FireCore Release Media Player 0.9 for 2nd Gen AppleTV

Andrew Edney
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0
FireCore Release Media Player 0.9 for 2nd Gen AppleTV

FireCore have just released an update to it’s Media Player application, taking it to version 0.9. If you have ATV2, go update now!

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What’s new in version 0.9?

  • Added hardware decoding for .m2ts files
  • Added TV Show metadata fetching
  • Added option to correct movie metadata
  • Added DSI ping for better operation with AFP shares
  • Added folder tagging
  • Added metadata view indicator
  • Added support for metadata overriding using xml files
  • Added DVD menu buffering
  • Improved data buffering and playback performance
  • Improved network error handling
  • Improved filename parsing for metadata fetching
  • Improved NAS drives support and increased connection timeout
  • Improved video loading process
  • Improved playback position detection
  • Resolved audio synchronization issues
  • Resolved problems when streaming from an AirPort Extreme
  • Resolved issues that caused the first subtitle section to be skipped
  • Resolved performance and crash related issues for certain DVD files
  • Resolved audio playback issues when the connection to Last.fm fails
  • Resolved potential issues in shares handling and filename processing
  • Resolved AFP related crashes
  • Resolved .dvdmedia extensions and folder images not hiding
  • Resolved floating crash during metadata fetching
  • Resolved critical compatibility issues with iOS 5
  • Minor UI improvements
  • Many other miscellaneous fixes

TV Show metadata and folder tagging

Media Player now supports automatically fetching series and episode information for TV Shows. This includes information such as episode name, cast, director, genre, air date, content rating and episode thumbnails. To enable TV Show metadata, the drive/folder that contains your TV Show files will need to be specifically tagged as TV Shows. Details on tagging a drive/folder are below.

  1. Highlight the folder to be tagged.
  2. Hold the center select button and select the ‘TV Shows’ option.
  3. TV Show metadata will now be used for all media contained inside that folder.

Note: By default, subfolders will inherit the tag of the nearest parent folder. For Example: A folder called “My Fav Shows” has 3 folders inside it: 30 Rock, The Sopranos, and Top Gear. Marking the My Fav Shows folder with a TV Shows tag will cause TV Show metadata to be downloaded for all files contained inside the My Fav Shows folder as well as the 3 enclosed subfolders. Media Player will default to Movie metadata if no folder tags are specified.

Correcting movie metadata

Media Player tries its best to get metadata right on the first try, but unfortunately sometimes it may get it wrong. The good news is that now fixing incorrect movie metadata is simpler than ever! Just follow the steps below to get back on track.

  1. Highlight a file that has incorrect metadata.
  2. Hold the center select button and select the ‘Reload Metadata’ option.
  3. Choose the correct movie title from the list.

Outstanding! Now how do I get it?

With aTV Flash (black) installed, Media Player 0.9 can be downloaded on your ATV2 through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. If you need to re-install aTV Flash (black) links for the latest version can be found under the Downloads tab in your account.

New users can pre-order aTV Flash (black) here.

AWIECO Looking for WakeOnLAN Pro Beta Testers

Andrew Edney
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0
AWIECO Looking for WakeOnLAN Pro Beta Testers

Would you be interested in being a beta tester for the AWIECO WakeOnLAN Pro add-in for Windows Home Server 2011?

awieco

If you are interested, send an email to info@awieco.com

Review of the Samsung Series 830 256GB SSD

Andrew Edney
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3
Review of the Samsung Series 830 256GB SSD

Last week we told you about the Samsung Series 830 SSD – now we have the first of two reviews of SSD! This review specifically looks at connecting the SSD to a 3Gb/s SATA connection.

UWHS Review - Samsung Series 830 SSD

The Samsung SSD 830 Series boasts superior random read speeds (up to 80,000 IOPS) and faster sequential read and write speeds (up to 520 MB/s & 400 MB/s respectively). It’s the ideal solution for your everyday computing needs, such as web browsing, document creation, viewing or editing multimedia files, playing PC games, etc.

Samsung’s first entry into the world of SSD’s came earlier in the year with the the Series 470 SSD, which we loved. Now, it’s time to introduce it’s successor – the Series 830 SSD.

