Mike's Blog

S1Digital 100 Disk Blu-ray Changer

mabrown — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:33:18 GMT

My experience with S1Digitals 100 disk Blu-ray changer was just about flawless. It would have been 100% except for the first unit they shipped me had an optical drive failure after ripping around 40 disks. Anyone who has had the pleasure of dealing with S1Digial knows there support is top notch, so after trying a few things I was quickly sent a replacement changer.

For my test of the unit I ripped 53 store bought Blu-rays (the changer and My movies support DVD and Music disks also, but I didn’t test those features). The changer integrates with My Movies for Windows Home Server, and later will integrate directly with a Media Center PC. Ripping copy protected Blu-rays such as these requires AnyDVD HD from Slysoft. Neither My Movies nor the Changer remove the encryption required to make a successful copy. As you’ll see in the video below the entire process from setup to loading disks to ripping couldn’t be any easier.

Check out the video here, and if you have any questions check out S1Digitals product page, http://www.s1digital.com/S1Digital_Blu_ray_disc_changer_p/bdc.htm, or leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to respond.

ClubHouse Tags: clubhouse, story, Media Center-Windows 7, windows home server, blu-ray, review, s1digital

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

Project Snowbird, Niveus Media working with Dish Network

mabrown — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 04:43:00 GMT

This image was just posted to Niveus's facebook page, I'm betting it's not based on Media Center, but I'd love to be proven wrong. We should see some more details of this project this week.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs479.snc3/26229_379857181524_112455126524_4226191_7661265_n.jpg

Project Snowbird website Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

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mabrown — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:02:58 GMT

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Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

S1DIGITAL INTRODUCES FIRST BLU-RAY DISC CHANGER FULLY INTEGRATED WITH MEDIA CENTER

mabrown — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:59:54 GMT

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Caster Communications, Inc. at 401.792.7080

S1DIGITAL INTRODUCES FIRST BLU-RAY DISC CHANGER FULLY INTEGRATED WITH MEDIA CENTER

S1Digital continues to grow its digital entertainment ecosystem with the introduction of a Blu-ray Disc Changer.

New Rochelle, NJ – February 3, 2010 – S1Digital, the leader in digital entertainment solutions, today announced the launch of the S1Digital Blu-ray Disc Changer. The changer can hold 100 discs and seamlessly integrates with any S1Digiral Entertainment Server or Media Center.

When connected to an S1Digital Media Center or any third party Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista PC that includes media center, customers are able to load up to 100 Blu-ray and/or DVD movies into the S1Digital Bly-ray Disc Changer. Using the included playback software, each disc will be scanned and metadata and cover-art automatically downloaded to the server. Once catalogued, users can view more information about the movie, or watch the movie by selecting the appropriate cover-art, which is all available on the familiar and easy-to-use media center interface. The changer is simple to use and enables almost instant access to movies without having to physically find and load each movie. (This feature is coming soon).

“No other solution currently on the market integrates a Blu-ray changer with media center,” said Paul Heitlinger, President of S1Digital. “For customers that want instant and direct access to their movie discs, this is the only solution.”

When connected to an S1Digital Entertainment Server or any third party Windows Home Server, customers can automatically archive their Blu-ray, DVD and CD discs to the server*. With the included software, every movie and audio disc will automatically be stored on the hard drive, catalogued and metadata and cover-art will be downloaded. As each movie or album is stored, it is immediately available on the customer’s home network from any S1Digital Media Center (or other PCs and certain media streaming devices) for playback.

“A typical Blu-ray disc can take an hour or more to archive,” continues Paul Heitlinger. “With our solution, you simply load up the changer and hit go. You don’t have to load each disc one by one. The changer will automatically move from disc to disc so customers don’t have to worry about spending days manually storing movies and music.”

The S1Digital Blu-ray Disc Changer is currently shipping and available for an MSRP of $1499 from http://www.s1digital.com/S1Digital_Blu_ray_disc_changer_p/bdc.htm. Dealer and reseller enquiries are welcome by contacting sales@s1digital.com or by calling (201) 402-1920.

For more information on S1Digital, visit www.S1Digital.com.

