Stop PowerDVD Autoplay

One of my biggest software peeves is when a software program assumes it should control the behavior of your computer without the ability to easily change that behavior.  Cyberlink PowerDVD is one of those programs – I use it sparingly on my HPTC server for playback but mostly for the codecs it installs.  But when you install it it changes windows autoplay settings so that just about any media disk you put in your drive, it automatically starts PowerDVD and begins playing the media.  Now maybe that’s how some users want it, but I don’t.  Typically I’ll be viewing my media through my HTPC program – not PowerDVD.

So how do you disable the autoplay?  I’ve tried going through the settings in Cyberlink and they just don’t work.  So instead we’ll use Windows settings to do this.  With Vista or Windows 7 follow these simple steps:

full how-to with screen-shots after the break

Windows Media Center SDK RTM Released

Niall Ginsburg’s Mobilewares Blog has news that the Windows Media Center team has released the RTM version of the Windows Media Center Software Development Kit 6.0 for Windows 7.

Developers can get the download here  and leave feedback at MediaCenter Sandbox

Important notes for Media Center users & developers – Death of MCPL

The new API added no new features to speak of.  In the words of Niall Ginsbourg:

“All in all - this SDK is a big disappointment for developers – as while the Windows 7 platform and new versions of Media Center are great products (and a big improvements over Vista) – the minimal API changes completely missed out on taking advantage some of any of great new features (ie. no support for Multi Touch, no support for the new EPG database, etc and the list goes on.. ). It’s a laundry list of what ‘could have been’…”

Needless to say there’s not a lot to be excited about in the new SDK for Windows 7.  Niall goes on to talk about what he see’s as the death of MCPL (Media Center Presentation Layer) as what had been expected to be a “very promising dev platform” during the days of the Vista beta.

Some Positives – EPG capabilities

Niall mentions that the new MXF spec and “loadmxf” functioanlity do add some nice capabilities for using the Media Center EPG (TV Guide) database.  But the SDK doesn’t add API hooks or even take advantage of the new functionality.

Developer Concerns for the Direction of Media Center

Niall finishes by showing his disappointment (to say the least) with the direction of Media Center Development as a whole – especially as it concerns developers

“…going forward - I’m not sure where things are heading for Windows 8 with Media Center Development as a whole - and it’s looking unlikely that MCPL will ever be touched again with the new ‘TV on your PC’ push (rather than ‘PC’ or ‘Extender on your TV’ line) – and almost complete lack of engagement with the community of MCPL developers from the Extensibility team…”

.  While much of the post is pretty technical for the non-developer type, I think it has some very interesting commentary from a well-known Media Center developer.

Read Niall Ginsbourg’s complete Post here.

via Charlie Owen’s Retrosight Blog

New Version of MyMovies for MediaCenter Coming September

The developer of “My Movies” for Microsoft Media Center announced on the MissingRemote Forums that a new version of My Movies (3.0) is planned for September.

MyMovies 3.0 was written in MCML for Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Brian Binnerup the developer of My Movies has posted in the MissingRemote forums that a new version of My Movies will be coming in September and will be the first version that is a native Windows Media center application (written in MCML). Brian sent me a some work in progress screenshots (which I can’t show yet) and it is looking very nice.

Brian is going to be talking about the features of My Movies 3 on The Media Center Show when the beta is available in September so keep an eye out on the blog for details

“This might be as good as any place to mention the specific release plans.
My Movies 3, in MCML, for Windows Vista and Windows 7 will be released in a beta on September 1'st.  The final version will be available late October with Windows 7.”

Brian went on to tell a few more details of the planned release in the MissingRemote Forums

 

Guide Tool - Easy Guide Management for Windows Media Center

A nice, new Electronic TV Guide management tool was developed by fredx21 (you may know him from the dvblink for HD-PVR) for managing your Windows MediaCenter EPG.

