Week in Review – September 19

Below is a quick summary of the past week's news and stories on GeekTonic.

• PopcornHour C200 Preview and First Look – The new Popcorn Hour C200 Media Player has arrived at GeekTonic and the review is in the works.  Check out the first photos.

• Media Keyboard Review: Vidabox Premium Wireless Keyboard Redux – The latest version of the wireless RF keyboard from Vidabox gets reviewed.
• Getting The Lost Symbol on Kindle – Instantly and Cheaper – I picked up Dan Brown’s latest novel “The Lost Symbol” with the Kindle.  And it arrived the moment it was available for cheaper than you can get it in bookstores.
• Review the New TV Premieres on the Seen In HD Podcast – I joined the “Seen in HD” podcast crew where we reviewed the  new and returning TV premieres for the Fall 2009 TV season.
• Boxee Apps Update – More new Boxee apps
• DVRMS Toolbox Early Access Version Updates – 2 recent updates the the popular HTPC app – DVRMS Toolbox
• MeediOS Gets Evolution Theme – Check out the new theme for Meedios
• TV Premieres: What to Watch 09/13 – 09/20

 

Stay tuned for a giveaway or two in the coming week as well as more in-depth content for Media Gadget Fans at GeekTonic.com. 

If you’re in to the Twitter thing, be sure and follow me on twitter under the name GeekTonic.  Thanks for Reading GeekTonic!

PopcornHour C200 Preview and First Look

It has arrived!  The new PopcornHour C200 has arrived for its review at GeekTonic and I have a few quick photos to share with you while you wait for the complete review:

 

This media player looks quite interesting.  It’s powerful, supports an extremely large number of video/audio formats and codes, has HDMI 1.3a support, support for an internal drive and a nice LCD screen on the front.  So as you can imagine I’ve been waiting for this thing anxiously for the past few weeks – and originally that’s when this review unit was supposed to arrive.  Unfortunately due to delays it arrive today – and I’m not at the GeekTonic home which makes the unboxing thing quite difficult.  Thankfully I found a substitute to take a few snapshots (sorry for the blurriness – Monday’s photos will be much more detailed and clear I promise).

 

 

The top of the C200 has the logo and name engraved in the metal.  The remote looks pretty decent with a good layout.

 

Next is a shot of the front of the C200 shows the LCD (with protective plastic still in place).  You’ll see the power button on the far left with two USB ports right below that.  Then the LCD screen, a navigation “circle”, storage bay (hard drive or ROM fits in there) and finally the PCH logo at the lower right.

 

The rear of the unit shows the many ports as well as the fan grill.  HDMI, Component Video, S-Video, Composite, Stereo Analog Audio, SPDIF, Optical and Coaxial Digital Audio and even two more USB ports along with the power port.

 

It’s definitely much larger than the old PopcornHour A-110.  This unit is closer to the size of a DVD player if not a bit bigger.

Included with the C200 are the following:

• Power cord
• 2 AAA Batteries
• HDMI Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• RF Remote Control
• RF Antenna
• Screws for mounting optional drive

Full specs and more info can be found here

I’ll have more photos including the innards for you shortly.  I don’t take reviews like this one lightly so I’ll likely do it in two parts.  My first Impression early next week and then the complete review after using it for at least a week.  You just can’t get to know a device like this in a day or two.  It definitely has most of the right hardware.  Next we’ll have to see how it all performs and try out the usability.  Stay tuned for more!

Media Keyboard Review: Vidabox Premium Wireless Keyboard Redux

This past February I went on a quest to find the very best wireless, HTPC/Media-friendly keyboard.  My personal favorite was the Vidabox Premium Wireless Keyboard.  Well just this past month, Vidabox has updated that very keyboard and sent me a review unit so I thought I’d provide an update of the review with details on the changes.

Whether you have a full-blown Home Theater PC (HTPC) setup or simply want to control your computer from a distance, you’re going to want a solidly built keyboard, with the keyboard layout to be smart and functional, great wireless reception and a good way to control the mouse.  I’ve been using the Vidabox Premium Wireless HTPC Keyboard with Laser Trackball with my HTPC, a SageTV HTPC extender and even in my office as a simple wireless keyboard.

Introduction/Overview

Vidabox is a New York-based company that sells Home Theater, Home Theater PC and Home Automation.  Their primary customer base is the higher-end Media Center enthusiast and custom installers, but they sell products such as this keyboard directly from their online store as well. 

The Vidabox keyboard is made of black plastic with gray keys.  The keyboard looks nice and is feels solid – It’s not as tiny as the Logitech DiNovo Mini, but it is smaller than a standard-sized desktop keyboard.

 

What's been updated with the new keyboard?

