I noticed today that my book "Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center" is shipping from Amazon.co.uk now. So anybody that has pre-ordered the book should be getting they copy soon.

Please email me (ian@thedigitallifestyle.com) if you get the book, it would be nice to know who gets the first copy.

Over on TheDigitallifestyle.com video show I have posted this:

Nial Ginsbourg posted a video of his great new application "Big Screen Photos v2" on MSN Soapbox. Nial kindly allowed me to host a high quality WMV version to show the program off in all its glory and a lower quality WMV version for people unable to view the Soapbox version

For more details checkout Nial's blog post

• Watch in HQ WMV
• Watch in lower quality WMV

The RSS feed for the video show HERE

Ed Bott has a great post about Windows Home Server as he says "Microsoft hits a home run with Windows Home Server" and I have to agree with him, the latest build is a big improvement over the last beta and I have it fully integrated in to me home network.

In fact last week I had a corrupt Cubase file (the software I use for writing and recording music) and it was so easy to open a previous backup pull out the single file I needed and put it back on to my Tablet PC, it took minutes to locate and restore the file and I was back working on the song. This is how backup should work, it is fully automated and I don't have to think about it.

Read more on Ed's thoughts

A anonymous listener of The Media Center Show sent me these leaked pictures of a Omura Media Center PC design

It's a nice looking slim case design with what looks like a slot loading DVD drive, it will be interesting to see the finished PC

Nial Ginsbough is developing with v2 of Big Screen Photos. It's an application for browsing Flickr content on Media Center. V2 is now a full MCML application and looking at the video Nial has put up the application is very slick.

Take a look at his video on hosted on MSN Soapbox and read Nial's blog for more details

Developers looking to write applications for Windows SideShow can download a simulator for Windows. So if your thinking of writing a Sideshow app you don't have to wait to get hold of the hardware to have a go.

It would be nice to see some Media Center related SidesShow apps

Link to Download details: Device Simulator for Windows SideShow

Got the good news from the publisher today that my book "Using Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center" co-authored with Tony Campbell is out today.

It has been a great experience writing the book and a pleasure writing a book on such a great product. I have learnt a lot about Windows Media Center while doing the book, in fact I found some hidden settings that can make a big difference to your Media Center experience. I have decided to do some videos to accompany the book to show off some of these features.

Working with Tony Campbell was great too as Tony has plenty of experience writing which was great as this is the first book I have worked on. I am looking forward to the day I can walk in to a book store and see it on the shelf (It should be in Waterstones in the UK in a couple of weeks)

The book is good for beginners as it covers buying considerations and hardware components as well as seasoned users as it covers upgrading from XP and some of the advanced settings in Vista.

Here are a selection of the areas the book covers 

• Introducing Windows Media Center
• What's new in Vista Media Center
• Upgrading from XP
• Connecting your PC to a TV
• Network configuration
• Setting up TV
• Working with Recorded TV and advanced settings
• Playing DVDs
• Burning DVDs
• Working with Videos
• Working with Music, playlists etc
• Working with Pictures
• Working with Radio

Plus lots more!

Best of all on Amazon.co.uk its only £7.19 So what are you waiting for, go order it!

Something that every gadget lover would like in the their car (well I would!) is a in car PC System, HiPe PC have launched a range of in car systems based on Windows Vista Media Center and featuring One Voice voice control software.  Their range of car PC system are not as expensive as you would have expected.

I will have an interview with HiPe on a future show

HiPe PC Launches Driv-N Line of Car-PCs featuring Voice Control Powered by One Voice Technologies

LA JOLLA, CA—April 24, 2007—One Voice Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: ONEV), developer of 4th Generation voice solutions for the Telecom and Interactive Multimedia markets, and HiPe PC, manufacturer of high performance desktop, notebook, media center and professional workstations, today announced that HiPe PC has launched Driv-NÔ, a new line of in-vehicle devices based on Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center and powered by One Voice’s voice control. Starting at $799, Driv-N is the ultimate in-vehicle entertainment experience designed to fit into most vehicles and offers a brilliant in-dash 6.5” motorized touchscreen display (Driv-N I15) and optional 15.3” roof mount LCD for added rear passenger enjoyment. For more information about Driv-N, visit http://www.hipepc.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=102 or http://www.hipepc.com.

With Driv-N you can watch DVDs, listen to CDs, MP3s, Apple iTunes, enjoy XM online satellite radio, Internet Radio and browse the web, while remaining connected to your home or office PC in ways you've never imagined. Best of all, Driv-N can be controlled entirely by voice! Voice Control for Driv-N, powered by One Voice’s Media Center CommunicatorÔ, delivers high accuracy for a wide variety of accents, operates on simple to use voice commands and requires no voice training.

