WindowsMediaCenter
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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%
Video: Windows Media Center 7 with touch interface
Although many of the devout Media Center fans were disappointed with the the Microsoft keynote, Windows Media Center 7 most definitely raises the bar for DVR software. The new guide is really cool and also addresses some of the bigger pain points for MC users. Then, to really dazzle your friends Microsoft has added a touch interface whitch is not only really really cool to play with, it will also be very useful for those with touch screen computers in locations like a kitchen.
Video: Cyberlink's native Media Center Blu-ray player
At this point most aren't happy with Microsoft's progress of adding new features to Windows Media Center, but lucky for Blu-ray fans there are other companies willing to pick up the slack. The first to create Blu-ray software that tried to focus on the Media Center crowd was ArcSoft with its TotalMedia Theater, but although it was better than anything else out there, it is far from seamless. Competition is good and at Microsoft's booth we got to see a demo of the new Cyberlink PowerDVD Media Center player. It was far and away more seamless than the older PowerDVD and although it was very Media Center like, it still wasn't the same -- the most obvious difference is the scrub bar, which looks nothing like the Media Center scrub bar. This is an early version and is far from snappy. You can see in the video there are some pretty long delays when loading the disc, but to be fair it was tested on a netbook. Ultimately we liked it more than TotalMedia Theater, but we still long for native Blu-ray playback.
Ceton Corp announces multi-stream CableCARD tuner for Windows Media Center
Watch out ATI, because you're exclusivity on digital cable tuners for Windows Media Center is about to run up. You see Ceton Corp announced that during 2009 their multi-channel digital cable tuner will ship, and for the first time ever a single device will somehow allow you to record up to six channels at once. We're not exactly sure how this is going to work, and we're kinda curious to know if a single PCI card will be able to do this all on its own, but regardless, competition is good. Of course the bad news is that you still can't build your own Windows Media Center and get this to work, but you knew that already didn't you?[Via Chris Lanier]
Toshiba integrating Extenders for Windows Media Center in new A/V products
Given that Toshiba still refuses to recognize and support Blu-ray, at least it's warming to streaming. Toshiba has quietly announced today that some of its future A/V products will have Extenders for Windows Media Center integrated in; additionally, certain items will also tap into Intel / Yahoo!'s widget channel. We're told that this functionality (dubbed Network Player) will eventually find its way into REGZA HDTVs and a still mysterious standalone player, but you won't see either until the second half of this year. Bummer. Full release is after the break.
Samsung MediaLive Digital Media Adapter review
One of the reasons why Microsoft's Media Center is so attractive is because of the extender functionality. It allows you to enjoy just about all the same content in every room of your house, without the need to buy more than one HTPC. But with variety sometimes brings hard choices, so this motivated us to start a quest to find the best Media Center Extender. While the Xbox 360 is the obvious choice for most, it isn't the best solution for everyone. So we started out by comparing it to every extender out there. But since our initial shoot out, a few more Extenders have made their way to market, and the most recent addition is the Samsung MediaLive Media Adapter. At first glance it seems that this is the perfect solution for anyone with a Samsung TV, and while the tight integration, great price, and diminutive size is attractive, you'll have to click though to find out why we're still on the hunt for the perfect Windows Media Center Extender. %Gallery-38727%
Windows 7 includes a driver for the DirecTV HDCP-20 USB tuner
We all have our hopes up that the elusive DirecTV HDPC-20 dual HD USB tuner for Windows Media Center will have support in Windows 7, but after three years of it being vaporware, we have our doubts. Things are looking up however as our friend Ed Bott found the little gem pictured above in the pre-beta version of Windows 7. This is easily convincing enough to make us confident that by next Christmas, we'll be able to finally enjoy H.264 encoded HD from DirecTV on Windows Media Center. And no, we don't expect this to be OEM only like ATI CableCARD tuners and if we were to guess, we'd say it'd cost about $200, but that's all speculation.
Windows 7 to natively support DivX and transcoding?
