Chris Lanier's Blog

Microsoft Takes Over The Green Button

Today is a big day for the Media Center community, and as speculated upon way too much The Green Button has become an official Microsoft web property!

So what does this mean?  A few things, starting with increased Microsoft interaction that nearly everyone told us was so important.  When Jessica Zahn left to join the Zune team, she collectively broke the hearts of all TGB members who lost the opportunity to get direct Microsoft feedback, but fear not increased Microsoft presence will come with the acquisition of The Green Button.

Next up on the list, ads are gone!  Google AdWords and all pop-up text ads are gone (Plug: advertisers looking to target the Media Center community should consider advertising here), so everyone can enjoy the perks of a community built on members and not non-Media Center related pop-ups.

Other changes will be coming, but as the official announcement states Microsoft is not looking to shut down or limit your freedom of speech on The Green Button.  I will still be a moderator as will Mike and the rest of the gang, so nothing will change in your ability to criticize Microsoft for poor decisions and have your voice heard (and as always, attacks directed at members or Microsoft employees will not be allowed).

Please let me know what you think of the change, but I think the increased funding and potential for direct communication will benefit all!

Microsoft Starts Media Center SideShow Gadget Beta

Microsoft has finally unwrapped a beta of the long rumored Vista Media Center SideShow control gadget.  First spotted by Stuart, you can apply for the beta on Microsoft Connect and get started starting, but so far it looks pretty much like basic in terms of functionality.

The key component currently missing is Media Center Extender control, something we knew Microsoft has said it will be able to do.  Current features include the ability to browse the Guide and schedule recordings, list recorded TV and start playback, browse the music, picture and video libraries, and show “Now Playing” information.

Read more and see all the screenshots at The Media Center Blog.

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 3: Extender & Conclusion

Given the high price of the MediaSmart Connect I’m assuming that most reading this review will want to see some improvements in the Media Center Extender function—and I think HP delivered pretty well on that.

While the Extender UI is a bit slow still, we have already covered that it is based on the same Sigma 8622 chip that the Linksys and D-Link are.  However, HP adds a few commonly requested features that the previous entries in the market lack.  First, the HP MediaSmart Connect supports the 4^th Zoom mode (non linear stretch) in Media Center.  However, one random issue that needs more testing is the video experiencing major fisheye-like effects when in the 4^th Zoom mode (I’ll look at this more later).  In addition the included HP universal remote has a closed caption toggle button that actually works within Media Center.  I also did not experience the auto-sensing HDMI issues that I still have with the Linksys DMA series Extenders, but this is another issue that I want to test in some other scenarios.

On the downside there still are no photo slideshow animations given the slower processor, and using HDMI all audio is decoded and output as 2-channel PCM which completely kills the experience.  File format support looks pretty good, but yet again MKV is still missing in the big picture.

Overall the rest of the Extender is exactly what you would expect.  It might not be at the level of the Xbox 360 Extender yet, but to me it seems further along then D-Link or Linksys.

Note: MediaSmart UI file format support is covered in previous section

Conclusion

If you can handle the high price, the HP MediaSmart Connect is the best Extender outside of the Xbox 360 on the market (worth noting the Xbox 360 Extender only supports WMV and MPEG-2).  The included universal remote, 4^th zoom mode, good file format support, and addition of the MediaSmart UI make it a good choice for Media Center users and those just looking for a nicely designed and functional media adaptor.

Overall I give the HP MediaSmart Connect x280n an 8/10. Give me MKV support, fix the HDMI downmixing, and drop the price at least $100 and HP could take the Extender market by storm.

Pros and Cons of the HP MediaSmart Connect a (8/10)

Pros

• Fantastic solid design/build quality
• Completely silent
• Wireless-N
• Easy setup and installation of MediaSmart
• Includes accessories (backlit remote, HDMI cable)
• MediaSmart UI and local storage options

Cons

• High price ($350)
• Still no MKV support
• No 1080p output
• HDMI output has audio downmixing (I'm told SPDIF is always active, so run HDMI+SPDIF).
  
