I just got a regular machine with a NVidia Personal Cinema card, and bought Beyond TV from Snapstream. I got a firefly remote with it for the price of shipping, and I downloaded the software. The remote works great in winamp! The TV recording is done using snapstream.net, as their view scape isn't accessible.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene Stevens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC audio discussion list. " <Pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:35 AM Subject: Re: Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition. > OK... I've had the Sony Vaio Media Center computer for about a year now. > Every thing is accessible to Jaws except the Media Center program it self. > However, there are other enhancements to XP that are. For instance, when > dealing with audio files there is a WMA to MP3/WAV converter built right > in. > > The TV tuner card is accessible if you don't mind using the Jaws curser to > control it. > > All in all it is a great investment for me. But of course my wife is fully > sighted and can user the Media Center program. But even so, I recommend it > for anyone who is into Audio/Video. In my opinion the extra cost is well > worth it. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peter Scanlon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <Pc-audio@pc-audio.org> > Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:16 AM > Subject: Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition. > > >> Below an article from Sydny Morning Herald. I was wondering if this >> Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre that the article talks about, and the >> software to record and tune to cable is accessible. >> >> >> Let me entertain you >> By Valens Quinn >> October 22, 2005 >> >> There's a whole world of digital entertainment trying to get into your >> living room. By connecting a "media centre PC" to your TV and stereo, you >> could be >> just that little bit closer to living the Jetsons' lifestyle, with all >> sorts of digital content at your fingertips. >> >> Imagine setting up automatic recording of an entire season of 24 or >> Desperate Housewives with the press of a button, ready to watch once the >> kids are asleep. >> >> You could amaze your friends with a big-screen photo slideshow of a >> recent >> hiking trip to the Himalayas, complete with Wagner's Flight of the >> Valkyries >> trumpeting in the background. It would beat passing around a stack of 8cm >> x >> 10cm prints that just don't do the scenery justice. >> >> After a long day at work, you could select a movie from the latest >> selection of blockbusters, pay electronically and the movie starts >> playing >> on your TV >> a few minutes later - all without pulling on your uggies and heading to >> the >> video shop. You wouldn't have to remember to return the movie when you're >> finished, >> either. >> >> Music lovers can have their complete collections on tap, ready to play >> with >> a few clicks of the remote. No more hunting for that special song or >> stacking >> up CD cases. You can create customised music compilations and save them >> for >> parties, doing housework, or just dancing with the kids. >> >> To get started you don't need anything more than a specially equipped >> PC - >> called a media centre - and some easy-to-use software. Think of a media >> centre >> PC as a home central storage vault for holding and sharing anything >> digital, including photos, home videos and music. >> >> A media centre can also tune in TV signals and play CDs and DVDs. It can >> pretty much do the job of a VCR, DVD player, CD player, digital set-top >> box >> and >> surround-sound decoder. Then you get the added bonus that it can function >> like a normal PC too, so you can run your favourite programs, browse the >> internet >> and play games from your living room TV set. >> >> You could also put a media centre in your study and connect it to a >> conventional computer monitor and speakers, but this type of PC is much >> happier in your >> living room, where it can connect to a big-screen TV and stereo. The >> benefit is better sights and sounds, and the family doesn't have to crowd >> around a >> PC monitor to see your latest photos or watch a video. >> >> Media centre PCs come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the >> model >> you buy. Some are designed to match your existing AV equipment, with >> sleek >> gold >> or silver metallic front panels, while others look like normal desktop >> "tower" PCs. Popular models include HP's Media Centre m7088a, Optima's >> WorkPro S7 >> Media Centre PC, Toshiba's portable Qosmio G20, the Acer Aspire T630MCE >> or >> the Altechs Maestro Pro. Prices vary from $2400 for the HP without >> monitor >> to >> $3999 for the Acer. >> >> Whether you tuck it out of the way or position it front and centre, keep >> in >> mind that your box will need to be positioned close to your TV and stereo >> so >> the cables reach. Generally, media centres use the common S-Video