Ian's Digital Lifestyle

March 2008 - Posts

• Sp1 problems and fixes plus post round up

  All posts from my blog on Thedigitallifestyle.com and if your on Twitter follow me!   Installing Vista Service Pack 1 and WMV playback problems I had problems playing back WMV files on my Media Center PC after installing Sp1, turns out it's a sound card output issue. WMP was trying to use digital output when I don't have one. It's all fixed now...   Autonomic Controls on Channel 10 Channel 10 have a nice video showing Autonomic audio distribution system for Media Center, which uses a 7.1 sound card to distribute 4 separate stereo pairs.  Also shown in the video is a neat solution for controlling Media Center via a UMPC or a...   Xbox 360 Arcade drops below £149 If your after a cheap Extender for Windows Media Center and can put up with a bit of fan noise then the Xbox 360 Arcade is now a very attractive. Digital Spy are reporting that Tesco and other UK retails have started offering the Arcade for £149...   D-Link DSM-750 Extender Now Available - Chris Lanier's Blog Chris is reporting that the D-Link Extender is now available for ordering and some retailers are offering it at $250. It's a shame D-Link are not offering the unit out side of North America as there has been good feedback from the beta testers. As Chris...   How do you organize your music library? When you have a music collection that you play via Media Center at some point you come across the problem of having missing or incorrect meta data. This is especially a problem if you download mp3 files, and having missing album art looks really bad when...   Xbox.com advert for the Xbox Media Center Extender functions There is a nice advert for the Extender functions of Media Center on Xbox.com showing how the Xbox can be used for home entertainment. It's good that Microsoft are highlighting the Extender function of the Xbox. With it being it being on Xbox.com it's... Posted Mar 30 2008, 10:13 AM by Iand with no comments

• The Media Center Show #150 - Charlie Owen on the Media Center Platform

  Listen Here Welcome to show 150! Joining me this week is Microsoft's Charlie Owen, Charlie is a Program Manager on the eHome team and his area is the Media Center Platform and the SDK. Charlie talks about how the Media Center vision has changed since the first version and how the development platform has also changed. I also have an interview with Ted Singh from Embedded Automation, Ted was guest on show #1 and we talked about their new product mPanel. I have email and news items plus an update on the The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS - Vote for the show on Podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Catch me on Twitter Thanks to the show sponsor Techradar.com You can get all the show times and links on the podcast blog post Posted Mar 27 2008, 01:32 PM by Iand with no comments

• It's another post roundup!

  MyNetflix v2.2 Beta update Anthony Park has updated MyNetflix which includes a new search feature and the ability to pick a bit rate. I just finished working on a few new features for MyNetflix, so I wanted to get this out there in public beta. The new version can be downloaded... HP's online demo of Media Center Extenders HP have a video up demonstrating it's Media Smart TV and there is a demo showing off Media Center Extender functions (top right of the main video). It's a good background on the features that Extenders offer. It's a pity that HP are not planning to launch... Microsoft UK kick off a digital life marketing campaign Microsoft UK have put up some videos off digital lifestyle products, the videos show off how Microsoft products fit in with the digital life e.g. guy on a skateboard using Windows Live Messenger on a Windows Mobile phone. It does show off Media Center... Should 3rd Party apps look and feel like the rest of Media Center? Vote Now!! A debate that has raged since Microsoft launched the SDK for Windows Media Center is should Media Center apps look and feel like native Media Center or should they have their own look Steven Harding has posted this question on his blog: Microsoft are... Vista SP1 Gives Extenders a Speed Boost? Chris Lanier highlights that posters over on TGB are reporting that SP1 gives the Extenders a speed boost, improving the screen transitions. As I have said before I don't think that transitions are that bad but it would be good to see and improvement.... Steve Lindsay on Paul Thurrot's (non) review of Linksys Extenders on his Windows Weekly show. I have already mentioned my disappointment of Paul Thurrot's dismissing of the Linksys Extenders ( here ) and Steve Lindsay expresses his thoughts. He mentioned some points that Paul completely missed, things like form factor, weight, power consumption,... Engadget HD - Who makes the best HD DVR? Engadget are asking who makes the best HD DVR, and TiVo has taken the lead so you need to get voting for Media Center . To some, DVRs are a like a religion and switching shouldn't be taken lightly, but others will take whatever their provider gives 'em...   All posts from my blog on Thedigitallifestyle.com and if your on Twitter follow me! Posted Mar 26 2008, 02:46 PM by Iand with no comments

