What is Windows Home Server?

SageTV V7.0.19/20 Release Candidate 3/4 Out Now

Andrew Edney

-

Oct 9, 2010

SageTV V7.0.19/20 Release Candidate 3/4 Out Now

Release Candidate 3/4 for SageTV V7.0.19/20 is out now – are you going to test it? If the numbering looks a little confusing, read on.

It seems like only yesterday that V7.0.17 was out!

So what is SageTV (in case you haven’t heard of it)?

SageTV lets you enjoy your favourite TV shows and online video when you want, wherever you want on any TV, PC or Mac!

Browse, search and watch all the latest online video from Google Video from the comfort of your couch with SageTV Media Center V6.

Enjoy the most popular online videos, news, movie trailers, TV shows, comedy, music videos and more at the push of a button on your remote control.

Here is what Sage says:

NOTE: There were a few issues found in 7.0.19 that we wanted to address right away. Against our standard policy of posting new builds on Friday, we are posting these new builds on Friday, but only because the changes are quite minor and resolve some issues people are having with what we posted yesterday. There are no known problems in the Placeshifter Client or in the Linux versions, so the new builds are only for SageTV/SageTVClient on Windows.
The issues addressed with the 7.0.20 update over 7.0.19 are:
1) Fix issue on Windows where the first recording with QAM tuning didn’t work properly
2) Fix issue with HDHomeRun where it was using excessive bandwidth
3) Fix issue where certain MPEG files consumed all the CPU during file format detection and never completed file format detection
Oh yeah…it’s (still) the Release Candidate stage. Getting close to being done with V7.0 now…estimating about 2 more weeks and then we’ll be final (yeah, I said 2 weeks last time…but more issues came up than I expected so I increased it another week). No more features will be added now, it’s purely bug fixing going on. So if you have any bugs, please report them!
All of the high-level information on V7 can be found here:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=48421
Be sure to read the above post as it contains important information regarding upgrade pricing and new features
As always, report bugs you find here:
http://sagetv.com/bugs.html
Here’s the download links for V7.0.19/20:
SageTV for Windows
http://download.sage.tv/SageTV_V7_0_20Setup.exe
SageTVClient for Windows
http://download.sage.tv/SageTVClient_V7_0_20Setup.exe
SageTVPlaceshifter for Windows
http://download.sage.tv/SageTVPlaces…_0_19Setup.exe
SageTV for Windows Home Server
http://download.sage.tv/SageTV_V7_0_20Setup-WHS.msi
SageTV Media Center for Linux
http://download.sage.tv/linuxbeta/server_7.0.19.tar.gz
SageTV Placeshifter for Linux
http://download.sage.tv/linuxbeta/mi…_7.0.19.tar.gz
SageTV Media Center for Linux – Debian Package Installer
http://download.sage.tv/linuxbeta/sa….0.19_i386.deb
SageTV Placeshifter for Linux – Debian Package Installer
http://download.sage.tv/linuxbeta/sa….0.19_i386.deb
The release notes from version .17-.20 are below.
SageTV V7.0.20 RC4 10/8/2010
Windows Updates
1. Fix issue on Windows where the first recording with QAM tuning didn’t work properly
2. Fix issue with HDHomeRun where it was using excessive bandwidth
3. Fix issue where certain MPEG files consumed all the CPU during file format detection and never completed file format detection
SageTV V7.0.19 RC3 10/7/2010
Core Updates
1. Updated MAC address detection code to include the top 8 bits of the MAC address rather than always assuming they are zero (because they are not always zero)
2. Updated bug fix for transcoding a file and replacing the original file was not preserving auxilliary metadata that was added
3. Fixed bug related to online video playback where we wouldn’t always wait until the format was properly detected before starting playback.
4. Fixed bug in how the core determines which recordings are ‘safe’ from deletion because they were recently watched, it previously would consider any type of watched information, now it only looks at watched TV recordings.
5. Optimization SageTV does not search for external subtitle files when playing back online videos.
6. When selecting the audio/subpicture track to match the default language, don’t change the selected track if the currently selected one already matches the language.
7. Fixed bug in format detection code where it didn’t treat files that are currently downloading as being still open like it already did for files being actively recorded.
8. Fixed issue with progressive download/playback of Quicktime files that have data tracks that occur after the main movie data
9. Upddate Melboourne/Australia DVB-T frequencies
10. Fix the problem, if Mpeg2 seq extension header is after display extension header, sagetv fails mpeg2 format parsing, so that video stream is dropped, and only audio is recorded.
11. Fix: HDHomeRun signal strength bug.
Windows Updates
1. Fixed bug where we didn’t always set the QAM broadcast standard properly if the native code detected the broadcast standard as “ATSC NET”.
2. Added workaround for bug where FLV files with H264 video did not playback properly on Windows w/ our internal demux.
3. Fixed bug where the available languages would show up as nothing sometimes when switching between audio tracks with playback on Windows
4. Fixed bug where switching between windows and full-screen mode on Windows 7 with Aero active and video playing would cause the SageTV UI to go black.
5. Fixed issue with playback of some MP3 files on Windows clients where the MPEG audio data did not start right after the end of the ID3 header.
6. Fixed bug where not all BluRay PCM audio played properly
7. Fix: DTS bug that causes m2ts file with DTS sound track not playing.
8. Fix:tvType set wrong (Cable).
Extender Updates
1. Fixed bug where sometimes a media extender would randomly crash due to the asynchronous loading of background images interleaved with batched texture rendering
2. Fixed bug where resolution switching frame rate matching didn’t always work properly.
Placeshifter Updates
1. Fixed issue with placeshifter where using the “-mac” command line parameter also required specifying the target server on the command line as well.
STV Updates
1. Updated recommended extender firmware versions – HD200: 20100909 0′; HD300: ‘20101007 0’.
2. Fixed duration comparison code when getting podcast duration.
3. Skip the ‘Tuning Configuration’ step during source setup for DVB tuners and display “NA” as the ‘Cable/Antenna’ setting on Source Details.
4. Fixed issue where disabling access to online videos did not remove access to them from the Main Menu.
5. Fixed Instant Search so that it works on the Online Services navigation menus.
6. Hidden: Malore menu’s Search option jumps to last-used TV search.
7. Only call the API function to activate the Windows Always on Top setting at startup if on Windows & not using a remote client.

