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Fall Xbox 360 Dashboard update brings WTV file support, but don't get too excited
If you've actually heard of the WTV recorded TV file format, then you're probably a Windows 7 Media Center fan, and thus you're excited at any indication that Microsoft hasn't completely forgotten about you. That small gesture came this week with the new Xbox Dashboard update, but sadly it isn't much to get excited about. It's bad enough that it took Microsoft over three years to add support for WTV at all, but now it's here and it's one step above useless. Sure, you can play the files -- after waiting almost 30 seconds for them to load -- but you can't fast forward, rewind, skip around or even resume. The list of shows only displays the episode title and rather than the actual show name, and that's the only metadata you get. Speaking of the show title, that is also the only way to sort -- no folders or by date. So yeah, the new Dashboard supports WTV, but not in a way which actually makes it useful. Better than nothing, we guess.
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%
Is Windows Media Center not dead after all?
When Microsoft dissolved the eHome team that developed Media Center and renamed the MVP program to Windows Entertainment and Connected Home, there was some serious questions about the future of the product. While that question won't really be answered until September, when Microsoft is expected to reveal the feature complete beta at the company's Build Conference, a few leaked screen shots at TheGreenButton.tv show the same old Windows 7 Media Center running on Windows 8. We can't saw we're surprised, since all indications are that Windows 8 will be a dot-one release, in terms of compatibility with Vista and 7, so there's really no reason for Microsoft to pull it. We're not the only one who'd be surprised to see new features though, as everyone we know seems to agree it would be silly to think otherwise. The real scary\sad thing is that Windows 7 has been out for almost two years, and no other DVR has managed to match many of its features.
Remote Potato brings your Media Center HD video to the iPad
We suppose it isn't surprising that Windows 7 Media Center isn't tightly integrated with iOS devices, but even the cable company's DVR has an app these days, so why not. In this case an independent developer has felt the need to fill the gap, and this is where Remote Potato HD for the iPad comes it. In addition to its guide and DVR management functionality, it also allows you to stream content to your iPad at home or on the go, or event to an AirPlay device, as well as sync music for offline access, or just look at pictures. We gave it a quick go and found, it was easy to setup and offered great picture quality. The bad news is the software was not without its quirks, including slow loading guide data. One feature we were disappointed was missing, was that resume on the iPad didn't pick up where we left off on the big screen. Just one of a few things we'll be looking for when 2.0 rolls around, but for now check out the embedded video after the break.
6 tuner HDHomeRun Prime went on sale today
What your eyes are gazing upon here is the new six tuner HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD device that went on sale today at Newegg and is expected to ship on July 18th. As expected, it is basically two HDHomeRun Primes in a single case, that uses a single internal power supply, but requires two CableCARDs, two coax inputs and two network drops. The case would fit pretty nicely in most racks too, with the included ears, or you can use the pictured feet and set it on another piece of equipment. As for software, currently it only works with Windows 7 Media Center and will require either the elusive Advanced Entertainment Pack or the not-so-official TunerSalad add-in else you'll only be able to use four of the six tuners. Two more pictures including one of the back after the break.
HDHomeRun Prime TV tuner passes CableLabs tests - Update: Preorder pulled, 6-tuner ships first
We've been waiting for SiliconDust's CableCARD-compatible HDHomeRun Prime for a little over a year and it seems finally ready to bring its triple tuner TV magic home, having gained CableLabs certification as of April 28th and subsequently showing up for preorder on Amazon. While this is mostly big news for Windows Media Center fans who need a new way to get premium channels on their box it also supports other DVR software like MythTV on Copy Freely-marked content. HTPC builders don't have to choose between this HDHR3-CC and the (suddenly in abundant supply and still $399) Ceton InfiniTV 4 just yet, since the listing has no shipping date and the last we'd heard from SiliconDust was that preorders would ship around 30 days after it completed certification. Check out our hands-on impressions from CES a few months ago if you're on the fence, but right now all that's standing between you and that grey box is a little bit of time... and $207. Update: According to a post on its forum, SiliconDust confirmed the HDHomeRun Prime has been certified and an email announcement will follow shortly, however it expects to deliver a 6-tuner Theater version first with the three tuner box appearing afterwards. The post also notes sites are "incorrectly listing" the HDHomeRun Prime for preorder and "will not be first in line for delivering product" so you may want to wait for the official word on which "major retailer" has the go-ahead to make sure you're first in line. The option to preorder disappeared from Amazon this morning, we'll let you know when and where the option to purchase pops up next. [Thanks, robniep] %Gallery-113086% [Thanks, Neil]
Internet Explorer 9 RC causing Netflix errors in Windows Media Center? Here's a fix
Apparently some of those who are catching Netflix Watch Instantly streams on their Windows 7 Media Center PCs are getting cut off after installing the Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate, but they're in luck as there is a fix. The Digital Media Zone points out a Microsoft Knowledge base article 2512239 that can solve the problem either with a one click "Fix It For Me" option or just the instructions on how to dig deep in the registry and DIY if you're so inclined. The problem is apparently caused by some changes to the way the new version of IE handles JavaScript, but we'd rather you get back to watching season two of the X-Files or whatever you were watching than worry about details like that.