• Doesn’t output WMV9 Pro as AC3
• Transitions/animations/UI slow and clunky
• No SD video output

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 1: Overview

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 2: MediaSmart UI

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 2: MediaSmart UI

MediaSmart Connect UI/Dashboard

On the first boot-up of the Connect you get basic setup options including language, resolution (720p or 1080i only), and more.  After this simple process you are greeted with the MediaSmart UI/Dashboard which includes options for the local video, music, photo, online service functionality as well as a link to the Media Center Extender function.  The whole process works very much like the Xbox 360 Dashboard.

The Connect is based on the same Sigma Designs 8622 processor that the Linksys DMA2100/2200 and D-Link DSM-750, so unfortunately this means the processor is just a bit slow for a fluid UI experience.  This is evident in the MediaSmart UI as well as the Media Center Extender.  The MediaSmart UI is plagued by slow performance throughout however, with videos taking 3-5 seconds before they start on a wired connection (doesn’t happen in the Extender function) and the scrolling through folders being equally as painful.  While most of the MediaSmart UI functions work great, they are not exactly for the user with a large media library.  I’m assuming this most of this just shows the limitations of a 300MHz embedded processor versus the much higher processing power of a dual core PC that actually hosts an Extender session.

Other issues with the MediaSmart UI include the video skip functionality being limited to using fast forward instead of a 30-second skip function.  Using the skip on the remote actually moves you to the next video in the folder.

Overall, the MediaSmart UI is nothing amazingly special, but I don’t think its goal to compete with the media management functions of Media Center.  Content is displayed in list or thumbnail view for videos, ID information for music, etc.  Video playback is dependent on the UPnP server you are using on the PC, so if you are having format issues you might need to rename files to a supported one by your UPnP server or switch to a fully functional UPnP server (eg. Windows Media Player supports limited formats).  The online services like CinemaNow work, but those use to the Media Center UIs for these same services will notice the MediaSmart equivalent is a bit watered down but still functional.  Again, this is most likely due to the embedded web browser and processer and limit graphic and animation options.

Lastly on the MediaSmart UI you have the ability to play content back locally via USB thumb drives, USB hard drives, and HPs Pocket Media drives.  NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 are supported, but remember this local storage applies only to the MediaSmart UI and not the Media Center Extender functions. 

MediaSmart UI File Format Support

As for file format support, the MediaSmart UI does pretty well with a few exceptions.  First of all, when connected with HDMI both the MediaSmart UI and Extender output 2 channel PCM audio no matter what.  Considering I saw the exact same issue with the Linksys DMA2200 I believe this might be a Sigma Designs issue (I'll update the Linksys review if the same applies), however it makes HDMI pointless.  I had to move to SPDIF and Component to really test the unit.  Given this, that included HDMI cable cost becomes a moot point, and you will have to go buy a set of Component cables and a optical SPDIF cable in order to get 5.1 audio out.

Other than that, the big issue is that MKV is still not supported and WMA9 Professional 5.1 is decoded and output as 2-channel.  I’ve talked to the guys at HP and I know that MKV is at least on the radar, but no idea when or if it will ever be added to the MediaSmart Connect.  The fact that they at least know about it was a welcomed surprise however.  Given that DivX, Inc. will use MKV in DivX 7, you can expect more devices to support MKV.

Note: Media Center Extender file format support is covered in the next section

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 1: Overview

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 3: Extender

Short Bits: MKV, Media Center U

Tons of DivX Certified devices are out on the market, in fact that HP MediaSmart Connect that I’m reviewing now is DivX Certified, but the biggest problem with all of these devices is that they don’t support MKV.  That will all change with DivX 7 Certified devices as DivX Inc will use MKV instead of AVI/DIVX as their newest container.  Great news for hardware support.

Part 2 and Part 3 of the Media Center University at EHX are up online.  These are great for custom installers as well as anyone just interested in Media Center.

