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Here's a great video that shows the potential of live mesh to integrate with Windows Home Server and Media Center, I for one can't wait for both of these apps to become available at least in a beta format! http://on10.net/blogs/nic/Windows-Home-Server--Live-Mesh--PDC2008/ If you're not familiar with live mesh, check out www.mesh.com to get an idea of it's capabilities and to sign up to get notified when there are more slots available in the beta.
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Looks like the Media Center SideShow gadgets are finally out of beta. Check the Windows SideShow Team Blog for all the details and the download links.
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So it's been about a month since my S1Digital Media Center arrived and I couldn't be happier with it. Like every other review I've read about their systems this thing is just rock sold! I meant to get this post written sooner but IKE had other plans for me, including no power for a week! In my last post I said I'd go into some detail into my tuner setup. The machine shipped with 2 Internal CableCard tuners, I added 2 additional external CableCard tuners and 2 HDHomeRun units, for a total of 8 tuners. This is working quite well. The HDHomeRun tuners are setup as QAM tuners, natively supported by the TV Pack upgrade, no more tricking Media Center into thinking the signal is ATSC. The TV Pack only automatically adds QAM channels that also have their station ID in the stream, scanning found 6 here in Houston. Adding the missing channels is pretty easy, I used a combination of the SiliconDust Channel list, and where I found discrepancies I fired up VLC and went to zap2it.com to identify the channel by what was currently playing. After I got all the channels I wanted added I combined them with the guide listings I already had for that channel from my CableCard tuner. Doing so eliminated the duplicate channels that I found annoying in my last setup (cablecard and hdhomerun also) where for example I would have two HD NBC's one on the CableCard tuners and one on the HDHomeRun tuners, now I have 1 HD NBC and Media Center can use any of the 8 tuners that are free to record the show. Hardware wise I've only added an LG HD DVD/Blu-ray reader via the e-Sata port by using the Addonics Zebra enclosure, I only wish the Intel e-Sata chipsets supported port multipliers so I could run more then one device off the e-Sata connection. Software/Plugin wise I'm running mControl, Total Media Theater, myTV, My Movies, and HeatWave all of which run just fine with the TV Pack. myTV has a small issue currently where after a show ends or you press stop you're left at a frozen frame of what was playing and going back to play a 2nd show crashes the app but I'm sure this will be worked out in the next beta release. Additionally I've used MC Menu Mender to create a custom strip with all my plugins on it and removed them from the other strips. Also removed the sports strip as I'm not a sports fan. I've also have 2 DMA-2100's, 1 DMA-2200 and an Xbox 360 hooked up to the system, and even with them all fired up and the machine recording all of mine and the wives shows the box doesn't break a sweat. So anyone looking for a true Media Center with official TV Pack support from an awesome OEM give S1Digital a serious look before you buy elsewhere. (if you don't want/need official tv pack support hit me up, I'm selling my old velocity micro cablecard media center.) ; ) I think since my blog is called "Mike's Digital Home" in my next post I'll start detailing everything I've got going on here from home automation to homeserver to a dedicated home theater room and how they're all integrated together.
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With the new features of the 2008 TV Pack, I couldn't resist buying a new media center from a cutting edge OEM like S1Digital who was the first to ship systems with the new update, and according to Paul I was the first to get one. I plan on writing (at least) a couple posts on this system, in this one I won't be going into any details on the new TV Pack update. This is a kind of a sticky situation, Microsoft OEM is saying it's OK for me to discuss all the new features since I've purchased a machine with it loaded but the Media Center Beta Team (I am on the beta) has asked that I not until my NDA expires on 9/3, so I've decided that I like testing Media Center and wish to remain on the beta's I'm on so I'll wait until my NDA is released before going into any details. So lets start with the system specs. Paul was great to work with and let me customize some of the components of their Platinum Edition Media Center. In addition to the default specs (which are quite good to begin with), I went with a Quad Core 9300 CPU, added 2GB of RAM for a total of 4 and got Vista Ultimate instead of Home Premium. Disk wise I went with 2 500GB drives in a Raid 0 (striped disks) for a total of 1TB. For the tuners I got 2 internal Digital Cable Tuners, I'll go into more detail on my tuner setup in a later post. I just went with the default DVDRW drive as all of our Blu-ray and HD-DVD viewing is done on standalone players in our home theater, this machine is in the living room. The system has an e-SATA port so I could easily add a SATA HD-DVD/Blu-ray combo drive later on if needed. The system took about a week and a half to get to me after I ordered it, I did the cheap ground shipping which was 4 days of that time. The system arrived in perfect condition. I hooked the system up in my office to get everything configured, the first time you boot the system it runs through the final steps of the image deployment and the Vista OOBE wizard which took about 15 minutes. I'll detail out my setup in a later post, but I've had the system in the living room replacing my Velocity Micro CineMagix Grand Theater system since Saturday and it's been solid as a rock. Look for my next post after 9/3 where I'll get into all the details of my setup and the TV Pack update.  