Currently getting 3rd party codecs like DivX and Xvid working within Windows Media Center has worked well enough with 3rd party solutions, but the next best thing is native support. We'd already gotten the official word that H.264 support was included in Windows 7, but a tipster has lead us to believe that the pre-beta version of Windows 7 also includes native support for DivX. In addition, MKV is also expected to be supported; but that isn't the best part. Because although we've always been able to add these codecs to Media Center anyways, the real crux has been when you try to watch the very same content on an extender -- like the Xbox 360. So in an attempt to bring the entire Media Center experience to the extenders it appears Microsoft has added native transcoding. So now if Media Center can play the file, it can also convert it on the fly to a format that your extender supports. Of course like all betas, there's no guarantee these features will make it into the final build, but we sure hope they do.
Windows Media Center Gadgets for SideShow finally released
This release may have been a bit more important had it been done back when SideShow had a chance of being viable, but now that the technology is all but forgotten, we aren't too sure that many of you will be able to take advantage. At any rate, those still looking for more ways to utilize those SideShow-enabled wares can download the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow application today, which is conveniently available in both 32- and 64-bit versions. Media Center users can tap into a SideShow-enabled remote, for example, to browse the TV program guide (as well as schedule recordings and the like), sift through your playlists, browse pictures / play slideshows and get a glimpse of what's currently playing in Media Center. Hit the read link and give it a go -- if any of you out there even have the hardware to take advantage.[Via On10, thanks Ian]
Microsoft's PBDA platform makes Big Content happy, should make TV tuning easier
What's this? A little standardization in the TV realm? Announced today at IBC2008, Microsoft has launched its Protected Broadcast Driver Architecture (PBDA), a new worldwide platform that was made possible by the recent release of Windows Media Center TV Pack. In short, this system enables the "PC-TV hardware ecosystem to integrate virtually any free or premium TV service into Windows Media Center," which keeps content guardians ultra-stoked while giving consumers more choice when it comes to TV tuning. Essentially, PBDA gives OEMs and tuner-makers the ability to develop and ship wares for WMC "regardless of geographic location or television standard." The initiative is being backed by some serious players, too -- Hauppauge, AVerMedia, NEC, and NXP just to name a few -- and a couple have already shipped PBDA-based solutions overseas. Hit the read link for more... if you dare.
cyberManor grabs the 2008 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install crown
Wondering what kind of multiple CableCard-equipped machinations were necessary to be dubbed this year's Windows Media Center Ultimate Install? Check out cyberManor's winning entry, with Niveus n9 media server, Niveus Ice Vault full of DVDs, plus Niveus EDGE and Xbox 360 media extenders deployed throughout the house. Not content to stop there, Life|Ware total home control was included, tying in distributed audio and other home automation features with the overall Media Center implementation. cyberManor beat out Wireless Home and Simple Digital Home, check out a few more pics of the winning install beyond the read link.
Microsoft is working on adding SDV support to Media Center
Some things take way longer than they should, and Microsoft making an announcement about its intent to add support for the tuning adapter, for all those SDV hating Windows Media Center Digital Cable Tuner users, is most definitely in that category. While we've been following this switched digital video problem for over a year now, most of the solutions we've seen have been aimed at TiVo owners, meanwhile Microsoft has been quiet. A few months ago we contacted CableLabs and AMD and while we received some promising responses, it's still just all talk. Some in the Media Center community -- yeah that's right, I'm talking about you Chris -- think the specs would have to be changed to even make it possible, but we don't see why it would be any more complicated than using the PC as a bridge with a little UPNP magic mixed it to bring it all together. Regardless of how it will work though, while we're glad MS said something, but the mystical response posted at The Green Button didn't give us much confidence that the solution is right around the corner.[Via Chris Lanier's Blog]
HP MediaSmart Connect Review
In our recent roundup of Vista Media Center Extenders we were very disappointed that HP MediaSmart connect wasn't available in time to go head to head with the rest. Now that the MediaSmart Connect is in hand, we were anxious to try it out and see how it compares and we have to say that with a MSRP of $350 and a street price at just under $300, we had pretty high expectations. Although there is no doubt that it has the nicest exterior and remote of any extender available, we're not sure if those two merits alone help it to live up to its premium price.%Gallery-30201%
Behind the scenes with the Windows Media Center dev team
Windows Media Center fan and photographer Thomas Hawk recently got to visit the people behind the platform, returning with pics of the people who put the product together and a few of the tools used to make it happen. Captured above is the team's listening room (also used by other AV teams working on Windows Media Player, codecs, etc.), unfortunately there aren't any snaps of future upgrades and projects from the team, but if you use it, be sure to hit the read link and find out a bit more about where and who it comes from.
