TPN :: The Media Center Show » News

Microsoft Debuts Mediaroom

Mike — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:55:04 +0000

I was a little confused by the name of the product, which half-sounded like a virtual press area (they were announcing it from a trade show after all) and also somewhat Media-Center-ish. The new platform is really just the next iteration of their Microsoft IPTV software, and the new features include the ability to share home photos, video and content on your PC with your IPTV set top box. Sound familiar? Details are scant at this point, but I am curious if there are any of the same underlying pieces of code powering media center extender with the new Mediaroom. I have a feeling there is. I’ll try and get a Microsoft TV person on the show sometime soon.

The Media Center Show Extra #9 CES Part 4

Ian Dixon — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:59:02 +0000

Over on The Media Center Show Extra site I have posted Show #9.

This is the final Extra show from CES 2007, and on this show I talked to Jonathan Sass from Simplifi Digital. We look at their Media Center Expander card that enables you to have AV devices going directly in to Media Center and one of there USB audio amplifiers.

The Media Center Show Extra # 9 CES Part 4

Please subscribe to the RSS feed and if you have any suggestions for future shows got to the forums and have your say

The Windows Home Server Forums open

Ian Dixon — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:00:12 +0000

I am really excited about Windows Home Server, I think its going to be a great product for people like me with multiple PCs in the home. I am going to be talking about it on The Media Center Show in the future and have opened a new set of forums to discuss Home Server.

There is a forum for general discussion and a forum for developers to discuss developing for Windows Home Server.

To start things off I have posted a set of useful links about Windows Home Server and if you have any suggestions for additional links please use this thread. I have also created a thread for posting questions to ask on the show about Home Server.

There is also a Poll on whether you will be buying or building a Home Server

So please take a look and get posting, I will be adding more content as more details come out.

Win Pamela Pro and mcePhone with The Media Center Show Community Forums

Ian Dixon — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:03:11 +0000

I have a new give away on The Media Center Show community forums. Each week I will be giving away a copy of Pamaela Pro + mcePhone Bundle worth €29,95

I will be awarding the software to the post of the week. It could be for helping someone out or posting info of a your TV card config. So get posting!

Pamela for Skype adds some nice features to Skype: Call Recording,Video Recording,Answering Machine, Skype Podcasting (see for HERE more details)

mcePhone for Skype allows you to seamlessly integrate Skype and Pamela in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
Once mcePhone is installed, you will be able to navigate and use Skype and Pamela seamlessly within the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 environment.

I Just Met Bill Gates

Ian Dixon — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:09:01 +0000

Just met Bill Gates! Yes it true, as part of the Vista labs I am on at CES with Microsoft we whent on a trip to the Microsoft partner paviloin showing partner invovation. While we were there Bill Gates turned up and got to chat with him for a while. There was a wide range of questions from Operating systems to 64bit and Bill was total on the ball with all the off the cuff questions.

It was a great experince and something I have always wanted to do

Welcome to the new Media Center Show Community

Ian Dixon — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 16:11:03 +0000

I have updated my forums to the latest version of the Community Server and decided to put some effort in improving the content and the interaction with the community.

So first off is a new RSS feed and blog for The Media Center Show Extra, I will be updating this with new content soon.
The forums have been updated with polls, rss and email support and there is a new download section, starting with mceBackup 2.0

I will be adding more content too and I am looking for anyone interesting in starting there own Media Center Blog, (email me at isdixon at gmail dot com if your interested)

Also checkout the new Technical Support section for the community to help with Media Center related technical problems.

Please head over to the forums, I need the community to support the forums to help them grow and be of benefit to all Media Center users, and by way of encouragement if you register and post I will be giving away a copy of mNewsCenter for the post of the week for the next 4 weeks

Any suggestions or comments, post them on the Community forum

New RSS Feeds:

Community Blog

The Media Center Show Extra

Community forum

Tech Support

General Media Center

The Media Center Show Awards 2006 are go!