 

Features Include:

• Local and remote guide management
• Channel name and number edition
• Restoration of previously edited channel names and numbers
• Modification of channels’ visibility
• Automated subscribing to guide services (manually, by number or by call-sign)
• Tuner merge (by channel number, by call-sign or by guide service)
• DVBLink sources synchronization
• Listing of tuners providing channel’s sources
• Generation of lean MXF file (mostly for debugging purpose)
• More fun stuff to do with your channels

 

The main Guide Tool window looks like this:

 

The screen-shot below shows the Lineup Selection where you can subscribe channels to any guide services from any lineup available in your MediaCenter region.

 

Finally, this last screen-shot shows the Tuner Merge function where you can merge tuners based on various attributes shared by channels.

 

The program is a nifty tool to move your MediaCenter channels around and changing the listings outside of MediaCenter.  It works with Windows Vista MediaCenter (with TV Pack) and Windows 7 MediaCenter.  The program has two parts including a Guide Tool application and a MediaCenter background add-in that stores all of the tuner and channel info.

For more info and to get the download head over to 1geek1tool

 

found via GreenButton Forums

Linksys Discontinuing All Media Extenders DMA 2100 and DMA 2200

For the past year you could pick up a Linksys DMA 2100 for super cheap prices at various online stores.  So cheap the little MediaCenter extenders have become quite popular. 

Unfortunately it looks like Linksys is finally running out of the devices and officially discontinuing the Media Extender products entirely.

I say "looks like" because I haven't seen anything completely official yet, but after being tipped off on this by this post on the GreenButton Forums, I did a little searching.  What I found is the DMA-2100 is listed as discontinued at the following stores:

• Linksys Online Store - 2100 discontinued and 2200 discontinued
• Amazon.com - 2100 only available used and 2200 available for $207.49
• Newegg - 2100 discontinued and 2200 $139.99
• Walmart - 2100 discontinued and 2200 $299.98
• Dell Home - 2100 discontinued and 2200 $199.33

You'll note that the DMA-2200 with an optical drive is still widely available although it costs much more than the 2100 did.  Another concern among the many Linksys DMA 2100 users is whether they will continue to provide firmware updates as needed.  My guess is they won't, but hopefully that won't be a huge issue as it is a pretty mature product.

These extenders are V2 which means they work with both Vista Media Center and Windows 7 Media Center.  I hope Linksys isn't getting out the market entirely and plan to provide a newer version sometime soon. 

I've put in an e-mail to confirm Linksys's intentions and will report back if/when I hear back.

Update:  I've received a note back from a Linksys Representative who confirmed that Linksys has discontinued all extenders and have no plans to replace them with new models:

"Yes,they are in discontinue status and right now there is no plans to
replace. Sorry"

 

Did I mention I really think extenders are the right way to go for a multi-room HTPC setup?

Media Center Plugin Brings Netflix Hulu and more Online Video via PlayIt

The developer for the popular VMCNetflix plugin has created a new Streaming Video plugin for VMC users.  This latest plugin called VMCPlayIt is an add-in for Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center which provides a front-end interface to the PlayOn digital media server software for Vista Media Center PCs and Extenders.  The PlayOn server software (see http://www.themediamall.com/playon)  currently supports Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, CBS,  CNN, ESPN, and more.

 

Requirements:

• Microsoft Windows Vista with Media Center (Premium or Ultimate), or greater OS (I'm not sure if it works on Windows 7 or not)
• PlayOn Digital Media Server software (http://www.themediamall.com/playon/download/) Currently Costs $40
• A broadband internet connection

I purchased PlayOn when it was in beta to view Netflix, Amazon VOD and Hulu on my SageTV HD Theaters.  It was a bit cheaper at that point and I'm not positive I'd pay the $40 for the current version as it still has some bugs and isn't the easiest to navigate.  But PlayOn does offer a 14 day free trial so if you're a Windows Media Center user, give this thing a try and let us know how its working for you.

 

Read More about VMCPlayIt and get the download Here

 

via MissingRemote

VidaBox Launches Entry Level Media Server

Vidabox announced the launch of the new RoomClient: SE system, an entry-level, Windows Vista-based media server.  The new media server is targeted at the entry-level customer with a starting price of $2,248.

 

Since I just reviewed the VidaBox Media Center keyboard, this one caught my eye.  VidaBox focuses on the high-end customer and installer market, but have added this server/extender device as a less expensive option (for that market).

