Thursday, October 01, 2009

GeekTonic Privacy Policy

We value your privacy. We may ask for your name and email address for verification purposes when you leave comments on GeekTonic, but this data will not be shared with any advertisers or third parties (with the exception of Disqus, the company that currently runs the blog commenting system for GeekTonic.

GeekTonic uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads to visitors. These companies may use this information about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. Your name, address, email address and other private information will not be shared.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Control Boxee with Snapstream Firefly RF Remote

Want a super-inexpensive RF-based remote control for your Boxee HTPC?  One of your best options is the Snapstream Firefly RF Remote Control.  And there’s a perfect profile you can add so that the firefly remote will control Boxee too.

Oh, and as luck would have it, Snapstream has a nice sale on the Snapstream Firefly and Firefly Mini right now also.

Snapstream Firefly Remote Control

Here’s how:

Step 1. Open up a text editor and copy & past the following code into a blank document:


<Actions Button="Firefly" Description="Boxee">
<LaunchAction ActivationState="Down" Program="C:\Program Files\Boxee\BOXEE.exe" Arguments="-fs -p" />
<PlaySoundAction ActivationState="Down" Sound="Select" />
</Actions>
Just make sure you don't have 2 entries for the "Firefly" button.
Here is the Boxee.xml code.
<Profile Type="SnapStream.Firefly.Core.Profile" Name="BOXEE" ShowOSD="false">
<Identifier WindowText="BOXEE" FileName="" />
<Actions Button="Right" Description="Right">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{right}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Left" Description="Left">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{left}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Down" Description="Down">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{down}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Up" Description="Up">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{up}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="OK" Description="Select">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{enter}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="VolumeDown" Description="Volume Down">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{subtract}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="VolumeUp" Description="Volume Up">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{add}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="ChannelDown" Description="Channel Down">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{pgdn}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="ChannelUp" Description="Channel Up">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="{pgup}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Exit" Description="Exit Player">
<KeyAction Keys="{alt}{f4}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Maximize" Description="Full Screen">
<KeyAction ActivationState="Down" Keys="{\}" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Rewind" Description="Rewind">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="R" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="FastForward" Description="Fast Forward">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="F" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Stop" Description="Stop">
<KeyAction ActivationState="Down" Keys="X" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Play" Description="Play/Pause">
<KeyAction ActivationState="Down" Keys="P" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Pause" Description="Play/Pause">
<KeyAction ActivationState="Down" Keys=" " />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number0" Description="0">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="0" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number1" Description="1">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="1" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number2" Description="2">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="2" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number3" Description="3">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="3" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number4" Description="4">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="4" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number5" Description="5">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="5" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number6" Description="6">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="6" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number7" Description="7">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="7" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number8" Description="8">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="8" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Number9" Description="9">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="9" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="ChannelEnter" Description="Queue">
<KeyAction Keys="Q" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Menu" Description="Menu">
<KeyAction Keys="M" ActivationState="DownRepeat"/>
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Exit" Description="Exit">
<KeyAction Keys="{esc}" ActivationState="DownRepeat"/>
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Options" Description="Context Menu">
<KeyAction Keys="CONTEXTMENU" ActivationState="DownRepeat"/>
</Actions>
<Actions Button="Info" Description="Info">
<KeyAction Keys="I" />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="SkipBack" Description="Previous Track">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="," />
</Actions>
<Actions Button="SkipForward" Description="Next Track">
<KeyAction ActivationState="DownRepeat" Keys="." />
</Actions>
</Profile>

 Step 2. Save the file now in your text editor as “Boxee.xml”

For Windows XP save this xml file to: “C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SnapStream\Firefly\Profiles"

For Windows Vista save the xml file to "C:\ProgramData\SnapStream\Firefly\Profiles"

Step 3.  Now edit your Global.xml file to launch Boxee with the "Firefly" button on your Firefly Remote Control.

Snapstream Firefly & Firefly Mini Remote Controls on Sale

That’s it.  This should work with either the Firefly or the Firefly Mini Remote Control.  Best of all, both remote controls are on sale from Snapstream:

Firefly Remote Control $29.99 (regular $49.99)

Firefly Mini Remote Control $17.99 (regular $17.99)

And enter the coupon code “boxee” to get free shipping.  Sale ends October 27th.

Code via Boxee Forums – Thanks to tmar99 for the tip on the RC sale!