Ian Dixon — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:52:13 +0000

I have posted the vote page for the Media Center Show Awards 2006.

The aim of the awards is to highlight and give some recognition to the great work done by the Media Center community.

There are category’s for:

Best Media Center Utility
Best Online Spotlight Applications
Best Communication Tool
Best Community Resource
Best Hardware Manufacturer
Best Enthusiast Blog
Best Microsoft Media Center Blog
Best Free application (non-commercial) application
Best Commercial Application
Outstanding Design Award
Best Vista Media Center Application

If you enter your email address when completing the form you will be entered in a prize draw for some free software including mNewsCenter and Media Center Communicator.

So go and vote now please!!

Your feedback on The Media Center Show Extra

Ian Dixon — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:44:24 +0000

So I have done two episodes of The Media Center Show Extra and wanted to get your feedback.

First off do you like the idea of an extra show? If so what would you like to see on the show.

What format should it be in? (Youtube, direct download etc)

Go to this survey page and let me know what you think

The Media Center Show Extra Survey

Origamis to get Softlead! (ie Extender)

Ian Dixon — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:52:27 +0000

DIV>When the Origami project was announced I immediately thought they would be great if they could operate as a Extender for Windows Media Center, so you could watch your recorded TV on it, live tv, music etc.

Well it looks like that wish is coming true and suddenly I am thinking about getting one.

CE Pro have the details:

The especially good news for Media Center Edition aficionados is that Microsoft will enable Origami to serve as a Media Center Extender (MCX). Microsoft is coming out with a software version of MCX expressly for Origami, meaning these little touchscreens can serve as a slave to any MCE in the house, so users can play recorded content, exploit Online Spotlight, use the electronic programming guide — anything they can do with other MCXs (and most things they can do with an MCE).

If you have automation software for MCE, you can use the Origami touchscreen to control the house.

This is great news and I really hope that Vista gets the same extender treatment too

Coming up this week

Ian Dixon — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 08:26:44 +0000

Coming up this week on the Media Center Show

Why Media Center does not need a 60% re-write
Windows Media Center Presentation Layer
Email in to the show
Other Media Center news

And special guest Mark Weinberg - General Manager at Microsoft’s eHome group, responsible for the Media Center core features team

Win Media Center Communicator and show 50

Ian Dixon — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 11:43:51 +0000

In case it was missed on the show last week I have a copy of One Voices Media Center Communicator to give away. With MMC you can use your voice to control Media Center so you can order your PC about!

All you have to do to win is to send me a picture of your Media Center setup, no matter how good or bad, big or small and I will post it in the galleries on my site (iandixon.co.uk).

So send them in isdixon at gmail dot com and I will post them up here.

Also if you want a copy of either mNewsCenter (my RSS reader for Media Center) or mceSuduko send me in a tip via the show Skype Line (MediaCenterShow)

This weeks show should be good, show 50 and a year of the Media Center Show, I have two Media Center MVP’s joining me Andy Vanosdale and Corey Gouker

One Voice Technologies joins the show

Ian Dixon — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 09:52:29 +0000

I am really pleased to announce that One Voice Technologies has joined the Media Center Show as a sponsor.
Starting next week we will have a competition to win Media Center Communicator, the voice control software for Windows Media Center.

I want Softsled for Origami

Ian Dixon — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 05:53:24 +0000

I have just been watching the Origami channel 9 video, they look great devices not unlike my HP TC1100 just slightly smaller.

I really hope that the the eHome team look at getting some of there applications on to the Origmai devices.

At the end of the day they are small form factor Tablet PC’s so there is no reason why Media Center could not be included in it.

I would love to use it to control my Media Center PC and browse the guide data from the sofa (like I do now with Webguide) and use it as a portable extender (softsled)

Also in the interview they talked about transferring recorded TV files from Media Center on to the device and how it should just work. What they don’t say is if you will still need DVD decoder software installing on it

Check out the video and Microsoft’s site for the devices

Coming up this week on the show

Ian Dixon — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 11:03:15 +0000

Coming up this week on the show is David Fleshman, blogger and Program Manager at Microsoft on the eHome team.

