Since Slysoft’s beginnings in 2003, all Slysoft product licenses have been sold with free product lifetime updates included. While standards, technologies and SlySoft’s product range have changed significantly since 2003, only now has Slysoft’s free lifetime update policy been reviewed with respect to converting to an annual subscription fee format for new license purchases.

It is unfortunate that Slysoft feels the need to convert to a subscription model. AnyDVD acts alot like an anti-virus software. Without those updates, the software is almost pointless as new DRM schemes are put into place.

No pricing has been announced and no date has been set for the transition. At least Slysoft has made the announcement ahead of time so you can still purchase a copy of AnyDVD HD with lifetime updates for free. For current owners of AnyDVD, upgrades will continue to be free. If you have been contemplating buying AnyDVD, now is a great time to buy.

If you have any old computers laying around, WHS is a great way to revive those old machines. I have been very impressed with its ease of use and have set one up at my company’s office (about 8 people). Nothing like having automated back-ups to ensure you don’t lose any data.

Source: Windows Home Server Team Blog

• Way more radio: 15,000 stations, shows & podcasts
• Listen to stations, shows and podcasts across every musical genre, on every topic imaginable, and covering practically every sport in the world.
• Add any station or show to Favorites so you can find and play it in an instant.
• Search for a specific station, show or host. Just enter the call letters or name to find what you’re looking for.
• Tune in to radio shows—past, present and future. Catch up on recent shows you missed, archived for your convenience. Listen to the shows you love streaming live, or see what will be playing soon.
• Listen locally and globally. Local radio has all the stations in your neighborhood. Or browse by location to listen to great radio from around the world.

While I am big fan of Pandora, the coolest feature of the update was the addition of local radio stations, nicely laid out to be received over the internet. No more antennas to receive your local stations. Plus, you can pick any city in the world and listen to the local radio stations. This is the first application to truly harness the power of internet radio.

Sonos also breaks out radio programs by name instead of station. For instance, I am a fan of the “First Team” on Fox Sports Radio. Washington DC no longer has a Fox Sports radio station. With Sonos, I can either listen live to “First Team” or listen to a podcast from a previous broadcast. Who needs satellite radio?

Digital cable tuners are typically only sold bundled with a new computer. These tuners still require a special bios and a special version of Windows Vista to access premium cable channel.

The only other place that I know of (besides Ebay) that sells standalone tuners is Cannon PC. In fact, Cannon is the only place you can buy internal tuners (note: internal tuners still connect via USB).

Overall, I am impressed with the value of the PS3.  This is a console that is begging to be connected to a HDTV.  The UI looks attractive (especially at 1080p) but sometimes feels cluttered.  Quitting games is a bit awkward.  You have to hit the PS button and select "Quit Game" from the navigation.

Blu-ray playback looks great and the built-in wireless is a nice touch.  I was disappointed to realize that I could not use my Logitech Harmony remote with it since the PS3 only supports Bluetooth remotes.  I ended up buying a PS3 remote at Amazon for about $20.

The Playstation Network works well, allowing you to download demos, trailers, and games.  Being able to download content in the background is a nice touch.  You can play a game while downloading trailers etc.  I only wish there were more free games that you could download. 

Streaming of media from a computer is awkward, especially if your files are buried several folders down.  I can’t see myself using this feature too much.  Maybe the experience will improve when I set up my wired network.  Right now, it is just too slow.

The system is noisier than I thought it would be, especially with all the criticism the Xbox 360 has gotten for being too loud.  Apparently, the PS3 is louder when is laying flat like a CE device.  Unfortunately, I do not have the room to "stand it up" in my cabinet.

Last but not least, the games look fantastic but I am surprised by the lack of original titles for the PS3.  Most of the major titles are available for the Xbox 360 or even PCs.  I am not too interested in playing BioShock on a PS3. 

One thing is clear to me about the PS3: it is definitely a computer. From the USB ports to the upgrading of the "operating system," the PS3 is marginally a plug and play device.  For someone who tinkers around with computers, the PS3 was easy to set up but I could see the average consumer struggling to setup the wireless connection and/or upgrading the operating system. 

I have not yet downloaded any HD movies from the Playstation Network.  When I do, I will post my thoughts.

CyberLink Corp. announced today that CyberLink PowerDVD has been certified by Blu-ray Disc Testing Center for the playback support of high-definition H.264 video content on recordable Blu-ray Discs BD-R 1.1 and re-recordable Blu-ray Discs BD-RE 2.1

CyberLink PowerDVD featuring support for BD-RE 2.1 and BD-R 1.1 certification allows the playback of Blu-ray recordable and re-recordable discs, providing users with superb video playback performance including recorded HDTV programs on the latest Blu-ray Disc formats.

