 30 2008 9:22 PM by Ian Dixon

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

XP Service Pack 3, now you see it now you don't

Windows XP Service Pack 3 was due to be released on Windows Update today but due to a problem with Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) it has been taken off automatic updates. I doubt many XP Media Center users are running RMS on there system...

Published Tue, Apr 29 2008 9:19 PM by Ian Dixon

Win 1 of 31 HP HDX Dragon Entertainment Notebook with TheDigitalLifestyle.com!

I am please to be able to tell you that TheDigitalLifestyle.com is part of one of the biggest giveaways I have ever seen. Together with 30 other sites (see list below) we will be giving away 31 HP HDX Dragon Entertainment Notebook and software worth over...

Published Mon, Apr 28 2008 9:05 AM by Ian Dixon

Very big giveway coming tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will have details of a new giveaway on TheDigitalLifestyle.com , this is going to be the biggest so far and part multi-site 31 day giveaway. So keep watching!

Published Sun, Apr 27 2008 8:31 AM by Ian Dixon

Vista Media Center TCP/IP Controller

Jonathon Bradshaw is looking for developers to help with a new Media Center project focusing on implementing TCP/IP control within Media Center, so Media Center could be controlled via standard TCP calls which would open up lots of potential application...

Published Sat, Apr 26 2008 6:50 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Consumer Electronics Installer Blog : Installing & Configuring WebGuide

If your thinking of installing Webguide and want some assistance checkout the guide on Microsoft CE Installers blog . The guide explains some of the detailed setup options that Webguide has, including how to setup port forwarding (one of the trickiest...

Published Sat, Apr 26 2008 8:32 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, Webguide

Entries for The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition close next week

To date there are 161 pictures entered in The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition and entries close May 1st. Then a panel of experts from are going to pick the 5 best setups for you to vote on. So there is still have time to enter and show...

Published Fri, Apr 25 2008 1:51 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

How to get DVD Library on Extenders!

This has been a while in coming but it's finally up. Pete Stagman ( guest on show 129 ) with the assistance from a some other Media Center MVPs has posted his guide on how to get DVD's to play on Media Center Extenders using DVD Library. It...

Published Fri, Apr 25 2008 8:57 AM by Ian Dixon

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

Turning the Mac mini into a Windows Vista Media Center system

I wonder how much flack from the Apple fanboys this guy will get for his post. If you like the form factor of the Apple Mac mini buy can't live without Windows Media Center then this guide will be useful for you. The article on Krunker.com details how...

Published Fri, Apr 25 2008 8:43 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Anybody going to the MSDN / Technet Roadshow in Manchester next week?

Next week (April 30th / May 1st) I will be attending the MSDN and Technet Roadshow in Manchester (UK). The Technet event covers topics like Windows Vista, SP1, Windows Server 2008 and the MSDN event covers Visual Studio 2008 and SQL 2008. I will be around...

Published Thu, Apr 24 2008 3:02 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Microsoft

Niveus Expands Training

( via CE Pro ) Niveus Media are stepping up the training they offer with training courses and webinars for Niveus dealers. “One-on-one training sessions with our 200 plus dealers are no longer sufficient to accommodate high demand, new developments...

Published Thu, Apr 24 2008 12:32 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Niveus

The Media Center Show #153 - Intelliremote

Listen Here Back after a week off and this week talking to Melloware about Intelliremote . Intelliremote is a great application for expanding the use of a Media Center remote so you can control applications like iTunes and take advantage of scripting...

Published Thu, Apr 24 2008 12:08 PM by Ian Dixon

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

FUZE Media launch OEM program

At CES while walking the halls with Media Center MVP Richard Miller we came across Fuze Media Systems . FUZE have an interesting approach to whole home Media by using a hybrid system of the own code and Windows Media Center. So they have things like whole...

