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Media Center to live in a separate version of Windows 8?
To the surprise of many, but not all, the same great Windows Media Center from Windows 7 was part of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. What this means for the final version of Windows 8 is still far from known, however, Winunleaked offers up a new clue with the Pro Pack edition labeled as ProfessionalWMC. It's hard to know however, if this is just a different SKU for the Professional version of Windows 8 or a glimpse of something that will impact multiple version of the new operating system. Media Center started as a separate product from Windows proper and Microsoft has publicly left clues that it might return to its roots -- presumably to avoid making every Windows user pay licensing costs for codecs like Dolby Digital that are required for live TV. For the moment, it's really just more speculation while we wait for the fall to arrive with latest official offerings from Redmond.
XBMC Eden officially steps out of beta, available for download now
Been snacking on popcorn with the beta build of XBMC 11.0 Eden since it got released last December? If, you'll be pleased know that the full-on release version is now officially available for download. In case you don't recall, this latest build of the media center house many new features, not limited to Addon Rollbacks (in case you hate their new builds), a plethora of speed-improvements, official "in- sync support" for iOS devices, AirPlay functionality and UI tweaks. There's also good news for Ubuntu users, as XBMCbuntu Final has been officially announced as the successor to XBMC Live. Excuse the pun, but if you're ready to taste the fruit now that it's ripe, you'll find the full details for both and the download link for Eden at the source link below.
Plex Media Server upgraded, Google TV app gets a reboot
Real-time media streamer Plex has been refreshed on Google TV, following the smart TV's own recent firmware upgrade. The UI now looks easier to navigate with quicker access to recently added content. When it comes to the streaming media itself, you'll still need to have a Plex server setup on a separate PC or Mac but the app still supports your dedicated myPlex content and your friends' shared files. Plex's latest Media Server update also solves some iOS app problems alongside a handful of other stability and compatibility issues. The new Google TV version of the catch-all media platform isn't live just yet, but you can grab last month's version at the source and gird yourself for the incoming update.
Kinect for Media Center released, why not wave and shout at your HTPC?
Kinect hacks previously brought gesture and voice control to Boxee and XBMC, and now that the Kinect for Windows hardware has been released we've got a solution for Windows Media Center. The aptly named Kinect for Media Center brings all the normal playback controls (for WMC and add-ins like Netflix) to your fingertips and lips, at the cost of $6.99. While its control scheme seems to be fully featured there are unfortunately some limitations -- it doesn't work with the Xbox 360 Kinect due to Microsoft's restrictions, and it also doesn't work with WMC extenders. What is included are filters to keep your content from accidentally triggering the voice controls (something some of us have had problems with on the Xbox 360), and configurable settings for right or left hand dominance or sensitivity. You can check out a video demo of the beta version (compare to a demo we saw last year from the makers of the Amulet voice control remotes) embedded after the break, or head directly to the site to try it out yourself if you're sure that finding the remote has simply become to much of a hassle.
Tranquil PC ships MMC-12: a 1.5-inch thick, fanless HTPC
We haven't heard from Britain's own Tranquil PC in a hot minute, but the company's storming into the new year with a machine that's easy to overlook. In a good way. The MMC-12 Media Center measures just 1.5-inches thick, enabling it to be slid into (or under) just about any A/V rack. £649 (right around $1,000) nets you a Core i3 processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory (plus another open RAM slot), an admittedly paltry 80GB mSATA hard drive, CD / DVD burner, Windows 7 Home Premium and an HDMI port. You'll also get a pair of USB 3.0 ports, two underwhelming (and bound to be unloved) USB 2.0 sockets, a gigabit Ethernet jack, DVI socket and an aluminum enclosure. The company recommends that you connect a couple of your favorite USB TV tuners for maximum enjoyment, and in case you're wondering, Blu-ray drives and international shipping is available.
XBMC Eden finally makes it to beta, promises HTPC superpowers
Remember that big XBMC update teased back in October? Well, v11.0's multifarious additions are finally ready for a spot of beta testing. These include all-round speed increases, a "vastly improved" default skin, the ability to rollback unpleasant add-on updates, and better hardware support for iOS devices, plus a host of other new features that can only be listed in full at the source link.
Plex app available on Kindle Fire, media servers and other clients get new updates too
For a media software package to survive these days, it has to be able to run pretty much anywhere and just recently Plex added the Kindle Fire to its list of supported platforms, uploading its Android client onto Amazon's Appstore. The team hasn't stopped there either, delivering updates across a slew of products starting with its Media Server v0.9.5.2 which added autoupdate and start on login features, while the Media Center package has reached 9.5.2, with support for refresh rate switching as well as a number of other tweaks and fixes. The various clients haven't been forgotten either, with a brand new alpha available for Linux users, individual apps for Android and Google TV, and a new v2.1 for iOS that supports myPlex cloud streaming without the need for users to run the Plex server software locally. Hit the source links for changelogs and more details or just check an app store near you where updated software is no doubt residing for your picture, music, and video streaming pleasure.