Windows Media Center SideShow Gadget released in beta
We'll admit that SideShow hasn't acquired nearly the fanfare we bet Microsoft figured it would, but those still interested in what it can do will likely be elated to find that the long-awaited Windows Media Center SideShow Gadget is finally available. Released last week in beta form, said download can be sucked down as we speak and used within Vista Media Center to change live TV channels, schedule recordings, start / stop playback of clips and browse your photo / music files to boot. Anyone spent any serious time with it over the holiday (in the US, anyway) weekend?[Via Chris Lanier's Blog, thanks Josh]
Next Vista Media Center leaked -- no DirecTV HD till 2010?
Engadget HD has gotten the latest on the highly anticipated update for Vista Media Center and it doesn't look good. The first release candidate made it into testers hands recently and they weren't happy to see that the most anticipated features -- support for a DirecTV HD tuner and native H.264 support -- got pushed to Windows 7. So head over to Engadget HD for more details (screen shots included).
HDPC-20 to be used in DirecTV Media Center beta test
Trust us, you all aren't the only ones wondering what the status is on DirecTV's HDPC-20 PC tuner. After assuming that it was closer to (beta) release than ever after a mysterious signup made the rounds late last month, along comes the confirmation we've been yearning for. Numerous readers have received hardware agreements as part of the DirecTV Media Center Beta test, and sure enough, it very plainly states that the HDPC-20 is the item that will be tested. Hailed as a "dual satellite DirecTV tuner (black case) including two BBC modules connectors, a DC power cable and a USB cable," those lucky enough to get in on the action may also receive a Media Center Remote, IR receiver and TV tuner card. And we all know what happens after beta testing is over, right?
Did you get invited to beta test DirecTV's Media Center tuner?
While the rest of us wait for the mythical DirecTV Windows Media Center tuner, some are apparently lucky enough to be a part of the beta program to test the HDPC-20. Of course Microsoft has yet to even confirm that such a device exists, so there's always the chance that this is a fantastic photoshop job, but we have no reason not to believe it. The one thing we are upset about is the fact that we haven't been invited, it's not like we have a problem keeping a secret, seriously. [Thanks, Aaron]
Microsoft kicks off 2008 Ultimate Install contest
In a move just short of sending Xzibit over with a copy of Windows Media Center, Microsoft is encouraging customer installers to show just how much they can do and how well they can integrate media center into a home theater setup. Sure, anyone can run a few wires here and there, or bring a boxed solution to the table, but we get the feeling they're looking for some extra flash. In return, the winning company gets a trip for one to CEDIA 2008, trip for two to Microsoft HQ in Redmond, a photo shoot of the winning install and a "technology pack" including an Xbox 360 Elite, games, Zune and AV cables. Head over to the site to check out the rules before the deadline hits August 1, and don't be too shy to slide us pics of your potentially Xbox-winning setup, we'd like to see what you play CoD4 on.
DirecTV's PC tuner (HDPC-20) is real!
We're not sure where Earl from DBSTalk got these scans, but we're so excited to get some official confirmation that this device exists, that we really don't care. The HDPC-20 is a dual tuner device that connects via USB to your PC and allows you to record and watch DirecTV programming on your computer -- and curiously includes an Ethernet port. It supports Vista Media center, but also appears to work with the regular flavor of Windows. What might be the best news is that from what we have here, there is no indication that it will have a OEM requirement like its cable equivalent. There isn't any word on price or availability, but after two years of waiting, we'll find a way to hold on for a little while longer till this thing hits the streets. Picture of the rear and more details after the jump.
