Floppyhead - Digital Media and Home Theater Computers

At least we do not have to wait for Fiji to get incremental updates to Media Center. Hot on the heels of Vista Service Pack 1, Microsoft has released the June 2008 Cumulative Update for Windows Media Center for Windows Vista. This update rollup is intended for computers that are running Windows Vista Home [...]

Like all parents, I have a ton of pictures of my kid. All digital of course, and most taken with my Digital Rebel, which I bought from Dell (suprisingly Dell has good deals on tech products, especially if you buy a coupon off of Ebay).
These pictures are probably the most important thing on [...]

I have been hesitant to buy a CableCard-based media center for one reason: switch digital video.  Basically SDV renders CableCards useless.  Tru2way is the next generation of security technology that allows two way communication between a media center and the cable company and will work with SDV.
Not much has been presented about Tru2way and [...]

I am thinking of renovating my basement, preferably with a HD projector and a media center. I would love to add some home automation items, especially since it would be a good time to switch out electrical boxes. I have started doing research into which protocol I would want to use in terms [...]

Cyberlink has announced the release of PowerDVD 8 Ultra, which is the only viable option right now to watch Blu-ray (or HD-DVDs) on a computer since Windows XP or Vista does not have a native ability to play Blu-ray movies.
PowerDVD Ultra has been a maturing piece of software. Version 7 lacked HD audio codecs for [...]

With Cyberlink’s PowerDVD Ultra no longer playing hard drive based HD movies from ripped HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs, the only way to watch such movies is to “mount” an ISO image of the disc and then watch it using PowerDVD. Not an easy thing to do while in Vista Media Center. MyMounter, brought to you [...]

Over the last year, the clear leader in Blu-ray and HD-DVD playback on a computer has been Cyberlink’s PowerDVD Ultra. Finally, this month someone else has thrown their hat into the HD realm: Arcsoft with their release of TotalMedia Theatre. According to Arcsoft, TotalMedia Theatre supports Blu-ray discs, AVCHDs, CDs, VCDs, and a variety of [...]

One of the more interesting CES press releases that flew under the radar was Auzentech’s announcement of the HDMI X-Tension. Sound cards have always been the weak link in an HTPC set-up, especially with the lack of HDMI 1.3 and Dolby True HD/DTS HD support. The HDMI X-Tension will be the first [...]

Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra. the only viable option for watching Blu-ray or HD-DVDs on a computer, has been certified by the Blu-ray Disc Association to support playback of BD-Video Profile 1.1 specification. From the press release:
CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra featuring support for BD-Video Profile 1.1 format allows the playback of high-definition movie content with multiple [...]

Jackass 2.5, starring Johnny Knoxville and his band of merry men, will be launched on the Internet on December 19 and will be subsequently released on DVD. Instead of being a straight to DVD release, it is a straight to Internet release. According to the Associated Press:
Blockbuster Inc. will present “Jackass 2.5″ free of [...]