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January 31 Microsoft SideShow — iPod Killer?Just read an interesting article on Consumer Electronics Stock blog, it talks about SideShow (what used to be called auxiliary displays) and how they could be a route to unseat Apple's domination of the music player world.
The piece explains that the displays are going to be more that just an extra displays on laptops they could be detachable devices with all your calender and contacts information on them that you can carry with you on the go.
It says the displays can also sync your music and video on the device and is an open platform for development.
This is where it gets interesting, the device does not have to be only on laptops, in fact at CES I saw a Silverstone PC running the display, and on Microsoft's site it says they can be on "keyboards, LCD display casings, remote controls, and cell phones", so the components of it could be part of a mp3 player or a cell phone and it could be Microsoft's way of developing there own hardware personal media players (PMP) as has been rumoured
The article goes on to say
"If this platform brought tight integration between Vista and PMP’s, that would be really bad news for Apple. Apple has been selling iPods to legions of Windows users who buy the iPod for its slick design and ease of use and are willing to accept Apple’s closed system as a tradeoff. Users will no longer need to make that tradeoff if the integration between Vista and the PMP is well done using SideShow."
The combination of Vista, Windows Media Player 11 and these devices could really unseat the ipod and its closed system
Interestingly they say that the guts of the SideShow are based on the same guts of the ipod (Portalplayer’s (PLAY) ‘Preface’ chipset.)
LINK
Cablecard Certification, What gets certified?Ok, I am confused now.
I know that the operating system must be certified, so Vista is ok.
Now for the confusing part. Some people told me that the PC got certified, e.g Sony send there Vista Media Center PC off for certification and once thats done it will work. Other people told me that the individual components must be certified, e.g the Video card must be certified.
There is a lot of concern from DIY Media Center builders and small OEMS that they will get pushed out of the Media Center building market as they can't or if they could its to expensive to get certified.
My guess is that there will be a minimum specification for cable card to work, eg Vista, the certified graphics card from ATI etc and then the certified cable card unit
Some OEM's told be that they are cable card ready, and once the spec is ready they will put out cards for there PC's
“According to my contacts at ATI, the OCUR device will be included as part of a "kit" that will be the box and a new PC. The PC is not certified by CableLabs in any way, instead MS publishes a minimum system configuration and the system has to meet these specs in order to be sold with the OCUR device. The OCUR device itself is the only thing that is actually certified by CableLabs." This implys that OCUR units are only sold with new PC's but any OEM could sell the OCUR unit
Any thoughts?
Media Center Development Wiki coming soonCharlie Owen looks to be creating a Media Center Wiki inspired by Snapstreams Wiki he says
"So, it's time to stop debating inside my head and create a wiki for the Media Center platform."
Good on you Charlie it is great to create a single repository for Media Center development
LINK
January 30 Coming up this week...CES InterviewsThis week on the Media Center Show I have a collection of interviews I recorded at CES.
I interviewed Intel to get the details on the VIIV platform, I got an update Simplifi Audio about there new audio amps and I interviewed a bunch of people at the Media Center Show Party including Thomas Hawk, Ed Bott, Ted Singh (guest from the first show) and many others
I will also have my first thoughts on the XBOX 360 as an extender
MCE Browser(via Chris Lanier) MCE Browser is a new plug in for Media Center that enables you to browse the web via Media Center (an extenders)
It's an interesting idea especially to read web pages on the XBOX 360. I still think RSS is a better way to read web pages but at least this way the site doesn't need RSS support.
Its a free download at http://www.anpark.com/software.aspx
January 27 XBOX 360 Extender - it just worksLast night I finally got my XBOX 360. While most people would be dieing to get it connected up and shoot the enemy solders or race around the streets in a Ferrari I wanted to get mine connected as a Media Center Extender.
I got the unit plugged in to my TV (my new Sony TV is still on order), got it on to my LAN and selected Media Center from the dash board. The experience was amazingly simple. My PC prompted me to connect the 360, when I accepted the connection it downloaded the components from XBOX.COM ran the update and then prompted me to enter the code number that was displayed on the XBOX.
Within 10 minutes the XBOX was working as an extender complete with all my recorded TV, music and pictures.
I have never used a V1 Extender so have nothing to compare it with but compared to the "real" Media Center UI there are hardly any differences. You can use the standard Media Center remote and do everything you can do in the Media Center UI on the PC
Watching recorded TV was flawless and put very little strain on the host PC.
The whole out of box experience was very simple and straight forward, it just worked.
They tell me that the XBOX 360 also plays games, amazing  January 26 The Windows Media Center Show #42 Joe Belfiore (Microsoft)The Media Center Show #42 (MP3 - 21.4MB - 1 Hour 02mins 22secs) Send your questions and feedback to isdixon@gmail.com (feel free to send your questions in mp3) Get your Media Center Show Gear Show Times: 00:00 Show ident Back home and updates for Media CenterJust got back from Germany and noticed that there are some updates out for Media Center
Aaron Stebner has all the details on his blog
January 23 DVB Radio "No TV Signal" WorkaroundPeter Rosser has posted on his blog about a fix to the "No TV Signal" problem that can happen when tuning to DVB radio signals
"I am currently investigating a fix for two DVB Radio issues identified a workaround for those affected. If you are getting a "No TV Signal" blue overlay when tuning to a DVB Radio station, particularly a low-bitrate station like BBC World Service, or you are seeing 15+ second channel change times for changing between DVB Radio and DVB Video channels, this workaround may apply to you."
