Saturday, February 21, 2009

About GeekTonic

The GeekTonic Blog


Since 2006, GeekTonic has covered media-focused technology.  Any gadget, tool or website related to TV, Video, Movies, Music, Photos and other media is covered at GeekTonic along with the media itself.  You’ll find a very strong focus on Home Theater PC’s, media players and any similar device on GeekTonic along with the media (Television, Movies, Music, Photos) you access on those devices.  Select content on GeekTonic is contributed to ZatzNotFunny!, an excellent and very popular digital media blog run by Dave Zatz.

Why Call it GeekTonic?

GeekTonic is a name that was born out of a combination of things.  Tonic(water) is known by many (myself included) as the thing you you add to Gin and Vodka (you might notice the lime in the GeekTonic logo).  But tonic also has that old-time therapeutic meaning too.  I’m a self-described geek (proud to be so by the way) without any programming training, but with a very strong passion for all things technology. 
I think the “tonic for your inner geek” tagline really describes what I’m going for with GeekTonic.  Whether you are a full-blown tech-geek or just a “regular” person who is interested in technology, GeekTonic’s purpose is to help you wade through the world that is making media more accessible and powerful through gadgets we all love.  HTPCs, MP3 players, media players, place shifting etc.  You’ll find plenty of posts here that introduce you to new media-technology, but you’ll also learn by way of in-depth articles, reviews and conversations. 


About Brent Evans

Brent is passionate about technology and more specifically media-focused technology.  Many call me the following:  a gadget junky, geek, nerd, early adopter, media consumer etc.  My interest in technology goes back to my youth when I was fascinated by the Atari 2600, Commodore 64 computer and many other early gaming and computing devices.  I’ve been a Home Theater PC user since 2004 when I first used Meedio to transform my computer into a TV-connected media player.  Many years later that hobby turned into a passion and more importantly a practical use of my home computer.
Brent resides in Kansas City.  Brent’s day job is mostly unrelated to what you find on GeekTonic.  Brent’s opinions do not represent those of his employer/s.

Why does Brent Blog?

This is a question I was asked many, many times – especially in the beginning.  Honestly, at first I began blogging to document the many things I was learning as I explored media-technology.  GeekTonic was at first pretty much a journal of many things I discovered and learned along the way.  This helps explain why you might find many off-topic blog posts in earlier years.  A few examples:
There are several other examples like those, but you’ll find more recent articles on GeekTonic focused on the media and media gadget topics that brought you to GeekTonic in the first place such as these more recent articles:

Blogging is still my way of sharing with others what I’m learning.  I do it because I love sharing.  Any advertising earnings are going right back into the blog so it’s definitely not for the money ;)  If your not enjoying GeekTonic, I’m doing something wrong and hope you’ll let me know.

Want to Guest Blog on GeekTonic?

Do you love Media Technology too?  Want to write an article for GeekTonic?  I  encourage you to contact me with your ideas.  Guidelines for guest blogging and more information can be found here.


Editorial Policies

GeekTonic does not allow pay-for-posts or accept payment for product reviews. Reviewed hardware provided by vendors is disclosed as such and returned to vendors, given away through site contests, or purchased after publication.  Reviewed software provided by vendors is disclosed as such and uninstalled or purchased after publication. In those cases where products that are already owned are reviewed, that fact is specifically disclosed in that review.
Personal data is not shared with third parties.


Subscriptions Available

GeekTonic has several ways to subscribe to content:


  • Full GeekTonic RSS Feed – Don’t miss any article on GeekTonic – subscribe to the full, RSS feed for GoogleReader or any other RSS reader.
  • Subscribe to GeekTonic by Email - Daily E-mail Newsletter – Each morning (if there are posts from the past 24 hours) you’ll receive an e-mail with the days past articles from GeekTonic.  You can unsubscribe at any time – no e-mail information is shared with 3rd parties EVER.  (Same info as the full RSS feed, but receive it daily via e-mail)
  • GeekTonic TV Premiering and Returning Television Shows – Each Sunday GeekTonic provides a complete rundown of the premieres and returning from hiatus TV shows so you don’t miss setting them to record on your DVRs.  This is a weekly post whenever there are new shows starting on TV.
  • Netflix Watch Now Recommendations – New Netflix streaming titles with GeekTonic’s picks for the week.  This is a weekly post of ONLY the Netflix streaming movies/show picks for the week.

Comments & Community

All reader comments, questions, and tips are welcomed!  Blatant spam comments will be deleted, but all other conversation is encouraged. Communication with readers is the point of the GeekTonic community.
Beyond comments, you will also find GeekTonic on Twitter.  I encourage you to follow me on Twitter – I really enjoy the dialog we can have on twitter beyond the normal blog comments.

