While I know its not CES, The Connected Home show at Olympia in London (March 5-6th) looks interesting.

In fact it will be the first time IPTV has been shown on the XBox 360 in Europe.
Unfortunately I can't make it down there but if any readers are going I would be interested to hear whether Media Center is represented and what your thoughts are about the show.

Email ian @theDigitalLifestyle.com

There are some great guides on how to share recorded TV between Media Center PCs that walk you through setting up the shares and permissions. I didn't know that MVP Doug Knox has developed a tool to take care of all the hard work for you. So Doug has very kindly allowed me to host the download on TheDigitalLifestyle.com

Due to the whole host of software that can block sharing the application is not supported but Doug would appreciate your feedback to feedback@dougknox.com

Download from HERE and please send Doug your feedback

BTW Its not been tested on Vista yet

The Media Center Show #96 (MP3 - 19.5mb- 56mins 46secs)
by Ian Dixon

Listen Here

This week on the show is Doug Berrett author of Webguide the remote scheduler application for media center, well I say remote scheduler but it does a lot more that that. Doug will be joining me to talk about version 4.0

I have Email and news plus another mcePhone + Pamela bundle winner

Go to the Media Center Show Community site there are a whole range of forums, blogs and other resources

The Media Center Show with Orb Networks

Send your email to Ian @ thedigitallifestyle.com

Show Times

00:34 Coming up this week
01:10 Mpeg 4 in DVB-T
01:30 Problem with DVB-S channel scanning in MCE2005 (forum post)
04:22 Windows Media Center Tips
04:54 Tip of the week and the winner of Pamela + mcePhone
05:29 Problem with HP Pavilion M7775 and Media Center Extenders
06:40 Webguide Sidebar Gadget for Windows Media Center
07:13 Windows Home Server Beta and it working well for me
08:30 Windows Live for TV
09:47 The pros and cons of upgrading to Vista from MCE2005
11:11 A Message from Onevoice
11:53 Welcome to Doug Berrett
13:00 What is Webguide
16:00 Getting integrated
18:00 Features
22:00 Sporting Events in Media Center
23:10 Search
24:30 Internationalization
26:50 New features of 4.0
30:17 Streaming
31:19 Live TV
37:33 Mobile devices
42:44 Recommendation Service
47:00 Installing Webguide 4.0
49:20 Vista support
51:15 Download link
52:00 New Vista Media Center books
See you on TheDigitalLifestyle.com

Technorati tags: Windows Media Center, Podcast, Webguide

While Media Center Markup Language is very powerful for developers, it does have a steep learning curve so I was impressed to find a project Steven Harding is working on (with help from top Media Center developer Nial Ginsbourg)

Its a projet called MCMLLookalike, an Open Source library of Media Center Markup Language code that emulates the look and feel of Vista Media Center. So its a great starting point for a new project especially as its a full Visual Studio project with installer code as well.

Thanks to Nial for the tip off

Download from: 'MCMLLookalike' Open Source library and more details on Steven's blog

Here are a screen shot of a 10 foot version of mceBackup after 30 seconds of code editing

I blogged about Windows Live for TV a while ago and its now available for download.

I have been playing with it and it quite nice to be able to view Live Spaces from Media Center. Its great to be able to have Windows Live Messenger working on it.

It's written in WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) so its a slick UI but not as slick as Media Center Markup but at least the application is there.

Download from Ideas.live.com, here are some screen shots I have taken.

If you need an invite join the forums on my site and PM me <-- UPDATE ALL GONE NOW!

http://ideas.live.com/programpage.aspx?versionid=8a7e6e7e-41fd-41e2-a605-2853b0029e53

What it is
Windows Live™ for TV Beta is a rich, graphically-driven interface designed for people who use Windows Live Spaces and Messenger and Live Call on large-screen monitors and TVs.

We're still in the early stages of this beta, so many of the features might not work properly yet. That's why we really need your feedback! This beta is in limited release, so you must request access to the trial group. After you’re in the beta, come back to this page and let us know what you think.
What you can do with it
• Browse millions of Spaces in rich 3D graphics with new Gallery views and full keyword search
• Find out what your friends have been doing and saying on Windows Live Spaces
• Have real-time text and voice conversations*
• Call your friends' mobile or landline telephones by signing up with Verizon Web Calling to make affordable domestic and international calls**
• Easily navigate with your mouse, keyboard or a TV remote (remote navigation requires Microsoft Media Center Remote and IR)
• Make free PC-to-PC calls to other Windows Live Messenger users.
*Both parties must have compatible webcams, microphones, and speakers
**Requires voice calling in Windows Live Messenger Client
(Please note that some beta features may not be available immediately.)
System requirements
Windows Live for TV Beta requires a PC running Windows Vista Home Premium RC2 or Windows Vista Ultimate RC2 (or higher)

So I got my Windows Home Server setup and I thought I would give my first thoughts.