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 1: Overview

The HP MediaSmart Connect x280n (formerly MediaSmart Receiver) is HPs latest entry into the Media Center Extender/Adaptor market.  Building on the success of their MediaSmart HDTV lineup, the MediaSmart Connect brings the same experience you get on the MediaSmart HDTV to any display via an elegant set-top box. Last week I got a review model to put through some rigorous testing to see how it stacks up against Linksys, D-Link, and the Xbox 360 Extender.

The first thing you will notice about the MediaSmart Connect is the focus of the device is not necessarily the Media Center Extender functions.  Much like the Xbox 360 and D-Link DSM-750, the MediaSmart Connect features two distinctively different media experiences.  The MediaSmart UI operates as a standard UPnP/DLNA media device, and the Media Center Extender function connects to Vista Home Premium and Ultimate PCs running Windows Media Center.  This was done for several reasons, but on the top of the list seems to be support of additional OS’s and additional features/functionality not supported by Media Center.

Warning: MediaSmart Connect is HDTV Only!

Before we get any further in this review I want to note that the MediaSmart Connect is meant to be connected to a widescreen HDTV capable of 720p or 1080i input (a la Apple TV).  There are no SD analog outputs (eg.S-Video, Composite) and the Component output is meant to be 720p at least.

MeidaSmart Connect Specs

• MediaSmart UI and Media Center Extender functionality
• USB 2.0 port (one front, one back)*
• HP Pocket Media Driver Bay*
• SPDIF (optical) output, RCA 2-channel audio output
• HDMI, Component outputs (HDMI cable included)
• Wireless-N (802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band N, internal antennas)
• 720p and 1080i output options
• 10/100 Ethernet
• 5-device universal backlit remote

*Functionality only applies to HP MediaSmart UI, not available via Media Center Extender

Included Accessories

The MediaSmart Connect retails for the relatively high price of $350, however HP has attempted to make the price worth it by including a few generally absent accessories.  Included in the very well designed package are a 6-foot HDMI cable, a fully backlit universal remote, and a $20 CinemaNow coupon.  Do the accessories make it worth the extra cost?  That’s up to you to decide, but the fact that they are included is a nice touch.  (Keep reading and find out why that HDMI cable might have been a worthless expensive)

PC Setup for MediaSmart

You can tell that HP focused heavily on their MediaSmart UI over that of the Media Center Extender which is pretty much a Microsoft endeavor that is just licensed by OEMs.  Because of the clear focus on MediaSmart I wanted to cover this end of the product as well as the Media Center Extender functions.

HP ships the MediaSmart Connect with a pretty bulky software load to facilitate the MediaSmart features of the Connect (software not needed for use as a Media Center Extender).  This includes a large install of various programs and frameworks such as AJAX Extensions, SQL Server 2005 CE, HP Services Gateway, CinemaNow, HP Update, HP Sharing Wizard, and more.  This is a bit larger than I would have liked to see, but considering the resource impact of Media Center and Extenders the difference evens out if you are worried about the resource load on your PC.  It is worth noting that the Connect is an UPnP/DLNA device, so you can load up your own media server application to serve the device.  On the device itself you can switch between UPnP servers on-the-fly, and depending on the server you use (eg. Windows Media Player) the MediaSmart UI will aggregate all media shares in your home into one display on the MediaSmart itself.

Moving back to the HP software install, despite the load of software and install time (15+ min), everything is integrated nicely including a one click (more or less) signup process for the online services (SnapFish, CinemaNow, Live365) that the MediaSmart UI gives you access to.  Considering the horrible experience that Windows Media Center provides for signing up for services like this I praise HP for a simple setup process.

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 2: MediaSmart UI

HP MediaSmart Connect Review Part 3: Extender

Community Server 2008 SP1 Upgrade

This site now runs on Community Server 2008 SP1!

Any HP MediaSmart Connect Questions?

Yesterday I received my HP MediaSmart Connect x280n review unit and will be taking a look at it this weekend.  I will likely mirror my review of the Linksys DMA series Extender minus all of the general Media Center setup content.

If anyone has questions about the unit please let me know so I can either cover them in the review or reply directly in this post.

mControl 2.1 Goes Final

Embedded Automation has released the final build of mControl 2.1 for download.  The build is actually the same as the previous RCGOLD2 release, and as there were no significant issues reported Embedded Automation has now shifted their focus to the next mControl release.

