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Media Center

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cedia 2008

Lifeware's LMS-810 Media Center PC Can Drive Ten TVs at Once

See these 10 TVs? They're all being driven by the same, single Media Center PC. Taking what they came with last year and doubling it, Lifeware has crammed eight CableCARD tuners (two on board and six more in the external Lifetuner box on top) into a dual Intel Quad Core, 12TB RAID 5 box that can stream out to ten Media Extenders (here, Xbox 360s driving Samsung LCDs). The box can record from all eight of its HD streams while streaming to all 10 Extenders at once, so if you've been wondering what to do with your home's 8 spare digital cable feeds, now you know. No price yet for a pre-Christmas release, but last year's model with half as many CableCARDs was $15k. More »

5:42 PM on Thu Sep 4 2008
By John Mahoney
3,905 views, 10 comments

Latest by UofITom: that's a lot of XBox more »

olympics

Windows Media Center Offers "Olympics on the Go"

If you and your DVR are having trouble keeping up with all of the Olympics coverage, Microsoft is offering Media Center users the opportunity to catch up with on-demand content. All you need to do is launch Windows Media Center on a PC or laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate and scroll down to Online Media. There you will find a link to activate “NBC Olympics On The Go." (Can also be activated via the NBC site). The content is said to be "up-to-HD quality," whatever that means, so you should get a decent look at your favorite events. [Olympics on the Go]

5:39 PM on Fri Aug 8 2008
By Sean Fallon
10,160 views, 27 comments

Latest by GeekyNerdGuy: Worked great and looked great on my machine and my Xbox 360 Media Center Extender. What I couldn't stand was more »

apple tv

aTV Media Center Hack for Apple TV is Back, Now With GUI Installer and Support For USB Drives

After disappearing for a while due to a fair use scuff-up, the aTV software that helps turn the Apple TV into the media center it should have been is now back and freshly updated. Big new features are a GUI installer for loading the hack onto a USB stick, eliminating the messy command line work that used to be required, and support for external USB devices for connecting a bigger hard drive or NAS for more storage, on top of everything else this nifty unofficial upgrade does for your Apple TV. More »

Feature

5:00 PM on Fri Jul 25 2008
By John Mahoney
9,488 views, 15 comments

Latest by twilight-arc: Will this work on a Mac? Asking, because I am tempted to use an a Mac mini. more »

centerstage

OS X Media Application CenterStage Merges With Plex

CenterStage, the great Media Center-like UI for OS X, has merged with the Plex project, an alternative interface in hopes of creating a de facto product for any Mac user looking for more functionality that Apple TV currently affords. The application can play back many formats the Apple TV, and even iTunes, can't, like XviD, AVI, Video_TS, and others, straight through your HDTV. It also has additional features like streaming Internet radio and built-in game emulators. The excellent Plex UI will mix with what CenterStage already has built, the end result being a universal application for Mac-centric Media Centers that's easy to use. Check out the new UI demo and screen shots after the jump. [CenterStage] More »

Feature

9:30 PM on Fri Jul 18 2008
By Matt Hickey
13,903 views, 12 comments

Latest by drgonzo2k2: Yeah, but does it group compilations when browsing? more »

media center

Windows Media Center Update Might Get Partner Later In the Year

Windows Media Center still isn't what Microsoft wants it to be, but it has its fans, and its getting an update this month that they've been waiting for. Word is coming down, though, that this update isn't the one the users are lusting after, the one with H.264 and DirectTV tuner support. Instead it's a minor upgrade that adds things like international support. But fret not, users, as now it seems like there's another rumor flying around about another update later in the year which will add many requested features. Patience, my fellow home theater nerds, we'll get our updates. [EngadgetHD]

9:00 PM on Tue Jul 8 2008
By Matt Hickey
4,931 views, 16 comments

Latest by robinandtami: @racermd: I've been waiting for that for a long time. The sooner the better. I know it went into beta more »

video

OSXBMC Called "Plex" (And Looking Hotter Than Ever)

An independent Mac fork of XBMC (formerly Xbox Media Center)—a lauded cross-platform solution for streaming media—has just gotten a neat new name: "Plex." (That's short for "cineplex.") But we know how it is. You use Front Row and think it's great. Before you go back into your Apple shell, check out this Aeon skin for Plex (it also works for all other XBMC versions). Currently in alpha release, it features a fluid wallpaper effect á la iPod coupled with the simplicity of Delicious Library's shelf organization. Our own Brian Lam said to me, "I've never seen a Media Center UI look so nice." I have to agree. (Well, I actually do agree. But I think that I have to agree, too.) Here's a massive gallery of shots from Plex running Aeon: More »