As the world’s #1 DRAM, NAND Flash, and SSD supplier, Samsung has unique, industry-leading engineering resources, technologies, and manufacturing processes as well as more stringent quality and testing standards. All Samsung SSDs are designed and built completely in-house, rather than sourcing generic parts from the market. The Samsung SSD 830 Series is optimized for exceptional, sustained performance and unrivalled reliability through its specially-engineered wear-levelling and garbage collection algorithms.

 

There are 4 different models – the 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and the whopping 512GB. There are also 3 different kits – the basic kit (which comes with the SSD, a full version of Norton Ghost 15.0, software and manuals), the laptop installation kit (with comes the same as the basic kit plus a mounting space and SATA data and power cable) and the desktop installation kit (with comes the same as the basic kit plus a 3.5” bracket with screws and SATA data and power cables).

For this review we have the 256GB drive basic kit version.

SSDs

Solid State Drives, or SSDs, are innovative data storage devices that deliver high performance, reliability, and quality by using NAND Flash memory instead of the magnetic disks used in traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). SSDs provide very fast PC booting and application loading speeds and perform exceptionally well in multi-tasking environments – all while consuming less power, emitting very little heat, producing no noise, and offering outstanding stability compared to conventional HDDs.

830 solution

Specifications

830 Specs

StableBit DrivePool Moves to Beta M3 Build 4056

Andrew Edney
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0
StableBit DrivePool Moves to Beta M3 Build 4056

There has been another beta build from CoveCube! StableBit development marches on – now is build 4056.

600px-Stablebit_drivepool_screen_thu16

Here is how CoveCube describes this application:

  • Combine all your hard drives into one big storage pool (except the system drive with the OS).
  • Add and remove drives from the pool at any time without re-partitioning or manually moving folders.
  • Create duplicated folders on the storage drive pool that are protected against single drive failure. If a drive fails on which a duplicated file was stored, the contents of that file will remain readable even without the drive.
  • All your data is stored in standard NTFS files. You can always access your files even if the Windows Home Server completely crashes or this add-in can’t be used.

This version’s change log:

1.0.0.4056 ———-

* Start the client computer backup service after upgrade.

Get More Information About the Beta Here Download Stablebit Drivepool build 4056 here

DVBLink Client Now Available in Windows Phone Marketplace

Andrew Edney
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0
DVBLink Client Now Available in Windows Phone Marketplace

The DVBLink Client for Windows Phone 7 is now available in the Windows Phone Marketplace.

DVBLink Client

Windows Phone client for DVBLink TV Server.

Watch Live TV, browse EPG, view program details, manage timer recordings from your mobile phone.

This app requires DVBLink Connect!

Server installation on the server computer.

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Get it now, for free, from the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Play in the Open Beta of Battlefield 3

Andrew Edney
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1
Play in the Open Beta of Battlefield 3

A few months ago we brought you some footage of Battlefield 3, now you can join the open beta and play it for yourself on either your PC, an Xbox 360 or a PS3.

BF3

This is a very cool game and one you really need to play if you like these sorts of games. I cant wait for the full release in a months time!

Sign up for the open beta from here
Welcome to the Open Beta of Battlefield 3

StableBit DrivePool Moves to Beta M3 Build 4055

Andrew Edney
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0
StableBit DrivePool Moves to Beta M3 Build 4055

There has been another beta build from CoveCube! StableBit development marches on – now is build 4055.

600px-Stablebit_drivepool_screen_thu16

Here is how CoveCube describes this application:

  • Combine all your hard drives into one big storage pool (except the system drive with the OS).
  • Add and remove drives from the pool at any time without re-partitioning or manually moving folders.
  • Create duplicated folders on the storage drive pool that are protected against single drive failure. If a drive fails on which a duplicated file was stored, the contents of that file will remain readable even without the drive.
  • All your data is stored in standard NTFS files. You can always access your files even if the Windows Home Server completely crashes or this add-in can’t be used.

This version’s change log:

1.0.0.4055 ———-

* Changed reset permissions to apply owner / inheritance rules in separate stages.

1.0.0.4040 ———-

* Security functions should be Unicode enabled.