You can download mControl 2.1 here, and of course you get a 30 day trial if you don’t already use mControl.  All current mControl users can upgrade to 2.1 for free.  See the User Manual for more (PDF).

Interested to know what other features mControl has?  Check out the updated mControl Feature Summery (PDF).

Microsoft Updates Extenders, Set-top Box Support in Media Center

Microsoft has just released two updates for Vista Media Center, fixing up STBs and Extenders.  KB950124 adds and fixes support for newer STBs connected to Media Center, and KB950125 which adds a few Extender issues including 50Hz output fixes for those of you outside the US (no additional codec support).  Grab the updates on Windows Update or download the standalone packages below.

Description of an update that provides broader support in Media Center Extenders for Windows Vista for newer TV set-top boxes (KB950124)

This update provides broader Media Center support for newer TV set-top boxes.

Download: Windows Update | 32-bit | 64-bit

Description of the Media Center Extenders for Windows Vista update that was released on June 24, 2008 (KB950125)

This update addresses the following issues. These issues occur when you use Media Center on an Xbox 360 console.

• This update addresses a picture quality issue that occurs when you use Media Center Extender on an Xbox 360 console that has a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector to the TV for video and a Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) connection to the audio device for audio.
• This update addresses an issue in which the Media Center Extender stops responding (hangs) when you play a large non-WMV video over an HTTP session.
• This update provides support for 50Hz output together with better quality for HD models. This feature applies primarily to regions that use the PAL video standard.

Download: Windows Update | 32-bit | 64-bit

Has Media Center Been a “Miss” for Microsoft?

Dennis Morgan pointed to a recent MSNBC article on Bill Gates hits and misses during his time at Microsoft.  One of the first products in the miss category is Media Center, what do you think? 

Based on the author’s semi-outdated understanding of Media Center, I’d agree with them 100%.  Media Center has been a miss when you consider their concept of Media Center being a product “aimed to move into the living room, tying the PC and the TV together for recording television shows on the computer…”  I think it would be hard to argue that Microsoft’s first plan for Media Center was a failure.  Gateway, ViewSonic, HP, and other top tier OEMs have tried to move into the living room with HTPC form factor PCs, and that failed big time.  The initial concept of Media Center is still is a miss (unless you’re taking about the custom market).

That brings us to Media Center today where the PC in the living room is much less of the target.  That idea has been replaced by using your main Desktop PC as a host and Extenders, mainly the Xbox 360, to drive content into the living room.

Defining Media Center as a miss might be a bit much; however it is still a product with so much potential that has yet to be capitalized on.  As I’ve said many times before, Media Center will never be a replacement for the standard cable/satellite STB.  It will always be for those who want more than what those STBs can offer.  The only problem is what that market wants, Media Center fails to do correctly.

So my question is does Media Center, with all of its unreleased potential belong in the same category as Microsoft BOB and Clippy?

Media Center Nabs More Online Content: Olympics & Fight Network

NBC has teamed up with TVTonic to provide online coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics via Media Center.  Be sure to watch the ‘Explore’ section of Media Center for more, as well as TVTonic (requires install).  More information at TVTonic.

In addition the Queensberry Fight Network has launched an online application available now in Media Center to get your fighting/boxing fix 24/7.  Considering the downfall that has been network TV, Microsoft needs to make sure they are making every effort to get more online content up and accessible via Media Center.  I’m dying for a Hulu plug-in.

More on Cannon PCs Six CableCARD PC

On Friday Cannon PC demoed a system recording from six CableCARDs all at once, while playing back a recording and the system didn’t skip a beat.  This was demoed in the YouTube video, but I got some higher resolution screenshots of Media Center showing the six streams at once.