 

From the Press Release:

Starting at $2248, the RoomClient:SE stores movies, pictures, music, and more for on-demand access via an on-screen, remote controlled interface.  Cover art from movies and music titles are automatically downloaded along with every archival.  Complete with 1080p upscaling and full Dolby Digital and DTS support, it's designed to deliver a stunning entertainment experience without compromising quality.

The RoomClient: SE server is basically a pre-packaged Home Theater PC based on Vista Media Center with the following specs:

• TV Tuner:  a single analog and single digital TV tuner
• Storage: 1TB hard drive (upgradable)
• MB: Intel Mobile 750
• Memory: 2GB DDR2-800MHz
• Optical Drive: Dual layer DVD+-RW
• Video Out:  DVI, HDMI (with DVI adapter), Component, VGA and S-Video
• LAN: Gigabit
• Audio: Optical and coax SPDIF, 3.5mm analog 7.1 line-out
• Built in card reader
• Firewire 1394 port

The RoomClient: SE system is targeted at the integrator and tech-savvy customer as an entry-level HTPC in a compact, but powerful package.  For the person who wants to buy the pre-configured all-in-one Media Center package this device is certainly worth a look.  The box is small (smaller than a shoebox) but looks great.  I sent a note to the VidaBox rep to see if there is an upgrade path for Windows 7.

 

Read more about the new VidaBox Media Server at VidaBox

Evolution of Windows Media Center From Birth to Windows 7

Microsoft has posted a short video that takes you from their work to get the PC to the living room even before Media Center.  It’s short, but shows the evolution fo the interfaces along the way as well including a quick overview of Windows 7 Media Center.

 

Evolution of Windows Media Center

 

Media Center Timeline

 

• 1997 Microsoft acquires WebTV

• 1998 released WebTV Plus that included a TV tuner and programming guide

• 1998 June - WebTV for Windows built into Windows 98 with support (drivers etc) for TV Tuner Cards in Windows

• 2001 Bill Gates keynote address for the Windows XP Launch showcased version 2 of SnapStream's PC DVR product (predecessor to Beyond TV).  Note this love for Snapstream’s product was likely at the same time Microsoft planned to release their competing product in the very next year!

• 2002 Windows XP Media Center Edition Released

• 2004 Digital Tuner support and hardware extender support (including Xbox)

• 2006 Vista Home Premium includes Vista Media Center

• 2009 Windows 7 includes newest version of Vista Media Center – there will be a few exciting surprises for this one:  Stay tuned for news on that very soon.

 

 

Video discovered via Entertainment 2.0

Samsung MediaLive Vista Media Center Extender Gets Reviewed

 

Vista Media Center has been in search of that perfect extender that provides support for all the best video formats, 1080p, surround sound and small, silent operation.  Ben Drawbaugh of EngadgetHD reviewed the latest of the Vista Media Extenders, the Samsung MediaLive Media Adapter and reports back with his findings.

This extender is a unique one as it is designed to work only with selected Samsung TVs which honestly seems like a strange limitation.  But it is pretty small and can be mounted behind your TV since it can be controlled via HDMI.

Findings from the review are positive in many aspects, but several big limitations including no 1080P, limited remote control support and no surround sound.  Read the full review of the Samsung MediaLive Extender at EngadgetHD.

DirecTV and Microsoft Media Center - What Went Wrong?

Since the unwelcome announcement from DirecTV that they were "suspending" work on the DirecTV HDPC-20 tuner for Microsoft Media Center, there has been a firestorm of discussion on the web (read this thread on the GreenButton Forms for an example) about what went wrong with something seemingly positive for DirecTV, Microsoft and all Media Center users.

BEN DRAWBAUGH WEIGHS IN
Ben Drawbaugh of EngadgetHD fame thinks this was a blatant effort by DirecTV to reduce expectations on the tuner and they will continue to work on it and possibly even release the HDPC-20 tuner when Windows 7 is released.  Ben says:

"I’m not saying that DirecTV never suspended the project, I’m just saying that it was probably suspended for a half a day while the developers went home early for Thanksgiving. I mean if it was really canceled then why not say canceled? Why say it was suspended with no window of how long."