Are you testing the new version? Let us know what you think….

AVA Media NVT for Windows Media Center

Andrew Edney

-

Oct 9, 2010

11

Tranquil have just released a free add-in for Windows Media Center called AVA Media NVT – which stands for Network Video Transcoder. And all they ask in return is a optional donation to Cancer Research UK.

What is AVA Media NVT ?

It’s a FREE, new, simple to use Add In for Windows 7 Media Centre, that makes use of the open source handbrake video transcoder.

It watches folders, ie on a Home Server, and transcodes any new DVD files (VIDEO_TS) it sees to popular formats ie iPhone, whilst retaining the original DVD folders for later playback.

Why would I want it ?

AVA Media NVT is a user friendly Add In that simplifies the transcoding function used to change DVD / Video files from original format to secondary formats for playback on different devices – ie iPhone. It does not require a desktop application, complex button presses – just set it up, and let it do it’s task in the background.

How do you install it ?

Simply download the Add In and once it’s installed on your Media Centre you can step through the initial screens a) select target format, b) select ‘folder’ to monitor, c) select target folder to store compressed files in. Any NEW DVD files that are added to the monitored folder are then transcoded.

Why use it on a Media Centre, if I have a Home Server – why not use a Home Server Transcoder ?

Transcoding video is CPU intensive – really intensive. A Home Server, by design, does not have a powerful CPU and is therefore not optimised for video transcoding.

Here are some facts that may explain: When transcoding a DVD folder to Apple iPhone format a dual core Atom, as perhaps used in the Tranquil SQA Home Server will process video at approximately 5FPS – real video is 25FPS – which means a 2 hr DVD would take approximately (25/5) x 2 x 60 x 60 seconds to process ie 10 hours.

If this process was to be carried out on a reasonable media centre – ie a Tranquil ixL (i3) Media centre the processing is much faster @ nearer to 90FPS transcoding or (90/5) x2 x 60 x60 seconds to process or 35 minutes to process. Please note that after the transcoding has completed, there is a small delay whilst the ‘multiplex’ process completes.