Vendors

GeekTonic wants to hear about your new products and services so we can share them with the GeekTonic community.  More importantly, if you’re willing to provide a demo product or early access GeekTonic will provide the early and in-depth coverage you are looking for for your product.  Please feel free to contact me to tell me (or better yet show me) what you have.
If you would like to donate your product for review or promotion, you’ll find GeekTonic handles giveaways in a professional manner while providing considerable buzz and exposure to the product.  Contests & giveaways are a very popular way to get GeekTonic readers interested in your product.

Press

Interested in my opinion or experience with a particular media-tech topic? Please feel free to contact me – I’m available for comment via print, TV or radio.

Email

To keep the spam down, I don’t show my e-mail initially, but you can contact me via this e-mail form and I will respond.  I receive quite a bit of e-mail so make that subject line very descriptive.


Advertisers

If you are interested in advertising with GeekTonic, I offer several flexible advertising options for you to reach your audience. All advertising needs to be focused on the topic of GeekTonic such as media technology and media in general (see above for more description of the focus). 
GeekTonic does not allow pay-per-post or textlinks, but banner campaigns, contest-promotions, and discount promotions are some of the many ways advertising is integrated into the blog.  Contact me for more information if interested in advertising with GeekTonic or GeekTonic Deals


Stats

GeekTonic started from very humble beginnings, but has experienced drastic growth over the past year.  As of February 2009, average monthly pageviews have exceeded 100,000 per month.  The RSS subscriber base is now exceeding 1,000 subscribers.  I owe this success to the readers and GeekTonic community and will strive to continue to provide the content and community that brought you the users to GeekTonic in the first place.

Copyright and Fair Use

If you wish to Link, Quote or Reprint from Geek Tonic in whole or in part, please read this copyright policy:

  • If you want link from your site to Geek Tonic you are welcome to use short quotes from Geek Tonic in your website or blog as long as proper credit is given. But please quote only short excerpts - up to one paragraph - from the site when you make the link.You must credit Geek Tonic when you quote. Always provide a hyperlink (full URL) to the article where the quote is from - not just the homepage. Copy quoted material exactly, enclose it in quotations marks, and mention Geek Tonic immediately before or after the quote.
  • For Print media: The full web address of the referred to post must be printed.
  • If you want to reprint an article from Geek Tonic on your web site, blog or in your publication, please contact me with your request. Articles from Geek Tonic can be reprinted only with permission from it's owner in advance. You may not republish an entire Geek Tonic post without advance approval.
  • Copyright Violation and Misuse We take plagiarism very seriously. If we discover a website, blog or any internet sit republishing the Geek Tonic RSS feeds or website content illegally, A formal complaint will be filed with the offending sites advertising partners (such as Google Adsense etc) and the DMCA department of their web hosting company.

GeekTonic Week In Review

Another busy week is complete.  In case you missed anything, here is a summary of the past week's news and stories on GeekTonic.

 
Stay tuned for more in-depth content for Media Gadget Fans at GeekTonic.com.  If you’re in to the Twitter thing, you can follow me on twitter under the name GeekTonic

Friday, February 20, 2009

Netflix Watch Now Movies Worth Watching - Episode 6

It's Friday again (thank goodness!) and that means it's time for the GeekTonic "Netflix Watch Now Movies Worth Watching" feature.

NEW FEATURE:  You can now subscribe to the GeekTonic Netflix Watch Now Movie Recommendations RSS Feed

If you're looking for some inexpensive entertainment, Netflix's movie streaming service is a great place to start.  All you need is at least a one-out-at-a-time Netflix subscription and a Netflix Watch-Now Playback device or compatible browser.  Each Friday, I'll be highlighting a selection of newly added Netflix Watch-Now titles you can check out - I'll try to screen out the worst of the bunch & just leave the better quality ones or at minimum some of the "broader appeal" titles.

(Disclaimer:  Not all of these will appeal to everyone)

 

MacArthur


Gregory Peck stars in a biographical and semi-documentary look at the career of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Centering on MacArthur's World War II and Korean War experiences, the film examines his 1942 recall from the Philippines by President Franklin Roosevelt, his triumphant return to liberate that nation from the Japanese, and his often abrasive relationship with President Truman, which led to MacArthur's eventual dismissal from the army.

Penelope


Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci) is cursed, and the only way out of it is to fall in love with someone of suitable stock. But how can she possibly find her soul mate when she's sequestered inside her family's sprawling estate with only her parents (Catherine O'Hara and Richard E. Grant) to keep her company? Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon co-produced this unconventional fairy tale about a girl who bucks convention to make her own happy ending.

