media center application

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TV Pack headaches reveal Microsoft's Media Center dilemma

Of all the features in Windows, Media Center is unique. It offers high-end capabilities that appeal strongly to digital media enthusiasts, sparking the growth of online communities like the Green Button, with more than 110,000 members at last count. These days, that passionate community is spending much of its energy...

Tags: Release, Media Center PC, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center, OEM, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows Media Center, Feature, Media Center Application, Fiji, HD, Medium, Media Center PCs, Microsoft Windows, TVs, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott

Blog posts 2008-09-18

Additional Resources

FastPictureViewer WIC Codec Pack 1.50 (Windows)

A set of free 32-bit and 64-bit codecs that enable full support for raw image formats from 12 manufacturers, covering 300 digital cameras in Windows 7, Vista and XP. Provides thumbnail support in Windows Explorer, along with viewing and slideshows in Photo Gallery / Photo Viewer and Window 7's Media...

Tags: Codec, Photograph, Axel Rietschin Software Developments, Microsoft Windows, Media Center PCs, Microsoft Windows 7, Operating Systems, Software, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment

Software downloads 2009-11-27

Gateway DX4300-11

Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway hasn't fared well with its most recent round of DX-series mainstream retail PCs. Neither the DX4300-03 nor the DX4822-01 received positive marks, and...

Tags: Video cards, LANs, DVD, Consumer electronics, Semiconductors, Network technology, NETWORKING, Gateway Inc., graphics

Product reviews 2009-11-25

XBMC 9.11.b1 (Mac)

XBMC is an award winning media center application for Linux, Mac OS X, Windows and XBox. The ultimate hub for all your media, XBMC is easy to use, looks slick, and has a large helpful community. Try it now! XBMC supports viewing and playing a vast library of audio,...

Tags: Team, Apple Macintosh, Media Center PC, Media, Team XBMC, Media Center PCs, Team Management, Apple Mac OS X, Advertising & Promotion, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment, Management, Operating Systems, Software, Apple Mac OS, Marketing

Software downloads 2009-11-22

HP Pavilion dv4-1555dx

Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. With its stylish, Imprint-finish chassis, excellent audio output, and remote control, the 14-inch HP Pavilion dv4-1555dx is best suited for students and others...

Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, Desktops, Notebooks, HP Pavilion, laptop computer, Hewlett-Packard Co.

Product reviews 2009-11-20

GIMP dropped from default Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx installation

I use the GIMPThe user interface stinks, but the GIMP is a powerful application. I use it regularly for editing pictures. F-spot on the other hand, I don't like much. I use gThumb for organizing my photos (gThumb was F-spot's predecessor in early Ubuntu versions). gThumb also allows some simple...

Tags: Microsoft Windows, GIMP, Ubuntu

Discussion threads 2009-11-19

Hulu Desktop 0.9.8.2 (Mac)

Hulu Desktop is a lean-back viewing experience for your personal computer. It features a sleek new look that's optimized for use with standard Windows Media Center remote controls or Apple remote controls, allowing you to navigate Hulu's entire library with just six buttons. For users without remotes, the application is...

Tags: Apple Macintosh, Remote Control, PC, Hulu, Hulu Desktop, Media Center PCs, Desktops, Keyboards, Mice, Digital Media, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment, Hardware, Peripherals, Consumer Electronics

Software downloads 2009-11-19

Dell's answer to Apple's Mac mini - The Inspiron Zino HD

People Actually Buy These Things?Almost a $1000.00 for a cutsey, low powered designer computer? Do people actually buy these things? Maybe they should check out your Very Best Kit list.adrian please 959$ you dont put 959 for a low-end entry level machine you can have...

Tags: Desktops, Apple Mac Mini, Dell Inspiron, Dell Computer Corp., Apple Inc., Apple Macintosh

Discussion threads 2009-11-16

Gateway NV7802u

Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway continues to offer some of the best bang-for-your-buck retail laptops. The NV7802u is a fine example: It's a 17-inch wide-screen model with a...

Tags: Processors, Notebooks, Intel Core 2 Duo, Gateway Inc., Intel Corp., laptop computer

Product reviews 2009-11-13

XP Tweaks Unlocked 1.3 (Windows)

XP Tweaks Unlocked is an excellent application that any Microsoft Windows user whether beginner or advanced will find useful when an improved Microsoft Windows experience is wanted. This software provides permanent, instant access to a wide range of Windows settings you can easily customize to help you save time and...

