Entertainment 2.0

Welcome back to the show folks.  We had a bit of trouble recording last night but family comes first and we were still able to get the show out today!  The one good part is that I had an opportunity to pay homage to Monty Python.

This week we take time to talk about Hack7MC yet again.  Michael Healy is really cranking out the hacks and customizations for 7MC and while we were going to talk about two of them this week, we ended up covering three!  Find links below.

We also talk about the value of high end custom Media Center systems vs. building your own/buying from companies like Dell and HP.  There are good and bad points of each and we do our best to hash them out.  As well, be sure and listen to the whole show.  I’m not going to post the link here but we’re making some changes that we think listeners/readers will be happy with.  The podcast is staying the same, just moving a bit.

Leave us your comments or contact us on Twitter (Adam, Josh) if you have any questions, comments or anything else you’d like to share!

Show Links:

13 Million Media Center Users

Hack7MC-New 7MC theme

Hack7MC-Replace Movie Strip with Media Browser

Hack7MC-Color Channel Logos

Microsoft Smooth Streaming

Click here to download the latest episode or listen below:

A busy, busy week! I wasn’t even in Vegas and I still feel like I didn’t get any sleep. I can only imagine how Ian is doing, even now.

Obviously CES isn’t all about Media Center, but with the announcement and now availability of Windows 7, we HTPC enthusiasts certainly have a lot to be happy about. Continue to read the blog and listen to the show for my continuing impressions and information about Windows 7 Media Center.

Today starts the Bumptop giveaway. If you’re interested in getting an invite to the private beta, there are only 3 simple things you’ll need to do.

1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Follow bumptop on Twitter
3. Send me a DM with the email address you’d like your invitation sent to.

The first 20 people that I receive DMs from will receive an invitation to the private beta of Bumptop. It’s in no way related to Media Center but ever since I started using this app on my laptop last week I’ve fallen in love with it.

Some other big news this week related to the show. Starting on Tuesday, January 13th at 7:30pm EST, and every Tuesday thereafter, I will be doing a live one hour call-in show for Media Center. This show can be found on the Talkshoe network and you can either tune in live or listen to the show afterwards through the blog. Once the first show has been done, you’ll be able to subscribe using RSS like any other podcast and I’ll get it added to iTunes as quickly as possible. 

I look forward to starting this new venture! The first few shows will mainly focus on reviewing the week’s news as well as the blog and podcast. Hopefully it won’t take long to get some people calling in and the focus will shift to answering questions and having conversations about Media Center. I hope everyone is able to participate in some way! I’m not just looking for users and enthusiasts but bloggers, company reps and 3rd party developers are welcome to call in as well! I’ll warn you now that the first show may start a little late as I attempt to work on using my PC instead of the phone for the calls.

I’ll also be working on dual recording the show so that a clearer version can be loaded into the RSS stream the next day. I know the timing on this is going to make it difficult for UK/European listeners to join in and I apologize for that but any earlier in the day and I’ll have my sons yelling at you during the call!

Click here to download the latest episode!

Below you’ll find the show notes for Episode 13 of the podcast. Enjoy!

• A Mediocre Microsoft Keynote Address
   Windows 7 Beta Available
• Toshiba to integrate Windows Extenders in CE devices
• Amber Devices voice recognition remote
• Harmony 1100
• Windows 7 file types and containers
• Asus Eee keyboard
• Linksys Wireless Home Music System
• Linksys Media hub NAS
• Datto Box 2 Box
• Netgear’s new set-top box
• Get Windows 7
• Dish Network shows the ViP 922 with Sling
• Re-watch the Keynote on the blog
• Panasonic getting Amazon VOD in 2009
• KB961367 fixes DVR-MS in 7MC
• Centon Multistream Cable-card
• MS Adds to MediaRoom
• Apps for Windows 7 Media Center
• Windows 7 and DLNA
• The Entertainment 2.0 Live Call-In Show!
• Win7 Media Center in action

As always, you can email me or follow me on Twitter if you have anything to share.  Also, leave your audio/video or picture comments on the drop.  I look forward to hearing from everyone.

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I decided that today was a good day to bang out another quick podcast for your listening pleasure.  With CES starting tomorrow, it seemed like a good idea to clear out the news from the past week.  Not a whole lot to talk about but you’ll get your usual dose of news mixed with a little opinion.  Enjoy!

Show Notes:

• Sub-$1000 cable card PCs from Ace Computers
• The history of Media Center
• Windows 7 build 7000 flaws
• Netflix streaming direct to your TV
• The world’s largest VMC remote
• An open letter to MS and Netflix

The show is now available on iTunes and ready for your subscription! (Link will open your iTunes software.)  This should make it a lot easier for some of you to listen.  I’m trying to get into the Zune Marketplace so I apologize that it’s not there yet.  You’ll have to ask the Zune team why.

Tune in for the Live Blog on Wednesday, January 7th at 9:30pm EST to get insight into Steve Ballmer’s keynote CES speech.  You can also follow Ian’s Live Blog over at The Digital Lifestyle.

Please leave you MP3 or voicemail comments on the drop as well as pictures of your system if you’d like to share.  You can also follow me on Twitter or email me.

Download the latest episode here.

I finally took to the time this weekend to figure out how to list the podcast on iTunes and it should be all set.  According to the email I received, the show isn’t searchable yet but you can follow this link to open your iTunes software and head right to the show.  The show should be searchable within a day or two.

As you heard on the last two shows, I’m very interested in making this a community podcast.  Head to the drop and upload your MP3, pictures or leave a voicemail which I’ll include in the following podcast.

Now if I can just get it listed in the Zune Marketplace…

Episode 11 of the Entertainment 2.0 podcast is coming at you today, January 1st.  Today, I do a short “since the start of the blog” review of some of what I felt were bigger stories this year dealing with Media Center.

No real show notes to speak of since all links point back to the blog itself.  I will however mention again the Entertainment 2.0 drop where you can leave a voice mail or upload audio/pictures that you’d like to share.  I’m looking for Media Center related stories, opinions, or anything else you want to talk about.

As always, you can email me or follow me on Twitter if you have something you’d like to share!

Download the latest episode here.

Here’s to a great New Year!

Yep, it’s been awhile and today’s show shows just how little news there is around the holidays.  Today, I recap the news from the blog and add a few new features to the podcast.  I encourage all of you to join in!

Show notes:

• TDL HP Magic Givaway winner
• Zune plans
• Next Gen Extenders
• 4th annual TDL awards
• DirecTV backs out
• Encode360 Questions answered
• Entertainment 2.0 drop (see below)

I’m announcing a new part of the show which I hope to start with the next episode.  I’ve set up a drop at Drop.io.  When you listen to the show you’ll probably understand better but basically, I want your media center stories.  How you use it, if you used MCE in the past and have moved to something else, etc.  Anything you want to say about media center, let’s hear it!  I want to make this YOUR media center podcast and I think this is one way to do that.

With the drop, you have a few options.  You can upload an mp3 file of you telling us about your system, or you can call 646-495-9205 x 44828 and leave a voice message.  You’re not required to register to use the site and you can also share other media center stories you find while out on the web. 

If you’d like to actually be on the show, this can be worked out as well!  Scheduling can be difficult for me due to family commitments, but I’m available from 12:30-1:30pm during the week, as well as after 7pm.  I would also be willing to set something up during the weekend if you’d prefer.

The goal here again is to make this YOUR media center podcast.  Hopefully this will help bring the Media Center community together a little more.

Enjoy the show and Happy Holidays!

Click here to download the latest episode!

Be sure to email your questions and comments or follow me on Twitter and I’ll follow you back!