First off I bought a small form factor PC with a 160gb drive in and added a 500gb SATA drive.

This is my box:

it's a Biostart with AMD Sempron 3400 with 1gb of memory. I think the spec is a bit over kill as the box seems to never break a sweat.

Then I installed the Home server software on the box and the setup looked a lot like Windows Server 2003

Once the server has installed (for more details on the install see this great post) I installed the Connector software on my Media Center PC and Tablet PC

The two areas of Windows Home Server that interested me so start with are the shared storage and the backups. So first I thought I would take a look at backups. This is one area I always feel bad about as I have never had a really good backup solution, I have a external harddrive that I use to backup vital data like pictures etc but no image backup and seeing as my main Media Center PC is critical to a happy family life I was eager to try a backup.

Once the Windows Home Server client software is installed is very easy to take a full backup. Basically you right click on the Home Server icon in the toolbar and select Backup now.

The first backup tool some time (a couple of hours) which is not to bad as I have loads of recorded TV. You can exclude folders too, (some are excluded automatically). Subsequent backups are quicker as Home Server uses an intelligent backup system and knows what has changed on the harddisk and this includes other machines too, so if you have two machines with Vista installed the OS files are not duplicated on the backup. Backups are automatic and and I set mine for 1am

If your hard disk fails you can boot from a recovery CD and restore the whole PC or if you just want one file you can get a single file off any of the automatic or manual backups. The restore function works just browsing a folder, you pick the backup and then browse for the file you want.

One very nice feature is the remote access function. So from my PC at work I can log in to the server via a web UI and then remote desktop on to any machine on the network. In Beta 2 this requires a couple of routes creating on the server.

From the Computers tab I can Remote desktop my to any of my pc's or I can download items from the shared folders.

Oh and once you have the server up and running you can disconnect the monitor, keyboard and mouse.

There is a great deal of potential in Windows Home Server, at the moment for me its handling backups and shared files. I will do a post on shared folders another time and how to get Media Center working with the shared folders.

Part two will be on managing Windows Home Server using the Windows Home Server Console, which is a very nice tool for setting up users, shares and managing the whole server.

An interesting thread has been posted on TheDigitalLifestyle.com forums: Compare MCE 2005 to Vista Home Pro

The poster was considering upgrading from MCE2005 to Vista and asked "What are some Pro's and Con's for upgrading to Vista on my Media PC? "

My first thoughts were:

1. Stability
2. Stability (so important I put it twice, the WAF and all that!)
3. The new UI. I love the new UI it's much more intuitive to use than the XP Media Center UI, oh and the Mini Guide is great too.
4. The developer opportunity. Big Screen Headlines is a good example of a free Media Center applications that looks great under Vista

I didn't mention Cablecard as this is not something we can get in the UK

As for cons, hard to say. Vista takes more RAM and you need the correct drivers

Anybody got any thoughts?

http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/forums/thread/2086.aspx

Last week I was complaining about that lack of Sidebar gadgets for Windows Media Center. Well Doug Berrett has filled the void with the Vista Sidebar Gadget for Webguide.

Its a great gadget that sits in the Sidebar and can display the guide, recordings and scheduled recordings, and the best thing about it is that it works on remote machines too. So I can see what is happening on my Media Center PC from anywhere on the web.

Doug will be joining me on the show this week to talk about Webguide 4.0

I have been planning to do a post on using Windows Home Server but not had the time to write it up yet. So I was pleased to see a post on building a Windows Home Server. The post details the steps taken in setting up the server and has lots of screen shots showing the installation process.

When the final OEM products come out all the installation will be taken care by the manufacturer but for the enthusiast that want to build there own you can see that is not that different from setting up Windows 2003 Server.

I will try and post some info on using Home Server next week, and I will have a interview on Windows Home Server that goes in to detail on what the product can do coming out early March

http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2007/02/14/installing-windows-home-server-beta-2/

A user on the forums on TheDigitalLifestyle.com reported a problem with a brand new HP Pavilion M7775 running Windows Vista Home Premium and Media Center Extender appearing to not listen to input. The user did all the usual stuff, checked network connections, firewall and AV software but it didn't respond.

It turns out that the problem could be caused by some pre-installed software. The Picasso add-in steals the focus from Media Center when the Extender session is launched and so instead of the remote controlling Media Center it tries to control Picasso (which is not visible). So pressing the green button should bring Media Center back to the foreground and get round the problem.

A more permanent solution is to remove Picasso ->General->Program Library Options->Edit Program Library and uncheck Picasso and the Front Panel add-in. Then restart the extender session. I haven't verified this myself but I am told it does fix the problem.

This raises two issues. What is the quality control like a HP and how much "crapware" gets pre-installed on new machines.  So my advice is when you get a new machine remove crapware before you start using it!

CE Pro have pictures of MCE Integration's Icehouse Media Center Jukebox, its a jukebox, a beer cooler and a Media Center PC.