• Paul Thurrott bashes Extenders + Post roundup

  The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup - Win an XBox 360 Elite and more! As you may have read I am running The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition and as well as giving away mControl and Big Screen Headlines thanks to a very generous anonymous donor the winning entry will get a brand new Xbox 360 Elite + extra...   All Vista Media Center Keyboard shortcuts Here is a top tip from the forums that I thought was worth posting. It's a complete list of Media Center keyboard shortcuts: A friend of mine gave me a little book on VMC and XBOX 360 etc. It contained a list of all the keyboard shortcuts for VMC, thought...   Windows Weekly dismisses the Linksys Extenders, while I sit happily watching TV on mine Some times I like Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott and some times the show really gets on my nerves. This week Paul totally dismissed the Linksys extenders blaming poor performance (he did praise the Media Center UI). His message was to "totally avoid" the Extenders as having little benefit over the last generation of Extenders. I can't agree I have had no issues with mine... Posted Mar 20 2008, 03:38 PM by Iand with 7 comment(s)

• The Media Center Show #149 - Ed Bott on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and more

  Listen Here I have a great show this week even if your not a Media Center enthusiast. Windows expert Ed Bott joined me for a live show a couple of weeks ago talking about Vista Service Pack 1. We talked about many topics including Service Pack 1 and had some great questions from the chat room. Ed talks a lot of sense and helps puts the record straight on Windows Vista, he made a great statement "One of the things about the blogosphere is that it reduces every argument to one that can be shouted across a wall". I have a couple of emails and an news on a new competition Don't forget - The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup - Win an XBox 360 Elite and more! Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS - Vote for the show on Podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Catch me on Twitter Thanks to the show sponsor Tech.co.uk Share this post :   Get all the show times from the show blog Posted Mar 20 2008, 10:06 AM by Iand with no comments

• The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup - Win an XBox 360 Elite and more!

  As you may have read I am running The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup competition and as well as giving away mControl and Big Screen Headlines thanks to a very generous anonymous donor the winning entry will get a brand new Xbox 360 Elite + extra wireless controller and game. Plus there will be prizes of Xbox 360 Controllers and games for the runners up. The competition is for Media Center enthusiasts to show off their home installations. It could be a big multi-room installation or a small neat single PC setup , anything that you have installed and designed yourself. It must feature Windows Media Center and can feature any other connected technology, e.g. Windows Home Server, home theatre and audio devices. You don't have to have an all singing and dancing setup to take part, just take some pictures and post them on the Flickr group, and hopefully the pictures will inspire new users to get installing Media Center So post your pictures in the Flickr group, the closing date for the first round of pictures is May 1st and a big thanks to the doner! Technorati Tags: The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup,Windows Media Center Posted Mar 18 2008, 09:36 PM by Iand with 1 comment(s)

• Roundup of Recent Posts

  Chris Lanier on The Media Center Show Live - Today Don't forget Chris Lanier will be live on The Media Center Show today (or tonight depending on your time zone!) 8pm GMT / 1pm PST. We will be taking Media Center, Extenders, Blu-ray on Xbox and lot more Listen and watch the video stream live and join in Live.TheDigitalLifestyle.com   MceFM - Last.fm addin for Windows Media Center If your a Last.fm user you will like the new addon for Windows Media Center by Damian Mehers . MceFRM is a a Last.FM addon Vista Media Center with features like using the More option from Media Center to select MceFM and then listen to more artist like...   The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup Enthusiasts have started posting entries for The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup on the Flickr group . As I said on my blog on Friday: The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup is for Media Center enthusiasts to show off their home installations....   AnandTech on the Windows Home Server Bug If your technical and want to know more about the Windows Home Server bug you should read the article on AnandTech . When it rains, it pours, and sometimes you get hit by lightning too which will really ruin your day. Since very late last year, Microsoft...   Steve Lindsay's new video - The Top 5 Things YOU didn't know you could do Vista Media Center Steve Linsdsay has posted a new video showing 5 things you didn't know you could do with Media Center, some of them you will know and others you may not. The areas Steve covers are: Advanced Scheduling Internet TV Sports Windows Home Server Media Center...   Yougle 0.4.0 - Internet Video on Media Center Steven Harding has updated Yougle to 0.4.0 and I got a chance to play with it tonight. It's a small install and then you can watch Youtube, MSN video and other Internet video sources all in Windows Media Center. Steven has done a great job with the application... Posted Mar 17 2008, 02:52 PM by Iand with no comments

