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• TV Pack Update

  First off, let me apologize for not doing this sooner. At first, I was holding off because the glimmer of hope that something would be done was still there; and then because there wasn't much to say. The business impact statement was first submitted... Posted Nov 21 2008, 11:09 AM by babgvant with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, TV Pack

• Finishing the Job - Disabling Media Center

  Even after disabling Media Center via group policy there is still a MC process that will run periodically. I didn't realize it until my "extender" wouldn't go to sleep (MCUpdate had pegged 1 CPU). Fortunately, it's easy to fix. Open... Posted Nov 20 2008, 10:24 AM by babgvant with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Sage

• Watered down?

  I've never owned a Tivo, so I'm not that familiar with it's unique "value add" to the PVR. But I have a hard time seeing how putting Tivo on a PC (Nero's LiquidTV ) and charging $100 for the application ($200 if you don't... Posted Sep 30 2008, 10:37 AM by babgvant with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Sage, LiquidTV

• ToDvrms - 1.0.0.4

  ToDvrms is a command line utility that converts files to dvr-ms. syntax: todvrms.exe filetoconvert.xxx newdvrms.dvr-ms [-m -g <pathtogrfstub.grf> -v -d -t "The Title" -r "10/30/2008" -y "10/30/2008"] developed for mpg... Posted Sep 10 2008, 06:50 PM by babgvant with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, ToDvrms, WTV

• ToDVRMS - 1.0.0.3

  ToDvrms is a command line utility that converts files to dvr-ms. syntax: todvrms.exe filetoconvert.xxx newdvrms.dvr-ms [-m -g <pathtogrfstub.grf>] developed for mpg/vob, but other formats may work. -m: optional, write WM/MediaIsMovie tag to output... Posted Sep 03 2008, 05:24 PM by babgvant with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, ToDvrms

• Need help moving to Sage?

  Ghostlobster has written up an excellent guide to migrating from Media Center to SageTV. He posted it in the Sage forums a few days ago and is looking for feedback from anyone who's made the switch, or is thinking about it. Give it a read an help... Posted Aug 09 2008, 04:15 PM by babgvant with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Sage

• I have a mpeg, now what?

  Yesterday we discussed how to use DTB to make a file into a mpeg, today let's answer Galt's question . This is a much easier process because we've already done the real work, and now it's really just extending the process with a few actions... Posted Aug 08 2008, 07:42 PM by babgvant with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, DVRMSToolbox, Conversion, ToDvrms

• The Why

  I've been using MC for several years, investing significant time and effort into improving the platform at many different levels. It was very difficult to even get to the point where I would consider another platform. Not only would a new set of rules... Posted Jul 29 2008, 03:03 PM by babgvant with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Sage

• Five years gone

  I finally got around to installing Sage over the weekend, and despite being a slight step backwards in UI (after installing SageMC) vs. Vista MC I'm very pleased with the experience. Interestingly I wasn't able to find a functional gap that I... Posted Jul 21 2008, 07:57 AM by babgvant with | with 13 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Sage

• Maybe "mainstream" isn't the right target - DVD Streaming

  Some thoughts on Charlie's perspective. Mainstream is relative: If what the majority of users want to use a computer for is mainstream, Media Center isn't mainstream. Why should it's features or development direction, target that crowd instead... Posted Jul 17 2008, 11:03 AM by babgvant with | with no comments Filed under: Media Center

• A different shade of green - Inertia?

  I've been thinking about replatforming on SageTV lately. While I haven't downloaded the software to take the trial yet, all the research that I've done is pointing to a highly competitive product. Off hand I can think of several perceived... Posted Jul 07 2008, 05:08 PM by babgvant with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center

• Why Extenders?

  After reading another review of a Media Center extender, and seeing all the limitations (two channel audio over HDMI, wha?) i have to wonder [ yet again ] why this is the "future" of Media Center. With all of the things it can't do I would... Posted Jul 02 2008, 07:05 AM by babgvant with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Rant

• WMC and DVD bookmarks

  I've often wondered why WMC doesn't support per disc bookmarking, in the past I assumed it was a limitation of the DVD Navigator (directshow filter used to control playback). But while I was looking through the Platform SDK the other day, I found... Posted May 13 2008, 05:22 PM by babgvant with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, DVD

• Keeping your ATSC guide data

  After adding a second ATSC tuner a few weeks ago, I started having a problem where my guide data would disappear every day or two. As you might guess the overall SAF went down in direct proportion to the number of shows not recorded. After getting some... Posted Feb 14 2008, 06:44 PM by babgvant with | with 10 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Vista, ATSC

• Round Peg?

  I haven't been able to put my finger on the why exactly; but lately I've been losing my enthusiasm for Media Center (MC). At a high level, I've isolated the following potential causes. Nonexistent platform SDK - The existing SDK is geared... Posted Jan 30 2008, 07:26 PM by babgvant with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: Media Center, Rant