By the way, this was the major factor for me in decision to upgrade my HTPC to Vista (that particular PC runs 99% of the time as a Media Center console, with occasional web browsing and email applications).

Luckily, this trend will continue in the next Microsoft’s OS, codenamed Windows 7. So, what’s new in the next Media Center (MC7)?

• As we all already know by now, the digital TV age is coming Feb. 17 2009 (if you didn’t know, read here). Support for digital cable channels and clear QAM is pretty painful in Vista, but it will be natively integrated to MC7, with support for up to 4 CableCard tuners. No support for SAT though, sorry folks.
• The EPG continues to evolve, and it will finally show all listings in the uniform way. SD and HD presentations of the same show will be listed as one and you are free to chose which one to watch or record. EPG will also feature thumbnails and provide more ways to customize it to your watching habits.
• Support for touch screens. Windows 7 will feature multi-touch technology (yes, as in iPhone) and MC7 will optimize its UI for touch, provided you have appropriate hardware.
• More IPTV! Even if you won’t have a TV tuner or a cable outlet nearby, there will be plenty of viewing choices from MSNBC and other providers. For MSNBC News you will be able to jump right to the story you are interested in instead of watching the entire news block. IPTV contents will also be integrated into EPG, so you’ll have access to Movies, Concerts, Music Videos, etc, right from the Guide.
• Easier navigation for recorded shows. As you drag the “show progress” slider, a small thumbnail on top of it will help you find the right spot.
• Live / recorded shows could be accessed directly from the Start menu.

I might have missed something here or maybe new features will be added later on as Windows 7 progresses to it’s release in late Q409 or early 2010. In any case I have my sights on this, so please come by often to find out what’s going on in MC7 or visit Green Button and other communities listed in the Links for more information.

Maui is a new all-in-one Media Center platform from AMD. The existing AMD Live! platform was enhanced with new components in graphics and sound. Specifically in the audio department you get Class D amplifier with Dolby Tru HD, DTS HD, discrete amplification or pre-output HDMI 1.3 with audio and component video options. The new platform also benefits from AMD Phenom X4 quad core processor and ATI TV Wonder 650 tuner, which as ATI claims “enhances on-screen content, improving color accuracy and providing crisp lines and high-definition images”.

With all these updates Maui handles Blu-ray at 1080p and 7.1 surround-sound with ease. And with all these on-board bells and whistles it runs cool and threfore quiet too.

Several hardware manufacturers already committed to this new AMD platform with Maui-based product releases scheduled to market as soon as Q1 09 with prices starting in the upper $1000. Sweet!

Maui Zaui is a trademark of Round Table pizza. Other product names are trademarks of their respective holders.

Source: CE Pro

Update: The Maui platform-compliant MSI Media Live DIVA motherboard combo specials are available from NewEgg right here for about $300.

CEPro.com just published a list of 30 blu-ray players ranging in price from lower $200 to a cool $3000 (Sony HES-V1000). Check out the story at 30 Blu-ray Players For Your Holiday List. Some newer players even implement HD video download services, like Netflix. Look for presence of Ethernet port on the back of the player. These players can also download additional information (cast, features, etc.) for the movie and do firmware updates right from the Net. A very useful feature.

Also, lots of stores are dropping prices on Blu-ray movies this holiday season, so don’t miss out to get your favorites in crystal clear high-def quality. Check Holiday Blu-ray Bargains at J&R ($5 BD-DVD promotion ends 12/6), Wal-Mart and of course the Amazon for huge selection of BD movies and TV shows.

“It uses the familiar touch-screen interface and fits in your pocket so you can carry it with you all over the house.”  It lets you control what music is playing in every room in your house (provided you have ZonePlayers installed in all those rooms). The interface looks great and the volume controls allow you to set different volume levels in different rooms.

It also offers support for the most popular music services such as Best Buy™ Digital Music Store, Last.fm, Napster®, Pandora®, Rhapsody® 3.0+, SIRIUS® Internet Radio, and downloads from any service offering DRM-free tracks.

The application is getting rave reviews, so if you own a Sonos system, go update your Sonos System Software to version 2.7, and then download the free Sonos Controller for iPhone application from the Apple’s App Store.

Screen shots after the break…

Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow includes four gadgets—TV, Music, Pictures and Video, and Now Playing—that you can use to control most Media Center functions from a SideShow-compatible device.

I wrote about these cool gadgets a while back. And now you can get the official release. Yeay! If you are a lucky owner of SideShow-ready device and you have Media Center, it’s a must have download.

Download locations:
Install the 32-bit version
Install the 64-bit version

Oh, I wish my iPhone 3G was SideShow-compatible. May be, some one, some day, will come up with a bridge between SideShow and native iPhone API. For now I resort to using Tight VNC server on my Vista Media Center and Mocha VNC Lite on iPhone’s side. This approach actually works pretty well. The only problem is that when Media Center goes full-screen, the VNC client on iPhone goes black - it doesn’t support this video mode. Though, I found a simple workaround for it. I run Media Center application in Windowed mode, just resized to cover all screen.

I tried a few other solutions for remote access and control of Media Center, including those from Niveus, Orb, and others. So far I didn’t fall in love with any of them. Though Orb was pretty good, especially its first version, which was not overloaded with bulky and quirky GUI.

If you know of any good remote control solutions for Tablet PC or iPhone, I would really like to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

Life|ware is a software for controlling home automation devices such as: Lighting, Thermostats, Security alarms, Cameras, Window Shades, Audio Devices. Life|ware is seamlessly integrated into a Windows Media Center PC, converging home control with digital entertainment via a simple remote control interface.

AVAD is one of the largest US distributors for custom installation industry. They have tried other Media Center based solutions in the past, namely Niveus products, “but few of the boxes were sold and the two companies parted ways”.

Life|ware on the other hand recently had great success at Disney’s Innoventions Dream Home where they’ve partnered with Microsoft and HP to showcase what’s possible with the Media Center solution “done right”. The Dream Home is a 5,000-plus square-foot home stuffed with “more than 2,500 pieces of digital media on the Dream Home network available to all devices in the structure. This includes pictures, original video, music, graphics, recorded television and movies”.

With the economic downturn Windows Media Center attracts more interest from consumers as a low-cost alternative to high-end home theater installations. Windows Media Center is available on all Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate systems as well as older Windows XP MCE platforms.

For more information see:
AVAD
Life|ware
Windows Media Center

The TVs will be able to play DivX files directly via USB slots or via Ethernet connections certified by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).

DivX says these TVs are expected to hit the market nationwide in early 2009. Samsung already offers DivX certified components, including DVD players.

Source: CE Pro

This Drive Holds
- 424 two-hour DVD-quality movies or
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Reduced Power Idle Modes
Unique to Hitachi drives, the Deskstar 7K1000 features three advanced low-power idle modes – active, unload and low-power. Together, they reduce power consumption at the drive level up to 20%, optimize non-operational latency and lower drive temperature for cooler system operation.

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