CyberLink PowerDVD delivers proven quality of HD movie playback on consumer PC’s and has already been certified for significant Blu-ray Disc standards, including BD-Video Profile 1.0, BD-Video Profile 1.1 (Bonus View), BD-Video Profile 2.0 (BD-Live), BD+, BD-RE 3.0, AVCHD, and AVCREC.

Product Availability
CyberLink PowerDVD with support for BD-RE 2.1 and BD-R 1.1 formats is available for purchase online. Existing PowerDVD 8 users can update their software for free.

According to Ars Technica, only 2,000 CableCards were requested this past summer. That’s 2,000 for the entire United States. That’s 2,000 for every cable provider. Wow. From the article:

And yet, in the last three months, only 2,000 CableCARDs have been requested by customers—a number that covers the entire US. When the top ten cable operators are lumped together, they’ve only provided 374,000 CableCARDs in the entire history of the program.

This does not bode well for Windows Media Center or Tivo for that matter. Ars did not say how many CableCards were paired with computers though it has to be low. It makes you wonder why Microsoft and ATI would even bother with digital cable tuners.

How much longer until Dell and HP stop offering digital cable tuners all together? If this happens, I think Media Center is for all intensive purposes dead as a set-top box replacement. Sure, smaller OEMs might still offer digital cable tuners, but they would not be even a blip on the radar.

The lack of CableCard uptake combined with Windows TV Pack completely self-destructing makes me wonder whether high definition television has a future with Media Center. Sure, ATSC and QAM will always be hanging around, but they are niche products at best.

Hopefully Windows 7 can deliver a worthwhile media center experience.

Here are some tips I learned to make the install process easier:

1. Inside or Out. Verizon has to install the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) either inside or outside of your house. The ONT is essentially a large cable modem and converts the fiber optic feed from Verizon to coax. I would have preferred outside but, at the time, I did not realize that was an option. I now have an ONT in my laundry room.
2. You have to use the Verizon router. Verizon forces you to use their router if you have their TV service. They give it to you free so it is no big deal. To me, the only drawback is that the router is 100 Mbit/s, and not 1000 Mbit/s (some people also might want a draft 802.11n wireless router instead of a “G” router). The most cost efficient way to remedy this is to install a switch right after the router (or you can just use your old router as a switch instead).
3. Make sure your phone is working before the Verizon tech leaves. With Fios, your phone service will be provided through the fiber optic line and not your old copper line. My internet and TV worked fine but I had an issue with my phone making calls. Luckily there was another tech in the area who was able to come out quickly and fix the problem.
4. Verify your bill. Keep a sharp eye on your bill the first couple of months after installation. I have heard lots of rumors about Verizon incorrectly charging people.

Here are the updates made in version AnyDVD HD 6.4.6.2:

• New: Added ISO/UDF image file creation to AnyDVD ripper
• New (Blu-ray & HD DVD): ISO/UDF images can be created with or without copy protection. Images can be mounted with Virtual CloneDrive(tm), available at http://www.slysoft.com
• New (Blu-ray & HD DVD): Improved speed of AnyDVD ripper
• Fix (Blu-ray): Bug in BD+ removal, if more than one title on a disc is protected, e.g. “Prison Break Season 3″, US
• Fix (Blu-ray): Bug in “Remove UOPs” with some titles, e.g. “AVP2″ Region B, (UK, Germany)
• Fix (DVD): AI scanner made a mistake with “The Eye”, Region 2, DK
• Some minor fixes and improvements
• Updated languages

ISO creation has been in strong demand since Cyberlink’s PowerDVD Ultra stopped playing Blu-ray movies saved in a “folder.” ISO images can be “loaded” virtually to trick PowerDVD into playing the disc.

Corel is finally catching up to PowerDVD Ultra and Total Media Theater with the release of their “Update” pack for WinDVD 9. The following features are added as a reult of this update:

• Resolve “Enable S/PDIF Out” issue
• Resolve “HDMI output to speaker” issue
• Modify All2HD setting selection to enhance stability
• Expand list of compatible commercial titles
• Enhance compatibility for the following hardware:
  VGA Chipset support for Blu-ray Disc® playback on Windows Vista® and XP OS

I have not had time to download this update and check it out but will do so shortly. I am glad to see Corel improving WinDVD 9 to make it a more viable Blu-ray player. Software-based players have come a long way in the last 6 months and hopefully this is another step.