The Vidabox Premium Wireless HTPC Keyboard with Laser Trackball is the latest version of Vidabox's popular HTPC keyboard. 

• Windows 7 compatible (also still compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Vista
• Battery Life is slightly longer – up to roughly 6 months with an auto-shutoff feature on the keyboard when not being used.
• Improved Documentation

 

Getting The Lost Symbol on Kindle – Instantly and Cheaper

Since I first wrote the GeekTonic review of the Amazon Kindle 2, my wife has commandeered that Kindle and hasn’t let it out of her sight since.  I’ve been warning her for weeks now that I would be “borrowing” that Kindle back this week while I was on a business trip.  Why?  Because I wanted to have Dan Brown's latest novel, “The Lost Symbol” as soon as it was available.  It certainly didn’t hurt my case that the Kindle Version of “the Lost Symbol” is running at least half of the price you can buy it in a traditional book store.

So this book has provided me a glimpse of a few things that makes the Kindle experience special:

Instant Gratification – Available At Release Date (and Time):

“The Lost Symbol” was available in bookstores on September 15th – some stores even had it available after midnight for the really anxious readers.  Kindle owners like me could simple pre-order it on the Amazon store, and it automagically arrives on my Kindle early that morning – approximately 12:30 Pacific Time.  Unlike some Harry Potter fans, I’m not usually ready to read a book the minute it becomes available.  But this book is an exception – and since I’m in DC where the story centers, I felt it was especially appropriate to begin now.

Pricing – Cheaper than Bookstores

The book sells for around $16.17 after discounts, but on the Kindle it was $9.99 as are most new releases.

Weighs Less for Travel

I normally travel with a book as travel provides one of the few times when I find time to read a novel.  And the Kindle 2 is light and compact for travel.  It’s the perfect form factor for me.

Here’s what “The Lost Symbol” looks like on the first “page” of the Kindle:

 

I’ll admit there are many disadvantages of the Kindle.  The Kindle itself won’t be saving most people money.  And you have to turn it off on flights during takeoff and landing (stupid airline rules).  But I really like the concept of e-books and this week my my wife’s Kindle found it’s way into my hands gave me a glimpse of why I like it so much.  It appears that the Kindle version of the Dan Brown book has been selling quite well on Amazon likely for those same reasons I found it appealing.

I’ll be trying out some of the new versions of the Kindle and maybe even something like the Plastic Logic or even the Asus dual screen reader.  They will get better and cheaper – it’s only a matter of time.

Review the New TV Premieres on the Seen In HD Podcast

I was a guest on one of my favorite new podcast shows this week – Seen in HD with Phil Lozen and Adam Thursby.  In the show Phil & Adam preview the upcoming shows for the week, review the Blu-ray releases, upcoming HD Sports schedule and review a few movies all with a emphasis on the High Definition.  This weeks show was a special one with a focus on the Fall 2009 TV Premieres.  You can hear the three of us talk about which shows will make it, which ones won’t and which ones you should record and watch.  It was a pleasure to join Phil & Adam and if you’re a casual or hard-core TV watcher you’ll want to give it a listen.

If you want to follow along as you listen, print out the Fall 2009 TV Premiere Listings.  There is a free PDF with all of the premieres sorted by name and by premiere date.

Check out the Seen in HD Podcast

Boxee Apps Update

Boxee, the popular freeware HTPC software has dropped a few new apps for its users – mostly new online video content accessible from Boxee.

Dorm Life

Dorm Life is a popular online web series mockumentary now accessible from Boxee

Kid Mango

Kid Mango is a collection of children's shows now available in Boxee

Revision 3

Revision 3 has been available on Boxee for quite a while, but they gave it a nice facelift.  Check out the new, updated look in the screenshot below:

Wired

Boxee now has Wired.com videos and photos available

Style

Fashion videos from Style.com are now available on BoxeeYesterday we helped make you smarter.  Today we help you find the best tech and look good doing it.

It is quite a lineup of online content Boxee brings to the TV or PC.  They are definitely the most online-content-focused HTPC program available thus far.  I look for the HTPC competitors to move further this direction in the coming year.

DVRMS Toolbox Early Access Version Updates

The popular multi-HTPC platform, DVRMS Toolbox has a new early-access version available for download.  This version includes several new improvements and bug fixes for the popular tool. 

Convert files for playback on Zune, extra iPhone and iPod compatibility and more features and improvements are included in these last two releases.

