Mike's Blog

January 2009 - Posts

• S1Digital launches Free Windows 7 Upgrade Program

  If you've been putting off that purchase of a new S1Digital Media Center because Windows 7 is coming out later this year*, then we have some exciting news for you! S1Digital today announced a free upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7 operating system for all customers who purchase a new S1Digital Media Center starting Jan 20th, 2009 until March 31st, 2009. Windows 7 is the next major release of Microsoft's Operating System which will power S1Digital's Media Centers and includes exciting new features and enhancements. More information on Windows 7 can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ This promotion only applies to NEW purchases and requires that the Media Center be returned to S1Digital for installation. The promotion includes the cost of installation and the license. This promotion excludes the Media Center Mini Edition (MCME) The full terms of the offer can be found by visiting http://www.s1digital.com/Win7_Promo_s/85.htm For additional information on S1Digital's Media Center and Server solutions, please visit www.s1digital.com, email sales@s1digital.com or call (888) 632-6897. Alternatively drop by the new S1Digital digital media playground at 174 State RT 17 N, Rochelle Park, NJ. * we hope! Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog Posted Jan 20 2009, 09:12 AM by mabrown with no comments

• VidaBox Unveils Touch3.6, vPad8 Touchscreen Tablet

  I can't find any info on their site about this but Electronic House has some details on a couple new touchscreen devices from VidaBox. Read the Article here. (on a personal note it's awesome to see dream theater as the artist in the screen shot, been my favorite band for many many years and I run the drummers official webiste, mikeportnoy.com) Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog Posted Jan 08 2009, 09:48 AM by mabrown with no comments

• Severely Confused - The state of Media Center

  Not sure where to even start with this.  Lets go back a few weeks to the PDC when Windows 7 was announced, for lack of a better term.  Shortly after Charlie Owen had a great blog post and did a show with Ian on all the new features of Media Center in Windows 7.  I thought this was a great move to get the community excited about Media Center again after so many got turned off by the way the TV Pack was handled. Now fast forward to CES.  I watched the keynote last night and was stunned at the lack of anything Media Center.  It was mentioned here and there but there wasn't so much as even a quick demo, I caught one screen shot in the background of the guide and that was it. So is Microsoft pushing Media Center to the average consumer or is their goal to keep it a niche product for enthusiasts like us and custom installers?  I hate to say it but I'm starting to think it's the later. It really floors me that Media Room got so much coverage and Media Center got none. Media Room isn't even a technology most consumers have access to and the majority that do don't know/care that it's a MS platform. Another Media Center-less CES keynote down, I'm hoping this trend doesn't continue. Sorry, just needed to rant a little. Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog Posted Jan 08 2009, 09:05 AM by mabrown with no comments

• M-Card Tuner coming for Vista Media Center?

  Looks like they'll soon be a new player in town for Digital Cable Tuners Ceton Corp. has a product page up claiming they have an M-Card Tuner coming soon for Vista Media Center. I'll be very interested to see how this performs compared to the current ATI tuners, and being M-Card tuners I could cut my tuner count in half which would be a good thing.  Hopefully we'll see this released soon and obtainable by users with existing certified CableCard machines. Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog Posted Jan 06 2009, 10:58 AM by mabrown with no comments

• Awesome Video of Media Center Evolution

  I usually don't post things other bloggers post, but just in case someone reads my blog and not Ian's (fat chance I know) I thought I'd pass this along. Enjoy! Some reason the embedded video isn't showing up.. here's a direct link: Evolution of Windows Media Center Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog Posted Jan 04 2009, 10:13 PM by mabrown with no comments