David has a great blog and has some great incites in to the development process of Media Center.

Plus the Media Center Show news and email in to the show

Don’t forget to take the Media Center Show Survey

The show will be out Friday this week as I will be at the Smart Home Show at the NEC (UK) on Thursday

Start developing with the new Windows Media Center Presentation Layer

Ian Dixon — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 02:00:11 +0000

Something I have been waiting for since I found about the new Media Center mark up language in Vista

Charlie Owen has posted details about the new Windows Media Center Presentation Layer , this enables you to write Media Center apps that use the core Media Center display engine, so no more HTML fudges!

Charlie has posted on how to get started with Authoring Tool

Read it on the Media Center Sandbox blog

Media Center Show Survey

Ian Dixon — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:20:07 +0000

The Media Center Show is nearly a year old so I thought it would be a good time to put together a survey about the show. So you can tell me what you like and dislike and any topics or guest you would like to see on the show.

No registration or email address is needed just go The Survey Page and vote for your favourite show and have your say about the show

Thanks!

The Media Center Column: #4 - Vista

Ian Dixon — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:52:34 +0000

Just noticed my article on Media Center in Vista on Digital Home Magazines web site has been posted.

I guess I should check there web site more often as it was posted last week!

This time I focused on Media Center in Vista

http://www.digitalhomemag.com/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=43179&subsectionid=1308

Coming up this week…Extenders and MIX06

Ian Dixon — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:49:44 +0000

Coming up this week on the Media Center Show:

Dave Alles, Product Unit Manager on the eHome team at Microsoft talking about Extenders, including how the idea for the original XBOX extender came about in a Seattle Brewery

I also have an update from Charlie Owen about the MIX06 conference where Media Center is featuring as well as all the Media Center news and email in to the show

Cable card will not be available to DIY MCE

Ian Dixon — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 14:21:20 +0000

Cable card will not be available to DIY MCE well according to a great article on Cable Card by arstechnica.com

If you actually want to see that protected high resolution content, you’ll also have the opportunity to buy a new monitor that will work with Windows Vista, and a brand-new PC. That’s right—only new PCs from certified vendors will accept a CableCARD. You can forget about buying a copy of Vista and an OCUR to roll your own solution—as ATI told us, their product will only be available in OEM systems, no doubt because of the certification issue.

well worth reading if your interested in Cable Card , note its a certification issue that will hold back DIY builds

Get NASA TV on Media Center

Ian Dixon — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:59:29 +0000

Great tip from the Green Button forums.

goto http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

goto the watch with windows media, it is an ASX file (look at IE status bar) right click and do a ‘Save Target As…’ and save into your My Videos folder.

You now have NASA TV on media center.

This week on the Media Center Show

Ian Dixon — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 05:10:12 +0000

Coming up this week on the Media Center Show, I have the final part of the CES coverage I recorded.

Joe Harris from Digital Deck tells us about there updated product range and then to round CES off I sat down with Ian McCarthy from Orb and we discussed the trends at CES, Ian kept asking me questions so you get to hear more of me than i would like :)

As ever I have the latest Media Center news, email in to the show and a chance to win mcePhone thanks to Christoph Buenger Software

A Brief History of ATSC in Media Center

Ian Dixon — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 06:06:42 +0000

Peter Rosser has a great post about the history of ATSC in Media Center.

He also give a glimps of what is coming in terms of TV support for Diamond, the Vista version of Media Center and Fiji (the release after Diamond).

A very intestesting read.

Link:

http://blogs.msdn.com/peterrosser/archive/2006/02/03/AtscInMce.aspx

Live Podcast?

Ian Dixon — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 11:20:58 +0000

I have been thinking about doing a live podcast for a while and was reminded about the idea while reading Sean Alexander’s blog about SightMax

First off would anybody listen to a one off live show? It would have to be around 8pm UK (12pm PST), we could take live questions from a chat room etc, so making it a more interactive show.