Typical file sizes vary, but a 6GB DVD would transcode to below 800MB in iPod setting

What is the ultimate ‘ease of use’ process for ripping / transcoding DVDs ?

Ideally the Home Server, where you would store, stream and protect your media collection should be running a CD/DVD ripping service, ie AVA Media CD/DVD Add In. This coupled with a Media Centre running the AVA Media NVT service and the AVA Media RipNet service is an ideal package.

You simply turn on the Ripnet service from the Media Centre screen, and insert a disc, ie a DVD. The DVD is then ripped by the Home Server (AnyDVD is needed too). When the ripping is completed the disc is ejected. Shortly after, if set, the AVA Media NVT service on the Media Centre will see the new DVD files on the Home Server and quickly transcode and save them to the selected format for playback on your iPhone / iPad / AppleTV / PS3 etc

You just pop in the disc – nothing else.

What does AVA Media NVT cost ?

The Media Centre application is free of charge.

Folder management

We recommend that a new folder on the Home Server console is created for your target (compressed) videos.

This will make streaming / transfer of videos to your new devices, ie iPhone easier.

The application will check for new DVD folders in the source. If you want to transcode all of your current DVD folders just point to that folder and NVT will do the rest.

Target formats

There are a number of devices (formats) you can choose from :

Apple – Universal – Universal / full resolution
Apple – iPod – Optimised for the smaller screen / smaller file size than Universal
Apple – iPhone and iPod Touch – Optimised for the smaller screen / smaller file size than Universal
Apple – Apple TV – Optimised for Apple TV
Regular – Normal – ie PS3 / Xbox 360 – Most popular, supporting many devices
Regular – High Profile – similar to ‘Normal’ but creates smaller target files – check with your player first
Disabled – Transcoder disabled

All files are saved in the popular .mp4 (MPEG-4) format

Folder Scanner

The source folder is scanned every 15 minutes for new DVD folders. New folders are not
immediately transcoded as the DVD may still be being ripped.

There is a ‘manual’ start scan button on the Media Centre task bar – should you want to
immediately start a scan / transcode process.

You can Download V1.0 now free of charge, but if you find this add-in useful, please consider making a donation, no matter how small, to Cancer Research UK.

Let us know what you think.

You can learn more, and make a donation to Cancer Research UK here.

Asus Launch Eee PC 1215N Netbook

Andrew Edney

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Oct 8, 2010

0

Asus have just launched a brand new netbook called the Eee PC 1215N that includes a hardware decoder so that you can play back full1080p HD quality video on large screen displays, amongst other new features.

Part of the new 4^th generation Eee PC range from ASUS, the 1215N defies preconceptions that netbooks can only deliver basic performance to users. This multimedia powerhouse-on-the-go combines the latest processor and graphics technology to deliver a visual experience never seen before on a netbook.

NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology intelligently switches between integrated and discrete graphics to provide the optimum graphics solution to help extend battery life, providing a high-performance yet energy efficient balance in performance. Hardware decoders embedded within the 1215N perfectly decode H.264, VC1 and MPEG2 file formats while the HDMI-output port enables Full HD 1080p playback on large screen displays. Combined with a range of storage, connectivity and cloud-computing features it makes the perfect all-rounder for the media-hungry consumer on the move.

Priced at £429 inc VAT, the Eee PC 1215N will be available from Amazon.co.uk and Ebuyer.com.

Key Features:

Intel® Atom™ D525 CPU
Next Generation NVIDIA® ION™ Discrete Graphics with NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology
Up to 7 hours battery life with Super Hybrid Engine technology
12.1” WXGA (1366 x 768) HD widescreen display with 16:9 display ratio.
Multi-touch gesture support – pinch, scroll to navigate with ease
USB 3.0 for faster transfers (4.8GB per second) and device charging – almost 10x faster than USB 2.0
Bluetooth 3.0 – almost 8x faster than 2.1
802.11n Wi-Fi – faster surfing speeds and higher throughput compared to 802.11b/g standards.
Web-cam with cover for added security and privacy when not in use
250GB hard drive – supplemented by 500GB of ASUS WebStorage
ASUS @Vibe software trial – giving users one-stop access to music, videos, radio stations, and more.
LocaleMe software – leverages on Microsoft’s Bing map helping users to pinpoint their exact location, as well as provide information about the surrounding areas
Access to Boingo global Wi-Fi services at a special price. A single account gives users access to over 100,000 hotspots at airports, hotels, cafes and restaurants around the world.
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium OS

Check out the Asus website for more information and watch out for our hands on review soon.