 CJ7


Dicky (Jiao Xu) yearns for the hottest new toy, a robotic dog. Instead, his poor father (Stephen Chow) presents him with a strange green ball he found in a junkyard. Turns out, the unassuming gift is actually a marooned alien endowed with unearthly powers. But is Dicky ready for the responsibility of a pet that's capable of granting his every whim? Director Chow lends his off-kilter sensibility to this fable about being careful what you wish for.

Humboldt County


After his father (Peter Bogdanovich) fails him, med student Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong) spends a night drowning his sorrows and awakens in a tiny community on Northern California's Lost Coast, where his hosts, Jack (Brad Dourif) and Rosie (Frances Conroy), live off the grid and raise marijuana. Peter's totally out of his element in this town of counterculture horticulturists, which may be just the reality check he needs. Fairuza Balk co-stars.

A Dog of Flanders


When destitute orphan Nello (Jeremy James Kissner) adopts a dog that's been cruelly treated, the pooch becomes the boy's constant companion through many difficulties, including an unfair defeat in a local art competition. Disheartened when his best friend is forbidden to see him, Nello and his faithful pup hit the road, where they learn other life lessons en route. Kevin Brodie directs this adaptation of the classic children's story.

The Associate


When Laurel (Whoopi Goldberg) learns that her less-smart and sexist protégé, Frank (Tim Daly), is promoted, she quits to start her own company -- only to find out that the male-dominated Wall Street world can't take an African American woman seriously. And when her older, white, male business partner becomes the financial district's favored whiz, things really take a turn for the worse. Dianne Wiest co-stars in this comedy.

Airborne


When his parents leave for an extended trip, California surfing enthusiast Mitchell (Shane McDermott) goes to live with relatives in Cincinnati, where he has trouble adapting to the chilly environment -- and the cool reception he receives from his new classmates. With only his cousin (Seth Green) as a friend, Mitchell endures endless taunting. But things begin to change when he wows everyone with his rollerblading skills. Jack Black co-stars.

Monty Python's Flying Circus


From 1969-1974, the world of television was turned upside down by a troupe of British comedians with a penchant for mockery and cross-dressing. The players of Monty Python -- John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle and Terry Jones -- made their mark on pop culture with their combination of wit, ingenuity, silliness and brilliant timing. Flying Circus is a collection of some of Python's most memorable sketches.

Rory O'Shea Was Here


Although he has muscular dystrophy, Rory O'Shea (James McAvoy) refuses to surrender to the desperation of his life and instead embraces the potential in every day. When he moves into the Carrigmore Home for the Disabled and befriends the deeply bored Michael (Steven Robertson), a young man with cerebral palsy, Rory infuses his pal's life with renewed hope even as he struggles with his own demons.

 

MythBusters from Discovery Channel - One of my favorites!

Is it real or is it ridiculous? Special effects experts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage are the MythBusters, and they're back to prove -- or disprove -- the urban legends that keep everyone asking, "Can that possibly be true?"

MythBusters: Collection 1

MythBusters: Collection 2

MythBusters: Collection 3

 

Extreme Engineering Collections from Discovery Channel:

You'll marvel at some of the most impressive engineering feats from around the world with this fascinating Discovery Channel series. Each episode features a major project involving moving massive amounts of earth or erecting enormous structures. Topics include widening the Panama Canal, tunneling under the Alps, building a network of immense floodgates in Venice, constructing a gigantic Danish container ship and rebuilding the Oakland Bay Bridge.

Extreme Engineering: Collection 1

Extreme Engineering: Tokyo's Sky City

Extreme Engineering: The Snohvit Arctic Gas Processing Platform

Extreme Engineering: Subways in America

Extreme Engineering: Offshore Oil Platforms

Extreme Engineering: The El Cajon Dam

Extreme Engineering: Millau Viaduct

Extreme Engineering: Gotthard Tunnel

Extreme Engineering: Holland's Barriers to the Sea

Extreme Engineering: Excavators

Extreme Engineering: Bridging the Bering Strait

Extreme Engineering: Hong Kong Cable Car

Extreme Engineering: City in a Pyramid

Extreme Engineering: Turning Torso

Extreme Engineering: Cooper River Bridge

Extreme Engineering: Transatlantic Tunnel

Extreme Engineering: Woodrow Wilson Bridge

Extreme Engineering: Dubai Ski Resort

Everest: Beyond the Limit: Season 1

 

Deadliest Catch from Discovery Channel

Robust crews of Alaskan crab fishermen battle the formidable dangers of the Bering Sea in this gripping reality series from the Discovery Channel. Though the rewards are great -- a man can earn enough money to support his family for the entire year in the eight-week season -- the challenges are brutal. The skippers and their crews face 40-foot waves, 700-pound crab pots, frigid temperatures and the constant risk of injury or death

Deadliest Catch: Season 1

Deadliest Catch: Season 2

Deadliest Catch: Season 3

 

American Chopper from Discovery Channel

The Discovery Channel's concocted a winner with "American Chopper," a show featuring transplanted New Yorkers and motorcycle experts Paul Teutul Sr. and his son, Paul Jr., head of Orange County Choppers. Under pressure from massive deadlines, the two clash and confer through 13 episodes in this first season of the series. Watch them create black widow spiders, race cars and New York-inspired masterpieces out of ordinary bikes.