Published Wed, Apr 23 2008 5:00 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Fuze

VMC Schedule DeDuper

I spotted this little handy tool: VMC DeDuper is a tool for removing duplicate recording entries from the schedule, it seems to scan through Recordings.xml and checks if any scheduled recordings have recorded already. VMC Schedule DeDuper is a workaround...

Published Tue, Apr 22 2008 2:43 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Vista

Ed Bott on Crapware and driver problems that disrupt the Windows Vista experience

Ed Bott talks a lot of sense and this is another article he has written that I agree with. Ed has written about a couple of problems that have blighted Windows and particularly Windows Vista and namely Crapware and bad drivers. He gives two examples where...

Published Tue, Apr 22 2008 12:55 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista, Windows Vista, Drivers, Crapware

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Released to Manufacturing - TechNet Forums

It looks like XP Service Pack 3 has been released to manufacturing and will be available for download April 29th. I don't think there is much new in Sp3 other than a rollup of fixes since Service Pack 2 was launched. If your rebuilding an XP system...

Published Mon, Apr 21 2008 9:52 PM by Ian Dixon

Missing Remote Giveaway

Want to win a new Avideus Media Center PC? If so head over to Missing Remote enter enter they giveaway. The HTPC community has come to know PCAlchemy's commitment to price and service over the years. Recently, as of a couple of days ago, they have extended...

Published Mon, Apr 21 2008 4:28 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

GBM Video Review of the HP Tx2051

As I blogged about before I my holiday I think that HP's new Entertainment PC the Tx2051 will make a great Media Center laptop. I still trying to get my hands on one but Warner Crocker at GottaBeMobile.com has a video review up showing off the Tx. Hopefully...

Published Mon, Apr 21 2008 4:04 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, HP, Tablet PC

News catch up

Some other items from the last week: Official (non-beta) Release: MyNetflix v2.2 MyNetflix has been in beta testing for over two months. Since that time, I have added features and fixed many bugs. It is now time for MyNetflix to come out of beta! The...

Published Sun, Apr 20 2008 8:19 PM by Ian Dixon

What is broken in your digital home?

Terry on WegotServed.co.uk is asking the age old question on how should our digital home solutions work better together. The main cause for complaint is the lack of integration between Windows Home Server and Windows Media Center, as discussed before...

Published Sun, Apr 20 2008 8:08 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, Windows Home Server

News Catchup: HP launch the Media Center update for the MediaSmart TV

I am still trying to catch up on the last weeks news and this is the first thing I noticed: HP have published the update for the MediaSmart TV that enables the Media Center Extender functions . I love the idea of an integrated Extender in a TV and the...

Published Sun, Apr 20 2008 7:49 AM by Ian Dixon

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

Back from Disneyland Paris

It feels like I have been away for ages and it's good to be back. I had no Internet connection over the last week apart from the odd GPRS signal on my Treo. Typically the site went offline while I was away fortunately Tony in my office was able to get...

Published Sun, Apr 20 2008 7:39 AM by Ian Dixon

Taking a break

I am on holiday next week with the family so there will be no posts or podcast, The Media Center Show will be back April 24th and I will be back connected next weekend. I will be updating my Twitter account , If you have a Twitter account you can follow...

Published Sun, Apr 13 2008 8:04 AM by Ian Dixon

Media Center Gets First Taste of Interactive Advertising - Chris Lanier's Blog

While we wait for the Internet TV plug in to be made available for countries outside of the USA Microsoft are adding Interactive advertising to it. Chris Lanier says that the interactive advert is not intrusive as it just ads a "lean more" button...

Published Sun, Apr 13 2008 7:44 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

The HP Tx2000 Notebook could make a good Media Center Notebook

I don't normally talk about laptops on this blog but one that I wanted to mention is the Tx2000 from HP. The reason I wanted to talk about this is that HP call this an Entertainment Notebook, it comes with Windows Vista Home Premiums so that means that...