Given the system resources that they had to spare, what do people think the max number of tuners would be?  Considering local playback most likely added from 5-10% on ~35% of the CPU being used, I think this shows that processing speed is no longer a bottle neck for Media Center PCs.  So the question is which dies first, USB throughput or the hard drive(s)?

mControl Adds Support for CentraLite JetStream

Embedded Automation has just added CentraLite JetStream to their growing list of supported home control systems.  CentraLite JetStream is a new standard for home control based on Zigbee, and as you will learn in the embedded video it was actually the first standard that Embedded Automation supported in mControl but delayed the launch due to a lack of devices on the market.

Cannon PC Demos Media Center with 6 CableCARDs

June 18, 2008 - Cannon PC, LP demonstrated a capability of their Media Centers to accommodate 6 Digital Cable Cards and simultaneously record 6 different HD Digital Cable Channels.

Cannon PC, the award winning Media Center specialty company, demonstrated to a select group of people the capability of their Media Centers to manage 6 Digital Card Cards. They have also posted a video on YouTube and on their web site demonstrating this capability. The video shows the actual ATI Digital tuners, the Recorded TV section showing the 6 current recordings, the Performance Monitor showing how little impact the process has on performance and resources and the smooth video playback while all this is taking place.

"We believe we are the first company to demonstrate such capabilities. Since Windows Vista for Media Center natively only supports 2 Cable Cards, we had to figure out how to modify the system in order to have it properly recognize more than 2 cards in the system" said Gregg Cannon of Cannon PC. "We have exceptional people on staff that are very knowledgeable of the Media Center product and spent many hours of research to make this happen. We feel confident that we can add even more digital Cable Cards to our systems based on the process and knowledge we have learned."

For those not familiar with Digital CableCARDs, they allow customers to watch and record their cable TV channels, including premium HDTV channels like HBO-HD and ESPNHD directly on their media center without the need for a set top box. With more Cables Cards in the system it allows the HD experience to be shared more with the extenders in the home. What happens many times in a family environment with a Media Center and several extenders is that there are not enough TV tuners installed the Media Center to share the Live TV experience with more than 2 other rooms. Breakthroughs like this make that a thing of the past.

As the winner of over nine national and international awards, Cannon PC has been designing Microsoft Windows based Media Centers for over four years. Their business model is specifically targeted to Media Centers and Media Center technology. "We pride ourselves on bringing leading edge technology and ground breaking ideas to our customers. A system with 6 Cables Cards is just one of those ideas." said Cannon.

Cannon PC offers a of line of Media Centers for the tech savvy consumer as well as a high end line of Media Centers tailored for the custom integration market. Cannon PC has a unique dealer program for qualified A/V installers and integrators that are looking to offer their clients reliable feature rich Media Centers at a competitive price. Unlike other Media Center manufactures, each system can be completely customizable to fits the customers need or the A/V project.

Their Home Series line of Media Centers consist of the AMD based ultra small form factor FX Series Media Center as well as the Intel based MX Series house in an A/V style case. Either system can be purchased through their online site.

The Cannon PC Pro A/V Series consists of three models; the LX, EX and RX. The LX has been redesigned to include a stylish new case that integrates gold plated front audio connectors, quick access USB and Fire Wire connections as well as a 28 in 1 media card reader. The EX features a 12" HD touch screen and room for over 6 TB of disk storage. The RX unit is a sleek rack mount system that will fit nicely into any standard A/V rack and each system comes standard with a blu-ray DVD drive.

All Cannon PC Media Center comes standard with features such as a 52-in-1 media card reader, front IO, USB and fire wire connections, dual NTSC and HDTV tuners with the option to upgrade to Cable Cards, 8 channel HD audio, P35 Express chipset, Quad Core and Dual Core Processor, high end ATI or NVIDIA graphics cards, up to 8 GB or RAM and up to 6 terabytes of internal SATA hard disk storage. Each system uses state of the art motherboards and components that utilize cool and quiet technology to ensure that their systems are whisper quiet and low on heat. All systems are backed by a 1 year factory warranty.

Cannon PC has been designing high end Media Center since its founding in 2004. To learn more about Cannon PC Media Centers, visit them online at http://www.cannonpc.com.

For information contact:

sales@cannonpc.com
832-364-6608

Short Bits: Extenders, Dream Home

The Windows Experience Blog took a look at the HP MediaSmart Connect.  At some point I’ll also have a review of the unit and compare it directly to the Linksys Extenders (and D-Link which is pretty much the same).