American Chopper: Season 1

American Chopper: Season 2

American Chopper: Season 3

 

Other New Netflix Streaming Movies for this week:

That's it for this week.  Let us know in the comments if you loved or hated any of these.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Streaming-Only Netflix Plan in the Works?

I subscribe to the one-out-at-a-time, unlimited Netflix Plan to keep the cost down (currently $8.99 per month), still get a physical DVD every week and to have unlimited access to the Netflix Online Streaming.  Some who use the Roku or XBox360 might wonder why there isn't a streaming-only plan for a little less money.  According to an interview with Bloomberg News, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is considering that very thing.

Hastings didn't reveal how much they might charge for a streaming-only subscription with Netflix, but he did say that this type of play could arrive as soon as "late this year" or 2010.  The question then would be, how much are customers willing to pay for such a service.  They have definitely upgraded their streaming movie collection, but it's still full of older movies and TV shows.  If they had a "premium" streaming service with newer movies and a larger collection, I'd be willing to pay more and I think others would be to.  What do you think?   Would you pay for an online-streaming-only service from Netflix?

HTPC Wireless Keyboard Roundup Part 1 - BTC 9019urf Review

DSC00826

If you have a computer as part of your Home Theater PC (HTPC) setup there is no doubt a keyboard is an important hardware component for that setup.  But what if that HTPC is in the living room, bedroom or somewhere else in the home - in these situations you want your HTPC to fit in with the home theater environment and therefore most control will happen with your remote control.  Even still, there will be those times when you need a keyboard and mouse to control your computer - either to do maintenance or possibly to type in those longer text searches for instance.  So which keyboard should you choose?  This week, we'll run through some excellent options for compact, wireless keyboards designed exactly for this purpose.  Today's review is the BTC 9019URC Wireless HTPC Keyboard with Joystick Mouse Control.

HTPC Keyboard Review Roundup:

GeekTonic will be reviewing several different wireless Media/HTPC keyboards over the next week:

  1. BTC 9019URF wireless keyboard
  2. Vidabox Premium Wireless HTPC Keyboard with Laser Trackball (coming soon)
  3. Brando USB 2.4Ghz RF Wireless Multimedia Tiny Keyboard (coming soon)
  4. Other HTPC Keyboard Options (coming soon)
  5. Wireless Keyboard Giveaway!

Media Center Keyboards - What's Important?

When you're shopping for media center keyboards the most important factors are as follows:

  1. Price
  2. Must be wireless RF or Bluetooth - range is very important for larger rooms.
  3. Preferably a mouse, trackball, joystick or touch-pad built-in to control mouse functions
  4. Size - smaller is better, but still need to be able to operate the keys.  Not too heavy of course.
  5. Keyboard Layout
  6. Ease of Installation - "syncing" of keyboard with computer etc.

There are many other factors, but those are the most important ones to watch for.

Introduction

The BTC 9019urf HTPC Keyboard is the HTPC keyboard I've used for the past few years so I know it pretty well.  It's a reasonably priced keyboard that handles what you need for Home Theater PCs.  This model has been around a very long time - think 2004 long, but it's still up to the task for my setup.

 

Specifications

  • Weight: 1.98lbs
  • Dimensions: 18.2 x 1.6 x 6.1 inches
  • 32-foot wireless range
  • Uses 4 AA batteries included
  • Battery Life: 1.5 months if used 4 hours a day (mine lasts about 3 months or so with normal use)

What's Included?

The BTC 9019urf HTPC Keyboard arrives in a white cardboard box with lots of bubble wrap

  • 2 x AA Batteries
  • USB Receiver
  • Wireless Keyboard
  • Quick Installation Guide included
  • User Manual included

 

Overview

The BTV 9019URF is made of black plastic.  It looks good and feels very solid - actually I should say IS very solid as I've dropped this keyboard quite a few times over the years and it's never shown so much as a scratch or been affected by my carelessness.  That's a good thing since it will be used in a livingroom or family room and could tend to be knocked around the couch or recliner when the user isn't paying attention.  The first thing you'll realize with this keyboard is the size.  It is not a small keyboard by any means. 

