Ian Dixon

This week on the show I have Dustin Anderson from Vision Audio winners of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Installer competition. Vision Audio installed a fantastic solution at a home in Texas with over 30 audio zone and 13 displays. Dustin will be explaining why they selected Windows Media Center and how talks about the components used in the installation.I catch up on email and look at the news items making the blogs.

[mp3]http://media.libsyn.com/media/iandixon/TDL_MediaCenter_20091112_230.mp3[/mp3]

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Listen to TDL Mobile, the show all about the mobile lifestyle!
Links from this weeks show

• ATI Forum
• Super-simple, no config commercial removal in Windows 7
• ATI cards "struggling" with HD channels in Windows 7 Media Center
• Digital Cable Advisor Tool has been released
• Zune HD 4.3 Firmware details
• New games for Zune HD
• BBC’s DRM Plan blocked
• Windows 7 Ultimate Installer Content Winner

Music by Ian Dixon

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

This week Window author and Windows Home Server MVP Andrew Edney joins me to give us an update on the Windows Home Server world including the latest hardware from HP and Lenovo and an update on Power Pack 3. Plus Andrew talks about Windows 7 and his new Windows 7 book!

I have a roundup of the weeks news and an update on my home Media Center project

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Listen to TDL Mobile, the show all about the mobile lifestyle!

Links from this weeks show:

• Windows Media Center Adds Internet TV Functionality in Window 7
• Windows Media Center update for Windows 7 that addresses issues with ISDB broadcasts
• My Movies 3 Released
• Video: Using a Small Form Factor PC as a Media Center System
• How to automatically skip commercials in Windows 7 Media Center
• Another Commercial Skipping guide and now even with CableCard!
• Watching TV without a Tuner
• usingwindowshomeserver.com

Music by Ian Dixon

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

This week is the launch of Windows 7 and a big thanks to everybody that sent in their favourite features. I take a few moments to discus them and my own favourites on the show and  I also have an interview with Vidabox’s Steven Chung, Vidabox make high end system for the custom market and now offer components for the enthusiast market and I talk to Steven about their Windows Home Server solution, touch screens and custom cases.

As ever I have email and a roundup of the weeks news

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Listen to TDL Mobile, the show all about the mobile lifestyle!

Links from this weeks show:

• What is your favourite Windows 7 feature?
• PowerPlaylist 2 for Windows Media Center in Windows 7 Now Available
• UPnP Forum Celebrates 10th Anniversary
• Video of Xbox 1080p Streaming
• Video: Vidabox Remote Keyboard Unboxing
• Sky Player for Windows Media Center Announced
• Microsoft Simplifies the PC with Windows 7
• Video of Sky’s new Windows Media Center Addin for Windows 7
• Vidabox.com

Music by Ian Dixon

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

This week on the show I am talking to Tim Curtis about SinCast, Sincast is a way of disturbing content around the home for synchronised multi-zone audio and video (more details here). I also have a round up of the weeks news.

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Listen to TDL Mobile, the show all about the mobile lifestyle!

Links from this weeks show:

• Microsoft Digital Cable Firmware FAQ
• Windows Mobile 6.5 launches with little fanfare
• Microsoft thinking of making Zune services available to Apple users
• MVP Again and changes to TDL
• SinCast Multi-zone streaming explained

Music by Ian Dixon

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

As promised last week here is the interview I recorded with Engadget HD’s Ben Drawbaugh talking about his CEDIA experiences and looking back at how well he did with his predictions, some came off and some didn’t! The main news seems to be around CableCARD and Ben explains what this means to Media Center enthusiasts. I have a round up of the weeks news, email and my first impressions of the new Zune HD

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Listen to TDL Mobile, the show all about the mobile lifestyle!