Checkout the pictures on CE Pro and MCE Integration's Jason Alinen will be returning to the show in a couple of months

As part of TheDigitalLifeStyle.com blogs I am looking for a blogger to do a gadget type blog. There are so many great gadgets out there and would love to have someone blogging about them in relation to Media Center and the digital lifestyle.

I know there are loads of options out there for bloggers but I think TheDigitalLifestyle.com would make a nice home for a gadget blog :)

If you interested let me know email me Ian at TheDigitalLifestyle.com

UPDATE: I have the position filled for now :)

Coming up next month will be the 2nd Birthday of my podcast and the 100th show. As I have hinted I am going to changing a couple of things around to take the show forward but will still be focusing on Windows Media Center.  The changes are coming in March and I will post more info soon.

What should we do to celebrate? Have a party show? Get a pervious guest back on? Let me know any suggestions at the new email ian @ thedigitallifestyle dot com

According to the Windows Home Server Blog you can get hold of Beta 2 now. So if you want to start beta testing the software you can register HERE

People that are interested in participating in Beta 2 can register here so we have their names as we steadily expand the program.  We can't guarantee you'll be invited to participate right away (or at all), but if you're interested get yourself registered.  Keep in mind that Beta 2 does not really represent the "consumer experience."  Most consumers will ultimately buy Home Server as an integrated hardware/software solution that's very plug and play, e.g. the HP MediaSmart Server.  Beta 2 is software only, of course, meaning evaluators will need to know how to install and configure a server operating system.  Beta 2 participants will also need a dedicated machine for Home Server - Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM and two or more internal hard drives with at least 300 GB primary system hard drive is recommended - and at least 2 client PCs and a broadband connection

Don't forget the the Windows Home Server forum on TheDigitalLifestyle.com and I will have having a member of the team on the podcast soon.

Chris Lanier has details of a new plug in for the Vista edition of Windows Media Center. It's a BitTorrent application written in Media Center Markup Language so you get the great look and feel of a Vista Media Center application. It sounds like its early day of the development and the developer has a blog talking about the application. Here are some of the features talked about on the blog

• Navigate and view collections of general information, previews, trailers, reviews, releases from scene to theatre to DVD and torrents related to your media or media you will be interested in.
• Aufero uses about fifty sources for its information gathering, a lot of it is irrelevant but over time it gathers more relevant information about present and future. For instance it definitely is worth scheduling the download of "Magnum P.I. 'trailer'" (scheduled for release sometime in '07) already today.
• Aufero is written completely from scratch with the sole purpose of being a Vista Media Center application.
• Manage existing library of downloaded media.
• Manage a Wish List of interesting videos that you would like to know about.
• Automatic download of videos on your Wish List as Torrents becomes available (give it some hours to monitor activity after something is released)
• Manual downloading of torrents.
• Seemlessly play non-WMV (eg. XviD etc) on XBox360 using Aufero's media library (requires TVersity)
• Subtle notification on your screen when something you had on your Wish List is found, downloaded, unpacked, indexed and moved into your library.
• Notification of relevant events through mail when you are not in front of your TV.
• Built using MCML/Media Center Managed code for that smooth look we all love :-)
• The user interface tries to be simple to increase the Wife-Acceptance and make them schedule their own downloads. I apologize to any ladies that might be reading this, but I wonder how many times I've gotten the question: Can you get [some obscure movie from 1988]. Now I can just point at the remote control and if it isn't available now, it will be downloaded in the future. Does this sound sexistic? Unintended, I promise.

http://aufero.blogspot.com/

One gadget that is really missing from the Windows Sidebar in Vista is a Windows Media Center Gadget. I am always checking what I have set to record, what has recently recorded and whether Media Center is recording at the moment and it would be great if there was a Sidebar gadget that I could glance at and see what is going on with Media Center.

Actually I surprised at the lack of Microsoft developed Sidebar gadgets in general, maybe now Vista is out of the door more will be coming, but as ever independent developers try and fill that gaps and Doug Berret of Webguide fame is developing a gadget that integrates with Webguide, so I will be trying this out as soon as I can. He did say he was looking at a remote version of it, so you could have it on your work PC and it would keep you up to date on what your Media Center PC at home is doing.

It would be nice to see more gadgets for Media Center coming out, if I had the time I would like to develop a recently recorded gadget.

To kick of the tips forum I have posted details on how to use mceBackup 2.0 to transfer Media Center TV series recording from one PC to another. This is the method I used when reinstalling my main Media Center PC with Windows Vista a couple of weeks ago.

How to get your Scheduled / Series Recordings from one PC to another

As there are going to be lots people using Media Center for the first time when they get Windows Vista I thought it would be a good idea to share our top tips with the new users.

It could be anything, from how to share recorded TV to picture settings. Anything that you find useful others will find it useful too.
So get posting and the tip of the week will win some free software

 Post the tips on the Tips Forum over my my TheDigitalLifestyle.com site