Secondly the technical bit, I thought I could use Windows Media Encoder to publish the live audio, but have been told that it is limited to 5 concurrent connections. If I was going to do a live show I would like more that 5 listeners!

Has anybody and suggestion on the best way of hosting the audio stream? Essentially I would be broadcasting a Skype conference call.

So would you listen or is the whole benefit of podcasting being that you can listen to it when you want?

Are there any tips on how I could do it?

Acoustic Magic’s Voice Tracker™ Array Microphone and One Voice’s Media Center Communicator

Ian Dixon — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 09:25:32 +0000

I am playing with One Voice Technologies’ Media Center Communicator, finding it great but it needs a good microphone.
One voice announced today they they are marketing Acoustic Magic’s Voice Tracker Array Microphone.

More details on my blog

Microsoft SideShow — iPod Killer?

Ian Dixon — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 04:02:44 +0000

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

http://cestockblog.com/article/6307

Cablecard Certification, What gets certified?

Ian Dixon — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 03:19:53 +0000

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

Chris Lanier has a comment on his blog from AnandTech, Inc

“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?

Coming up this week….CES Part 2

Ian Dixon — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 07:54:56 +0000

This 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

XBOX 360 Extender - it just works

Ian Dixon — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 02:43:46 +0000

Last 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 ;)

Coming up this week… Joe Belfiore

Ian Dixon — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 04:05:43 +0000

Coming 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!)

Coming up this week….CES Part 1

Ian Dixon — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 08:24:03 +0000

Coming 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

Stream DivX movies to your XBox 360 using MediaCenter

Ian Dixon — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:02:35 +0000

Stream 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

Complete list of products in the “Designed for Media Center Edition” logo program

Ian Dixon — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 15:05:16 +0000

Microsoft 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”

Download from Microsoft

My Media Center Related pictures from CES

Ian Dixon — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 16:17:33 +0000

Here are some Media Center related pictures from CES

Upcoming Shows

Ian Dixon — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 04:40:59 +0000

As I am trying to get back in the swing of things I thought I would do an update on some shows planned for the next few weeks

This week Niall Ginsbourg talking about PVRX a project to establish a common language for PVR and DVR applications, very interesting

Then putting out my interviews from CES including Joe Belfiore VP at Microsoft, Tim Cutting CEO of Niveus, Ian McCarthy of Orb and loads of interviews I recorded on the show floor.

Plus highlights of the Media Center Show Party where I grabbed interviews with Thomas Hawk, Ed Bott, Ted Sing, Jason Alinen and may others.

Starting tomorrow

Back Home from CES

Ian Dixon — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 04:26:52 +0000

Well we made it back home today from CES. Leaving Las Vegas at 4am Monday and got home today (Tuesday) to Manchester UK at 10am.

There is so much to talk about, I interviewed lots of interesting people and looked at some great products.

I am way to tired now to talk about it all, so listen out the show this week for some details of what is coming up.

I was going to post some pics, but MSN Spaces (where my pics are) is running soooo slllooowww….

Fixing XBOX 360 connectivity problems

Ian Dixon — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 05:02:51 +0000

Martin over on the Media Center Show forums had a problem connecting his new XBOX 360 to his PC

He was getting “Unable to connect” after putting in his 8 digit code.

After lots of searching he found a reference to rsaenh.dll was missing so he used regsvr32 to register it

1) At a command prompt, run: “regsvr32 %windir%\system32\rsaenh.dll”
2) Reboot
3) Attempt to connect to Xbox 360

rsaenh.dll is a module that implements the Microsoft enhanced cryptographic service provider (CSP) that uses 128-bit encryption

Thanks for the tip Martin

I am still waiting to get hold of an XBOX 360

Off to Vegas!