Links from this weeks show:

• Ben’s pre-CEDIA predictions
• Zune HD first impressions
• Installing Zune 4.0 on Windows Home Server
• Tip on how to sign in with the Zune software from outside the USA
• The Custom Integrator Show Installment 01C

Music by Ian Dixon

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

This week Missing Remote’s Mike Garcen returns to talk about the rise of small form factor PCs that could have the potential to be a replacement for Extenders. Mike and I discus the pros and cons of the PCs and how they can fit in with our home networks. I also have email, a news roundup and the details of Microsoft’s Windows Media Center CEDIA announcements.

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Vote for the show on podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Join the Windows Live Group - Follow me on Twitter

Listen to TDL Mobile, the show all about the mobile lifestyle!

00:23 Coming up this week
01:15 Email: DVB-C in Windows 7
03:32 Email: MKV to Extenders
06:27 Are you using any Media Center alternatives?
06:50 Zune to Retire Every Player But Zune HD?
07:36 NControl iPhone Media Center Remote
08:17 Windows Media Center developer job opportunities
08:52 Become a UK Windows Media Center TV Ambassadors and win a tuner
09:28 Microsoft’s CEDIA Windows Media Center Announcements
12:43 Welcome to Mike
15:23 SFF PCs
18:59 What to expect from a nettop
21:49 Taking over from Extenders?
33:00 Server storage
44:21 Mac Mini
47:20 Connecting to the cloud
50:27 See you next week

Music by Ian Dixon

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

This week Paul Heitlinger from S1 Digital talks about their new range of products including a Windows Home Server based Digital Entertainment Platform that streams CableCARD content around the home. Paul also talks about their new Bluray changer for Media Center and other products

I also have email and a quick catch up of the news

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Show Times:

00:23 Coming up this week
01:05 Email: TV with Media Center?
02:16 Email: Media Center with Rogers? HD PVR
03:48 Windows Media Center Software Development Kit for Windows 7 RTM Now Available
04:46 Can Windows Media Center go beyond the enthusiast market? Does it matter?
06:00 My Movies on next week show My Movies 3.0 Screenshots and release date
06:23 Welcome to Paul from S1 Digital
10:00 CableCARD OEM
14:00 Media Center Systems
17:06 Windows 7 Upgrades
19:40 TV Pack
23:34 New product line, Digital Entertainment Platform
33:18 Streaming CableCARD
46:27 Bluray Changer
54:44 Future for Media Center?
55:23 CEDIA
56:00 Thanks, see you Tuesday

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

A Great show for you this week. I have Ben Drawbaugh, Garry Whittaker, Mike Garcen and Josh Shenkle talking about a range of topics including do you want “TV on the PC”, TV markets, downloading content and Ben’s CEDIA predictions. Plus I have email and a roundup of the weeks news

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Vote for the show on podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Join the Windows Live Group - Follow me on Twitter

Show Times:

00:23 Coming up this week
01:20 Email: Is a HP Media Smart the best Extender?
03:06 Email: TV tuner setup issues
04:27 Big Screen EPG v0.4e Released
05:02 Magic Slideshow for Windows Media Center V1.1
05:28 More Zune HD news
06:48 Engadget HD: CEDIA Media Center Predictions
09:53 Welcome to the guests
10:16 PC on the TV?
14:29 Where does TV on the PC leave Media Center
18:02 Microsoft focus issues?
21:03 CableCARD
24:00 Using Vigirn Media with Media Center
24:57 HD PVR
30:26 Tuners
38:00 Cable charges
48:10 Leaving a whole open
53:00 TV Markets
57:07 Zune market in Windows Media Center?
01:04:00 Gold Media Center membership?
01:08:00 Ben’s CEDIA predictions
01:13:00 Managed Copy
01:17:00 See you in a couple of weeks

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

Not much Media Center news but lots of posts from TDL this week. On The Media Center Show I talked to Microsoft’s Ben Reed about TV formats, on TDL Mobiles they talked the weeks mobile apps and news and on The Custom Integrator Show Derek and I talked Devices Profile for Web Services. Here are some of the posts from the last week:

• Magic Slideshow for Windows Media Center V1.1
• Big Screen EPG v0.4e Released
• DLNA gaining ground with TV makers FAST!
• DVBLink for HDPVR 2.0 Beta 1
• DoubleTwist
• How to tell if your new hardware is Windows 7 compatible
• Networking your Digital Home, a new option
• Zune HD - Dock - Big screen UI video
• TunerFreeMCE to support MSN Video and work on Extenders
• MSN Video Player now streaming TV shows
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Video Demo, nice but it’s still Windows Mobile

Nice short show for you this week, Microsoft’s Ben Reed senior product manager for Windows Media Center talks supported TV formats in the Windows 7 version of Windows Media Center. Windows 7 adds support for some new formats and builds on the Windows Vista TV Pack, Ben explains the updates and talks multi-tuner support. Plus I have a round up of the weeks news.

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Show Times:

00:23 Coming up this week
01:30 Podcast: TDL Mobile Show #2
01:55 The Custom Integrator Show Installment 016
02:03 TunerFreeMCE to support MSN Video and work on Extenders
03:06 Windows Home Server Demo Video
03:32 Cat out of Bag: Netflix Officially Supported in Win 7 Media Center?
04:48 The Members Blog
05:05 Welcome to Ben Reed
07:00 New TV formats in Media Center
08:46 Mixing tuner types
14:59 Freeview HD in the UK
18:47 World TV formats
21:34 Internet TV
22:25 Planning for Windows 8
24:00 Thanks to Ben
24:13 Great show coming up next week!

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

Another busy week at TDL, we launched a new podcast last week: TDL Mobile, the new show focuses on the mobile lifestyle and talking about the latest news from iPhones to Android, WebOS to Windows Mobile. On [tmcs] we also looked at Mobile platforms with Bjon Morris from Cybersmart system, Garth Miles and Chris Oldroid from Mobile Tech Addicts podcast. On The Custom Integrator Show we talked DLNA device roles in addition to the UPnP A/V Device Control Protocols (DCP).

Here are some of the posts from the last week:

• Microsoft: No browserless Windows 7 after all
• Cat out of Bag: Netflix Officially Supported in Win 7 Media Center?
• Windows Home Server Demo Video
• Virgin Media launches new HD channels in the UK - How to watch them in your Media Center
• New Movie Collector MCE 6.3
• MSN UK launches free streaming video service
• Connected Home/DLNA Best Practices
• An in depth look at Casa Tunes
• Ben Drawbaugh reviews Windows 7 Media Center RTM

Something a little different this week, I am looking at mobile platforms with Bjon Morris from Cybersmart system, Garth Miles and Chris Oldroid from Mobile Tech Addicts podcast . With Smartphones becoming more and more popular with consumers I wanted to see which platform is the best for the mobile lifestyle.

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Show Times:

00:23 Coming up this week
01:59 Parental control
04:20 AMD Release WHQL Graphics Drivers for Windows 7 RTM
05:00 Hauppauge, MaxLinear to produce TV tuners for netbooks
05:44 Windows 7, Play To, and a Samsung DLNA enabled TV
06:23 Podcast: The Custom Integrator Show Installment 015
06:58 Ben Drawbaugh reviews Windows 7 Media Center RTM
07:40 New TDL Mobile Show!
08:00 Welcome to Bjorn, Garath and Chris
10:00 What has happened to Windows Mobile
12:37 Can WinMo come back?
16:50 Zune and Windows Mobile
19:11 Windows Mobile App store
20:32 iPhone
23:00 iPhone controlling Media Center
24:30 Why use an iPhone
26:23 No background apps in the iPhone
37:56 Web OS by Palm
49:26 Google Android
1:00:00 Other platforms
1:05:00 Mobile Tech Addicts Podcast
1:07:00 Cybersmart Systems

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

This week we had Windows 7 being released to manufacturing and I looking forward to getting my systems up and running, on The Media Center Show I talked the new Windows Home Server addin for Windows Media Center and Media Ceter apps from MCEZone. Here are some of the posts from the last week:

• Windows 7, Play To, and a Samsung DLNA enabled TV
• Hauppauge, MaxLinear to produce TV tuners for netbooks
• AMD Release WHQL Graphics Drivers for Windows 7 RTM
• Windows 7 Has RTM’d!
• Custom Start Strips with Hack7mc’s WMC Custom Configuration Wizard
• Engadget’s guide to building a HTPC for under $1,000
• TheGreenButton.com gets a makeover
• The Custom Integrator Show Installment 015
• Magic Slideshow for Windows Media Center
• New Film.DE Media Center Addin for German Media Center Users

Two interviews for you this week. I am talking to Windows Media Center developer Brian Baskerville from MCEZone.com about his range of Media Center applications and I am talking to Windows Home Server MVP Andrew Edney about the new Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 that includes a new Windows Media Center addin.

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Show Times:

00:23 Coming up this week
01:31 Recorded TV Manager Console Released
02:00 Official: Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 BETA with Media Center features!
04:08 Video: First look at Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (beta) Windows Media Center Addin
04:18 My Movies 3 to be MCML and released in September
04:53 tubeCore Beta 4 Released
05:07 Sinderon SinCast offers simultaneous multi-zone streaming
06:00 Magic Slideshow for Windows Media Center
06:48 UK User Group Planning
07:34 Welcome to Andrew Edney talking Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Beta
08:34 What is in PP3?
13:09 TV Archiving
20:42 Where next for Windows Home Server?
22:15 Welcome to Brian
23:07 Getting in to Media Center development
30:00 Media Center apps
36:05 Twitter apps
40:58 Supporting Windows XP
42:00 Windows 7
45:08 Next apps
49:06 See you next week

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

Here is a round up of the posts from the last week, best news for Media Center users is the Windows Media Center addin that is part of Windows Home Server’s Power Pack 3. The update includes a 10 foot version of of the Home Server console and TV archiving options, have a look at a video I did of PP3 beta and you can sign up for beta on Microsoft Connect. On The Media Center Show I talked to Jason Dunn of Zune Thoughts about the Zune HD and the future of Zune.

• Sinderon SinCast offers simultaneous multi-zone streaming
• tubeCore Beta 4 Released
• My Movies 3 to be MCML and released in September
• Recorded TV Manager Console Released
• Microsoft Windows 7 developer contest
• The Custom Integrator Show Installment 014
• Microsoft to launch music streaming service in the UK
• Don’t forget Windows 7 is on pre-sale in the UK tonight at midnight
• Achieving HDMI audio output with ATI hardware on Windows 7 (and Vista)
• How to exclude TV Movies from Win7s Movie Library
• Thinking of using OTA in Media Center? then know your antenna rights

This week on The Media Center Show we talked Media Center in developing countries with Chris Lux and on the blog I asked the question Where to next for Windows Media Center. Here are some of the posts on the site in the last week:

• 10 quick hacks to extend Windows Media Center
• Where to next for Windows Media Center?
• So we can't see Internet TV here in the UK?...... well actually...
• UK Mobile broadband hotspots mapped
• Freeview TV with Netbook built in
• Windows 7 Family Pack, Anytime Upgrade prices leak
• Will the Windows 7 Launch Kick-Start DLNA in the CE Market?
• MSDN document on how to load listing data into Windows Media Center
• Why have The Digital Lifestyle Mobile Blog?
• Media Center Integrator Alliance Offers Training at CEDIA Expo 2009

This week I am talking to Media Center enthusiast and medical student Chris Lux. Chris recently spent some time in Kenya and we talk about his experiences with technology in developing countries, plus we talk about streaming media with Chris’ setup.  I also have a round up the weeks news

[mp3]http://blip.tv/file/get/IanDixon-TheMediaCenterShow214448.mp3[/mp3]

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Show Times:

00:23 Coming up
01:15 How To Build A Great Media Center For Your Home
01:42 Media Center Integrator Alliance Offers Training at CEDIA Expo 2009
02:44 MSDN document on how to load listing data into Windows Media Center
03:29 Why have The Digital Lifestyle Mobile Blog?
05:28 Welcome to Chris Lux
07:27 Getting started with Media Center
10:51 Watching movies
11:20 Visiting Keyna
13:14 Equipment
16:30 Netbooks
18:27 Windows Home Server
21:00 Tech in developing countries
22:30 Installing Windows 7
31:32 Using content with Windows Home Server and Media Center
40:02 Luxlive.spaces.live.com

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to

In the last week on The Digital Lifestyle.com I pondered the death of Extenders and wonder whether DLNA will come to the rescue plus will Microsoft offer a family pack for Windows 7 and Ed Bott returns to The Media Center Show. Here are some of the other posts from the last week:

 

• How much are your memories worth?
• The Home Server Show 47 - MVP, Smartphones, and Fire!
• Episode 36-Derek Flickinger
• How To Build A Great Media Center For Your Home
• The Custom Integrator Show Installment 013
• Microsoft to offer Family Pack for Windows 7 Home Premium?
• Extenders are dead, long live DLNA?
• Is a Consumer targeted Microsoft Phone on the way?
• Tranquil’s little T3N
• Video Library 2.0 alpha
• Media Browser to go commercial?

Not much Media Center news about this week but there were plenty posts on the site. I posted three videos this week, a look at an Air Mouse GO for controlling a HTPC, a quick look at HP’s DV2 slim notebook and a video looking at controlling Windows Media Center with an Andriod phone. On The Media Center Show I talked Play To and web streaming with Microsoft and on The Custom Integrator Show we talked UPNP and DLNA

• Freeview HD starting in the UK December 2nd
• Microsoft reveals Windows 7 pricing details
• Windows 7 branded HTPC
• Engadget hands on Zune HD video
• Crestron announce Windows CE based Sideshow WIFI remote control
• Belkin Launch Gigabit Powerline
• Archos Windows 7 Tablet PC, great for Media Center on the go

This week Simon Many and I chat with Edwin and Gabe, Program Managers in the Windows Experience team at Microsoft talking about “Play To”, DLNA and streaming media over the internet with Windows Media Player. Windows 7 introduces internet content streaming with WMP and you can even stream Recorded TV over the internet

I also have email and a round up the weeks news

In the interview we refer to a list of Play To compatible devices which you can find HERE

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Vote for the show on podcast Alley - Join The Media Center Show Group on Facebook - Join the Windows Live Group - Follow me on Twitter

Show Times:

00:23 Coming up this week
01:28 Email: Netflix VMC
01:44 Comments from last weeks show
03:12 Email: DVB-T2
05:21 Windows Media Center to get Freeview HD
06:00 Media Browser Beta 2.1.0.0 Released (updated)
06:20 New Xbox for 2010?
07:10 Archos Windows 7 Tablet PC, great for Media Center on the go
08:00 Video: First look at a Air Mouse GO Plus Mouse for HTPCs
08:50 Video: First Impressions of a HP DV2 Notebook
09:00 First Impressions of a HTC G1, or bye bye Windows Mobile
11:03 Wanted for round table, views on Mobile OS
11:42 Welcome to Gabe, Simon and Edwin
13:37 Feedback on Play To
15:04 Play To devices
21:00 Transcoding and Windows 7 support
28:27 Internet streaming with Windows Media Player
37:00 Sharing content and security issues
41:00 Streaming Media in Windows 7 – network settings
43:10 Streaming Recorded TV
48:12 Multiple user accounts and Windows Live ID
1:00:01 Play To in Windows Media Center?
1:03:00 Multi-room support in Windows Media Player?
1:07:00 Microsoft Blog: Media Streaming with Windows 7

Music by Ian Dixon

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, podcasts

Clubhouse tags: clubhouse, media center, windows media center, how-to