SageTV PlayOn Add-on Brings Hulu Netflix Amazon VOD and other Online Video

Last week I told you about a 3rd pary add-on being developed for SageTV that would give SageTV users easy access to Hulu and other online video content from their HTPC.  Last night, that application was released and is available for download.

What is SageTV PlayOn Online Video?

This new add-on called “PlayOn in Online Services” uses well-known PlayOn to automatically deliver online video content to all of your SageTV devices including PCs and extenders.  Online video content includes Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, CBS, ESPN and CNN.  SageTV users already have access to all of the popular video and audio podcasts as well as YouTube and Google Video via the Online Video menu of SageTV.  This plugin adds all of the PlayOn content to that menu so that control and navigation work exactly the same as with all video playback in SageTV.

What are the Requirements?

  • SageTV
  • Latest version of Default STV User Interface (2009091601)
  • Latest version of PlayOn installed and running (Version 2.59.3555 9/24/09) – You can get a free 14-day trial and $10 off of PlayOn through 9/30
  • OPTIONAL: Netflix Account for Netflix "Watch It Now"
  • OPTIONAL: Amazon VOD account

    Using SageTV PlayOn Online Video

    I’ve been using a test version of this add-on over the weekend and it’s working great.  This release version is fairly easy to install and it works with the custom SageMC user interface as well.  One of the great things about this add-on is that it works on extenders (HD200 AND HD100!) perfectly as well.  The default install organizes the various online video content into different categories – here’s a screenshot of some of those:

     

    Main Menu

    This is the lower part of the Online Services Main Menu.  Most of these are from the new PlayOn add-on with Hulu, Amazon, the Networks etc.

    SageTV Online Video Main

     

  • Deal of the Day – PlayOn $30

    PlayOn

    PlayOn is a service that uses UPnP to bring Hulu, Neflix, CBS and other online video streaming content to your XBox 360, Wii, PS3, Media Center and now SageTV.  And they are running a $10 off coupon so you can get PlayOn for $29.99 up through Wednesday, September 30th.

    I’ve had a PlayOn license since limited support for was first added to the SageTV HD200 Theater.  I had always hoped that the PlayOn interface for the HD200 would improve as it was painfully slow and difficult to navigate.  Just last night, a well known SageTV user/developer known as “Evil Penguin” released the first working PlayOn plugin for SageTV that I’ve been using this weekend with great success.  This plugin works on all SageTV PCs and extenders (Linux support coming soon).  It gives you access to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon VOD, CBS and other online streaming and it works extremely well!  I’ll have a post explaining how to get it working on your SageTV setup soon.

    For now, if your even slightly interested in having this online video streaming on your HTPC, you’ll want to check out this deal for PlayOn.

    They offer a 14-day trial as well so if you’re not sure you could download the trial and decide by the end of Wednesday.

     

    Get PlayOn for $29.99 with coupon code “Fall10off”

    MeediOS Trailer Importer

    A new add-on for MeediOS has been added that allows MeediOS HTPC users to import (download or stream) all of the latest apple movie trailers

    Meedios Trailer Importer

     

    Get the download and read more about the new Meedios Trailer importer at the Meedios Forums

    SageTV Theme Spotlight - Orange

    Looking for a super-simple, clean new theme for your SageTV (with SageMC add-on)?  Nick has released the “Orange” Theme for SageMC.

    As its name implies it sports the florescent orange in a vertical horizontal menu style

    Orange

    Get the download from the SageTV Downloads Page

    Sunday, September 27, 2009

    TV Premieres – What To Watch September 27 – October 4

    More premieres this week.  And check out “National Parks” if you’d like to show off your HD set.

    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.

     

    Ken Burns National Parks

      A scene from Ken Burns new PBS Documentary “National Parks:America’s Best Idea”