Ian Dixon — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 14:15:20 +0000

Well this week I am off to Las Vegas to the Consumer Electronics Show

9am I leave Manchester going via Philadelphia. I have got a packed week planned and of course the Media Center Show party with Orb

I will be recording lots of stuff for the show and have some good interviews setup , if your in Vegas make sure you come to the show party on Friday (send me an email IsDixon at gmail.com)

if these is anything you think I should see let me know!

So no show this week, see you in Vegas!

Podcasting Changed My Life

Ian Dixon — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 08:25:45 +0000

On my personal blog I have just written a post on how podcasting has changed my life
I wanted to thank all the listeners to the show
Read it here

Looking for a new TV

Ian Dixon — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:30:31 +0000

In the new year I am looking to buy a new TV. I want a 37 to 40 inch screen HDMI input (to hook it up to an XBox 360) it must have freeview built in (the standard for UK over air digital TV)

So far this Sony looks good and best of all my wife likes it

Sony KDLS40A12 40″ High Definition Digital LCD

Pixel resolution

1366×768

-	High Definition Ready
-	Receive up to 30 digital channels
-	New BRAVIA styling
-	Virtual Dolby Surround Sound (20W)
-	HDMI Connectivity
-	PAL 3D Comb Filter
-	Wall Mountable
-	Component Input
-	16ms Panel Response Time
-	7 day Electronic Programme Guide

I am going to be wall mounting it connecting it to an XBOX 360 as an extender. The process has involved complex negotiations with my wife so we have a new sofa on the way

Has anybody got any recommendation?

Maybe I will see something at CES!

Coming up this week…. The Media Center Awards Show

Ian Dixon — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 08:44:59 +0000

Coming up this week on the Media Center Show is the Media Center Show Awards 2005

Joining me to host the show is Thomas Hawk and we are going to look at the nominations and the winners, plus we have some special guests joining us on Skype

We have the prize winners and a chat about the show party at CES

look out for this weeks show out Thursday

Best Wishes for Christmas!

Ian Dixon — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:19:31 +0000

I just wanted to wish all listeners best wishes for Christmas and that Santa brings you lots of gadgets.
Thanks to all of you for listening and hopefully the show will get bigger and better in 2006.

Look out for the Media Center Show Awards 29th December with special co-host Thomas Hawk.

Happy Christmas!

Coming up this week…Media Center in a Car

Ian Dixon — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:29:21 +0000

Coming up this week on the Windows Media Center Show I have Duncan Rae talking about how he fitted Media Center in to his car, and yes it’s achievable and not to expensive!

So listen to this weeks show to find out more, out Thursday!

Oh and if you going to CES come to the Media Center Show Party, details on this weeks show

Media Center Show Party and Geek get together at CES!

Ian Dixon — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 22:04:16 +0000

If your going to CES your invited to the Media Center Show Party. It is being hosted by my friends at Orb and all listeners and geeks are invited, refreshments will be provided

it’s Friday 6th @ 5pm

More details soon, if your interested please drop me an email (isdixon at gmail.com)

96% of Media Center PC’s have TV cards

Ian Dixon — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:28:21 +0000

I have started analysing the votes in the Media Center Show Awards (a nice VB application does the work for me)

and I found this fact interesting.

One of the questions I asked was “Do you have a TV card in your Media Center PC?”

The results where:

Yes a single card 53.68%
Yes multiple cards 42.63%
No 3.68%

So thats 96% of owners have one or more TV cards in there PC which I find higher that I would have expected. It been talked about before that a lot of Media Center PC are sold with out TV cards, but this shows that most active users and enthusiasts do have TV cards

Find out all the results in two weeks time, more details on the award show coming soon

Coming up this week…Simplifi Digital

Ian Dixon — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:49:12 +0000

I am off to Germany (Hildon) again this week again but the show will still be out as normal.