2:59 PM on Mon Jul 7 2008
By Mark Wilson
22,435 views, 37 comments

Latest by N/A: XBMC for all, Aeon for All. more »

pod

Ovei is $100,000 Isolation Chamber for Gadgety Privacy

Sometimes you just want to shut the world out and tackle the next level of your fave game, don't you? The Ovei isolation pod, launched this week in the UK, will let you do just that. For the sum of $100,000. And before you fall about laughing, that cash will get you a unique capsule, designed by Lee McCormack and made by Mclaren Applied Technologies (the Formula 1 guys, yes). It's custom-built exactly how you want: media center, gaming rig, interior and exterior...the sort of bespoke stuff you'd expect for 100 grand. The rest of us will have to settle for the traditional laptop-under the duvet, earphones jammed-in isolation when the house is too noisy. [PocketLint via Born Rich]

6:01 AM on Wed Jun 25 2008
By Kit Eaton
5,261 views, 46 comments

Latest by VioletArrows: A computer (or other electrical devices). Shut up with you. In a cramped plastic and leather compartment. With ONE ventilation more »

remote

Media Center Remote Control Gets Elegant: Amex RM-MP1

Amex's new RM-MP1 Media remote is designed to work with your Windows Media Center system and also to run your presentations in a business setting...and it's rather elegant, compared to some of the offerings out there. That simple design conceals a touchpad mouse, laser pointer, multimedia controls and it functions via a wireless USB dongle. It's just 4 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches in size, and comes in black or white. No info on pricing or availability yet. [Akihabaranews]

4:43 AM on Fri May 23 2008
By Kit Eaton
2,963 views, 12 comments

Latest by macserv: That simple design conceals a touchpad mouse, laser pointer, multimedia controls and it functions via a wireless USB dongle. If by more »

nbc

Microsoft Will Totally Bork Your Media Center DVR If NBC (or Anyone) Asks It To

Last week, courtesy of NBC, people with a Windows Media Center DVR setup got a rude reminder that broadcasters can flip a switch (called a broadcast flag) to tell DVRs not to record a show. Here's the thing: Honoring the flag is actually optional for software and hardware makers, after courts smacked down the FCC proposal to make them mandatory. But Microsoft has confirmed that they do whatever the broadcaster tells them, again, even though they don't have to. NBC hasn't confirmed yet whether or not the American Gladiators flag was intentional, but their history doesn't give me a fuzzy feeling. Update: NBC says it was an accident. More »

11:40 AM on Mon May 19 2008
By matt buchanan
3,580 views, 23 comments

Latest by Xenocide: My media center is now loosing all it's DRM randomly and will not let me watch or record anything. This more »

ipod docks

Geneva Lab's Shiny New Media Center Has iPod Dock, Unsurprisingly

The guys over at Apartment Therapy Unplugged spotted a pretty sweet media center that'll be coming soon to a living room near you. Made by Geneva Lab, a company known for its high-end iPod speaker docks, the new cabinet system includes four midrange 5.5-inch speakers, two tweeters, a 12-inch subwoofer, a cabinet to hold A/V components, and (of course) a dock for everybody's favorite MP3 player. It's expected to hit stores in late Fall 2008, and will cost $3,500. More pics after the jump. More »

10:30 PM on Sun May 18 2008
By Elaine Chow
3,038 views, 25 comments

Latest by rg: Monday: I plop down $3500 for a TV stand with an iPod adapter. Tuesday: Apple's big news, complete redesign of the more »

media center

Media Center's Do Not Record Broadcast Flag Is Still Alive

Recently, some Windows Media Center owners were blocked from recording American Gladiators and Medium because of an incorrectly set broadcast flag from NBC. What's the deal here? The broadcasters (NBC, ABC, HBO) can turn on a flag in their data stream that tells whatever DVR machine on your end that it's NOT alright to record a show, protecting Pay-Per-View or premium channel content from being archived. This has actually been around for years. More »

3:00 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Jason Chen
8,614 views, 51 comments

Latest by theDagda: The Broadcast Flag is not supposed to work with Free to Air TV, since the FCC's mandate on implementing it more »

media center

Amex Digital's iMON HD Mobile Media Center Also Controls Your PC

Amex Digital's iMON HD seems a pretty unusual beast: it's a "portable media center" that acts as an IR receiver to control your PC, and also has a built-in VFD screen. This can display an equalizer or streams of useful info, like weather reports, news, your email and so on— a little like a low-graphics Chumby perhaps? There's not much more info than this, so we can tell you it supports Windows Vista Media center, it'll come in black and white colors and has a remote controller, and that's about it. [Akihabaranews]