Plex releases new mobile and desktop clients, gets Flash and Silverlight support to go with a fancy new UI
You have many choices for your media streaming needs, and Plex is doing its damnedest to get you onboard its bandwagon. Plex is well known for its multi-platform flexibility, and the arrival of the myPlex media server platform makes sharing your content across devices easier than ever. To go with that cloud capability, Plex has released a new version of its desktop and mobile clients as well. The updated code brings a slick new UI and myPlex support, plus Flash and Silverlight video capability to Plex Media Server along with official Windows support -- including integration with Windows Media Center -- and a laundry list of bug fixes and stability tweaks. A full rundown of all the new goodies plus plenty of screenshots of that revamped UI can be found at the source below.
XBMC teases new features coming in 11.0 'Eden' release
The next version of XBMC isn't ready for prime time yet, but the team behind it is already talking about what's being added and tweaked in v11.0, a.k.a Eden. This is the first major release since the media player app added iPad, iPhone and Apple TV support and as such improved touchscreen support is high on the list. We can also expect a new "Files" view in the video library, a different default skin, improved CPU / GPU efficiency, customizable home screens and other UI tweaks as seen above. Now that the list of features is pretty much locked down we'll be expecting a beta, and eventually final release, but you can hit the source link to dive in early and help test everything out.
New Mediaroom clients to bring Microsoft's TV platform everywhere this year
The days of being tied to a traditional TV to watch your favorite shows is becoming less and less of a dream -- at least for Mediaroom 2.0 users, like those who subscribe to AT&T U-Verse. It hasn't even been a full year since Xbox 360 owners were first able to launch a U-Verse blade to watch TV, but it has been about nine months when we first heard rumors of Mediaroom clients for Windows Media Center (aka Monaco), Silverlight (aka Taos) and Windows Phone (aka Rome) would see the light of day. A recent post on William Zhang's blog, a Microsoft employee, confirms the rumored code names in addition to giving us reason to believe those using Mediaroom 2.0 software might still realize the three screen dream by the end of 2011 after all.
Microsoft confirms Media Center will be in Windows 8
Windows Media Center fans can finally breathe again. After seemingly endless will they / won't they speculation Steven Sinofsky, the President of the Windows Division has confirmed in a blog post that Media Center will return for yet another go 'round in Windows 8. There's no word on any possible changes, only that the company has "work to do" concerning the quality and compatibility of add-ins. Wondering why it hasn't been in some pre-release builds? Between the potential for multiple SKUs (no details until closer to release, but it seems like you'll be looking for an Ultimate pack or something similar again to get everything) and simple engineering decisions as features are added and removed that's just the way it is. Another factor is that WMC isn't exactly mass market, as he cites stats indicating only 6 percent of Windows 7 users launched the app in July, with over half of those sessions lasting less than a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, IE apparently pops up on 88 percent of Windows 7 desktops. Check the blog post for his full statement, plus a bit of discussion about the new Metro style and ribbon mechanism. [Thanks, Joe]
HDHomerun Prime CableCARD tuner hands-on
Looking a little different than the prototype we got our hands-on at CES, the retail version of the CableCARD tuner from SiliconDust found its way in front of our camera today. Those who preordered this little guy for $249 should start receiving it shortly, as a series of frustrating delays finally come to an end. We can't wait to plug this network tuner in and toss up to three HD feeds at a time through our Ethernet cabling and expect most others feel the same way. Check out out our pics in the gallery below, we'll let you know if the InfiniTV 4 has competition worth worrying about -- seems like it, given the price drop -- shortly. %Gallery-131085%
Amulet shows off Kinect voice control for Windows Media Center (video)
The Amulet Devices team has been pushing voice control for Windows Media Center through its remote accessory, but now it's dived into the pool of Kinect hacks with a demo (video embedded after the break) using the Xbox 360 add-on instead. The company blog breaks down some of the hardware capabilities of the device that make it ideal for voice control (as previously seen in the Xbox apps for ESPN3, Hulu Plus and Netflix) and also details some of the efforts used to make it work here. If there's enough interest it may release the demo software for free, and already plans to bring out a full version when Microsoft unleashes a commercial version of the Kinect SDK. We're still not sure if voice control is ready to take over for standard remotes but at least talking to the TV is less of a strain than gesture control on our weak made-for-blogging arms.
Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB is CableLabs certified, almost ready to go
Not finding the current CableCARD tuner options satisfactory? Perhaps the Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB will fit the bill. We first got our hands on it at CES (along with the InfiniTV 6) in January and the company tweeted tonight that it is now CableLabs certified. There's still no word on details like ship date and pricing, but with regulatory hurdles cleared it should be shipping very soon. Check a few more hands-on shots in our gallery.
Recorded TV HD plugin for Media Center adds commercial break indicator
The Recorded TV HD app for Media Center users debuted earlier this year, bringing the ability to sort saved TV shows by genre or personalized favorites list with additional metadata pulled in automatically. Today, developer Mark Terborg released v1.4.18, which adds a Sage TV-style commercial break indicator to the scrub bar, provided users are running properly configured commercial scanning software as well. The familiar look may ease the nerves of switchers jumping from the Sage ship, who can get a taste of the add-in during its 30-day free trial but will have to pay $19.95 for a license covering one PC plus extenders, or $39.95 for a whole household. Check after the break for a shot of the plugin's UI, or hit the source link for the full changelog.
AllVid still seems like a dream, but new CableCARD rules go into effect soon
It's no surprise that a government entities' own deadlines are never met, but while the FCC's Broadband Plan originally expressed its intent to apply bandaids to CableCARD in the Fall of 2010, November 1st 2011 is the date most feeling the pain can circle on their calendar. That is the day all cable providers will be required to allow self installs, while December 1st is the day that the new useless IP interface must start working -- certainly to be made useless by unlicensable DRM, like 5C did to 1394. These new CableCARD rules are still great for TiVo, Moxi and InfiniTV customers, but the dream of AllVid seems destined to follow a similar fate with 2011 half way over and almost no progress towards the promise of a 2012 deployment made.
Six tuner HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD tuner ships tomorrow
We're not exactly sure what is so complicated about building CableCARD tuners, but after being bitten by the inevitable delay bug Silicondust says it is ready to ship the six tuner version of its HDHomeRun Prime. A tweet went out earlier stating Newegg would be forwarding the units to customers beginning tomorrow, while a post on the company forums confirms the first shipment leaving their location just a short while ago. Unfortunately that still leave the $249 three tuner version twisting in the wind, but if you preordered just hang in there, more word is promised "later this week."
Microsoft's new Xbox 360 Media Remote is missing the Media Center buttons
It was a bit of an afterthought in today's announcement from the Xbox team, but we thought you might like a closer look at the new Xbox 360 Media Remote. While it has a decent layout of controls, including your usual Xbox A, B, X, Y, and guide buttons, but the most notable buttons for us are the ones that are missing. As The Digital Lifestyle points out, it has no Windows Media Center buttons, unlike the previous Xbox 360 remotes. Does this mean its place as a Media Center Extender is suddenly unnecessary? We're not sure of that yet, it could just be a value choice made for the $20 remote that's due to ship in November, but with a press release playing up its ability to control Live TV it's certainly worth wondering what Microsoft is planning for the future.
Four tuner firmware update for Cisco Tuning Adapters rolling out
With less than two weeks to go until the very same FCC requirement (FCC-10-81) goes into effect, a Cisco Tuning Adapter in the wild received the F.1402 firmware update that upgrades it from double to quadruple duty. This is fantastic news for those who already have a Ceton InfiniTV 4 on a system that uses Switched Digital Video, as it will eliminate the need for one more set-top box, but should also be good news to the company who formally requested CableLabs change the spec to require four tuners in the first place; TiVo. No way to know exactly when this firmware update will roll out, but we're sure we're not alone when we say we hope it brings some much needed stability along with it.
Acer ships AMD-powered Revo RL100 HTPC to Americans: $499 and up
Acer actually popped out its Revo RL100 media center right around six months ago, but for those unable to make the trip to Asia, today's the day for getting jovial. Said player is now shipping to the US of A, hailed as a "digital hub" and outfitted with a dual-mode wireless touchpad / keyboard as well as the company's own clear.fi streaming solution. A pair of models will be available -- one with Blu-ray and one without -- with the entire box measuring just 1- x 11.81- x 7.09-inches. As expected, an HDMI port 'round back will handle the bulk of the data transmissions, and an internal NVIDIA Ion graphics chip will be responsible for 1080p video playback. Within, you'll get a 1.3GHz AMD Athlon II K325 CPU, 750GB SATA hard drive, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, three USB 2.0 ports, a multi-card reader, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and an Ethernet socket. Windows 7 Home Premium will be the OS of choice, and it can be yours for the tidy sum of $499.99 (or $569.99 if you're looking to add BD capabilities). %Gallery-126127%