Release 3 (version 1.2.1.9) Updates Include:

• Change MP4 muxer to GDCL filter for iPhone/iPod compatibility
• Add ExtraData action for adding static context values by type using xml document (<root><data name="ForceStereo" type="bool" value="true"/></root>)
• Add WMV to supported output types from ConvertVideoFile and DTBVideoEditor.  Default prx is cbrZune (supports AC3 btw), to use a different PRX in ConvertVideoFile ExtraData must be used with <root><data name="PrxPath" value="prxfile.prx"/></root>
• Add "Convert For Zune (no commercials)" and "Convert for iPhone (no commercials)" profiles
• PC support > < testing with numeric and string values
• Add FWThrottle action to profiles created with DTBVideoEditor
• Add AtomicParsely action, and AtomicParsely.exe
• Refine status/completion for convertors
• Fix a bug where an audio decoder is specified for a native audio format copy in VideoConvertor
• VideoConvertor will prefer to use DSCutter with uncompressed samples
• VideoConvertor replaces "MPC - Mpeg Splitter (Gabest)" with "MPC - Mpeg Source (Gabest)" as a preferred filter; if original behavior is desired use the CLISD instead
• DTB will assume all SSL certs are valid when retrieving metadata
• Fix filter connection issue using DSCutter with SBE file types
• Update todvrms to 1.0.1.0
• Add AttributeEnable and AVC1toH264 filters

A week or so ago Release 2 (version 1.2.1.9) was made available and included these updates:

• Change MP4 muxer to GDCL filter for iPhone/iPod compatibility
• Add ExtraData action for adding static context values by type using xml document (<root><data name="ForceStereo" type="bool" value="true"/></root>)
• Add WMV to supported output types from ConvertVideoFile and DTBVideoEditor.  Default prx is cbrZune (supports AC3 btw), to use a different PRX in ConvertVideoFile ExtraData must be used with <root><data name="PrxPath" value="prxfile.prx"/></root>
• Add "Convert For Zune (no commercials)" and "Convert for iPhone (no commercials)" profiles
• PC support > < testing with numeric and string values
• Add FWThrottle action to profiles created with DTBVideoEditor
• Add AtomicParsely action, and AtomicParsely.exe
• Refine status/completion for convertors
• Fix a bug where an audio decoder is specified for a native audio format copy in VideoConvertor
• VideoConvertor will prefer to use DSCutter with uncompressed samples
• VideoConvertor replaces "MPC - Mpeg Splitter (Gabest)" with "MPC - Mpeg Source (Gabest)" as a preferred filter; if original behavior is desired use the CLISD instead
• DTB will assume all SSL certs are valid when retrieving metadata

 

More information at Andy VT’s Blog

MeediOS Gets Evolution Theme

You may remember that beautiful Evolution theme for MeediOS I showed you this past July?  Last week they added a “Chrome” option to it giving MeediOS users even more awesome looking options.

Here’s a look at the the original Evolution theme for MeediOS:

An this is a screen-shot of the Chrome option:

There’s not better way to check out how the theme looks than seeing a screen-cast (sorry no audio):

meediOS EvolutionChrome (Movies) from crn on Vimeo.

 

Read more at the MeediOS forums

TV Premieres: What to Watch 09/13 – 09/20

Get your DVRs and HTPC ready because this is the first of many busy TV weeks!  Several new premiers begin these next few weeks and I have all of the details.

Don’t miss the Ultimate Guide to the 2009 Fall TV Season Premieres with free downloads by premiere date & by show name!

If you haven’t already, be sure and check out the link above and download the TV Premiere Listings recently updated.  Note that I continue to do these weekly, weekend “What to Watch” posts that will keep you updated with any changes to the schedule from that premiere guide, add some additional information about the shows for the week including whether they are in HD or not.  I also throw in any TV movies and specials for the week for good measure.

Below you’ll find all this weeks premieres through next Sunday.

                             Fringe Returns to Fox on Thursday

NOTE: All Times are Listed for EST

 

Sunday, September 13, 2009

• Football Night in America (7pm on NBC – Available in HD) – Basically a preview for the upcoming Sunday night game with a few highlights from the days NFL action. 
• Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (7pm on Cartoon Network) – This is a new Scooby-Doo movie on Cartoon network.  Learn how the Scooby-Doo gang first formed Mystery Inc.
• Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (8:15pm on NBC – Available in HD) – Regular season on Sunday night begins with a great matchup: Bears versus Packers
• Mega Beasts: Terror Bird (9pm on Discovery Channel – Available in HD) A one-hour special for Discovery fans.
• 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (9pm on MTV) 135 minutes of awards on MTV
• Mega Beasts: T-Rex of the Deep (10pm on Discovery Channel – Available in HD) – Another one-hour special on Disovery