* Non copy protected discs only - copy protected discs cannot be legally copied

About S1Digital

Based in Rochelle Park, NJ, S1Digital manufactures and develops digital media servers and solutions for the home entertainment market. S1Digital provides a complete digital entertainment ecosystem with centralized archiving, storage and distribution of HD movies, live and recorded TV, videos, music, photos and more. As households increase the assortment of digital media they consume from many disparate sources, S1Digital’s Digital Entertainment Platform offers the best way to fully enjoy the home entertainment experience anywhere in the house.

Press Contact: Caster Communications, Inc. at 401.792.7080

Lauren Simmen lsimmen@castercomm.com

Amanda Nickerson amanda@castercomm.com

For digital images log on to www.castercomm.com

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

ATI Digital Cable Tuners back in stock at Cannon PC

mabrown — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:32:28 GMT

These have been in pretty short supply lately, if you've been looking to pick one up go grab one before they're sold out again!

Just ARRIVED!!!!!

Cannon PC recently received a shipment of internal and external versions

of the ATI Digital Cable Tuners!!!

External ATI Digital Cable Tuner

Just $269!!

External ATI Digital Cable Tuner

Just $249!!

There are limited quantities and they will go fast so go online to order.NOW!!!!

Order the External Version - http://www.cannonpc.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=234

Order the Internal Version - http://www.cannonpc.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=235

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

Another chance to win a VidaBox vCase3

mabrown — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:35:33 GMT

If you didn't win my review unit VidaBox is giving away one this month also. Just follow the banner below for your chance to win.

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

And the Winners are…

mabrown — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:16:44 GMT

The VidaBox Premium Wireless Keyboard goes to Supervette5885 (thegreenbutton.com) and the vCase3 Chassis goes to digitalreader (thedigitallifestyle.com). Congrats guys!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

Contest: Win my VidaBox Review Gear

mabrown — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:17:00 GMT

The good folks over at VidaBox are letting me give away the Vcase3 chassis and Premium Wireless Keyboard that I reviewed over the past couple of months.

To enter simply leave a comment below, comment as much as you like but I’ll only be counting 1 entry per person. “Mike’s Digital Home” is published to both The Green Button and The Digital Lifestyle sites, entries from both will be counted, still one entry per person.

Because of shipping along with customs fees this contest is limited to the United States only.

Comments up until 11:59 PM EST December 4th will count and I’ll contact the winners on December 5th.

Good Luck!

Clubhouse Tags: clubhouse, media center, story, contest

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

VidaBox Black Friday Coupons

mabrown — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

Black Friday is usually a good day to score some new gear and if you were thinking about some new HTPC gear VidaBox has you covered.

The new vCase3 is $100 off on Friday with the code BFvCase3-TGB and their new Premium Wireless Keyboard is $15 off with the code BFkBoard-TGB.

Check out my vCase3 review here and my Premium Wireless Keyboard review here.

Clubhouse Tags: clubhouse, media center, media center-Windows 7, story, black friday, htpc

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

VidaBox vCase3 price reduction

mabrown — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:01:55 GMT

Some of you voiced your opinions of the MSRP on the vCase3 and it looks like VidaBox listened. The new MSRP is $249.00, the $50 off coupon code (thegreenbutton) is still valid so for under $200 you could score this sweet case.

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

$50 off VidaBox vCase3

mabrown — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:16:44 GMT

Vidabox is currently offering $50 off their new vCase3 chassis, during checkout enter "thegreenbutton" (without the quotes) to take advantage of deal.

When purchasing the chassis, you can also get a discount on their wireless keyboard and the Anyware IR remote+receiver kit.

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

VidaBox vCase3 Review

mabrown — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:52:00 GMT

Earlier in the week I did an unboxing of this chassis, my initial impressions were high and after having built out a HTPC using the vCase3 my initial impressions were pretty much dead on. Anyone who has ever built a HTPC using other chassis such as ones from Silverstone or OrigenAE knows the pain of small tight spaces, having to remove sections of the case in a certain order in order to get all of your components in and if a hard drive should fail you’re in for about an hours worth of work replacing it. I’m extremely happy VidaBox realized how frustrating these scenarios were to those who want to build and maintain their own machines and has released a product sure to please almost everyone.

For this build I picked up an Intel DP55WB microATX motherboard, an Intel Core i5-750 CPU, 4GB of OCZ PC3 12800 RAM, an ATI Radeon HD 4550 fanless low profile display adapter from Sapphire, an Asus Xonar XDAV Slim 1.3 sound card, and a Cooler Master ATX power supply. I used a 500GB hard drive and an LG HD-DVD Blu-ray combo drive I had laying around to finish it off.