Western Digital Photos Photo Viewer for iDevices Released

Andrew Edney

-

Oct 8, 2010

4

Western Digital Photos Photo Viewer for iDevices Released

Back in April we reported about the release of a photo viewer for the iPhone from WD called WD Photos. Now they have updated it to include support for the iPhone 4 and also the iPad – and its still free.

Get quick access to all the photos stored on your My Book Live, My Book World Edition, or
WD ShareSpace network drive using your iPad, iPhone, iPhone 4, or iPod touch.

You need a Western Digital My Book Live home network drive, My Book World Edition home network drive, My Book World Edition II dual-drive network storage, or WD ShareSpace network storage system.

For the iPhone:

And for the iPad:

This app is really cool as it basically turns your iPad into an interactive photo frame. You can download it from the Apple App Store now.

Here is the full press release:

WD PHOTOS^™ FREE PHOTO VIEWER APP FOR iPAD^™, iPHONE^® ACCESSES IMAGES ON WD^® NETWORK DRIVES

Update to Photo Viewing Software Turns iPad into the Ultimate Photo Album

WD^® (NYSE: WDC), the world’s leader in external storage solutions, today announced WD Photos^™(photo), the newest release of its photo viewer app (photo), which is now optimised for iPad^™ and iPhone^®4. Available as a free download from iTunes^®, the WD Photos app provides remote access to photos stored on a WD network hard drive including My Book^® World Edition^™, and WD ShareSpace^™. The images are displayed in native iPad and iPhone resolution, and users can access up to 285,000 of their favourite photos anywhere they can access the Internet by simply copying their pictures into the “Shared Pictures” folder on their WD network hard drive. The WD Photos photo viewer app offers a variety of new features that allow users to stay connected to more of their digital photos, including:

– Pinch and zoom functionality so consumers can digitally zoom on the displayed photo;

– Horizontal split view for iPad;

– Option to instantly post photos from the WD Photos app to users’ Facebook^® wall;

– New slideshow transitions including pan and zoom, page curl, and cube;

– Increased 5 GB capacity to support iPad’s larger memory and higher resolution;

– iPad full screen support at 1024×768; and,

– iPhone HD/OS 3 & 4 support.

WD Photos photo viewer app, optimised for iPad and other leading Apple mobile devices, fulfils the growing demand to view, store, and consolidate photos on the go. With over 2 million iPads sold as of May 31, 2010 (Apple®), the iPad has been embraced enthusiastically by consumers to access and share their digital content.
Although digital photo viewing is not new, research firm Parks Associates says the practice is still on the rise. According to a recent Parks survey, 68 percent of broadband households viewed digital photos at least monthly in 2009, compared to 59 percent in 2006 (Parks Associates: Consumer Storage Opportunities 2010). Combining the centralised storage and remote access benefits of WD’s network drives with the iPad is a natural fit with this rapidly growing consumer behaviour.

“Viewing pictures on an iPad is a great experience. WD Photos leverages the iPad’s beautiful multi-touch screen to enable truly intuitive navigation of thousands of photos. With our application, consumers can share a lifetime of photos right from their sofa without worrying about which photos to sync or how they’re organised. With access to up to 285,000 photos stored on a WD network drive, users can have instant access to all their photos wherever they are,” said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group.

WD Photos Photo Compatibility

Available for download now at the Apple^® iTunes Store^®, WD Photos photo viewer app is compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPhone 4, and iPod touch^® and works with My Book World Edition, My Book World Edition II, WD ShareSpace, and My Book Live. Users must register with WD’s free, secure MioNet^® remote access service to use the WD Photos photo viewer app.

About WD

WD, one of the storage industry’s pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organisations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users’ data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and media products.