1.0.0.4039 ———-

* Change permissions on C:\ServerPool\ServerFolders.Mount to prevent file / folder creation when DrivePool is not running.

* Before sharing a folder, ensure proper access to it.

* Added reset folder permission settings option. See folder properties, permissions tab.

* [D] Fixed new file creation change notification.

Get More Information About the Beta Here Download Stablebit Drivepool build 4055 here

Skype for iPhone Updated to version 3.5.117

Andrew Edney
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0
Skype for iPhone Updated to version 3.5.117

The Skype app for the iPhone has been updated for the second time this week – this time to version 3.5.117.

skype-for-iphone-hero-2_thumb1

What’s New in Version 3.5.117

* Bluetooth support for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4th Generation, and iPad 2
* Incoming emoticons; outgoing emoticons displayed when entered in text form
* Enhanced video through image stabilization
* New easy-to-use interface
* Advertising will be shown to users that do not have Skype Credit, a calling subscription or premium subscription
* Bugfix for security vulnerability
* Bugfix for syncing issues

Congratulations to all MVPs Everywhere

Andrew Edney
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0
Congratulations to all MVPs Everywhere

If you have just been awarded an MVP or have just had it renewed, then congratulations are in order.

Today is one of those time sof the year when people all around the world are awarded, or rewarded an MVP (Most Valued Professional) award from Microsoft for work in the community,

I have been honoured over the last few years to be an MVP in Windows Home Server, and I have a lot of good friends who are WHS MVPs, along with Digital Media Experience and Small Business Server MVPs.

MVP’s are awarded four times a year so lets see who else will become an MVP soon.

To learn more about the MVP program, click here: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

I have my fingers crossed for my renewal in January!

XBMC EDEN – Coming Soon

Andrew Edney
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0
XBMC EDEN – Coming Soon

The guys over at XBMC have started to talk about the next version of XBMC – EDEN!

confluence-horizontal

Here is what they said:

Today marks the first step in the long-awaited release cycle for Eden: soft-freeze. Other than what is already slated for entry, no new features may be added unless they’re deemed critical for release. After that comes a hard freeze, when all APIs are frozen and we prepare to release the first Beta.

So much has changed since Dharma, we’ll use this space over the coming weeks to discuss in more detail what you can expect in 11.0. For now, Here are a few things you’re sure to notice:

  • A new “Files” view in the video library in order to remove the notion of Library Mode vs. Files Mode that confused so many new users.
  • The default skin changed to a horizontal layout allowing for more useful information to be displayed on the home screen (vertical version is still available in Add-ons)
  • Efficiency improvements to reduce high cpu/gpu usage
  • Much improved touchscreen support to go along with the first major versioned XBMC release for the iOS (iPad, iPhone, AppleTv2)
  • Ability to customize the home screen by adding your favorite Add-ons
  • The usual smattering of visual improvements, playback improvements, new ways to stream and discover media.. the list goes on.

The last few days have been hectic as the developers have been working hard to get their last changes in, but we’ll be slowing things down now to begin cleaning up for release!

I’m very much looking forward to testing this out! How about you?

Files are available from here

WaterField Designs Announce Six Amazon Kindle Fire Cases

Andrew Edney
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0
WaterField Designs Announce Six Amazon Kindle Fire Cases

We have reviewed a few cases from WaterFeild Designs in the past, and we loved them. Yesterday WaterField Designs announced six new cases specifically for the new Amazon Kindle Fire.

MOD-26600_KindleUltimateSleeveCase_KindleFireCase

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – Sep 29, 2011) – WaterField Designs, the preeminent San Francisco manufacturer of custom laptop sleeves and distinguished bags and cases for digital gear, introduces an array of six cases for the hotly anticipated Amazon Kindle Fire™: the Kindle™ Smart Case, the Kindle™ Travel Express, the Kindle™ Slip Case, the Kindle™ Suede Jacket, the Kindle™ Ultimate SleeveCase, and the Kindle™ EXO SleeveCase. All six, custom-fitted Kindle Fire™ cases, along with several Kindle Touch™ and Kindle™ cases, are available for pre-order and will ship shortly after Amazon’s ship dates.