DVB radio support is something that was added to Media Center with Roll Up 2 is still very basic. Most setup boxes display the channel logo etc but Media Center gives you a nice blue screen (not the BSOD!) Details on the fix on Peter's blog
Update thanks to Tricky for the updated URL
Google Maps on Media CenterFirst it was MSN Virtual Earth (see my Novermber post about it) and now you can get Google Maps on Media Center
Via Charlie Owen
"This post explains how to get it available from More Programs in Media Center" Coming up this week... Joe BelfioreComing up this week on the Media Center Show is Joe Belfiore VP of the eHome division at Microsoft.
I sat down with Joe at CES and we talked about the history of Media Center, where it is now and where its going with Vista.
Joe is so enthusiastic about Media Center and is such a nice guy, he was great to interview.
As ever I have your email and the latest news.
The show should be out Thursday (if I get back from Germany in time!) January 20 Windows Live Messenger Invites - 4 leftI have 4 invites left now and I want to give them to Media Center Show listeners. So if you want one you will have to listen to the show and tell me who is on next weeks show :) Update: all gone againJanuary 19 The Windows Media Center Show #41 - Niveus at CESThe Media Center Show #41 (MP3 - 18.7MB - 54mins 26secs) Lynn McCroskey from Zon Audio talks about there multi-room audio system as shown at the NextGen house at CES. Then Tim Cutting CEO of Niveus talks about there range of Media Center PC’s, DVD changes and products launched at CES I have lost my voice this week but just managed to read out the email in to the show and the Media Center Show News Send your questions and feedback to isdixon@gmail.com (feel free to send your questions in mp3) Get your Media Center Show Gear Show Times: January 16 Coming up this week - CES Part 1Coming up this week on the Media Center Show is part one of my CES coverage.
This week its Lynn McCrosky (Oxmoor CEO) inventor of the ZON Audio technology talking about Zon audio and the NextGen Home at CES and Tim Cutting CEO & Founder of Niveus Media, Inc talking about there range of Media Center PC's, cablecard and other products they launched at CES As always I have the Media Center Show News with Orb Networks and email in to the show
This weeks show out Thursday iNetVOD BOD for Windows Media CenterAnother Video On Demand service is coming to Media Center.
iNetVOD are launching a VOD service with a Media Center UI
The press release doesn't give to many details but says:
"iNetVOD is also in discussions with many Internet-based content providers to allow their content to be made available to TV viewers using the iNetVOD service. The content providers will continue to have a direct relationship with their customers and view iNetVOD as another important distribution channel. "
It looks like there service is an enabling service and UI for distributed content on the Internet. So the content doesn't come directly from iNetVOD but the UI does
An interesting idea, full press release HERE
Media Center on Vista is looking goodOver the week end I had chance to play with the December CTP build of Vista on a real PC (I have been using Virtual PC so far) and I can say its looking great.
A couple of months ago there were some reports that Media Center in Vista was a "train wreak" well I can definitely say its not. I still haven't see the full UI effects as my graphics card doesn't have any Vista drivers yet but I can still see how good it looks.
So far I have only played with the Music and Pictures sections and they way that the album art is tiled and then highlights as the cursor moves over is fantastic and the same goes for pictures. In fact going back to my XP Media Center after playing with Vista did feel at little strange and I really missed the new way of viewing Albums, XP Media Center looks so 2005
 Media Center in Vista is going to be great, Microsoft are on the right track and with all the different ways of developing applications for Vista Media Center 3rd party developers are going to be able to come up with some great stuff
So to the eHome team, Media Center is looking great
You can see the Music view on this picture I look at CES January 14 Stream DivX movies to your XBox 360 using MediaCenterStream DivX movies to your XBox 360 using MediaCenter Yes you can! casey chesnut emailed me about this article he has written on how to watch Divx on an Extender Casey is coming on the show soon so if you have any questions send them in this article shows how to stream DivX (and XviD) movies to an XBox 360 using a Media Center. for the picky people, it doesn't actually stream DivX ... it converts to WMV on the fly to stream. the core process for accomplishing this is taken from a thread found on the XBox forums Link brains-N-brawn.com January 13 Complete list of products in the “Designed for Media Center Edition” logo programMicrosoft have published an updated list of components that are Designed for Media Center Edition compliant.
This includes DVD Decoders, graphics cards, TV tuners, remote controls, and wireless routers.
Microsoft says "The list will be updated monthly"
Pictures of Vegas and the Grand CanyonI have just posted some pictures from my trip to Vegas on my website, this time not of CES but of Vegas and my trip to the Grand Canyon. We took at helicopter from Vegas to the Canyon and had drinks near the bottom of the Cannon then flew back over Vegas at night, its an amazing sight hard to understand the vastness of the place.
Vegas at night is fantastic and yes I lost it all on red 23
Do you want a standalone upgrade SKU of Windows Vista containing Media Center?In a response to a post from Ross Rader Charlie is supporting the idea of a SKU for Vista to update XP to Media Center. He says while he doesn't make these decisions comments on his blog will be read by the powers that be.
So go over to his blog and leave a comment one way of the other
I think any way of getting Media Center available to more users is a good idea, it's such a great product digital media other than just TV its worth installing for most users.
So your right Charlie, the idea gets my vote |
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