Coming up this week on the Windows Media Center Show is Marty Holloway from Simplifi Digital a company specialising in high quality audio amps for Windows Media Center

Also I have an interview with Cathy Page of KMS software talking about some of there fun products for Media Center including World Trivia and MCE-Sudoku, and I have 10 copies of MCE-Sudoku to give away

And you have until Thursday to vote in the Media Center Show Awards, my web site has been down this weekend but it is back up and running now

Backup your recorded TV with mceBackup

Ian Dixon — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 10:52:33 +0000

I have updated mceBackup so that it can also backup your recorded tv content as well as your scheduled recorded TV settings .

So if you have another hard drive or another server mceBackup will copy your recorded TV as part of the backup schedule

It’s still in beta but feel free to try it and please let me know how you get on

Download mceBackup Beta 1.02

Media Center Sandbox

Ian Dixon — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 16:30:35 +0000

Charlie Owen just sent me this link http://www.mediacentersandbox.com/

There is just a coming soon message on there at the moment.

I wonder what it is? My guess is that it’s either a playground for Vista Media Center testing or some kind of community site for Media Center developers.

What do you think?

Xbox 360 Not Likely To See Divx Support

Ian Dixon — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:59:28 +0000

According to Major Nelson the reason the XBOX 360 doesn’t support DIVX is that DIVX is used a lot for watching copied DVD’s and therefore may never support DIVX. I think managed copies with HD-DVD is what Microsoft is betting on. I can understand Microsoft are reluctant to support a format that is used a hell of a lot for watching downloaded movies but it’s a shame as it’s a great format for reducing video file size while retaining quality.

Listen to Major Nelson on his XBOX podcast

Coming up this week …Mediapoint

Ian Dixon — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 08:57:43 +0000

Coming up this week on the Media Center Show is Justin Derry CEO of Mediapoint. We will be talking about Media Connect a new service for transfering and sharing Photo’s and digital media with friends and family.

I will have email in to the show and an update on the Media Center Show Awards

mac Mini as a home entertainment system complete with Frontrow 2.0

Ian Dixon — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 14:18:28 +0000

According to Think Secret Apple could be relaunching the mac Mini as a home entertainment system complete with Frontrow 2.0 and a DVR

“new Mac mini project, code-named Kaleidoscope, will feature an Intel processor and include both Front Row 2.0 and TiVo-like DVR functionality.”

Given the traction the iPod has this could be strong competition for Windows Media Center especially if the price point is good, it could also include a iPod dock so selling it even more to the iPod lovers

For me it won’t get near the function of Media Center but the average non geek user it may be attractive.

Full Article here

Media Center Show Gear

Ian Dixon — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:50:02 +0000

In time for Christmas and CES I have had my first go at creating Media Center Show merchandise.

So you can get Media Center T-Shirts, mugs,caps and lots of other stuff

Check out the store on CafePress HERE

If you have any feedback please let me know, and if you buy a t-shirt let me know!

Podcasting from CES 2006

Ian Dixon — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 14:35:54 +0000

In January its the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. CES is biggest Consumer electronics show in the world with exhibitors from all over the home electronics.
So I will be podcasting from CES, so if you have an interesting Media Center product you want to talk or just meet up and say hi get in touch isdixon at gmail.com

More info on CES

Coming up this week….XBOX 360 Interview

Ian Dixon — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 09:28:47 +0000

Got a busy week this week, first off I am off to Düsseldorf till Thursday, then I have to get this week show out, and this week Todd Bowra from Microsoft is on the show talking about the extender function of the XBOX 360.

This is a key part of Microsoft’s strategy for the home and a force in driving Media Center adoption.

So not much blogging this week

Oh and don’t forget the Media Center Awards

Microsoft and CableLabs Announce Agreement to Enable High-Definition Digital Cable Programming

Ian Dixon — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:17:21 +0000

Looks like Vista is going to get cable card support

Notice it say “one way”, so no pay per view

Future versions of Media Center PCs to receive digital cable programming without the need for a cable set-top box.

Microsoft Corp. and Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs®) today announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows® Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame.