Tags: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Best Security Tips, XP Tweaks Unlocked, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, Web Browsers, Operating Systems, Software, Internet

Software downloads 2009-11-11

Cloud Engines Pogoplug

Photo gallery:Cloud Engines PogoplugWouldn't it be nice to quickly access your data from anywhere without a complicated network setup? That's exactly what the Cloud Engines Pogoplug offers. Priced at $100, this tiny gadget turns any USB external storage devices--anything from a Seagate FreeAgent Go to a Western...

Tags: NETWORKING, Network technology, Pogoplug, network, home network

Product reviews 2009-11-10

Nokia 3711 - sable (T-Mobile)

Nokia fans in the United States don't get many breaks. Few of the company's phones make it to U.S. carriers and the models that land here tend to be basic handsets for making calls. The Nokia 3711 for T-Mobile is one such phone. Simple in form and function, the 3711...

Tags: Telecom & Utilities, T-Mobile, phone, Nokia Corp., keypad button

Product reviews 2009-11-10

LG Chocolate Touch (Verizon Wireless)

When the LG Chocolate first came into the scene with the VX8500 model back in 2006, it was preceded by a ton of hype. And such is the case with its fourth and most recent incarnation, the LG Chocolate Touch. As the name indicates, it is a touch screen phone...

Tags: LG Chocolate, phone, home screen, touch screen, LG Electronics Inc., Verizon Wireless

Product reviews 2009-11-07

WD TV Live HD Media Player

The first few rounds of network media streamers we tested weren't necessarily recommendable. Sure, this was partially because most of these devices depend on Windows Media Center for connectivity and content, but we also had issues with their interfaces and performance.Fast forward a year and it's safe to say that...

Tags: TVs, TV & Home Theater, Corporate communications, Advertising & Promotion, Digital media, Microsoft Windows Media Player, TV, media, HDMI, USB

Product reviews 2009-11-07

AVADirect Nano Cube

AVADirect's $2,266 Nano Cube tries to take on Shuttle's XPC H7 5800 at its own small form factor game. Both systems come with smaller-than-normal SFF cases, and each requires sacrifices, even more than with a standard SFF PC, in exchange for its tiny dimensions. Therein lies our problem with this...

Tags: DVD, Consumer electronics, Games, Shuttle XPC, SFF, small form factor, Cube, Shuttle, Nano, DVD burner, PC, Nvidia GeForce, NVidia Corp., AVADirect, game

Product reviews 2009-11-04

Microsoft's Windows 7 challenge: Selling Live services (without being sued)

What competitors?Other than iLife, who is competing with Live Essentials?These seem like little trivial programs to be fighting over. Besides the people complaining about bloat (Even though these programs don't take up much space), I don't think anyone would complain even if they were included in Windows to begin with.The...

Tags: Operating systems, Patches, SECURITY, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Corp., operating system, Microsoft Windows

Discussion threads 2009-10-28

Vista Tweaks Unlocked 1.1.0 (Windows)

Vista Tweaks Unlocked is a must-have software for both newbies and advanced Windows users. It is a very accessible and efficient tool that helps you configure the settings of your Vista system to your liking. What does the program offer? This small application provides permanent, instant access to a large...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Best Security Tips, Vista Tweaks Unlocked, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Web Browsers, Operating Systems, Software, Internet

Software downloads 2009-10-28

Net neutrality: a faster Internet for all

If I pay my ISP for fast speeds, I should get it.If I pay my ISP for fast speeds, I should get it.I do [b]not[/b] want my internet to slow down just because some person on the [b]other[/b] end didn't pay for priority traffic.Net Neutrality had to happen in the...

Tags: Internet service providers (ISPs), Internet Service Provider, Net Neutrality, faster Internet, Toll-Free, population density, Internet

Discussion threads 2009-10-23

My 7 favorite Windows 7 features

I must say ...... your impressive list, just isn't that impressive to me.#1 - Performance boost -- subjective#2 - More restrained UAC -- more duck tape#3 - 64-bit becomes the new default -- had 64 bit for years now#4 - Improved troubleshooting tools -- no comment, biting my tongue#5 -...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating systems, Microsoft Windows 7, UAC, Microsoft Windows Vista, favorite Windows 7, 64-bit, Microsoft Windows

Discussion threads 2009-10-22

Why Mac open source gets no respect

"Since Macs generally cost less than PCs"THEY ARE? Since when? And that doesn't jive at all with "Macs are upscale"... and cheaper. Mmmm no.No counterpart to XBMC?There are a ton of Media Center applications for windows, including Windows Media Center, which is fairly adept at just about...

Tags: Desktops, Operating systems, Mac people, Apple Macintosh, XBMC, MCE, Unix

Discussion threads 2009-10-14