WD was founded in 1970. The company’s storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital^® and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company’s website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to expected growth in consumer demands for electronics devices. These forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations, and actual results may differ materially as a result of several factors, including business conditions generally and other risks and uncertainties listed in WD’s recent SEC filings. WD undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or for any other reason.

You can learn more about WD Photos from the WD Website.

bigtrak – Retro Gadget Unboxing

Gadgets

Andrew Edney

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Oct 8, 2010

3

When I was a little boy one Christmas I got bigtrak – and it was cool! Now bigtrak is back and here we have an unboxing.

Now we don’t just look at expensive servers and other high end kit here at UWHS, we also look at cool and fun things as well. Anyone who is around my age, and I’m not saying, but if you remember bigtrak then you know what age I am talking about, will probably have fond memories of bigtrak.

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, bigtrak was a tank / truck from MB that you could program to drive around your house, fire a laser (obviously not a real one) and pull a separate transport.

You would program bigtrak to go forward, turn, etc, etc, and sit back and watch it do it.

Retro toys and gadgets are back in fashion and when I saw that bigtrak was back I just had to have one again.

So here is the great unboxing:

Below is the original TV advert for bigtrak:

bigtrak–the original advert

I can’t wait to relive some of my childhood memories.

You can also check out the bigtrak website for more fun things.

Look out for more on bigtrak soon on UWHS.

Do you have memories of bigtrak? Why not share them with us?

Logitech TV Cam for Logitech Revue

Andrew Edney

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Oct 7, 2010

0

Rounding off the releases for the Logitech Revue is an HD video camera called the Logitech TV Cam which can be used for various things, including video conferencing.

Here is the full press release:

Logitech® TV Cam

Saying “hello” will never be the same

Announcement Date: October 6, 2010 Shipping: October 2010

Price: $149.99 Available at: http://www.logitech.com

Product Overview

The Logitech® TV Cam lets you visit long distance with friends and family from the comfort of your couch. It connects to Logitech Revue™ with Google TV™ and enables you to make and receive high-definition video calls[1] on your HDTV without a computer, using the pre-installed Logitech Vid HD app – the free and easy video calling service. You get crisp, clear images formatted for your HDTV, so you can see and hear others as if they were in the room with you. The Logitech TV Cam seamlessly integrates with Logitech Revue to create an always-on connection with on-screen notification and caller ID. It also takes advantage of the Google TV dual-view mode so you can watch TV together with friends or family while on a video call. And it lets you communicate with Logitech Vid™ HD users on a PC, Mac® or another Logitech Revue.

Key Features

· Logitech Revue™ with Google TV™ integration means you can make high-definition video calls from the comfort of your couch.

· HD 720p video calls with an image that is sharper and smoother than standard definition calls.

· On-screen notification and caller ID so you can know who’s calling and you have the option to answer or ignore the call.

o See what calls you missed via a call notification icon on Vid HD and an LED light on the TV Cam that lights up when you’ve missed a call – even when your TV is off.

· 5x digital zoom gives you the option to zoom in on your room for a more personal experience.

· Wide-angle lens ensures the people you video call can see more of you and your surroundings, and lets the entire family sit comfortably on the living-room couch.

· Carl Zeiss® optics ensure each video call offers crystal-clear images.

· Two digital, directional microphones help reduce noise and echoes in a living room environment.

System Requirements

Basic requirements:

Logitech Revue™ with Google TV™

Compatible HD video calling application (Logitech Vid HD included with Logitech Revue systems)

High-speed Internet connection

To transmit high-definition video:

You must have a minimum upload speed of 1 Mbps

To receive high-definition video:

You must have a minimum download speed of 1 Mbps

The other person must have an HD-capable webcam and a minimum upload speed of 1 Mbps

Product Specifications

· Dimensions: 160 mm x 40 mm x 25 mm (WxHxD)

· Weight: 250 g

· Widescreen, HD (720p) resolution video

· 11-foot USB cable (5-foot connected cable plus 6-foot extension cable)

Warranty

2-year limited hardware warranty

[1] Video resolution depends on both parties’ Internet connection speed as well as the other caller using HD webcam or comparable hardware.