 I personally think that is wishful thinking.  My guess is they said "suspended" because they want to leave the door open to take up the project at some point in the future, but I really doubt they are still working on it at the moment at least.

CHRIS LANIER'S OPINION
Now we have Chris Lanier's take is that DirecTV has lost faith in Microsoft and the Media Center platform and considers it a unproven, niche market.  Add to that the slow release cycle and the fact that Microsoft didn't include h.264 support in the TV Pack as had been planned.  But, Chris also says DirecTV easily could have had plenty of fault here as well and could just be doing damage control when they were the ones that couldn't get a stable product to market within the time constraints required for the TV Pack.  Chris goes on to say:

"I firmly believe both companies at a fault, but Microsoft will always take the most abuse because they can’t seem to conjure up a good Media Center release.  This is not DIRECTVs platform falling apart before our eyes, it is Microsoft’s."

GEEKTONIC'S TAKE
While none of us know for certain except for a few at DirecTV and Microsoft, I mostly agree with Chris on this.  But I also think it has as much to do with the world-wide economic conditions and DirecTV's cutting of any non-proven (read currently unprofitable) capital expenditure projects so they can "hunker down" during the downturn of this economic cycle.  Here's what the LA Times had to say about DirecTV's Current Plans given the economy:

"DirecTV Group Inc. said Tuesday that although it remained bullish about 2009, hiring would be frozen and all but the most crucial capital projects would be suspended as visibility on the economy stayed poor."

There is still hope out there that the rumored Dish Network HTPC tuner will come through for Media Center users, but so far we have now official confirmation of that from anyone.

Expect to see more of this sort of thing in the coming year - especially from tech companies who we're used to providing the "next cool gadget" each January.  For now, if you want to use a Home Theater PC setup with satellite TV AND get true HD, you'll need to use a Haupauge HD-PVR.  While it may not be the perfect setup for someone who wants a native tuner to use in their HTPC's, it is currently the only device to deliver that content to your PC.

TVTonic for Media Center Shutting Down Service - For Now

One of the more popular Media Center applications, TVTonic is shuttering their service for the time being while they "restructure for the future."

Not a good sign for the folks at TVTonic (or the company that runs the service, Waveexpress.)  There will be several dissapointed Media Center users out there.

TVTonic got a good deal of press during the Olympics this past year as NBC provided TVTonic downloadable content from the Olymipcs.  It's basically a way for the HTPC user to get online content to their TV via the 10-foot remote control interface.  They offered a good deal of HD content and included many podcasts and RSS feeds all organized in a nice UI.

Here's the original post by the President of Wavexpress (TVTonic):

In these tough financial times we are faced with the need to take down the TVTonic service while we restructure for the future.

Although the service is being retired, you’re free to continue to use TVTonic to download and watch your favorite RSS video channels.

If you’d like to uninstall, directions to do so can be found here.

Please check back for news at a later date. Thanks for all your support.

Sincerely,
Michael Sprague
President, Wavexpress

You can read the original post at the TVTonic website.

via Entertainment 2.0

Microsoft Media Center Update Breaks CableCard Recording

I’ve received a couple of e-mails from Vista Media Center users complaining that the recent Microsoft Media Center Cumulative update for Media Center (KB955519) caused a significant problem with CableCard recordings.



I’ve been searching for others with the same issue and found several threads on Greenbutton here and here reporting the same thing.  For those who have installed the update, some recordings made on a CableCard tuner have some or all of the following symptoms:

• No video (audio only)


• In some cases broken-up audio


• The evhvid.exe process is maxing out CPU cycles


• Significant skipped frames (looks like playback of video is skipping)

Note that some users are even reporting some of these issues with liveTV as well as recorded TV.



CableCard users have reported that simply removing the update resolves all of these issues.

Microsoft Vista Media Center – October Updates Arrive

Microsoft has released the October 2008 Cumulative Update for Vista Media Center and VMC TV Pack today.  No big surprises or new features to speak of, but for those having issues with VMC or TV Pack the update will be very welcome.