• The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup

  Enthusiasts have started posting entries for The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup on the Flickr group. As I said on my blog on Friday: The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup is for Media Center enthusiasts to show off their home installations. It could be a big multi-room installation or a small neat single PC setup , anything that you have installed and designed yourself. It must feature Windows Media Center and can feature any other connected technology, e.g. Windows Home Server, home theatre and audio devices. You don't have to have an all singing and dancing setup to take part, just take some pictures and post them on the Flickr group. I know some of you have great systems, one of the great things about enthusiasts is the inventive solutions they come up with and without a massive budget. Hopefully the pictures you post will inspire new users to come up with great systems So get posting and be in with a chance of winning Media Center software and a couple of surprise prizes More details: Show off your Media Center Setup and win prizes Technorati Tags: Windows Media Center,Ulitmate Install Posted Mar 15 2008, 10:03 AM by Iand with no comments

• Show off your Media Center Setup and win prizes

  Microsoft Ultimate Install competition is a great idea and it's a great opportunity for custom AV installers to show off their installation skills but it's only open to customer installers, enthusiast are left out of it so I have a new competition! The Ultimate Media Center Enthusiast Setup is for Media Center enthusiasts to show off their home installations. It could be a big multi-room installation or a small neat single PC setup , anything that you have installed and designed yourself. It must feature Windows Media Center and can feature any other connected technology, e.g. Windows Home Server, home theatre and audio devices. The real aim is to show off the great Media Center systems enthusiast can put together, the competition element is just a bit of fun but there will be real prizes, software from BigScreenGlobal, Voice Tunes from One Voice and mControl home automation software. Plus there is the glory of showing off your setup to other enthusiast To enter the competition take pictures of your setup and post them in this Flicrk group, post as many pictures as you want and please explain the components you have used, then an expert panel will pick five finalist to be put to a public vote. So join the Flickr group and get posting your setup. The closing date for the first round of pictures is May 1st Get posting! Posted Mar 14 2008, 01:54 AM by Iand with no comments

• Roundup of posts

  I haven't done one for a while, so here is a recent post round up, cross posted from my main blog HERE and you can find the RSS feed for my blog HERE   Microsoft Announces 2008 Ultimate Install Contest Today at the Electronic House Expo (EHX) in Orlando, Fla., Microsoft Corp. announced the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest. This exciting design contest, now in its second year, seeks...   The Media Center Show #148 - Todd Bowra on Media Center Extenders Listen Here This week I am talking Windows Media Center Extenders with Microsoft's Todd Bowra. Todd talks about the new generation of Media Center Extenders,how to connect them and the various types of devices available .  I have email, news items...   Microsoft are looking for Software Design Engineers in Test (SDETs) for the Media Center Core Team If you have a passion for Media Center and fancied working on the product. Microsoft are looking for Software Design Engineers in Test to work on Media Center. Following the links to Microsoft's jobs site one of the roles is working on a "newly-formed...   Embedded Automation Announces mPanel Embedded Automation have announces mPanel, a touch screen for accesing digital media and home automation. I hope to find out more from Embedded Automation and get an update on the show. Here is the press release: Integrated Touch Screen is a Portal for...   Next Live Show: Chris Lanier Monday 17th 8pm GMT Most people will know Chris Lanier and his great Media Center Blog, and he is going to be the next guest on the live media center show. Monday 17th 8pm GMT / 1pm PST I will be streaming the recording of The Media Center Show via live.thedigitallifestyle.com...   Use the updated FolderShare to share media around the home One tool I couldn't live without is FolderShare , I use it to sync folders across my Tablet PC, UMPC and Media Center PC. It works by you installing the FolderShare client and then picking a folder (or folder tree) you want to sync up and it does the...   Windows Home Server Corruption Bug Update The Microsoft knowledge base article about the data corruption bug that has hit Windows Home Server has been updated. It looks like a fix is being worked on with a delivery June 2008. This issue can now be reliably reproduced, and a fix is in development....   Media Center Health Monitor will send you Twitter updates! I have updated my Media Center Health Monitor with a Twitter addin. So if you have the monitor running and it detects a Windows Media Center issue it will update a Twitter account with the issue. It will also Twitter when the general status of the system... Posted Mar 13 2008, 04:29 PM by Iand with no comments