More unboxing pictures are available here.
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As a poster at thegreenbutton.com pointed out Dell is selling the Linksys DMA-2100 for $199 right now. But you can get it even cheaper. If your company has an employee purchase program with Dell you get an extra $50 off select network hardware right now and that does include the DMA-2100, on top of that if you pay with your Dell credit account you'll get an extra 4% off. So after taxes and shipping the unit cost me $129. If you've been waiting, I'd say now is the time to go pick one up.
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I just received an email from VidaBox about a a new product they're releasing. Before I go any further I must say that I think VidaBox is a great company and are doing great things for the Media Center community. The new product is called the PicoPC. It's a small PC running XPe (embedded XP) on solid state disks so there are no moving parts. They're marketing it as a PC for your HDTV to use to surf the net and check email. I thought that phase (webtv anyone?) was over but I guess I was wrong. Also the box is almost a grand, $929. I'm sorry guys, but I'm just not seeing the value. I hope this new area doesn't distract them from their true talent of building very nice Media Centers.
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I love stories like this. Big Apple fan who never thought they'd be running Windows ends up having their entire house powered by Media Center. Good read:
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/media_center_convert_wins_microsoft_ultimate_install_contest/
I'm a little surprised that this house won Microsoft's ultimate install contest though given that they're using Tivos for recorded TV, can't win them all I guess. Looks like the Tivo reference in the article was a mistake, thanks for clearing that up!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FUZE™ Media Systems Launches Revolutionary Whole-Home Media Solution
System Designed to Be Used by Any Family Member, Anywhere in the Home
San Jose, Calif., August 15, 2007 – FUZE™ Media Systems today emerged from stealth mode by announcing the launch of its next-generation whole-home media management solution. Founded in 2005, the company set out to address the problems associated with home media systems—disparate devices, multiple remotes, complex and confusing interfaces, unreliability, and the lack of true whole-home capability. Following a year of successful beta deployments, FUZE™ has begun selling systems through home theater installer/dealers.
FUZE™ is a complete hardware and software solution that enables all media—live or recorded TV, videos, music, pictures, and more—to be instantly enjoyed at the touch of a button, anywhere in the home.
The system delivers whole-home PVR (including HDTV) with multiple CableCARD tuners, offers built-in whole-home audio capability, and enables one-touch digital photo slideshows. The entire system operates with a single preprogrammed remote, leverages a single interface throughout the home, centrally stores all media, and is the first media management solution to offer the reliability that consumers expect from electronic entertainment products.
FUZE™ offers a unique approach to media management that is neither a control-based system nor a Media Center PC. Designed from the ground up as a whole-home media system, FUZE™ consists of all the necessary components for media storage and distribution—a primary media server, video clients, audio clients, and multiple interface options. FUZE™ delivers a controlled, managed system that does not falter due to user modifications or when operating system updates are initiated. Additionally, FUZE™ offers its own high-quality parallel gigabit network, which ensures quality of service (QoS); remote monitoring to ensure continuous operation; DRM-friendly whole-home HD video; Internet-based content; whole-home capability for all media functions; and a simple, easy-to-use interface that even novices can understand.
“From a technology standpoint, we’re delivering the industry’s most robust media management system,” said Michael D’Addio, FUZE™ Chief Executive Officer. “But, at the end of the day, what we’re really delivering is ease-of-use in an elegant design. We designed our solution with the average consumer in mind—not highly skilled technologists. Within seconds of picking up a FUZE™ remote, the average person will be able to watch and record shows throughout the home, instantly play music anywhere, or pull up a picture slideshow of their favorite memories. In this way, our system will help to sell itself.”
FUZE™ Founder, President, and CTO Richard Fenwick (formerly VP of R&D/Engineering at OnCommand Video) expressed his excitement about his company’s product launch: “In addition to designing the industry’s most powerful media management solution, we’ve delivered the simplest system available. This system will revolutionize home entertainment because it is the only system that delivers easy-to-use, true whole-home capability—including HDTV.”