Driv-N features include:

· Voice recognition by One Voice

· Motorized 6.5” touchscreen monitor

· Integrated GPS navigation

· High speed mobile internet access

· AM/FM/XM Radio

· DVD/CD/MP3/WMA/iTunes playback

· Bluetooth hands free calls

· Onboard OBD II vehicle diagnostics

· Integrated rearview camera control

· Read and send email

· Create your own custom voice commands to launch websites and applications

“Driv-N revolutionizes the in-vehicle entertainment and navigation experience by consolidating the functionality of many devices into one affordable package,” said Richard Stenlund, Sales and Marketing Manager at HiPe PC. “Our integration with One Voice enables Driv-N users to easily and naturally navigate their digital entertainment while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”

“We are very excited about our partnership with HiPe PC and the tremendous potential of the emerging car-pc market,” said Dean Weber, president and CEO at One Voice Technologies. “Drive-N represents the most feature rich in-vehicle entertainment and navigational system available today, and at an affordable price. We look forward to a strong and prosperous relationship with HiPe PC.”

About HiPe PC

Driv-N is the first of several new lines of personal computers by HiPe PC.  HiPe PC offers unique computer technology products that include Home Theater computers, Gaming Computers and high performance Notebook PCs built from top quality components, with a strong focus on silent, high performance computing and superior customer service.  For more information on HiPe PC, visit http://www.hipepc.com or call 1-888-602-6960.

About One Voice Technologies, Inc.

One Voice Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: ONEV) is the world's first developer of 4th Generation voice solutions for the Telecom and Interactive Multimedia markets. Our Intelligent Voice™ solutions employ revolutionary, patented technology that allows people to send messages (E-mail, SMS, Instant Messaging and paging), purchase products, get information and control devices - all by using their voice. The company is headquartered in La Jolla, California. For more information, please visit http://www.onev.com

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932818

Microsoft has released the April 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista. This update contains several improvements, and it resolves several issues. This cumulative update is intended for computers that are running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

Update information

To obtain the April 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista, you can download it from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site or from the Windows Download Center.

Windows Update Web site

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)

Windows Download Center

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Cumulative Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista

Download the 932818 package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AE86D8C1-4015-4B43-ABB6-123E6E539248)

Cumulative Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems

Download the 932818 package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8E75B530-2086-4A70-AB91-47DDB8B49AE7)

Release Date: April 24, 2007

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/) How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Hotfix replacement information

This is a cumulative update. This update replaces the following updates:

929011 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929011/) Windows Media Center does not correctly configure a combo TV tuner that supports both ATSC and NTSC signals on a Windows Vista-based computer

932753 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932753/) When you resize the Windows Media Center window in Windows Vista, video playback may stop

Issues that are resolved by this update

In addition to the fixes that are contained in the updates that are listed in the "Hotfix replacement information" section, the April 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista resolves the following issues:

Improvements that are in this update

The update also provides the following improvements:

Information for Windows Media Center Extenders

Windows Media Center Extenders, such as the Microsoft Xbox 360, use network ports to communicate over the network to computers that are running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate. This cumulative update contains updates to Media Center programs that may have been previously configured as "approved" or "allowed" by a third-party firewall. If you use a third-party firewall, you may have to manually update your firewall to let the new versions of these programs access the ports. If you do not perform these firewall updates, you may experience failures when you try to connect the Windows Media Center Extender to the Media Center computer

Last month on my blog and in the forums I asked "What features would you like to see added to Music in Media Center". I got some interesting reply's, so here are some of the requests:

• Music playback to be able to easily jump to a particular position within a track, e.g. playing a long track like a podcast and jump to a particular part
• Choose a default song / playlist for playing in a photo slideshow.  So rather than going in to music first and selecting a playlist, Media Center would have a default play list for use with Photos
• Boolean searches in Media Center i.e. "Beatles or Monkees"
• Improved search performance
• Improved Online music database: Often newly released CD are not reorganized by Media Center
• Improved thumbnails in Music, when using HD displays the art work looks very low res, more on that problem here
• Integration with "More like this" services like MusicIP or MusicBrainz
• Music Video integration, rather than treating the files as just standard Videos. Have the Music Video experience integrated with the rest of music. You could create playlists or pick by genre
• Better integration with Zune and Media Center, including the online store experiences
• and finally one for system integrators, support for synced whole house audio

I am sure they are many other things that could be added to the list, these are some from the forum post on The Digital Lifestyle.com, I will be leaving the post open so feel free to add your own comments and thanks to the people that posted

Its been a quiet week on the Media Center news front, so it was good to see Chris Lanier post on a new tool for remote controlling Media Center via another PC

Ryan Tollefson over at The Green Button has created my new favorite application for Media Center. MCE Virtual Remote uses Charile Kindel’s MCE Controller to create a virtual software remote that you can use for basic controller of your Media Center.