Windows 7 Media Center embedded TV hands-on
We didn't think much of Haier's mention in Microsoft's Windows 7 Media Center embedded press release, but on the show floor today we ran across this HDTV which was actually a full-blown Media Center including tuners and a harddrive. The details were very skimpy beyond that, with no mention of specific specs, prices or if the product would really make it to market. But the idea of an all-in-one TV and DVR running our favorite software certainly is something to get us excited about. What we didn't like ws the motion remote used for the demo which was almost impossible to navigate and had us seriously longing for our favorite Green Button.
InfiniTV 4 USB CableCARD tuner hands-on
We ran into the Hammers from Ceton Corp at CES and they revealed their latest products to us; the InfiniTV 4 USB and the internal InfiniTV 6. The InfiniTV 6 is basically the six tuner version of the InfiniTV 4 that we like so much, what we don't like is that there's no mention of price or availability -- we'd guess $500 or $600 and sometime during the middle of 2011. The more interesting revelation was that of the InfiniTV 4 USB, which you see pictured above. It also doesn't have a price yet, but it does record four HD shows at once like its internal brother, has a real nice feel to it, and looks really, really cool. We were curious to know how many of the InifniTV 4's have been sold to Windows Media Center users, and while exact figures weren't forthcoming, we were told "thousands and thousands." At this point Ceton is still focused on eliminating its four month order backlog and will turn its attention to brining new products to market after that. %Gallery-113442% %Gallery-113443%
Hauppauge is taking its HD component capture card internal
It wasn't that long ago that recording HD from just about any source on a PC was cost prohibitive. Then along came Hauppauge's HD PVR and while it isn't without its issues and limitations, it gets the job done at an affordable price. One of those limitations is the rather large external enclosure and the wall-wart that powers it. Now Hauppauge has addressed those nit picks with the release of an internal PCI-E capture card for $159. The single card can record up to 1080i from either component or unencrypted HDMI and will start shipping later this month. The support is very similar it its external brother, in fact other than the form factor, the two are very similar in most every other way. Another pictures and technical details after the jump.
Reycom Windows Media Center coming for $499
We love us some Windows 7 Media Center, but we recognize that using a HTPC for a DVR isn't for everyone. For some there is no replacement for a dedicated set-top box, which is why we were so excited to hear that Windows Media Center was coming to embedded devices. The problem of course is that is-coming and is-here, are completely different. A little known European company (state side anyways) hopes to change that by brining one to the US in the first quarter of this year for about $499. The bad news is that there's no CableCARD support like the Gateway one we saw earlier. There are plans to follow it up with dedicated versions for cable and telecom operators later this year, but for some reason we don't feel like they'll be too interested in it.
Hands-on with the HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD tuner
Now look what we have here, the long awaited HDHomeRun Prime triple CableCARD tuner for Windows 7 Media Center. Originally announced at CES last year, the little black perforated box is already in production and will soon be selling for $250 after it makes it ways through the final stages of CableLabs certification. The sad fact is there is no way to know when that cert will be sealed, but when it is you'll be able to pre-order and then you can expect to receive it 30 days later. The other little tidbits we picked up from the booth is that SiliconDust is working on a six tuner rack mountable version that should ship later this year and that the ATSC and QAM version we've loved for years has a new case a new price of $129 and will be shipping in February. %Gallery-113086% %Gallery-113088%
Amulet voice-activated remote for Media Center demo
Although we scoured the CEDIA 2010 floor for products that use or are related to Windows 7 Media Center, we had a hard time finding anything. One of the only two booths we did find that wanted anything to do with Redmond's media software was Amulet Device's voice-activated remote for Windows 7 Media Center -- Vidabox was the other one. Overall it seemed to work, but didn't do what it was commanded on every attempt, which is what one might expect from beta software. As you can see in the video, the company has optimized many of the screens for voice control, but you can use the old favorites if you prefer too.
A simple way to get your Recorded TV on your iOS device
Windows 7 Media Center fans who also own iOS devices can you tell you that there aren't enough easy ways to make the two work together. Luckily there always seem to be some developers willing to fill in the gaps and the Simple TV app is pretty smart. Basically the app watches your Recorded TV folder, transcodes the HD shows and makes them available for download via a web browser, or even better, you can subscribe to an RSS feed right in iTunes and get the latest episodes automatically on your iPhone every time you sync. We haven't tried it ourselves, but apparently the metadata comes over and if you delete a show from your Media Center, the transcoded copy is deleted too. The product is currently in beta and free, but will probably be available for purchase when it goes gold.