The company noted that it will publicly exhibit its system at CEDIA in September at booth 3605.
About FUZE™ Media Systems
Founded by former OnCommand Video executives, FUZE™ Media Systems shatters conventional notions about home entertainment. FUZE™ is the first media-driven whole-home entertainment solution. Built from the ground-up to manage media (not a control or MCE system), FUZE™ delivers a complete system that stores, manages, organizes, and distributes all of your digital media—to any part of the home. Live TV, recorded TV, movies, videos, music, digital photos, and more are all stored and managed centrally. Most importantly, media is no longer tied to a particular device or a particular location in the home. Regardless of where a user records a show or video (HD included)—or where music or photos were originally stored—any TV or speaker in the home can easily access any media at the touch of a button. To learn more about FUZE™, visit www.fuzeav.com, email info@fuzeav.com, or call 408.363.8090.
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Just wanted to put up a quick post, yes I'm still alive. My son was born about a month ago so I've not had much time for blogging or Media Center in general. Before he was born my Velocity Micro CableCard system came in so I'm planning a post on my experiences with it over the last 6 weeks or so, so look for that in the not so distant future.
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This is the first time I wish I didn't have a Prius with (almost) all of this built in (and also non-replaceable) as I would be all over this. http://www.hipepc.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=102 Meet Driv-N: The future of automotive connectivity and entertainment
Brings all of the functionality of a high powered PC where it's never been before - your car. Watch DVD movies, listen to CDs, MP3s, enjoy XM online satellite radio, Internet Radio and browse the web, while remaining connected to to your home or office PC in ways you've never imagined. Seamlessly access all of your home media files and documents without the clumsiness and risk of balancing a notebook on the passenger seat. Best of all, Driv-N can be controlled entirely by voice! Simply speak the song/movie title, artist, album or genre and Driv-N will play your selection, whether it's on your car PC, home PC or notebook. Like a traditional car amplifier, Driv-N's rugged extruded aluminum chassis may be installed under the seat or in the trunk, with a plethora of touchscreen options ranging from a motorized in-dash solution with AM/FM radio that slides down to reveal a DVD-ROM drive, to roof mounted or headrest mounted solutions that can either compliment or replace an existing car stereo or DVD Player. Driv-N's smart car power supply survives engine cranks and shuts your PC down properly when you turn your vehicle off, keeping your data safe. 
Mobile Internet Browsing - Surf the web from your car
Fancy yourself a Wardriver? Browse the Internet at high speed from thousands of hot spots or through your mobile phone provider's high speed connection. Look up movie times, restaurant guides and check your email without exiting your vehicle. Transfer over your scheduled appointments, favorites, contacts, email and have them read aloud to you while you're driving, courtesy of One Voice's advanced speech recognition engine, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road.  Absolute Media Playback - CD, DVD, MP3, MPG and more
If your home PC can play it, Driv-N can play it too; without the file type or encoding limitations found in standard head units. Best of all, there's no files to transfer. Driv-N can play back all standard CDs, DVD movies, Internet video or you can remotely network with your home PC for unlimited access to all of the music in your shared media folders.
 Media Center Communicator Speech Recognition by One Voice Technologies: Just say it to play it
Hands free operation has never been easier! Simply speak the name of the song, artist, album, genre or movie title you want to play and Media Center Communicator will play it instantly.
And unlike most voice recognition packages, Media Center Communicator requires no voice training and can even understand most common accents with outstanding clarity. With the powerful networking capabilities in Windows Vista, Media Center Communicator can play all of the video and audio files on your home computers or Xbox 360 as well.  AM/FM radio, Internet Radio and XM Satellite Radio
Expand your music options like never before with full access to familiar AM and FM radio stations, optional 170+ XM Satellite Radio stations and hundreds more Internet radio stations from around the world. Driv-N is also compatible with all external XM Radio FM Modulators.
Driv-N features an integrated reverse switch compatible with all composite rearview CCD Cameras that activates when you're backing up for provides additional safety, day or night. OBD II In-Vehicle diagnostics
Ever wonder what the 'check engine light' means? Driv-N's optional OBD II Vehicle Diagnostics will tell you and also allow you to clear codes without a trip to the mechanic. OBD II diagnostics also allow you to monitor vehicle speed, engine rpm, temperature, performance, sensors and more via real time onscreen graphs.