“We’ve created a line of cases with a variety of styles, levels of protection and functionality; there’s something here for everyone,” explained Gary Waterfield, company founder. “They’re protective, lightweight and travel easily.”

The Smart Case™ for the Kindle Fire™ offers solid protection in serious style:

  • Vibrantly colored, water-resistant exterior
  • Richly bound by naturally-tanned, distressed, brown leather
  • High-impact, rigid insert for screen protection
  • Lined with scratch-free Ultrasuede® that helps protect and clean the screen
  • Six colors choices
  • Available for the Kindle Fire™ only

The Travel Express™ keeps the Kindle Fire™ and accessories organized and protected:

  • Kindle™-specific, scratch-free pocket for the Kindle™
  • Soft, padded, interior pockets for power adapter, USB, Quick Start Guide and/or other accessories like keys, phone and wallet
  • Domestically produced, 1050 denier, ballistic nylon exterior
  • YKK zipper opens case along top and side panel for easy access.
  • Two impact-resistant plastic inserts protect screen and accessories.
  • Bold stripe in choice of six earthy colors to match other WaterField Designs gear
  • Use alone — under an arm or in a bag — or with optional D-rings & strap — as a stand-alone bag
  • Also available for other Kindle™ models

The Slip Case offers simple, light and stylish protection for the Kindle Fire™:

  • Vibrantly colored, water-resistant fabric exterior
  • Plush, padded interior
  • Impact-resistant plastic insert for screen protection
  • Also available for other Kindle™ models

The Suede Jacket™ protects the Kindle Fire™ from dings and scratches:

  • Static-free, Ultrasuede® sleeve that can double as a screen cleaner
  • Small pull-tabs help ease Kindle™ insertion and removal
  • Optional stretch pocket for accessories
  • Also available for other Kindle™ models

The Ultimate SleeveCase™ offers multi-layer, scratch-free and compact Kindle Fire™ protection:

  • Nearly indestructible, ballistic nylon outer shell
  • High-grade, shock-absorbing neoprene
  • Interior lined with screen-cleaning Ultrasuede®
  • Impact-resistant insert to protects Kindle screen
  • Bottom loop to help ease Kindle removal
  • Lightly padded flap with Velcro closure
  • Customizable options: horizontal or vertical case orientation, brown leather or lead Indium trim, mini Simple or Suspension Shoulder Strap
  • Also available for other Kindle™ models

The EXO SleeveCase™ protects the Kindle Fire™ within a playthrough case:

  • Nearly indestructible, ballistic nylon outer shell
  • High-grade, shock-absorbing neoprene
  • Bottom loop to help ease Kindle removal
  • Lightly padded flap with Velcro closure
  • Customizable options: horizontal or vertical case orientation, brown leather or lead Indium trim, mini Simple or Suspension Shoulder Strap
  • Also available for other Kindle™ models

These TSA-friendly Kindle™ cases allow travelers to breeze through airport security. All can be used alone or in WaterField’s Muzetto, Cargo, Cozmo, VertiGo or other bags.

Pricing & Availability
Pre-order now from www.sfbags.com. Will ship within two weeks of Amazon ship date.
Smart Case Price: $59; Colors: Black, Copper, Flame, Green, Pearl, Pine.
Travel Express Price: $59; Stripe colors: Black, Copper, Flame, Green, Pearl, Pine. Optional D-rings and Simple Strap Mini ($12); D-rings and Suspension Strap Mini ($22).
Slip Case Price: $29; Colors: Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Silver.
Suede Jacket Price: $14; With pocket: $19; Color: Black. Vertical orientation.
SleeveCase with Flap: Price: $49. EXO SleeveCase with Flap: Price: $45.
Black with choice of lead Indium or brown leather trim (+$4). Options: Simple Shoulder Strap Mini ($12), Suspension Shoulder Strap Mini ($22), Piggyback accessory pouch with grey Indium trim ($25) or brown leather trim (+$27).

Compatible with WaterField’s Personal Muzetto ($239), Small Cargo ($179-$209), Small Cozmo ($169-$199), and Small VertiGo ($85). Available now at sfbags.com.