If you are like me, and always have a laptop (or a tablet) in front of your face while sitting on the couch this is must have software. I always seem to lose my actual remotes, and this is the best backup I can have. Another great use, and while Ryan developed it is to use it with a UMPC.

I have a UMPC so it looks like this would be a nice app for me.

Looks like a new build of Windows Home Server is out, this product is now an essential part of my network, serving Remote Access, shared files and backups.

If your looking to share Recorded TV with Media Center follow this guide on The Digital Lifestyle forums, and here are some of the new features:

CTP provides a wide range of code fixes, user interface improvements and feature enhancements, such as:

• A more complete and simplified "out of box" experience, including an easy, 7-step setup process after installation, personalized home server naming, and the ability to configure a standalone Windows Home Server from an existing home computer.

• You can now set up and configure Remote Access capabilities from the Windows Home Server Console, including selection of a personalized web address from the Windows Live Custom Domains service.

• You can enable or disable home network health notifications and can dictate where and when various notifications are displayed on their computers. 

• Users can clearly define their password settings, and designate a password hint to assist in recovering a forgotten Windows Home Server password.

• And you can now add and remove Windows Home Server Add-in programs developed with the Windows Home Server Software Development Kit.

Link to Windows Home Server Blog

If you want to be considered for beta testing the next version of Media Center then head over to the connect site and complete the survey.

More details on The Green Button

If you like playing with bleeding edge software then apply. Note: Not everybody will be selected

Microsoft's Silverlight technology looks interesting, integrating the media experience with the web much more that downloading video files or watching flash videos. This is is an excerpt from Sean Alexander's blog

What is Microsoft Silverlight?  It's our solution for delivering media experiences with audio, video, animation, and interactivity cross-browser (e.g. Firefox, Safari, IE) and cross-platform (Mac and Windows).  Why are we doing it?  We've been listening to customers about the growing evolution of digital media as more than a destination, but an integral part of experiences on the web. Just like in the gaming community, user expectation of what makes a good web experience are increasing.  But then so are the costs of delivering those experiences.  Silverlight will address the rising costs of creation and rich media delivery  in two key ways- providing a consistent set of tools for development and design teams building applications for the Web and Windows, and support for lower cost of delivery of audio and video experiences when used with Windows Media Streaming - a benefit widely known in the industry (more on that later). 

The podcaster in me wonders how I could use this technology to improve the media experience for listeners and viewers, particularly on videos where chapters and other features seem to be built in, but the Media Center enthusiasts in me wants to know how this relates to Windows Media Center?

Does it mean that Media Center will befit from the enhanced content? Will Media Center be able to interact with web content using Silverlight? It is great having the browser experience improved, but seeing at my TV is connected to my Xbox 360 as an Extender I want to be able to get at HD video in Media Center. Maybe more info will be out at MIX07

I can't wait to try the Expression Encoder, Windows Media Encoder is getting a bit long in the tooth now

More details on Sean's blog and there is a video interview with him on On10.net

Out of the box Windows Home Server will store and share music, pictures and other files but getting it to play nice with Windows Media Center to store Recorded TV is not that simple. So Richard Miller (with a little help from me) has come up with a nice guide on how to enable sharing Recorded TV. I have used this guide to share recorded TV to my Media Center PC's around the home with Windows Home Server and it works great

Follow the Instructions posted on The Digital Lifestyle Forums

Gizmodo managed to get there to get their hands on a Ricavision Sideshow remote.

These are the remotes with a LCD display that talks to Vista so you can read email, control Media Center and browse guide data

I saw them at CES (see my pictures) and they are great devices, now how do I get one!

Over on The Digital Lifestyle Developer Blog Steven Harding has started a series of posts taking a step by step view of developing a application for Windows Media Center

Steven takes you step by step through starting out and developing your own Media Center application using Media Center Markup Language, he gives some great examples and its full of source code. Things like making a button and hooking up to C# code make this guide a fantastic resource for Media Center developers. I am starting a new project soon and will defiantly be using Steven's guide.

Check it out at http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/blogs/developer/default.aspx and Feel Free To Comment

At work I have been rolling out the Palm 750v Windows Mobile device and I thought it was about time I left my i-mate PDA2K phone behind and switch to the Treo. My first impressions are that is a nice phone, finally switching to Windows Mobile 5 from Windows Mobile 2003 (2nd edition) is good, the Exchange and phone functions are much better. The keyboard is nice to use and not much smaller than the i-mate. It will be interesting to see how the battery goes on, I kept my imate on charge most of the time and had a car charger for use when I has out. I am also going to be utilizing the 3G connection pairing it with the Samsung Q1 UMPC, so I have a pretty good mobile solution. Maybe I will do the next Media Center Show from the park, well the sun is out here in Manchester :)

Next test is to see how Orb works over the 3G connection