Keyboard next to the SageTV HD100

It doesn't have the number keypad of the desktop keyboards, but the handles on the sides seem to make up for that.  The "handlebars" on this keyboard are quite unique but they really work to make the keyboard manageable in the living room setting.  Another thing you'll notice is the "joystick" on the top-right of the keyboard that is used to control the mouse movement.

 

Installation

Installation as you might expect from a keyboard is very easy.

  1. Install the two AA batteries into the keyboard.
  2. Plug the receiver into to a USB (1.1 or 2.0) port of your computer.
  3. Give it a second to "sync" it almost always does this without any user intervention, but if you happen to have trouble getting the keyboard to respond, you can press the connect button on the receiver and then press the connect button on the top left corner of the keyboard to force the two to communicate with each other.  I've only had to do this one time in the several years of owning the keyboard.

Usage

As you might imagine since I've owned this keyboard for so long, I like the BTC 9019URF quite a bit.

Layout

The BTC 9019URF has your typical, standard keys minus the keypad. There are also 13 media buttons across the top including volume controls, play/pause, rewind, fast forward and stop which are nice for a HTPC setup NOTE: These media keys require that you install special software provided with the keyboard to map those keys (see image below for screen-shot of software)

BTC KeyMaestro

 

The joystick mouse responds to normal mouse functions (left right etc) and also can act as a left-mouse-click when you push down on the joystick.

DSC00828

Notice the page-up and page-down buttons to the left of the mouse.  VERY useful buttons - you don't realize how useful until you browse the web with your HTPC.   To the right of the joystick is a right-mouse button.  The joystick acts as a left-mouse button when you press down on the joystick with your right thumb.

 

DSC00827

On the left side of the keyboard is another set of right and left-mouse buttons.  Very well thought out layout which works perfectly for me.

 

 

Range

The range is good for an RF wireless keyboard. I can use the keyboard up to 30 feet away with no problems - even with the HTPC and receiver behind a glass cabinet door it worked just fine.  Just know that range can diminish behind wood doors and walls.  One thing I noticed is anytime you have the USB receiver too close to the TV set, range suffers.  I had best results when the receiver was at least a few feet away from the TV.  In many setups this will be a problem since your HTPC is near your TV by design.

BTC Keyboard Receiver

This is the USB Receiver

 

Mouse/Joystick

I call the thumb mouse a "joystick" because that's what it reminds me of.  The joystick takes a little getting used to as it's movement is a little slower than a typical mouse.   You can of course adjust the mouse settings, but in the end I just got used to the different motion of the joystick mouse.  There is a slight delay when you use the mouse before it responds at first - this is another thing that takes some getting used to.  With that said, my family has no problem using the joystick mouse and keyboard.  I believe any HTPC keyboard needs to have a mousepad or some similar ability to control the mouse action built-in as it's a bit unwieldy to use a separate mouse and keyboard while on the couch.  Don't think this "joystick" will work well for games also though - it's really meant for mouse control - nothing more, nothing less.

 

 

P4300914

Conclusion

I have been really happy with this keyboard.  The price was really attractive when I bought it and if you can find it now it's even cheaper.  You'll find that the newer BTC model is more prevalent and has taken care of some of the issues mentioned in this review.  But even with the issues I mention, I've been very satisfied with this keyboard for my HTPC.

Pros:

  • Nice layout for typing
  • Inexpensive
  • Design with handles makes keyboard easy to manage in the livingroom
  • Built in joystick for mouse control


Cons:

  • Large size might be a problem for some
  • Joystick takes some getting used to.  Many will prefer a trackball to the joystick for mouse control
  • Receiver needs to be placed away from the television set or yoiu could experience range issues

 

Note:  The keyboard I'm reviewing here is the older model 9019URF.  There is a newer version 9019IIIurf being sold that is supposedly very similar with a few slight differences.  You can still find this old keyboard, but most likely it will be at surplus stores or used.  I'd still buy one used if the price was low ($40 or less) and it was in excellent condition.

 

Stay tuned to GeekTonic next week for more Keyboard Reviews and two great giveaways.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Hulu Forcing Boxee to Pull Hulu Content

hulu

A very troubling announcement was just made on the Boxee Blog.  Hulu will be pulled from Boxee this Friday as requested by Hulu!

You read that correctly.  According to the Hulu team, they were contacted by Hulu requesting that Boxee remove Hulu from their list of content providers.  This is a very bad PR move on Hulu's part, but based on what the guys at Hulu are saying, this is a direct result of the content providers (isn't Hulu OWNED by those content providers - NBC and NewsCorp?) demanding Boxee be cut off.  I had assumed Hulu would continue to look the other way while hardware and software makers worked to inject Hulu into their devices - as long as the commercials were left intact.  Obviously this is not the case.