• The Media Center Show #148 - Todd Bowra on Media Center Extenders

  Listen Here This week I am talking Windows Media Center Extenders with Microsoft's Todd Bowra. Todd talks about the new generation of Media Center Extenders,how to connect them and the various types of devices available .  I have email, news items an update on the new Twitter feature of Media Center Health Monitor Project. It's coming up to show 150, so send in your email! Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS - Vote for the show on Podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Catch me on Twitter [mp3]http://thedigitallifestyle.com/audio/TDL_MediaCenter_20080313_148.mp3[/mp3] Thanks to the show sponsor Tech.co.uk For all the links talked about in the show please visit the show blog Posted Mar 13 2008, 01:27 PM by Iand with no comments

• The Media Center Show #147 - Galileu Vieira on Media Center in Brazil

  Listen Here This week Galileu Vieira from Microsoft Brazil chats about how Media Center and digital lifestyle products are being used in Brazil. With the launch of Windows Vista, Media Center is officially supported in Brazil for the first time and Galileu talks about it's usage, TV executives reaction to DVRs and and he also talks about his on10 blog. Direct Download Link - Subscribe via iTunes - Subscribe via RSS - Vote for the show on Podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Catch me on Twitter Thanks to the show sponsor Tech.co.uk For all the links talked about in the show please visit the show blog Posted Mar 06 2008, 12:50 PM by Iand with 1 comment(s)

• Post Roundup

  It's time for another post roundup, UltimatePC.com, transcoders and videos   UltimatePC.com - The Ultimate Home Theater Setup Microsoft have launched a new site called UltimatePC.com that seems to be a new marketing site for Vista and tries to show off Ultimate PC setups. Whether this has anything to do with the missing Ultimate Extras I  don't know. But what I did find...   Druid 1.0 dvr-ms transcoder (via Missing Remote ) While I am happy with the transcoding features in the Zune software it doesn't work for other platforms like iPods and PSP etc. This is where Druid 1.0 comes in. Druid is trancoding software for DVR-MS files (Media Center recorded...   Windows Vista Team Blog : Using S/PDIF to send audio from your PC Have you ever wondered what S/PDIF is and how you can use it to connect up your Media Center PC to your audio equipment? If so read Nick White's post on the Windows Vista Team Blog where he explains all about S/PDIF, what it is and how content like 5.1...   Microsoft video showing "Digital Lifestyle" products I have seen this video showed at Microsoft events but I don't think it's been available for public viewing before. The video features Zune, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and Windows Media Center  in a "day in a life" type lifestyle video. It's...   4% of DVR users watch live TV and over 80% skip adverts I saw some interesting stats today, The 2008 Digital Entertainment Survey commissioned by media lawyers Wiggin surveyed "digital entertainment consumption patterns, trends, preferences and attitudes across all forms of entertainment activity"...   Video: How I Record music with a Tablet PC I have been recording music with my HP TC1100 Tablet PC for a while so I thought it may be interesting to show how well the Tablet PC form factor works for me. Since using the tablet I use more virtual instruments and my other keyboards are being used... Posted Mar 05 2008, 04:37 PM by Iand with no comments

• Video: How I Record music with a Tablet PC

  I posted this on my blog and I thought you guys may be interested in the tech: I have been recording music with my HP TC1100 Tablet PC for a while so I thought it may be interesting to show how well the Tablet PC form factor works for me. Since using the tablet I use more virtual instruments and my other keyboards are being used more as controllers for the PC. Using the Pen with music software feels more natural that using a mouse and keyboard. You will also be able to see from the video how the tablet PC fits on the top of my keyboard stand as a integral part of my music system. To connect the Tablet PC to the rest of the system I have a EDIROL UM2 USB midi controller and a EDIROL M100FX USB mixer, the M100FX is a great piece of kit as it's not only a mixer it's also the sound card for the Tablet PC as the onboard sound card does not have enough power to do the real time audio processing. So here is a short look at how the Tablet PC works for me Watch via MSN Video Watch via Youtube Watch via direct download Watch via Blip.tv Technorati Tags: Tablet PC,Music Posted Mar 02 2008, 11:15 AM by Iand with no comments