7:58 AM on Thu May 15 2008
By Kit Eaton
1,685 views, 4 comments

Latest by poedgirl: I've got the exact same thing embedded into the front of my HTPC, even has the same remote. It's fairly more »

watching netflix on xbox 360

Watch Netflix Downloads On Your Xbox 360

By installing the vmcNetflix plug-in to a Vista Premium Media Center computer, you can watch streamed Netflix content on an Xbox 360. It's buggy, but it's a lot better than watching Netflix on a laptop screen. (Providing you have Netflix, an Xbox 360 and a Vista Media Center.) Maybe Netflix should open up streaming to lots of devices, not just windows PCs as of today. I know Mac support is coming, but combining wide support for their online services with disc delivery, it could be a pretty sweet hybrid of the old and new. Video demo post jump. [vmcNetflix via Hacking Netflix and Thomas Hawk, thanks Mike] More »

6:19 PM on Fri May 9 2008
By Brian Lam
17,104 views, 23 comments

Latest by Grace: I'm just as annoyed about Microsoft making a defective product (360). Ours has died twice and we know a lot more »

bbc iplayer

Vista Media Center Supporting BBC iPlayer (Unofficially)

For those living in the UK, the BBC iPlayer is a pretty fantastic VOD service with one drawback: you have to watch shows in-browser. Now one philanthropist coder has written a Vista Media Center interface for the iPlayer. So you can view BBC content on your TV without the PS3 and Wii workarounds, or, at the very least, break free of your browser's annoying viewing restrictions. It's a free download, so all you Doctor Who fanatics should have plenty of cash left over for living-room-destroying merchandise. [Milliesoft via eHomeUpgrade]

3:30 PM on Fri May 9 2008
By Mark Wilson
4,654 views, 9 comments

Latest by vertigo: @RetepNamenots: Dood[www.urbandictionary.com] more »

HP MediaSmart SL4278N and SL4778N Get Media Extender Update If you own an HP MediaSmart television, you can now download a firmware update that brings the Media Center support you've been waiting for. Go for, rejoice, etc.

4 comments

gadgets

EZ Commander Media Center Remote Features Trackball, 1980s Beige Color Scheme

Ignoring the retro styling of this EZ Commander remote, it's got one remarkable feature that makes the whole five-buck-design worthwhile: a trackball. Even though trackballs went out of style for most computer users (some die hards still swear by them) they make plenty of sense to use with a remote, so you can mouse around the screen without having to actually use a mouse. It's too bad that it costs $80, which is a good $50 more than standard Media Center remotes go for these days. [Think Geek via Gadgettastic via DVice]

3:20 PM on Thu Mar 27 2008
By Jason Chen
2,321 views, 20 comments

Latest by davebach: This will match my Atari 65XE nicely. more »

media center

Windows Media Center Universal Remote IR Quirks Fixed

Windows Media Center users who use universal remotes—not the default Microsoft IR remotes—have run into a quirk where only some button presses register. Here's the deal: media center receivers expect to see an alternating IR code for functions like channel changing or volume switches in order to eliminate IR "bounce," which is apparently caused by IR signals bouncing off stuff and hitting the receiver twice. In order to turn this off and fix the problem for universal remotes that don't support the alternating IR codes, just change a registry entry and you're done. Hit up CEPro for more details. [CEPro]

5:15 PM on Thu Mar 13 2008
By Jason Chen
4,099 views, 7 comments

Latest by Xenocide: @jdame95: Ditto, my 880 has 0 issues with my media center. more »

tv frame

Show Off Your TV, Audio-Video Gear's Beauty: Frame it

With flat-screen TVs becoming more elegant and less "boring black box," perhaps we're ready for the kind of Pimp My Lounge styling that Vismara Design's Media Center frames offer. Turning your TV and audio-video system into a sort of giant art installation-cum-digital picture frame, they're available now in baroque or art deco styles, in silver and gold. There's even a matching DVD shelf available. Awesome, I say. Now I just have to buy a TV worthy of framing. And a bigger apartment. And probably win the lottery to pay for it, though we don't know exactly how much these cost. [Trendir]

1:27 PM on Wed Mar 12 2008
By Kit Eaton
3,872 views, 28 comments

Latest by CapitalC: @N@tedog: Framing your display is one thing, framing your entire home theatre - HORRID. This is an abomination of design. more »

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