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Windows Media Center is set to thrill at CEDIA 2009 next month
Everyone likes to try and predict the future and with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation (CEDIA) show only a month away, the crew at Engadget HD threw all of their crazy ideas out there for your reading pleasure. For the most part all of the predictions are around Windows Media Center and how it will integrate with other products like the Zune HD, Digital Cable and HD satellite services, but there are some other fun things throw in. We really believe that this is going to be the year that Redmond brings everything together, so if you're the type who doesn't think it'll ever happen, then click through to find out why we think you're wrong. Either way, you can expect we'll be on the scene in Atlanta to check out what's new first hand.
CEDIA 2009 Windows Media Center predictions
With the Custom Electronic Design & Installation show in Atlanta only a month away, we thought it'd be fun to try and predict the future by laying out our expectations for Windows Media Center. The way we see it, CEDIA is the perfect launching pad for Windows 7 Media Center. For starters it is just over a month before the official release of the OS, but more so because Microsoft has used the venue in the past to announce new Media Center features. We really believe that this is going to be the year that Redmond brings everything together, so if you're the type who doesn't think it'll ever happen, then click through to find out why we think you're wrong.
DISH Network's Draco project brings programming to Windows Media Center
Aw, snap! Just over a month after DirecTV went and killed its totally promising HDPC-20 tuner, in flies this. DISH Network is apparently gearing up to unveil some sort of HD-capable DISH-to-Windows Media Center liaison, with current test setups involving a modified ViP 211K receiver attached via Ethernet to a PC. The initiative is being coined Draco, and we're even told that dual tuner setups (most likely using dual boxes for now) are in action and working beautifully. It's tough to tell if this is the same project that was rumored way back in April of last year, but it's safe to say DISH is hoping to pick up the pieces that DirecTV inexplicably dropped. Windows Media Center, you've just regained our attention.%Gallery-42371%
ViP211 DVR upgrade now available on DISH Network
It's been a long time coming, but only a week after being made official, a tipster lets us know DISH Network subscribers with a ViP 211 receiver are now able to plug in USB hard drives and DVR it up to their heart's content. The $39.99 activation fee is still in full effect, but why let that get in between you and a new world of time-shifted goodness with your existing single-tuner hardware and no additional DVR charge?[Thanks, Bill]
DISH Network (finally) offers ViP211 DVR Upgrade option
Just because things aren't all roses for DISH Network lately doesn't mean there's no good news, the long awaited ability to turn ViP211/ViP211k model (no word yet when or if the ViP222 will get the same treatment) MPEG-4 receivers into DVRs by adding an external hard drive is finally coming. For the same one-time $39.99 activation fee that allows users to add space to ViP622 model DVRs, they can hook up 50GB - 750GB of HDD space via USB 2.0 and have a typical single tuner DVR experience, apparently without additional monthly service charges. While not exactly a game changing feature, it could be just what's needed to keep the DISH faithful hanging around a while longer when it's available by the end of the month.