This update includes fixes for Media Center, extenders, DRM support and the all-too-common “protected content” message that has been plaguing several VMC users over the past few months.

Fixes for the TV Pack include several of the same issues as well as a few problems that have cropped up that specifically trouble VMC TV Pack users.

Get all of the details on the updates from Chris Lanier

VMC October 2008 Cumulative Update

VMC TV Pack October 2008 Cumulative Update

Vista Media Center gets MSNBC Video On Demand App

Brad Linder at Download Squad has the scoop on a new MSN News Beta application for Windows Vista Media Center (available today in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate).
The application lets users browse, search and watch videos from MSNBC News on their Microsoft Media Center Devices.   Some MSNBC content has been accessible in the Internet TV Menus, but this new application provides a new user interface that makes it easier to browse stories, weather forecasts and search for videos by topic and related videos.  No need to download anything – it’s already there in your VMC TV + Movies menu.

For Media Centers (HTPCs and other Media Devices like Extenders) to continue to compete for space by the television, they will need to continue down this road of online video.  Network & Cable TV content, Hulu, Netflix Watch Now and others need to be brought into the fold like this MSN News application to compete with the TiVo and other CE devices of the world.

Read more about the MSNBC News Beta Application at Microsoft’s Media Center Website

via DownloadSquad

Deal of the Day: Linksys Extender $99.99

If you’re a Vista Media Center user and need (okay want) a new extender, be sure and check out NewEgg’s deal on the Linsys DMA2100 Media Center Extender. They have it in stock for $99.99!

LINKSYS DMA2100 Media Center Extender $99.99 from NewEgg (affiliate)

Integrate ReplayTV with Windows Media Center

Are you one of those people who loved ReplayTV and still have one sitting around the house?  Want to integrate your ReplayTV into Windows Media Center?  Lets say you want to record your TV shows using that ReplayTV, but still access them through your Windows Media Center interface.  Ray Jezek has released an application called Replay2DVRMS to do just that.

Replay2DVRMS is a command line utility based on Andy’s ToDvrms that converts shows recorded with ReplayTV (including the metadata from those recordings) to Windows Media Center compliant dvr-ms files.

Get all of the details & downloads of the program on Ray Jezek’s Replay2DVRMS blog.

via Andy vt’s Blog

Skip Commercials with ShowAnalyzer - Soon with H.264 Support!

If you use a Home Theater PC (HTPC), you likely are "in" to skipping those commercials.  Two of the best commercial skipping applications are comskip (which I've used for a while now) and ShowAnalyzer.  I'm planning to give ShowAnalyzer a try this month just to compare the two and also because ShowAnalyzer has H.264 support in its most recent private beta.  That means my SageTV HTPC will soon be able to detect commercials for the Hauppauge HD-PVR!  Even if you already are using Comskip or another commercial detection program, I recommend you purchase a copy of ShowAnalyzer today.  Find out why below.
What is ShowAnalyzer?
ShowAnalyzer is used for detecting and removing commercials from TV programs that have been recorded using HTPC software such as SageTV, BeyondTV, Windows Media Center, Vista Media Center, MythTV, GBPVR and more.   With ShowAnalzyer installed, your HTPC checks each recorded show for commercials and marks them so you can skip the commercial with a press of the button.
What's New for ShowAnalyzer?
Jere, the developer of ShowAnalyzer announced the following on the SageTV forums:

ShowAnalyzerSuite V1.0 is ready for beta testing.  The new version is full of new features and was written from the ground up.  The biggest new feature for me will be the h.264 (and therefore HD-PVR) support.
It's not perfect yet and likely has some bugs, but if your adventurous and want to be one of the first to try out the new version, Jere's distributing the installer in a private forum at http://www.dragonglobal.biz/forums.  If you want to check out those new features and are willing to give the beta a try head over to the dragonglobal site, purchase the ShowAnalyzer Suite, register on the forums & send Jere a PM

If you're not up to beta testing, the public release date will be September 1st.