This is very bad news for Boxee, for SageTV, and for any of the new plugins cropping up around the web that allow us to get Hulu onto our television sets.  It's an especially tough blow to Boxee as Hulu and Netflix were the cornerstones of the excitement for Boxee in my opinion.  I hope Hulu and those content providers change their minds, but it doesn't sound good at this point.

 

I'll be working to confirm whether any other companies (SageTV, DivX Connected, PlayOn etc) that access or plan to access the Hulu streams have been contacted by Hulu or plan on just changing their Hulu plans.  Very disappointing day indeed.

This would be the second time Hulu has gotten tough and it sounds like it won't be the last time.  It's about time for the TV industry to realize they will evolve or go into a real free-fall just like the music industry did.

 

Read more at the Boxee Blog

And more at the Hulu Blog  Be sure and let Hulu know your displeasure by commenting on their blog post and on the Hulu Twitter account

Hulu Versus TV.com - It's On!

Are you one of the many fans of Hulu, the popular online TV streaming website jointly owned by NBC and News Corp?  Perhaps you've heard of TV.com's recent venture into TV streaming now that CBS purchased TV.com. 

Well, it has been confirmed that Hulu.com has pulled its content from TV.com (see screen-grab of Heroes Episode from TV.com showing unavailable)  in what looks like the beginning of an "online streaming war" between Hulu and TV.com

TV.com Battle with Hulu

Since CBS re-launched the TV.com website in January with the new social features, content and streaming, the site thrived with a 263% increase in unique viewers.  I'm guessing Hulu wants to keep their popularity and maintain Hulu as THE online TV streaming site.

via Cnet

MythTV versus SageTV

SageTV Logo MythTV Logo

There are many varieties of Home Theater PC (HTPC) programs that work on Linux including MythTV, XBMC, Elisa, Boxee, LinuxMCE, Freevo and even SageTV.  Even with all of those options, by far the most popular Linux HTPC program over the past years has been MythTV.  Now I have zero experience with MythTV and very limited experience with Linux.  If you're intrigued by the thought of HTPCs on a Linux computer, you definitely should check out the "MythTV vs. SageTV Smackdown" series at MissingRemote.

John Cabaugh, a long-time Linux user chronicles his experiences of both MythTV and SageTV and provides a very detatiled run-down of the pros and cons of each - all from a Linux user and HTPC user perspective.  I'm not a linux user, but found the articles extremely interesting.

Missing Remote's MythTV vs. SageTV Smackdown - Part I

Missing Remote's MythTV vs. SageTV Smackdown - Part II

How IPTV will Compete with the Media Center Wow Factor

As readers of Geektonic already know, I'm a Home Theater PC enthusiast in every way imaginable.  So you might think I would say that HTPCs will "rule the TV" of the future right?  Well I actually think that is a battle we'll see happen over the next three years where either Home Theater/Media Center computers and CE devices will go head-to-head with IPTV for the masses.  There is no clear winner at this point, but I can see a time when IPTV will make a very, very competitive move on even the most advanced HTPCs.  The purpose of this article is to introduce why IPTV will be a force for HTPC software makers in the very near future.
IPTV currently is pretty rare,

What is IPTV?

IPTV, short for Internet Protocol Television, is a system where a digital television service is delivered to your home via a broadband connection using Internet Protocol.  Instead of being delivered through the traditional broadcast and cable formats, IPTV is sent to the end-user's home using a computer network.  Typically IPTV is bundled with other internet services such as VOIP (voice over IP), internet access etc.  You probably know IPTV from the AT&T U-Verse and other IPTV services being sold to customers.

Microsoft Set to Gain from IPTV with Mediaroom?

You might think Microsoft could lose their investment in Media Center if IPTV takes off right?  Well, actually Microsoft has a pretty significant investment in IPTV via their Mediaroom product.  At CES this year, Microsoft announced and demonstrated several new features to their IPTV product.

Features of MediaRoom IPTV Product demonstrated at CES:

  • Restart Anytime - viewers can rewind or restart currently airing preogram even if you hadn't selected it to record or had been watching another channel
  • Live Anytime - basically a network PVR (stored on the cable companies server) that allows the viewer to scroll back through the program guide (EPG) to view programs that have previously been transmitted - not from the "recorded shows" but right from a EPG even when you didn't set it to record.
  • Download anytime - viewers can download programs to their set-top boxes for those with "slower Internet connections" to view at a later time - when bandwidth is at a premium.
  • Widgets - check out the video below to see examples of how content providers could integrated extra features (and advertising) into a program whether it be live or prerecorded.
  • Multiple TV angles - think sporting events where you could switch from different views to see what you want to see for that sporting event.
Watch the demonstration below to get the full impact of what IPTV could offer.