These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCARD™ module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their personal computer and throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices, such as Xbox 360™, while protecting cable operators’ investments in high-value content in a digital environment. Microsoft is working closely with CableLabs to document final approval of Windows Media® Digital Rights Management (DRM) as a content protection technology for OpenCable™ products that receive one-way cable content under the terms of this agreement.

link

Microsoft and CableLabs Announce Agreement to Enable High-Definition Digital Cable Programming

The Media Center Show Awards

Ian Dixon — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 13:29:48 +0000

The vote page for the Media Center Show Awards is up today.

The aim of the awards is to hightlight and give some recognition to the great work done in the Media Center community.

Orb Networks are sponsoring the awards, so there is a prize of $100 Amazon.com vouchers for the winner of the best non-commercial application and $50 for Best Enthusiast Media Center Blog

Also if you vote you get the chance to win a $50 Amazon voucher thanks to Orb Networks. Just fill your email address in at the bottom of the vote form. (two winners)

This is my first stab at awards so let me know if you have any feedback

Voting closes December 9th so get voting!

To vote go to Vote Page

Coming up this week….Help for Roll Up 2 problems

Ian Dixon — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:16:22 +0000

Coming up this week.

Aaron Stebner setup guy from the eHome team at Microsoft is coming on the show to talk about problems and solutions on installing Update Roll Up 2.

We will also be talking about Setup / Installer issues in general as well as all the Media Center news and emails

Show 31, out Thursday

Coming up this week….

Ian Dixon — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 13:43:19 +0000

Coming up this week on the Media Center Show

Ed Bott Windows Expert, blogger and now Media Center blogger talks to me about Media Center, Cable, Vista and Office 12
I have email sent in to the show (isdixon@gmail.com) and a round up of all the news with Orb Networks

In the mean time check out my blog for the latest news (there are a bunch of posts today)

Oh and there will be more details on the Media Center Show Awards

The show should be out Thursday

Microsoft Media Center Vs Apple FrontRow - My thoughts

Ian Dixon — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:46:10 +0000

There is an ongoing debate about Media Center v Apple’s Frontrow, so here are my thoughts.

Om Malik and Charlie Owen have traded comments about it, my thoughts are:

1) What is the point of the 10′ app with out the PVR functions. Ok internet downloadable content is coming but the single element of Media Center that sold it to my wife was the PVR functions. I would not spend the time and effort to get a home entertainment system running if I was still using VHS . I don’t even know when the motor racing is on, it just turns up in my recorded TV :)

2) the 2nd most important thing for me is the developer story and Front Row misses that. It’s not just that I am a developer, even if I wasn’t it still would be critical for me as a user. I love the 3rd party applications that have been developed for Media Center. Being able to check the weather, read RSS feeds, voice control your PC, Home automation etc. All developers need to do is download the SDK and your away. There is a ton of source code on the Media Center blogs.

So Media Center and Frontrow should not be spoken in the same sentence, its like comparing apples with oranges ;)

Ian Dixon - MVP!

Ian Dixon — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 09:03:50 +0000

Not got an official email yet but I got my MVP welcome pack last night, so it must be true, I am a MVP (Windows - Media Center)

It’s a fantastic honour and I am so please that the Media Center Show is being recognised.

As with all awards there are people to thanks , so get ready for me to shed a tear as I read out my speech

I want to thank all the listeners to the show and anybody that has got in touch via email or Skype.

A massive thanks to the guys at Microsoft: Charlie Owen, Sean Alexander,Matt Goyer and the rest of the eHome team, oh and Mardella Brekke

A big thanks to all the guest on the show and to Cameron and Mick over at TPN for providing the hosting facility’s and tech support, Garry Whittaker being the “expert” on the forums, and Orb for working with the show.

And of course my wife for putting up with me spending many an evening editing and recording the shows

Big Thanks to all!