Price Increase - AND free lifetime upgrades at current price if you purchase before September 1st.
With ShowAnalyzerSuite V1.0 nearing release to the world at large, the price must increase to cover the higher royalties that the MPEG Licensing Authority requires.
Starting September 1st, the prices will be as follows:
ShowAnalyzerSuite (includes 1 year of upgrades): US$29.98
Maintenance Renewal (one additional year of upgrades starting from purchase date or expiration of current upgrade license, which ever is longer): US$14.99
The September 1st date is dependent on V1.0 being released that day.
Good News for current owners of ShowAnalyzer & those who buy before September 1st
As appreciation to the beta testers (not private testers), everyone who has purchased ShowAnalyzer prior to September 1st will get lifetime upgrades.
To cover the next royalty increase, there will be another price increase when I add the ability to actually cut the commercials out of the file. Since ShowAnalyzerSuite will then include encoders, the MPEG Licensing Authority will want more royalties. I am considering making the encoders (thus the higher price) optional, but I haven't decided yet. Regardless of my decision, it will be considered an upgrade, not a new product.

So if you think you might ever use ShowAnalyzer, I encourage you to get your copy now (you have about one week before the price goes up) and lock in your future upgrades.  Plus, it's always a good thing to support the guys like Jere who develop great applications for the HTPC community.
Get your copy of ShowAnalyzer
For a how-to on setting up commercial detection check out this article.

Microsoft Sends a “We Don’t Care” Message to Vista Media Center Enthusiasts

It’s been covered here a lot lately, but today Microsoft made the “Fiji” Windows Media Center TV Pack official, almost a month before originally planned (September 3rd at CEDIA was the originally planned date).  It should be noted that I think it is a good thing that Microsoft finally announced this since most of the facts in the press release have been known and talked about for several weeks now.  What's bad about the announcement is that it has confimed many peoples fears about Fiji and the future of Vista Media Center in general.



They made this announcement with a forum post on the GreenButton forums (now owned by Microsoft) today.  In that message news release, Ben Reed from Microsoft says this on GreenButton:

On July 16^th, 2008, Microsoft released an update to the version of Windows Media Center included with Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate to our OEM partners - this update is referred to as the “Windows^® Media Center TV Pack”. In order to ensure that users get the best experience possible, this update will only be available from OEMs, as they are best positioned to provide the testing and hardware configurations for a great customer experience. This is due to the fact that in some geographies there are specific technical and hardware requirements for the Windows Media Center TV Pack that are best handled by the OEMs. We are working closely with our OEM partners as they finalize their decisions on Windows Media Center TV Pack products. 

The Windows Media Center TV Pack is primarily targeted at adding support for additional international broadcast standards including:

o   Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial (ISDB-T) Digital television standard for Japan

o   Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite (DVB-S) free-to-air satellite standards  in  Europe

o   Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) digital television with  improved user experience in Europe

o   ClearQAM (Unencrypted Digital Cable)in the United States

o   Interactive television with integrated Broadcast Markup Language (BML) in Japan and Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group (MHEG) (MHEG5) in Europe

This version does not include native support for subscription-based satellite tuners or the H.264 video standard. We test many features in beta releases, and optimize our feature set in the final code for the best user experience.

We do want the Windows Media Center community to know that Microsoft will continue to improve upon the Windows Media Center experience for our customers worldwide, by adding content partnerships and enhanced features.  We will share these developments as they become available.

---

Ben Reed

Product Marketing | Windows Media Center

I really can’t believe this is the direction Microsoft is taking with Vista Media Center.  Why?  Because it will alienate many of its most loyal Vista Media Center users in several ways.

• The update is OEM only and not available to current users without purchasing a new HTPC.  You can get it through the unofficial channels, but there is no support and the update is not meant to be installed by the end user – be warned that you may be sorry you updated to it…


• Old DVR-MS recordings made by a CableCard tuner don’t work once upgraded


• Not all plugins are compatible – DVRMSToolBox, WebGuide, LifeExtender to name a few.
  
  


• The new WTV files aren’t compatible with many (possibly any) other players.


• The update does not include H.264 format support and therefore won’t work with the DirectTV tuner or Hauppauge HD-PVR that many were expecting with fiji.