CES 2009: Mediaroom is the real deal of IPTV

I am and continue to be a HTPC enthusiast and I believe the best way for the enthusiast is to have as much control over content as possible, but I can see a day when the content providers and the cable/satellite companies move towards IPTV and "control" that content more than they do today.  And at the same time offer enough power via the IPTV interface to convince many HTPC users to just give up the fight and go with IPTV.  Don't get me wrong, I think HTPC is the way to go and both could exist together, but its good to know what else is out there.   Anyone using Uverse or another IPTV provider?  Let us know in the comments what you think of the service good and bad.

video and some information via on10.net

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Hauppauge Working With Microsoft on Windows 7 HD-PVR Support


Great News for Windows 7 Media Center Users (or even future MC users) - after hearing rumors for weeks, I've received confirmation from a reliable source that Hauppauge is working directly with Microsoft to ensure the Hauppauge HD-PVR will work with Windows 7 Media Center.  A driver to make this happen is in the works and the Hauppauge team is working to ensure everything works properly including video capture, video playback, EPG support, scheduling of recordings and IR Blaster support.

If you can't wait for the official support, you could always give the third-party addon DVBSBridge we've been telling you about over the past weeks, but if your wanting something a little easier to set up you might want to hold off to get the official Hauppauge driver when it gets released (no official date determined at this point).

Why the Hauppauge HD-PVR Matters?  Access to All TV Channels

The Hauppauge HD-PVR allows you to view and record all channels from a cable/satellite box whether encrypted or not since it uses the analog hole.  Great news for Media Center users because it provides an option for the masses to add HD and digital content to their media center PC even if it's not OEM. 

Now that we know Windows 7 will be getting Hauppauge HD-PVR support, all we have left to wonder about is what we might (or might not) see from DishNetwork (Project Draco anyone) or even DirecTV some time in the future.  Hopefully we'll hear more on those two, but for now it's great to see Media Center getting access to the component video recorder that all other HTPC programs have had for the past year.  Another great sign for Microsoft Media Center's future.
Stay Tuned to GeekTonic for more details as they are available.

February 17th is Here And The DTV Switchover Begins For Some

We've stayed away from talk of the DTV switchover for the most part because of two things:  First, most readers of GeekTonic will be unaffected by the switchover because they already use CableTV, SatelliteTV or Over-the-Air HDTV.  Second, there has been enough confusion to this point thanks to our politicians and bureaucrats.  Still, now that the original switchover date has arrived and some TV stations are switching officially today I thought I'd cover what it means today and who will be affected.

Originally the DTV switchover was to happen today, February 17th for ALL TV stations around the U.S.  Basically, all OTA analog transmission would have been switched off and those whose TVs were grabbing their TV content from their antenna and who don't have either an HDTV tuner or a converter box would get nothing on their TV sets.  Simple right?  it all would have happened on one day, you know you needed to get that converter box, switch to cable or satellite or get a new TV by today.  Well our trusty politicians spent some of their energy confusing the issue by delaying the deadline for the DTV switchover to June 12th, 2009.  Even better this date is simply a deadline so stations could still save a little money by turning off their analog broadcasts before the June 12th deadline if approved by the FCC.

If you are one of those who might be affected, take a gander at the list below sorted by state to see if your local TV station got approval to switch on February 17th.  The list seems to be mostly made up of more rural areas with some exceptions.  If you're in one of these areas let us know in the comments how things are going.  Some stations even switched well before now as well.

 

 

City State Network Call-Sign
MOBILE AL CBS WKRG-TV
MOBILE AL FOX WALA-TV
MOBILE AL NBC WPMI-TV




EL DORADO AR NBC KTVE




BAKERSFIELD CA ABC KERO-TV
BAKERSFIELD CA CBS KBAK-TV
BAKERSFIELD CA NBC KGET-TV
SANTA MARIA CA CBS KCOY-TV
SANTA BARBARA CA ABC KEYT-TV
SAN LUIS OBISPO CA NBC KSBY




PENSACOLA FL ABC WEAR-TV




SIOUX CITY IA ABC KCAU-TV
SIOUX CITY IA CBS KMEG
SIOUX CITY IA FOX KPTH
SIOUX CITY IA NBC KTIV




QUINCY IL NBC WGEM-TV
ROCKFORD IL ABC WTVO
ROCKFORD IL FOX WQRF-TV
ROCKFORD IL NBC WREX-TV
FREEPORT IL CBS WIFR




SOUTH BEND IN CBS WSBT-TV
SOUTH BEND IN NBC WNDU-TV
ELKHART IN FOX WSJV




TOPEKA KS ABC KTKA-TV
TOPEKA KS CBS WIBW-TV
TOPEKA KS NBC KSNT
SALINA KS FOX KAAS-TV
GOODLAND KS CBS KBSL-TV
GARDEN CITY KS ABC KUPK-TV
GARDEN CITY KS NBC KSNG
ENSIGN KS CBS KBSD-TV