Speaking of Extenders, Ben at Engadget HD did a great shootout of the Linksys, D-Link, and Xbox 360 Extenders head-to-head.

eHomeUpgrade has had several posts about the Disney Innovations Dream Home.  Alexander took a look at Life|ware, Surface, HP's TouchSmart PC, and much more.

HP MediaSmart Connect Makes It Easy to Enjoy Digital Media from Any HDTV‏

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 17, 2008 – HP today announced that HP MediaSmart Connect, a sleek digital media receiver that brings digital media from around the home or Internet to any HDTV, is now available for pre-order.

First announced as part of the HP product launch at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, HP MediaSmart Connect features a sleek design with a piano-black finish as well as HP's exclusive "Zen" Imprint pattern and ambient blue lighting, making it a stylish addition to any room in the home.

• Play your music, photos, and video from any Windows-based PC in your house on your HDTV
• Direct access to OnLine Media Services
• Integrated Windows Media Center Extender functionality
• HP Pocket Media Drive bay
• Built-in wired and wireless networking - IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
• HDMI, Component video, and digital audio outputs
• Media playback from USB-based portable storage media

Blog Downtime

 Some security issues have kept the blog down the past few days, but fear not I'm back!

Making Dreams a Reality: The Innoventions Dream Home

The latest attraction at Disneyland takes visitors through a home of the future featuring technologies of tomorrow inspired by some of today’s cutting-edge consumer offerings from Microsoft and other technology industry leaders.

ANAHEIM, Calif., June 16, 2008 - Today, the Innoventions Dream Home became latest attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Located in Tomorrowland, the Dream Home delivers on Walt Disney’s vision for showcasing cutting-edge technologies that make life better and easier and was created in close collaboration between Disneyland, Microsoft, HP, Life|ware and home-builder Taylor Morrison. The Dream Home demonstrates how technology can be integrated into our lives in a fun, interactive environment.

More than one billion people use Microsoft products around the world, which provides a unique insight into what people are doing and what they want to do — now and in the future. In fact, Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash. headquarters features an ever-evolving “Home of the Future” which is a real-life demonstration of the innovations dreamed up in their research and development laboratories. Disney executives have visited the home many times, so it was natural for the company to partner with Microsoft when Disneyland officials decided to create the Innoventions Dream Home.

“We’re constantly visualizing how tomorrow’s software will transform how we’ll work, play and communicate,” says Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft.  “By partnering with Disneyland, we can show people how technology can enrich our lives today, and offer a glimpse of the technologies that will revolutionize homes in the future.”

The dream home also features futuristic technologies inspired by innovations from the Microsoft prototyping lab:

• Magic Mirror: A mirror projects different clothes, accessories and hairstyles onto each family member’s image when they stand before it. The clothes not only morph to the contours of the body, but also sway as the person in front of the mirror moves.
• Kitchen of Your Dreams: The kitchen recognizes ingredients as a family member sets them on the counter, suggesting recipes for those items and providing instructions once a recipe is selected.
• Story Time: Visit the child’s room to be transported to Neverland. Read “Peter Pan” aloud to absorb a full multimedia experience, as cues in the story set off lights, sounds, colors and video.

Read Full Press Release

Short Bits: HP, TouchSmart, Webinar, Live for TV

Ian Dixon had a ton of good stuff this past week at HP’s Connecting your World event in Germany.  Among the top announcements was HPs new TouchSmart PC which features a 22-inch display.  Best of all, this thing is cheap!  It smarts at only $1,300, nearly half of their pervious TouchSmart PCs (and much more attractive).  Ian also did a special edition of The Media Center Show for the event.

Saying with HP for a minute, they will be holding a series of webinar’s from June 24-July 10.  Guests include Ian Dixon, Patrick Norton, Mike Garcen, and Ed Bott.  Be sure to register for one of them.

Ian also confirmed that Windows Live for TV is indeed dead and will be shutting down on the 24^th of this month.