• It is very likely that commercial skipping has been broken with the new TV Pack's SDK.  Add to that the difficulty of a new WTV format and it will be very difficult to get commercial skipping back on VMC after the TV Pack.  It has even been speculated that Microsoft switched formats to intentionally break the user-developed commercial skipping applications that are out there for VMC and MCE.  Note:  Babgvant, the maker of DVRMS has a possible solution for commercial detection that you might want to try if you have the TV Pack installed.

I think Microsoft is holding out any new features beyond this TV Pack, OEM-Only release until Windows 7.  So they’re really just throwing sand in the faces of their own loyal fans and saying – just wait until Windows 7 and we’ll give you more then.  Or go buy a new HTPC to replace your new HTPC you just got with CableCards – sorry, but that just wouldn’t fly with me.  I think Microsoft has really done permanent damage to Vista Media Center and HTPC’s in general with this mess.  I really hope they reconsider and come to their senses, but I’m not holding my breath.



I’m not the only one that thinks the way this has been handled has been a mistake on Microsoft’s part.  Read more on this at these highly respected websites for more on the Fiji/TV Pack Mess – and be sure and read the comments there as well to get an idea of how the VMC users feel about things:

Chris Lanier’s Blog

EndgadgetHD

Ian Dixon’s Blog

GreenButton Forum Thread on TV Pack Thread1 Thread2 

Official Announcement by Microsoft at GreenButton



For a look at the Fiji situation from a different (albeit Microsoft) point of view, read Ed Bott's post

Guide to Switching from Vista Media Center to SageTV Media Center

Microsoft’s Vista Media Center and SageTV are two competing Home Theater PC software programs that allow you to turn your home computer into a high octane, TIVO-like device plus integrated Movies, Music and Photos on that same device.  With the recent "unhappiness" with Microsofts handling of the Fiji release as well as a desire to have the ability to record all HD channels without DRM restrictions, softsled support among other features desired, many VMC users are taking a look at SageTV.  To help you out with that process a nice guide has been written to walk you through the steps.

Switching to SageTV involves a few basic steps which have been outlined by GhostLobster – a long-time, VistaMedia Center user who has made a nice guide for switching from Vista Media Center to SageTV.
I’ll summarize below and provide a link to the latest version of GhostLobster’s Guide to Migration from VMC to SageTV:

1. Install the latest version of Java
2. Disable UAC (optional, but makes life easier)
3. Download & Install SageTV
4. Disable Vista Media Services
5. Set up your Remote Control (If you’re using VMC or MCE remote control you can download the SageTray app created by Babgvant.  This transforms that “green-button” on those Media Center Remotes so they will open SageTV instead of VMC or MCE.   Note that there are multitudes of other remote control options available to you in addition to the VMC/MCE remote controls.
6. Launch SageTV
7. Download and Install the SageTV Web Interface
8. Import your VMC recordings into SageTV’s recorded shows using Babgvant’s MigrateMCtoSage app.
9. Install the SageMC replacement UI
10. Add the Microsoft MPEG encoders
11. Install Commercial Skip
12. Set up your Movie Library (archived movies from video files and/or ripped DVD’s) in SageMC
13. Add your Client PC (think Softsled), your SD Extender (Media MVP) and/or HD Extender’s.  All have almost all the same functionality that you get with the SageTV server PC.

For all the details and some pretty good humor as well, check out GhostLobster’s excellent guide

No more DRM on non-restricted CableCard Content?

 

 

 

The latest OCUR specification by CableLabs (Read this June 20th update here but be warned it is very technical) has removed the requirement to DRM all CableCard tuner recordings regardless of whether the content is marked as copy restricted or not.  The way I understand it, this would mean you could copy, move or modify those recordings from the CableCard on channels that aren’t marked “copy protected” – the ones marked “copy protected” would continue to be restricted from copying, moving or modifying.

It's unclear what this means to current CableCard users though as thus far this change in rules hasn't trickled down to the existing users of CableCard tuners.  Ben Drawbaugh of Engadget reports that a firmware update for the tuners & Vista Media Center TV Pack may be required.