    NOTE: All Times are Listed for EST
     

    Sunday, September 27, 2009

    • Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (7pm on ABC) – Season 7 starts with a two-hour special premiere
    • 60 Minutes (7pm on CBS – Available in HD) – Season  42
    • The Amazing Race (8pm on CBS) – Season 15 arrives with a 2-hour premiere.  I’m officially no longer interested in this reality TV show.  I used to enjoy it but its just not that entertaining to me anymore and they still don’t do it in HD which is just stupid this day and age.
    • The Simpsons (8pm on Fox – Available in HD) – Season  21  Bart lives on and its in HD
    • The Cleveland Show (8:30pm on Fox – Available in HD) – New spinoff of “The Family Guy.”  I don’t do adult cartoons, but the previews of this were actually sort of funny.  Again Fox is running this show in HD!
    • The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (9pm on PBS – Available in HD) - The two-hour premiere of Ken Burns latest documentary.  I’m a fan of Ken Burns way of telling history through photography and good narration.  If the clips I saw of this one are any indication this one won’t disappoint.
    • Family Guy (9pm on Fox ) – Season  9  Sorry, no HD for this one.
    • Dexter (9pm on Showtime – Available in HD) – Season  4 of Dexter.  My daughter really loves this show (she got hooked watching it on Netflix Watch Now) and it really sort of scares me.  But I know it’s a good one.
    • Desperate Housewives (9pm on ABC– Available in HD) – Season  6 arrives – another of my wife’s favorites
    • American Dad (9:30pm on Fox – Available in HD) – Season  5
    • Brothers & Sisters (10pm on ABC – Available in HD) – Season  4
    • Californication (10pm on Showtime – Available in HD) – Season  3
    • Cold Case (10pm on CBS – Available in HD) – Season  7
    • My Fair Wedding (10pm on WE) – Season 2
    • Titan Maximum (11:30pm on Adult Swim) – Season Premiere

     

    Monday, September 28, 2009

    • Day After Disaster (8pm on History) – A 2-hour special
    • Lie To Me (9pm on FOX – Available in HD) –  This is Season 2 although this will be the first real, full season.  They’ve brought on three former “the Shield” writers on board so this good show just might get even better.
    • Trauma (9pm on NBC – Available in HD) – A new Emergency-Room-based drama from the producers of “Friday Night Lights.”

     

    Tuesday, September 29, 2009

    • Weird, True and Freaky (9pm on Animal Planet) – Season 2
    • The Hills (10pm on MTV) – Season 2
    • The City (10:30pm on MTV) – New MTV show that again shows us that the M in MTV definitely has nothing to do with the Music

     

     

    Wednesday, September 30, 2009

    • Hank (8pm on ABC – Available in HD) –  Kelsey Grammer's an out of work CEO & Patrician Heaton's a Midwestern mom in this new sitcom on ABC.
    • I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant (8pm on TLC) – Season 2
    • The Middle (8:30pm on ABC – Available in HD) – New series
    • King of the Crown (9pm on TLC) – New series
    • Bank of Mom and Dad (10pm on SoapNet) – New Series
    • First In (10pm on BET) – New Series
    • Mega Engineering: Mile High Skyscraper (10pm on Discovery) – 1-hour special
    • The Real World/Road Rules Challenge (10pm on MTV) – 1 1/2 hour Season 18 premiere

     

    Thursday, October 1, 2009

    • Private Practice (10pm on ABC– Available in HD) – Season 3
    • Speeders Fight Back (10pm on truTV) – Season 2

     

    Friday, October 2, 2009

    • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (8pm on Cartoon Network) – Season 2
    • Til Death (8:30pm on Fox – Available in HD)
    • Stargate Universe (9pm on SyFy – Available in HD) – A new Stargate-based series begins with a 2-hour premiere
    • DietTribe (9pm on Lifetime) – Season 2
    • Wedded to Perfection (10pm on TLC) – New Series
    • Pay it Off (10pm on BET) – New Series

     

    Saturday, October 3, 2009

    • Superfetch (8pm on Animal Planet) – New Series
    • Dogs 101 (9pm on Animal Planet) – Season2
    • Celebrity Ghost Stories (10pm on Biography) – New Series
    • Mike Epps: Under Rated…Never Fated & X-Rated (10:40pm on Showtime) – One-hour special

     

    Sunday, October 4, 2009

    • America’s Funniest Home Videos (7pm on ABC) – Season 20
    • Three Rivers (9pm on CBS – Available in HD) – A new drama starring Alex O’ Loughlin
    • Monte Python: Almost the Truth (10pm on Sundance) – Season 1

     

    Season Finales this Week:

    • 9/24/2009 10pm on MTV “Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” season finale


    Click Here If You Would Like to Get a Weekly E-mail for GeekTonic TV Premieres & News

    Week in Review – September 26

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

    I very light week in terms of content although the keyboard contest went very well and SageTV is getting Hulu, Netflix and other online streaming content – I should have a post up this week explaining how you can set up your SageTV to do this as well.

    I’m working on a few articles for this week including a TV-focused post, channel changing with firewire, some SageTV-centric fun and a few other surprises.  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!