BOWLING GREEN KY NBC WNKY




WEST MONROE LA FOX KARD
MONROE LA CBS KNOE-TV
COLUMBIA LA ABC KAQY




NEW BEDFORD MA ABC WLNE-TV
SPRINGFIELD MA NBC WWLP




SALISBURY MD CBS AND FOX WBOC-TV




ALPENA MI CBS WBKB-TV
HANNIBAL MO CBS KHQA-TV




WEST POINT MS FOX WLOV-TV
TUPELO MS NBC WTVA
GREENWOOD MS ABC WABG-TV
GREENVILLE MS CBS WXVT
MERIDIAN MS ABC WTOK-TV
MERIDIAN MS CBS WMDN
MERIDIAN MS NBC WGBC




HARDIN MT FOX KHMT
BILLINGS MT ABC KSVI
BILLINGS MT CBS KTVQ
BILLINGS MT NBC KULR-TV




VALLEY CITY ND CBS KXJB-TV
FARGO ND NBC KVLY-TV
DEVILS LAKE ND ABC WDAZ-TV




SUPERIOR NE FOX KSNB-TV
LINCOLN NE ABC KLKN
LINCOLN NE CBS KOLN
KEARNEY NE ABC KHGI-TV
HAYES CENTER NE ABC KWNB-TV
NORTH PLATTE NE NBC KNOP-TV




BINGHAMTON NY CBS WBNG-TV
BINGHAMTON NY FOX WICZ-TV
BINGHAMTON NY NBC WIVT
NORTH POLE NY NBC WPTZ
WATERTOWN NY ABC WWTI
CARTHAGE NY CBS WWNY-TV




DAYTON OH ABC WKEF
DAYTON OH CBS WHIO-TV
DAYTON OH FOX WRGT-TV
DAYTON OH NBC WDTN
STEUBENVILLE OH NBC WTOV-TV
EUGENE OR ABC KEZI
EUGENE OR CBS KVAL-TV
EUGENE OR FOX KLSR-TV
EUGENE OR NBC KMTR
COOS BAY OR CBS KCBY-TV
COOS BAY OR NBC KMCB




PROVIDENCE RI CBS WPRI-TV
PROVIDENCE RI FOX WNAC-TV
PROVIDENCE RI NBC WJAR




FLORENCE SD CBS KDLO-TV
ABERDEEN SD ABC KABY-TV




SAN ANGELO TX CBS KLST
SAN ANGELO TX NBC KSAN-TV
VICTORIA TX ABC KAVU-TV
VICTORIA TX FOX KVCT
WACO TX ABC KXXV
WACO TX CBS KWTX-TV
WACO TX FOX KWKT
TEMPLE TX NBC KCEN-TV
BRYAN TX FOX KYLE




CHARLOTTESVILLE VA CBS WCAV
CHARLOTTESVILLE VA NBC, CW WVIR-TV
HARRISONBURG VA ABC WHSV-TV




HARTFORD VT NBC WNNE
BURLINGTON VT ABC WVNY
BURLINGTON VT CBS WCAX-TV




LA CROSSE WI ABC WXOW-TV
LA CROSSE WI CBS WKBT
LA CROSSE WI FOX WLAX
EAU CLAIRE WI ABC WQOW-TV
EAU CLAIRE WI NBC WEAU-TV
CHIPPEWA FALLS WI FOX WEUX
MADISON WI ABC WKOW-TV
MADISON WI CBS WISC-TV
MADISON WI FOX WMSN-TV
MADISON WI NBC WMTV
WITTENBERG WI FOX WFXS
WAUSAU WI ABC WAOW-TV
WAUSAU WI CBS WSAW-TV
RHINELANDER WI NBC WJFW-TV
EAGLE RIVER WI ABC WYOW




BLUEFIELD WV NBC WVVA
HUNTINGTON WV CBS WOWK-TV
HUNTINGTON WV NBC WSAZ-TV
CHARLESTON WV ABC WCHS-TV
CHARLESTON WV FOX WVAH-TV
PARKERSBURG WV NBC WTAP-TV
WHEELING WV CBS WTRF-TV
RIVERTON WY FOX KFNE
LANDER WY CBS KGWL-TV
CHEYENNE WY FOX KLWY
ROCK SPRINGS WY CBS KGWR-TV

 

List was provided by FCC