CableLabs amends OCUR spec, tuner sharing and MythTV are on
We told you that CableLabs had received a few requests to amend the OCUR spec that dictates what a CableCARD tuner for a PC can and can't do, and as expected the organization that many love to hate has come through -- we, expected it anyways. The first change is the most significant which is that each tuner in an OCUR can be paired with different PCs at the same time. This lets you buy one quad tuner and use it on four HTPCs simultaneously; one tuner per PC (a single tuner can't be shared simultaneous though). When we originally asked CableLabs about changing this they said, maybe, but it'd take three to six months to run through the process. The other change we're glad didn't take forever to become a reality is the one that stated that even Copy Freely content had to be transmitted securely, which meant that Windows 7 Media Center was the only way to watch any CableCARD tuner stuff, and while there isn't much encrypted QAM content out there marked Copy Freely, MythTV and SageTV fans will have access to at least some premium HD content. This isn't as big a deal as changing the meaning of Copy Once to something less draconian, it is welcomed news for those who just received their InfiniTV 4 (pictured above) and felt constrained by the old rules. We're sure there could be considerable time between when the change is made official and when the firmware is released to the public, but hopefully Ceton and SiliconDust don't waste any time making it happen.
Hauppauge officially announces HD PVR support in Windows Media Center
If you're thinking about going the Media Center DVR route but can't or won't get hooked up with a CableCARD don't forget there's another option available to pull in those premium channels now that the $199 Hauppauge HD PVR is supported as a TV recorder in Windows 7. There's been a few updates since the feature was added in beta back in June, which lets users select programs via the Media Center guide to be captured and encoded in MPEG-4 over the device's component video inputs (HDTV resolutions up to 1080i and 5.1 surround sound are supported) while the PC controls connected satellite or cable TV set-top boxes with an included IR blaster. There's still a limit of one tuner per PC and a thread over on TheGreenButton reveals the experience can still be a bit glitchy, but if you've just got to have Windows Media Center and NFL Sunday Ticket then some compromises will be necessary.
TiVo Premiere vs Windows 7 Media Center
Although TiVo and ReplayTV were the first DVRs on the market, Microsoft's software actually powered the DISHPlayer Satellite DVR in late 1999. So here we are over 10 years later and while TiVo and Microsoft took different approaches to the same space, of the three original DVR software companies, they're the only two left. Which is the bigger success depends on your perspective, because while TiVo has the mind share (and sold more consumer branded products) Microsoft's technology is present in many other brand DVRs, like Verizon's FiOS DVR, and AT&T's U-Verse (which is built on Microsoft's Mediaroom platform). But our perspective of success is based on the user interface experience, so while we previously reviewed both the TiVo Premiere and Windows 7 Media Center, we wanted to also tackled the task of directly comparing the two. Of course there are some obvious differences that might sway someone in one way or another, like TiVo's simpler out of the box setup or Media Center's 3rd party plug-in architecture, there are many other points of distinction to discover if you click on through and read about the less obvious user interface differences as well as a few other baked-in non-DVR features. %Gallery-97269%
InfiniTV 4 quad CableCARD tuner is shipping
After a very long and wait since the pre-orders began, we just got the official word that the long sought after quad CableCARD tuner, the InfiniTV 4, is on US shores and has cleared customs. The bad news is that the manufacturing troubles aren't completely over yet and there aren't enough to fill all the pre-orders. If you had enough insight to be the first to get your order in though, you'll be receiving yours next week. In the meantime you can get started on the installation instructions on Ceton's site by first running the Digital Cable Adviser and then running the driver installer (coming soon) while you wait. You may also want to go ahead and schedule your truck roll as this toy isn't very useful without a CableCARD, and most cable companies won't let you install the CableCARD yourself. This is certainly the best news for HTPC fans since Microsoft announced the end of the OEM PC CableCARD requirement and although $400 is not the cheapest way to get a DVR, it is one of the only ways to record four HD premium channels at once.
How to tweak ShowAnalyzer to 100 percent commercial detection accuracy
If you you've ever used any automatic commercial skipping technology you know that it isn't 100 percent accurate. We remember our old ReplayTV 4080 had a button on the remote just to disable the feature when it incorrectly identified part of our favorite show as a commercial. You'd hit it and then rewind, so while nothing was lost, some are so annoyed that they'd just assume skip them the old fashioned way. Well unlike the ReplayTV, when you use ShowAnalyzer to detect commercials on your HTPC, you can tweak your settings to 100% accuracy. Until recently this wasn't actually possible because while ShowAnalyzer has been tweakable for a while, one set of settings would fix one show, and make another worse. Well in the latest beta you can set rules that allows you to tweak the settings per channel or even per show. So while there is nothing automatic about gaining 100 percent accuracy, it is actually kind of fun to try. You can even share your specific settings with others, you know, to show everyone how smart you are.
Big Screen EPG gets a Windows 7 update
Here in the US we take for granted the free guide data that Microsoft provides for Windows 7 Media Center users, but it isn't like that in every country of the world. Nope, in many regions of the world there is no EPG data at all and any DVR without guide data is basically a VCR. Luckily 3rd parties have filled the void and the most renown has finally starting distributing Windows 7 compatible binaries. But unlike some other great 3rd party plug-ins, Big Screen EPG comes with a price, which seems pretty reasonable if it means actually being able to use Media Center. Especially when it includes so many other features like channel logos and enhanced series matching and meta-data imports. If you still aren't sold, you can try out a none expiring trial that simply has a subset of the features before dropping the full $20 for a 2 year family license.