and >> composite connections for conventional TVs, or a DVI interface for >> connecting to >> plasma and LCD types. For audio, you can run signals into your stereo or >> surround-sound amp, or plug in a set of PC speakers. Depending on what >> you >> choose, >> you'll need a mini-jack-to-RCA or a digital-audio adaptor cable. >> >> Of course, to get started you first need a media centre PC. These share >> most of the same innards as a regular computer, but need a special >> version >> of Microsoft >> Windows, called Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition. This is almost >> the same as the normal version, only there's a special interface that >> serves >> as a one-stop shop for managing music, videos and photos, plus watching >> and >> recording TV. This interface is designed to be read from about three >> metres >> away, and is operated with a remote control. >> >> All PCs sold with Media Centre Edition come with a remote as standard, >> which is pretty easy to use with dedicated buttons for browsing stored TV >> and video, >> playing music, switching channels, setting the volume or returning to the >> main menu. When you turn on a media centre PC, you won't see the normal >> Windows >> desktop as it skips directly to Media Centre's main menu. If you want to >> enter the normal windows desktop, you can exit Media Centre's interface, >> but you'll >> need a keyboard and mouse to navigate regular Windows programs. Some >> media >> centre PCs come with wireless keyboards and mice for just this purpose. >> >> On the downside, you may not want a PC with keyboard and mouse cluttering >> up your lounge room. Or unsightly wires for that matter, either. And it >> may >> not >> be worth the extra money to buy a media centre PC - you have to be >> motivated enough to use its features - it takes some effort ripping CDs, >> managing your >> photo collection and programming TV recordings. There are other >> non-Microsoft solutions to consider too, such as the Asus W2V notebook >> ($4999) with built-in >> TV tuner ( >> www.asus.com.au) >> and MSI's Mega PC 865 Pro (from $1000). >> >> Mini mogul >> >> What's enticing about these clever boxes is that they can tune in and >> record digital TV, so you can watch shows on your schedule rather than >> the >> networks'. >> This is possible with the help of a built-in TV tuner card, which should >> be >> included as part of a new media centre PC purchase. There are a few >> different >> flavours of TV tuners, mainly analogue or digital, plus standard or >> high-definition (HD). >> >> Don't bother with an analogue tuner as these are largely outdated, and if >> you plan to have an HD TV, make sure you choose a tuner that supports HD. >> Also, >> some media centre PCs have a "dual" tuner option, which is actually two >> individual tuners that work together. With one of these babies installed, >> you can >> record one program while watching another. >> >> Whether you go for a single-standard definition tuner or the dual HD >> variety, both can "time-shift" TV, meaning a live broadcast can be paused >> and resumed >> later (the PC records the broadcast in the background). So the next time >> you want to catch the sports highlights, but the sauce is boiling, you >> can >> pause >> the action, tend to dinner, and pick up where you left off. >> >> A media centre PC can also play music via your stereo or PC speakers, and >> your entire CD collection can be copied to hard disk. A high-speed >> transfer >> feature >> commonly referred to as "ripping" takes care of the copying, and once >> finished, you can pack up your CDs and put them in storage. No more >> clutter >> or broken >> CD cases, and your music is at your fingertips. >> >> With an internet connection, CD track names and album covers can be >> downloaded to complete your collection, plus new music can be purchased >> (without the >> CD) from various online music stores. >> >> Managing your music collection is easy with search functions, or you >> could >> create a music jukebox by setting up customised playlists based on a >> music >> genre, >> album or artist. If you want to just listen to the radio, there are >> hundreds of local and international digital radio stations on the >> internet >> as well. >> Media Centre Edition also has built-in support for CD (and DVD) burning, >> so >> it's a snap to make a compilation and play it in your car stereo or at >> work. >> >> A media centre PC is also good for storing digital photo collections. It >> organises picture folders in one place, and it's simple to group >> favourites >> for >> featuring in slideshows. The software lets you set transition effects >> between photos, so they melt together, and you can pick an accompanying >> music track >> for your shows. >> >> Spread it around >> >> If your house has a wired or wireless network, your media collections can >> be shared with other devices. It's also possible to send music or video >> to >> a stereo >> or TV in another room with a "media extender". The Microsoft Xbox 360 >> console, for example, will be able to access files such as recorded TV >> shows or photos >> from a Media Centre PC over a home network, and they can be viewed on the >> TV connected to the Xbox. >> >> This means you can distribute your audio and video to any TV in your >> home, >> using an Xbox 360 as a base station. Other extender devices are also >> available, >> such as D-Link's DSM-320 ( >> www.dlink.com.au), >> only this doesn't extend the >> Media Centre interface, but still transfers videos and music to a TV or >> stereo. >> >> Whichever way you slice it, PCs will keep fighting their way into living >> rooms, and those set to be released in the coming year will be very >> different to >> the hulking beige boxes of old. >> >> Where's the TV guide? >> >> While it's great to be able to save TV shows onto your hard disk, >> scheduling a recording can be a bit of a pain. As it stands, you need to >> tell a media >> centre PC or digital set-top-box what channel to switch to, and when to >> start and stop the recording. >> >> The frustrating thing is that while Media Centre Edition and many digital >> set-top-boxes have Electronic Program Guide (EPG) facilities built-in, >> they're >> not used. >> >> Unfortunately, the free-to-air networks in Australia limit the release of >> programming information to the public. Only details about the show >> currently being >> aired and the one following are available. >> >> Using your PC as a personal video recorder (PVR) really only starts to >> become practical if you have an EPG containing a week or two's worth of >> programming >> information. You could then could simply check what's coming up, and pick >> the shows you want to watch with the click of a button. >> >> You wouldn't need to fuss with setting record start and stop times, or >> entering the channel or show title. Once the PVR automatically copies >> your >> programs, >> you could watch them when it suits you. Also, the best thing about a >> recorded TV show is fast-forwarding through commercial breaks. No wonder >> the free-to-air-networks >> aren't rushing to make EPGs available! >> >> It's possible to download an EPG for Media Centre Edition-equipped PCs >> from >> the internet, however, with the help of IceTV's >> IceGuide, >> or you can subscribe to Foxtel Digital's >> IQ service, >> which comes complete with an EPG and hard-disk set-top box for recording >> your favourite shows. >> >> Spoilt for choice >> >> A media centre PC can play all kinds of different video, whether it's >> free-to-air digital television, a DVD movie, home video, or something >> from >> the ever-intriguing >> world of the internet. >> >> With the help of a broadband connection you can download the latest movie >> trailers, watch those quirky foreign commercials that always seem to be >> circulating, >> or even subscribe to upcoming internet TV and video-on-demand services. >> >> While it's still early days yet, the idea here is that you'll be able to >> choose what you want to watch, whether it's a missed episode of Grey's >> Anatomy, >> or a recent movie, and watch it on your TV for a fee. >> >> There are also interactive services such as Online Spotlight, which work >> through the Windows XP Media Centre Edition interface. The first >> Australian >> service, >> Telstra BigPond's Game Arena, includes game-play options, reviews and >> news. >> An American Online Spotlight partner, Wavexpress TVTonic ( >> www.tvtonic.com), >> provides on-demand DVD-quality movies, videos and movie trailers. >> >> And it's not just video than can be viewed; websites can be enjoyed as >> well. For example, track the latest >> V8 Supercars rankings >> or stay abreast of your >> eBay auctions, >> all from the comfy couch. >> >> Infofile >> >> Apart from playing some pretty amazing games, Sony's PS3 looks set to >> share >> some media centre functionality. It will come equipped with a Blu-ray >> disc >> drive >> for playing HD movies on discs with better than DVD capacity, and it can >> connect to two HD TVs at once. The box can also act like a network hub, >> channelling >> internet video or music to other devices around the home. You'll have to >> wait for the PS3, however, as it's not due until late next year or even >> 2007. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... >> http://www.pc-audio.org >> >> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> This list is a service of MosenExplosion.com. To see what other lists we >> offer, visit us on the web at http://www.MosenExplosion.com >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... > http://www.pc-audio.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > This list is a service of MosenExplosion.com. To see what other lists we > offer, visit us on the web at http://www.MosenExplosion.com > _______________________________________________ PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This list is a service of MosenExplosion.com. To see what other lists we offer, visit us on the web at http://www.MosenExplosion.com
