Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

Intel’s ‘Bearlake’ G-35 Express motherboard to simplify PC media centers in Spring ’07

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

In general, the PC market is moving in the direction that allows consumers to build or buy better and better media center PCs. Intel motherboards are no exception with the release of new ‘Bearlake’ motherboards this spring. From Dailytech: The upcoming G35 Express is expected to support HDMI video output with HDCP compliance. According to […]

MyTVPal.com to offer 1080p movies via set-top box and PC client

Monday, November 27, 2006

2 Comments

To me, the future of home theaters should somehow incorporate 1080p high definition movies and TV. As of yet, no one has really come close. MyTVPal.com is planning on launching a new video-on-demand featuring 1080p, based on technology from MatrixStream. From EngadgetHD.com: Claiming 700 channels with user uploaded content and DVR features coming in 2007 […]

Home theater computer (HTPC) cases for the living room that don’t break the budget

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

6 Comments

Pvrwire recently had an article on how expensive are HTPCs are in relation to other computers. To me, the big additions in cost are tuner cards and the computer cases. HTPC cases have typically been very expensive with prices well over $150, which is alot to pay for any enclosure. That got me wondering whether […]

How CableLabs will certify Vista’s Media Center for HDTV

Sunday, November 19, 2006

3 Comments

To watch HDTV from you cable company with a Mircosoft Vista Media Center box, you will be stuck with a CableCard. The lure of using a CableCard is HDTV from your local cable company fed right into your media center. In order to to use a CableCard in Microsoft’s Vista Media Center, CableLabs will have […]

Will DRM cripple Vista’s bid to be a Tivo replacement?

Friday, November 17, 2006

8 Comments

I am excited about the potential Vista has to offer as a media center and ultimately a Tivo replacement, especially with the addition of CableCARD support. The one thing that could derail Microsoft is the extensive digital rights management integrated in Vista to view high definition television. Computerworld has a good editorial on the DRM […]

Two websites for over-the-air high definition television broadcasts in your zipcode

Thursday, November 16, 2006

19 Comments

One of the best kept secrets is that your local television stations broadcast in high definition over the air (over the air HD). Another secret is that many newer computer monitors are able to display high definition formats. For about $100 for the cost of an indoor antenna and HDTV tuner card, you watch and […]

Multi-stream CableCARD available in time for Microsoft’s Vista

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

3 Comments

Multi-stream CableCARDs are expected to be available this January. This is a small step towards a viable HDTV media center. Hopefully this is a sign that the Cable industry is warming towards the use of CableCARDs. Multi-stream CableCards will allow users to receive and decode two digital television signals simultaneously, in other words, they allow […]

Logitech’s Wireless DJ Music System: Is my search over?

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

3 Comments

The Logitech Wireless DJ Music System streams audio–including copy-protected DRM music and Internet radio–from your PC to your home stereo. The $250 system is anchored by a wireless remote control with a built-in LCD readout that allows you to access and navigate digital music files on your PC or the Internet and hear them on […]

Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive hacked to work on a PC

Monday, November 13, 2006

7 Comments

Well, this did not take long. According to EngadgetHD, Utilizing Toshiba drivers, users have apparently been able to not only view the file contents of their HD DVD flicks directly within a Windows XP environment, but have been able to play back the film on PCs well-spec’d enough to handle the load. By enabling the […]

With XBox 360 offering high definition downloads of TV shows and movies, is Vista next?

Sunday, November 12, 2006

4 Comments

From Microsoft’s press release about high definition movies and shows for the Xbox 360, Microsoft Corp. today announced agreements with CBS, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS Inc.), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment to bring an initial lineup of over 1,000 hours of hit TV shows and movies […]

Author Archives | J.R.