Published Fri, Apr 11 2008 10:47 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center, HP, Tablet PC

The Media Center Show #152 - Dave Evans on Home Theatre

Listen Here This week I am talking Home Theatre with Dave Evans from Anywherecool.com . We talk about Windows Media Center in a home theatre and how to connect it up, including speakers, cables, remote controls and we also talk about whether to self build...

Published Thu, Apr 10 2008 12:18 PM by Ian Dixon

Video: Setting up a HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server

I final setup my HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server . I recorded the process which from start to finish took under an hour, thankfully for you I edited this down to around 20 minutes. The video shows how simple it was setting up the Home Server especially...

Published Wed, Apr 09 2008 9:27 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server, HP

Microsoft's Consumer Electronics Installer Blog

I didn't spot this new(ish) blog from Microsoft for Consumer Electronics Installers . It seems to be focusing on the custom installers and Windows Media Center, showing them the kind of features Windows Media Center and its ecosystem offers. There are...

Published Tue, Apr 08 2008 8:44 PM by Ian Dixon

Sky in Media Center?

On the live chat we did last night there was a good discussion on whether we will see Sky support for Windows Media Center. The consensus seems to be that Media Center needs to support Sky natively to get better adoption in the UK and even though Microsoft...

Published Tue, Apr 08 2008 9:44 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Installing a HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server

Tonight I installed my HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server . You may have seen my unboxing video which I recorded a while ago, so I thought it was a about time I installed it. I recorded the setup process on video and I will be putting that out soon. Installation...

Published Mon, Apr 07 2008 11:22 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

Windows Vista SP1 Prerequisite KB937287 and Windows Vista SP1 Update

If you have not had been offered Windows Vista Service Pack 1 yet you either have drivers on the "bad" list or you didn't get the prerequisites installed. Microsoft pulled KB937287 as it was causing some people to get stuck in multiple reboot loops. On...

Published Mon, Apr 07 2008 10:53 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Vista

New Pinnacle PCTV HD Sticks

If your after a TV tuner then you may want to look at the new Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick products. The new USB sticks support free digital HD and SD TV over-the-air (ATSC) as well as unencrypted digital cable (ClearQAM) channels. It looks like it will support...

Published Mon, Apr 07 2008 10:45 PM by Ian Dixon

Don't forget the live chat tonight

Tonight I will be online for a quick live chat about anything Media Center related, I will have my Linksys DMA2200 and Xbox 360 extenders ready in case there are any Extender type questions. I am thinking ustream rather than yahoo live unless anybody...

Published Mon, Apr 07 2008 4:36 PM by Ian Dixon

Live Chat - Monday 12pm PST / 8PM UK

Tomorrow evening 8pm UK (12pm PST) I will streaming a live chat. I thought we could chat about Extenders including Linksys and Xbox . If you have a question about codec support or menu transitions I will be able to test them out, plus we can chat about...

Published Sun, Apr 06 2008 8:34 PM by Ian Dixon

Ed Bott on this 6 months with this Cable Card System

Ed Bott has been living with his Cable Card system for 6 months and has written a good article on his experiences with it. If you thinking of going down the Cable Card route it's well worth reading. He describes the process of getting Cable Card installed...

Published Sat, Apr 05 2008 7:50 AM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

New Brazilian Windows Media Center Forums Launched

I am very pleased to announce a new group of forums for Brazilian Media Center enthusiasts and developers on TheDigitalLifestyle.com . The new forums will be manned by Guilherme Gomes and there are forums for Media Center development (including MCML and...

Published Thu, Apr 03 2008 9:38 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Media Center

Update on Windows Home Server Bug Fix

On the Windows Home Server team blog they are reporting that a fix for the data corruption problems will be included in the Home Server Power Pack 1. Beta testers (including me) should get the fix sometime in April to try out. The team is making great...

Published Thu, Apr 03 2008 12:38 PM by Ian Dixon

Filed under: Windows Home Server

April 2008 - Ian Dixon's Blog

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

News

Site Links

Archives