Waveexpress add RSS Video support to TVTonic

Ian Dixon — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:51:04 +0000

Waveexpress have updated TVTonic to include RSS support. So you can subscribe to video blogs like Channel 9 and watch then in Media Center

For more information on what TVTonic is check out my interview I did with Michael Sprague (president of Waveexpress) on the Windows Media Center Show back in May

So Thomas Hawk can watch Channel 9 videos on his Media Center box :)

details for your press release:

The latest enhancement to the Wavexpress TVTonic service is for the inclusion of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) content. RSS is a popular Internet XML format designed for sharing headlines and syndicating other web content, such as news, community sites and personal weblogs. RSS is the syndication format behind podcasting and is used by an ever growing number of video bloggers. Through RSS, users can subscribe to video feeds from thousands of publishers, large and small

“We’ve heard from our customers that they want quick and easy access to a wide range of on-demand digital entertainment content through their Media Center PCs” said Dave Mendlen, director of Windows Consumer Marketing at Microsoft Corp. “Wavexpress’ RSS capability offers customers the flexibility they want to customize their entertainment and enjoy a broad range of digital entertainment options.”

More details on there site HERE and you can download TVTonic from here (and it’s in Online Spotlight)

Orb Networks joins the Show!

Ian Dixon — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 07:58:25 +0000

I have the pleasure in announcing that Orb Networks have joined the Windows Media Center Show :)

Orb are not just advertising on the show, we will be working together to make it better your listeners to communicate with the show and new ways of listening to the show on any internet device.

So there will be more to come in the next few weeks.

I can’t tell you how happy I am to be working with Orb the a great product, Ian McCarthy was on the show a few weeks (listen to that here)

The deal starts this with this weeks show

Here is the official bit:

To promote its service to media center users, Orb has just signed a three-month advertising deal with a podcast on The Podcast Network. Orb Networks provides spontaneous access to a person’s music, live television, videos, photos and other digital content, at any time from any device that can connect to the Internet.

Ian McCarthy, vice president of product marketing at Orb, said the company was very excited about working with The Media Center Show, the most popular media center podcast. “They have an audience of early technology adopters who understand the value of having control of their digital content.” McCarthy continued, “This podcast is the perfect approach for us to reach ideal Orb users, and they are Media Center owners.”

Cameron Reilly, a Director of The Podcast Network,said his company has enjoyed working with Orb in order to foster a deeper conversation with their marketplace.

“Ian Dixon (the producer/host of The Media Center Show on TPN) has had Orb executives on the show a couple of times in the past to talk about their product. We agreed that there were significant opportunities to expand the relationship,” Reilly said.

“Podcasts attract smaller, but higher value audiences, than more traditional media formats. Podcasting audiences are passionate about the subject-matter of a particular show, so advertisers are certain that they hitting their target customers,” he also said.

The initial agreement between Orb and TPN is for three months starting October 2005.

This weeks show

Ian Dixon — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 11:18:15 +0000

Just thought I would let you know, this weeks Windows Media Center show will be out 9pm (UK) Friday

As well as email sent in to the show, Media Center news and part two of Garry Whittaker’s report from Smart home zones at the London Home building and renovating show I have special guest coming on the show that has some important stuff to talk about…..

So look out for the show Friday.

Oh and I have some great shows planned, more details next week

Ask your DRM questions on the show

Ian Dixon — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 08:53:57 +0000

Next week I will be recording a DRM special for the Windows Media Center Show.
DRM (Digital Rights Management) is going to be a very hot topic (if it’s not already) in the future as Cable Card comes to Media Center in Vista. Also Vista could feature new forms of DRM

So I really need your input. Are you worried about not being able to get fair access to your content or do you think that DRM should be tighter? Send your question in to me isdixon@gmail.com and I will try and include it in the show
Or call the show Skype line “MediaCenterShow”

Vista Media Center PDC Session Slides

Ian Dixon — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 12:49:40 +0000

Charlie Owen posted his PDC session on developing for Media Center for download

It talks about developing for the 10 foot interface with Vista.
Windows Presentation Foundation layer looks like its going to be a fantastic way of developing for Media Center.
Plus it looks like there is a new managed api for Media Center.

So check out here
Plus there are some other good links on Charlie’s post