The build couldn’t of been simpler. For ease of installation and to keep vibration noise down VidaBox uses rubber vibration-isolating screws, you simply screw these into yours drives by hand and they slide and lock into place in the chassis.

The rest of the build is pretty much the same as any other HTPC build would be. One of my favorite features of the chassis are these vibration-isolating screws and the way the drives are easily installed and removed from the chassis.

One of the other big benefits to this chassis is ventilation. The way in which the chassis was designed guarantees any motherboard & CPU combination will have a clear shot out of the case for displacing heat, which in turn makes the fan run at a lower RPM which keeps the fan noise down to almost nothing. With the stock Intel fan that came with my i5-750 I have to put my ear on top of the chassis to hear it running.

There are two things though I wish were incorporated into the design. The first being an integrated Microsoft IR Receiver. Most other HTPC chassis have some sort of integrated receiver, most however aren’t that great (like my built in imon ir receiver in my main system that I disable). I think a good standard internal Microsoft IR receiver was a missed opportunity to make this chassis even better then it already is. My other wish is while I do like the size of the chassis I wish it was a few inches taller to accommodate for full height cards. My next tuner purchase will be the Ceton CableCard tuner which is a full height card so it won’t work in this chassis. Despite these two things this is hands down the best HTPC chassis I’ve seen. If all the cards you want to use are available in half height configurations this is THE chassis for you!

The vCase3 is available now from VidaBox for $299, but keep an eye out for a black Friday deal that will knock a nice chunk off.

Clubhouse Tags: clubhouse, review, story, media center-Windows 7, media center, htpc

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

VidaBox vCase3 Premium Chassis unboxing

mabrown — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:15:39 GMT

In the coming weeks VidaBox will be releasing their new vCase Premium chassis for the DIY crowd. This half height chassis was designed from the ground up with HTPC users in mind. VidaBox took a little different approach to their case design then most other half height case’s I’ve seen in that while it is designed for Micro ATX or Mini ITX motherboards it also uses a full sized power supply and optical drive, can hold 3 hard drives and has a built in card reader, which pretty much means you can build a powerhouse of a machine in small chassis.

Over the next few days I’m going to be building a pretty sweet DIY HTPC around this case and I’ll have a full review of how everything went, for now here are some unboxing pictures.

Clubhouse Tags: clubhouse, media center, story, review, htpc, Media Center-Windows 7

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

Win a VidaBox Premium Wireless Keyboard!

mabrown — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:39:29 GMT

VidaBox is giving away one of their Premium Wireless Keyboards that I reviewed recently.

For the rules and details check out this forum post.

Clubhouse Tags: clubhouse, media center, story, contest, vidabox, wireless keyboard

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog

VidaBox Premium Wireless Keyboard Review

mabrown — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:40:14 GMT

Over the past few weeks I’ve been evaluating VidaBox’s new Premium Wireless Keyboard. The keyboard arrived nicely packaged, and comes with a nice soft case for storing it away while not in use.

The keyboard features all the media keys along the top that you’d expect to find on a HTPC Keyboard, along with a trackball. I have to admit when I first saw the trackball I was a little put off by it, I’ve never been good at using them. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy I picked up using it and how accurate. I would still personally prefer a track pad, but given the small nature of the keyboard I can see why the trackball was chosen.

Installation couldn’t be easier, I simply plugged in the included small dongle into my test Windows 7 HTPC and I was ready to go. There’s no software that has to be loaded, or any that even comes with the device for that matter, which is another plus for this device.

The range on the keyboard is also great, I used it up to ~40 feet away from my HTPC and never had any issues with losing key strokes or accuracy with the trackball.

To keep the size of the keyboard down there’s isn’t a dedicated number pad, so turning num lock on (which is a bios and Windows default) takes over some of the letters on the keyboard to use as a number pad. This threw me for a few after I rebooted as I couldn’t logon to my machine. After realizing that num lock was on and I was able to logon and turn num lock off Windows remembered my preference. If needed you can also turn most bio’s boot options to not enable num lock.

If you’re looking for a small wireless keyboard with great range add this one to your list to check out and I guarantee it’ll end up being at the top of your list. After having the chance to evaluate it I would have no reservations in purchasing one.

ClubHouse Tags: clubhouse,media center,story,wireless keyboard,windows 7

Cross Posted from My Media Center Blog