Monday, September 14, 2009

• Monday Night Football: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (7pm on ESPN – Available in HD) – The 40th premiere of Monday Night Football with the Bills versus the Patriots.  Watch Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens duke it out.
• Lincoln Heights (8pm on ABC Family) Season 4 of this popular show begins.
• One Tree Hill (8pm on CW – Available in HD) – Season 7
• Gossip Girl (9pm on CW – Available in HD) – Season 3 of Gossip Girl begins.  The gang is back with summer nearly over.
• Eddie Griffin: Going for Broke (10pm on VH1) – A new series on VH1
• The Jay Leno Show (10pm on NBC – Available in HD) – We'll count this as a new series since it’s not really the Tonight Show.  But we’ll get more of the popular Jay Leno stuff at 10pm Eastern now.  I know many aren’t in love with the concept of putting this in prime time, but it will be a hit and as bad as NBC has done with primetime lately this has to be counted as a good decision for them.  
• Monday Night Football: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (10:15pm on ESPN – Available in HD) – The second of the Monday Night Football double header.  Do we give the Raiders a chance here???

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

• The Biggest Loser (8pm on NBC) – Season 8 of a pretty popular reality TV show.  I’ve never watched it but some say its watchable.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

• Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League (8pm on Showtime – Available in HD) – A new series on Showtime.  I’ll be picking this up on DVD when it becomes available.
• The Beautiful Life (9pm on CW – Available in HD) – A new drama by CW.  We’ve seen this one before:  Wealthy, extremely attractive and young people who model.
• MysteryQuest (10pm on History – Available in HD) – A new series on History Channel.  If you’re in to the paranormal, this one is right up your ally.  The show seeks solutions to the puzzles of Atlantis, Bermuda Triangle etc.
• The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights (10pm on Spike) – Season 10 begins.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

• Bones (8pm on FOX – Available in HD) – Season 5 puts the team looking for bodies buried under a DC fountain.
• Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday (8pm on NBC – Available in HD) 30 minutes of SNL on Thursday.  I still can’t figure out why they are trying this still.  SNL on Saturday is bad enough these days – and that one could easily be compressed into a one-hour show and be better.
• Survivor (8pm on CBS) – Season 19 of Survivor.  I’ve mostly lost interest in this reality TV sow, but I always check it out to see if there are any watchable characters (like Rupert for instance) since that is what this show is really all about.
• Parks & Recreation (8:30 on NBC – Available in HD) – Season 2 begins.  I seriously cannot believe this show made it to season 2 as it was extremely bad in my opinion.  And that’s coming from an “Office” fan too.
• Extreme Cuisine with Jeff Corwin (9pm on Food Network – Available in HD) – A new series with Jeff Corwin travelling to various countries to sample exotic foods and learn about the various local customs.
• Fringe (9pm on FOX – Available in HD) – Season 2 begins.  To be honest, it wasn’t until this last week that I finally watched the last 3 episodes of Fringe.  But I think this show ranks as one of the top drama’s from last season.  If you have any tiny bit of taste for Sci Fi or entertaining drama’s catch up on last years Fringe episodes and record this season.  It’s very good, but my wife won’t let us watch it during dinner due to the “gross” factor…
• The Office (9pm on NBC – Available in HD) – Season 6 is here.  I was a latecomer to this series as I felt the first many episodes were pretty week.  But being an office dweller myself this one comes too close to home to miss the laughs.
• VH1 Divas (9pm on VH1) – a 2-hour VH1 special
• Community (9:30pm on NBC – Available in HD) – I liked the clips I saw on this new sitcom so I’ll be recording it, but I’m not sold that it will be worth watching yet.  Time will tell.  
• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10pm on FX) – Season 5 of the Danny Devito show.  Not on my watch list but popular with many.

Friday, September 18, 2009

• 2009 ALMA Awards (8pm on ABC) – 2 hour Latino artistic achievement (in U.S.) awards show on ABC hosted by Eva Longoria Parker
• Crash (10pm on Starz – Available in HD) – Season 2 with Dennis Hopper.  Last season started off strong, but quickly lost its audience.  Look for this season to be slightly re-tooled.
• Mitch Fatel Is Magical (11pm on Comedy Central) -  One hour comedy special.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

• Georgia O’Keeffe (9pm on Lifetime) – a new Lifetime made-for-TV movie.

 

Sunday, September 20, 2009

• Curb Your Enthusiasm (9pm on HBO – Available in HD) Season 7
• Bored To Death (9:30pm on HBO – Available in HD) A new series on HBO

 

Season Finales this Week:

• 09/13/2009 8pm on Fox “King of the Hill” 1-hour series finale.  The last of the final six episodes ever.
• 9/16/2009 10pm on MTV “The Real World” season finale
• 9/19/2009 9pm on TBS “The Bill Engvall Show” season finale

 

I’ll also be a guest on the Seen in HD podcast talking about the Fall 2009 TV season – I’ll have a post linking to the show when it’s available.

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