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Now this is cool, but I wish it was available to users of other media centers. NIVEUS MEDIA CENTERS NOW SHIPPING WITH HD MEDIA STORE, FEATURING MUSICGIANTS’ HD MUSIC MusicGiants and Niveus Media become the first to deliver CD lossless quality and multi-channel music downloads directly into the Media Center experience. Milpitas, CA – April 11, 2007 – Niveus Media, Inc. the award-winning manufacturer of hardware and software digital media entertainment solutions, and MusicGiants™, the leader in HD music downloads, are pleased to announce the availability of high definition 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround sound music downloadable on Niveus’ 2007 Windows Vista-based media centers! Niveus’ new HD Media Store provides an intuitive media center interface to access MusicGiants’ extensive network of digital downloads from major and independent labels. Niveus’ exclusively designed media store is the first high definition media portal that enables downloads and purchases through Windows Media Center via MusicGiants. The HD Media Store enables customers to easily browse, purchase, and download music from MusicGiants in the Windows Media Audio Lossless (WMA) format store, and seamlessly access this content from within the Windows Media Center ‘Music’ menu, providing a single location for one’s entire music collection. “Niveus is excited to bring our dealers and customers into the world of HD Media downloads,” states Tim Cutting, CEO of Niveus Media. “By working closely with MusicGiants, Niveus is the first to launch an integrated music shopping experience that delivers the best in high quality music downloads from the MusicGiants catalog.” Purchasing uncompromised HD music has never been easier. Niveus’ 2007 Vista-based media servers, including the Summit Series, Rainier and Denali Editions, as well as the Pro Series, n7 and n9, are now shipping [and are a great option for those dealers and custom integrators looking to fill the void from HP’s recent decision to discontinue development of its Media Center Edition (MCE)-based Digital Entertainment Center (DEC)] and incorporate the live HD Media Store software application. MusicGiants, which launched in 2005, is the only music download service to offer high-definition, digital recordings from the top music companies such as EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Their downloads deliver full resolution music at up to 1100 kbps for “true CD quality” sound. This WMA format boasts up to four times the sound quality of any other download service, including those expected to be available in May 2007 from EMI through Apple. MusicGiants also offers Super HD downloads (as in re-mastered DVD Audio or SACDs available in either 5.1 surround sound or 2.0 stereo) which play at sample rates up to 11,000 kbps. “We’re pleased to have Niveus be our first hardware partner to deliver MusicGiants’ integrated premium HD entertainment to their media centers,” said Scott Bahneman, CEO of MusicGiants. “The combination of Niveus and the Vista platform now allows consumers to purchase their entertainment at the highest quality available for home use and also transcode it down for all of their portable devices.” Niveus customers with Windows XP-based media centers can visit the website for the latest product and software updates, product information, and software downloads, including the MusicGiants portal. Niveus’ 2007 media centers are amongst the first Windows Vista Ultimate-based Media Center systems to incorporate Intel’s Viiv™ technology including Core 2 Duo processors, HD DVD and CableCARD compatibility for premium HD television viewing and recording. For more information on Niveus Media, please visit www.niveusmedia.com.
For more information on MusicGiants, please visit www.musicgiants.com. Press Contact: Caster Communications, Inc. at 401.792.7080
Katie Short - kshort@castercomm.com
Kimberly Lancaster - klancaster@castercomm.com
For digital images log on to www.castercomm.com Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ### http://www.niveusmedia.com/collateral/PR041107_HDMediaStore_NowShipping.htm
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You can read the full review here. There are a couple things I'd like to point out about it though. The first, listed as a con, is "CableCARD incompatible with satellite TV" I'm not sure what to even say about that other than duh! The next thing that caught my eye is the price they're quoting, $3699. While you can certainly customize the system to get to that price you can also get it for $2649 with dual digital cable tuners. They reviewed the system using Verizon's FiOS, which I think is great. I know if FiOS service was available in Houston I'd switch over to it, so I'm glad Verizon is supporting CableCard customers. I'm not sure how this happened or if it really did, but they claim that what they recorded using the digital cable tuners with CableCards inserted wasn't copy protected. This is technically impossible. Anything recorded with a digital cable tuner with a CableCard inserted will only be playable on the machine that recorded it, and only in Media Center. I'm not sure how they came to the conclusion the shows weren't protected but I'm going to bet that they didn't try playing them back on another system, or even in WMP on the same system.
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