About WaterField Designs
WaterField Designs manufactures custom-fitted, high-quality cases and bags for a full-range of laptop computers, cameras, and other digital gear. All products are manufactured to exacting standards in San Francisco. More information is available at http://www.sfbags.com/aboutus.htm.

WaterField Designs, Smart Case™, Travel Express™, Ultimate SleeveCase™, EXO SleeveCase™, Suede Jacket™, PiggyBack™, Muzetto™, Cargo™, Cozmo™, and VertiGo™, are trademarks of WaterField Designs. WaterField Designs is not affiliated with Amazon, nor has Amazon endorsed these products. Other company/product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Expect a UWHS review soon!

Xbox 360 Gears of War 3 Competition Supported by Hauppauge

Andrew Edney
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1
Xbox 360 Gears of War 3 Competition Supported by Hauppauge

Sign up now to the Gears of War 3 Release Event sponsored by Hauppauge.

GoW3Event

London, September 30, 2011: Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAUP), the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of TV tuner products for personal computers, teamed up with FraggedNation to launch a Gears of War 3 gaming contest taking place this October. The online gaming event will see teams of four play against each other in the Gears of War 3’s battle between locust and mankind. The top team and video contributors will get prizes of HD PVRs from Hauppauge as well as XSplit Premium Accounts. The Hauppauge HD PVR allows recording of video game play in HD from a Microsoft® Xbox® 360 or Sony® PlayStation®3 onto PC in a compressed high definition H.264 format. Gamers can upload their favourite games to YouTube in HD and share them with other gamers online as well as create high definition movies of game play to share with friends or use it to train and  discuss tactics with  clan members!

Registration deadline is October 6th. Sign up now to the event which will take place from 7-24 October. Show off your gaming skills and get a chance to win the great prizes up for grabs.

Final games will be recorded with the Hauppauge HD PVR, the world’s first High-Definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings.

More about the event: http://www.fraggednation.com/content.php?k=gearsofwar3

Sign up your team: http://www.fraggednation.com/forum/topic/PlayerTeam-Creation-and-Ladder-Joining-Questions-20404

Event rules: http://www.fraggednation.com/standings/xbox360/gears-of-war-3/Gears-of-War-3-Prized-Rel-5067?ql=standingsTabs:2::ladderDetailTabs:3

About Hauppauge

Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAUP) is a leading developer and manufacturer of digital TV and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers. Through its Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc., PCTV Systems Sarl and Hauppauge Digital Europe subsidiaries, the company designs and develops digital video boards for TV-in-a-window, digital video editing and video conferencing. The Company is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, with R&D offices in New York, Braunschweig, Germany and Taipei, administrative offices in New York, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland and Luxembourg, and sales offices in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Singapore and California. The Company’s Internet web site can be found at http://www.hauppauge.com. Hauppauge and WinTV are registered trademarks of Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. Other product or service names herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

StableBit DrivePool Moves to Beta M3 Build 3959

Andrew Edney
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0
StableBit DrivePool Moves to Beta M3 Build 3959

There has been another beta build from CoveCube! StableBit development marches on – now is build 3959.

600px-Stablebit_drivepool_screen_thu16

Here is how CoveCube describes this application:

  • Combine all your hard drives into one big storage pool (except the system drive with the OS).
  • Add and remove drives from the pool at any time without re-partitioning or manually moving folders.
  • Create duplicated folders on the storage drive pool that are protected against single drive failure. If a drive fails on which a duplicated file was stored, the contents of that file will remain readable even without the drive.
  • All your data is stored in standard NTFS files. You can always access your files even if the Windows Home Server completely crashes or this add-in can’t be used.

This version’s change log:

1.0.0.3959 ———-

* When FolderLinks had no security set, setting permissions on a folder issued an access denied error. Now fixed.

Get More Information About the Beta Here Download Stablebit Drivepool build 3959 here

The Home Server Show Episode 154 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0
The Home Server Show Episode 154 Out Now

Dave at the guys at the Home Server Show have released episode 154.

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Here’s what Dave has to say about this weeks show:

This episode has a little of everything. Skype bugs, Home Server news, Drive Extender Add-In’s, RAID, Amazon Fire, MyMovies speculation, Windows 8, and more Media Center talk than normal.

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

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