You can pre order the Logitech TV Cam from Amazon for $149.99.

You can pre-order the Logitech Revue right now from Amazon for $299.99.

You can also pre-order the Logitech Mini Controller from Amazon for $129.99.

You can see more about the Revue on the Logitech website including a number of videos that are worth taking the time to watch.

So there is a lot of interesting and cool looking kit from Logitech as part of the Revue product range, although if you add up the cost of all the items you are not looking at a cheap package.

Watch this space for the UWHS hands on review.

Logitech Mini Controller for the Revue

Andrew Edney

-

Oct 7, 2010

2

Yesterday Logitech announced a new device called the Revue. It comes with a keyboard but you can buy a Mini Controller instead, and the controller looks very cool!

Here is the press release from Logitech:

Coffee-table-friendly controller with palm-sized keyboard for your Google TV™ system

Announcement Date: October 6, 2010 Shipping: October 2010

Price: $129.99 Available at: www.logitech.com

Product Overview

The Logitech® Mini Controller puts the power of Google TV in the palm of your hand. It combines a palm-sized keyboard, dual-mode touch pad and entertainment-system remote in one thoughtfully designed package. You can enter text easily, navigate Web sites without a mouse and control video playback simply.

Key Features

· Palm-size keyboard gives you a convenient way to enter text so it’s fast and easy to search for and find the content you want.

· Entertainment-system controls put basic commands – including Play, Pause, Rewind, and Fast Forward – in easy reach, so you never need to pick up another remote to switch channels, adjust the volume or play videos.

· Dual-mode touch pad works as both a touch pad and a directional pad, and makes it easy to navigate Web sites and other online content without a mouse.

· Illuminated keys light the way so you can find the right key, even in the dark. And the backlighting color changes depending on the mode you’re in: green for navigation, orange for typing and pointing.

· Rechargeable Li-ion battery can go up to two weeks between charges, so you won’t be caught without power.

System Requirements

· Logitech Revue™

Product Specifications

· Dimensions: 23.7 mm x 89.77 mm x 151.77 mm (WxHxD)

· Weight: 166 g

· Logitech Unifying receiver included

· USB extender cable

· Li-ion battery

Warranty

1-year limited hardware warranty

Interestingly enough, it looks identical to the Logitech diNovo Mini which has been around since January 2007! Although I guess this will have some sort of special features that only work with the Revue.

You can pre-order the Logitech Revue right now from Amazon for $299.99.

You can also pre-order the Logitech Mini Controller from Amazon for $129.99.

You can see more about the Revue on the Logitech website including a number of videos that are worth taking the time to watch.

Watch this space for the UWHS hands on review.

Logitech Announce the Logitech Revue with Google TV

Andrew Edney

-

Oct 7, 2010

9

Logitech Announce the Logitech Revue with Google TV

Yesterday Logitech announced a new addition to the ever increasing selection of devices that can be connected to your TV in order to bring new and exciting features. This one is called the Logitech Revue with Google TV.

Here is what Logitech say about the Revue in their press release:

Product Overview

Logitech Revue™ with Google TV™ is a two-piece system — a companion box and keyboard controller with integrated remote — that brings together TV, the full Web, apps, movies and more. Using a familiar layout, the keyboard controller lets anyone start searching without a learning curve. And because the Logitech Revue leverages Harmony® Link technology, it works with your existing HDTV, cable or satellite set-top box, AV receiver – even compatible DVRs. And getting set up couldn’t be simpler. Two HDMI cables and a broadband Internet connection is all it takes to turn your TV into a smart TV.

Key Features

· Endless entertainment choices mean you can enjoy the full Web — including YouTube, Facebook® and Twitter™, apps such as Netflix and Logitech Vid™ HD, plus music, photos and games — right alongside your favorite TV programming.

· Intuitive control with the keyboard controller makes finding what you want to watch on your HDTV as easy as searching online. The controller includes:

o Touchpad that offers mousing controls

o Access to your cable guide, DVR content or live TV, volume controls

o Access to dual view mode

o DVR controls such as record, forward, back and pause

o Home button to get back to the Google TV main menu at one touch

· Embedded Logitech Harmony® Link technology lets you control your IR entertainment devices in your entertainment system from your keyboard controller.[1]

· Simple HDMI setup turns your TV into a smart TV in just minutes. Just connect Logitech Revue to your TV and get ready to enjoy TV, the full Web, apps, movies and more all from the comfort of your couch.

· Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity gives you the flexibility to connect to your high-speed Internet wirelessly or with a cable.

· Logitech® Unifying wireless technology lets you connect other compatible wireless devices without filling up the USB ports on the Logitech Revue companion box.

· Works with other Logitech accessories, such as a Logitech TV Cam for HD video calling.

System Requirements

· HDTV with HDMI port

· Cable, satellite or telco box with HDMI out

· High-speed Internet access (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

· HDMI cable[2]

Product Specifications

· Keyboard controller(WxHxD)

o Dimensions: 122 mm x 24 mm x 334.6 mm

o Weight: 289 g

· Logitech Revue companion box (WxHxD)

o Dimensions: 247 mm x 171 mm x 36.1 mm

o Weight: 600 g

· HDMI input: 1080p/60fps, 1.3a w/ CEC

· Networking:

o Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n

o Wired: Ethernet 10/100 Base-T

· Audio optical output (S/PDIF)[3]

· Two USB 2.0 ports

· Integrated Logitech Harmony® Link IR blaster[4]

· Logitech Unifying wireless technology

Warranty

1-year limited hardware warranty

[1] Logitech Revue with Google TV can control up to three IR devices from the keyboard controller – a TV, AVR and set-top box.

[2] Logitech Revue with Google TV comes with one HDMI cable in the package.

[3] Optical cable not included

[4] for A/V device control

You can pre-order the Logitech Revue right now from Amazon for $299.99.

It certainly looks like a very interesting little device – and there are quite a few similar devices, such as the Apple TV appearing, so it will be interesting to see just how good they really are.

This comes with a keyboard controller, but you can buy a more interesting one – more on that shortly, along with some other extra components to enhance your experience.

You can see more about the Revue on the Logitech website including a number of videos that are worth taking the time to watch.

Watch this space for the UWHS hands on review.

The Digital Lifestyle Show 275 2 MVPs

Andrew Edney

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Oct 7, 2010

0

Ian over at the Digital Lifestyle.com has just released the Digital Lifestyle Show number 275 – can yes, I am on it again, in fact, I am co-hosting with Garry.

Here is what Ian has to say about this weeks show:

Unfortunately I was unable to record this week but Garry and Andrew did a great job filling in for me. They have a great chat about the Meteor Windows Phone app, Kylo TV and Google TV and plenty of other topics

The reason the show title is “2 MVPs” is because as well as Andrew Edney being an MVP for Windows Home Server Garry has been awarded an MVP for Windows Media Center (now called a Windows Entertainment and Connected Home MVP). I am really please that Garry has been awarded the MVP he has been a great part of the Media Center community and certainly helped me out for a number of years.

Links from this weeks show:

LoveFilm MCE Public Beta

Video: Meteor Windows Phone 7/Media Center Remote App looks Fantastic!

Kylo TV web browser revamped works better with Windows Media Center

Google Launch Google TV Web Site

I’m an MVP too

MVP Again, but now a Windows Entertainment & Connected Home MVP

TunerFree MCE 4.2 Out, now with Improved BBC HD

TunerFree MCE 4.1.0 Released

https://moviesgamesandtech.com/

So go have a listen, as usual from here.

Unboxing the New Apple TV

Andrew Edney

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Oct 7, 2010

2

Last week the Apple TV device started shipping and here we have our unboxing of it to keep you going until our hands on review.

The box itself is tiny!

It contains the Apple TV (obviously) and a really cool looking remote, plus power cable, manual and the usual Apple stickers!

The Apple TV is sooooo tiny and looks very cool!

And as I know that Diehard will ask about size comparisons, here it is against my iPhone 4.

Watch UWHS for a full hands on review shortly and in the mean time you can learn more about the Apple TV from the Apple website.

My Movies for Windows Home Server 1.61 Pre Release 1

Andrew Edney

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Oct 7, 2010

1

My Movies for Windows Home Server 1.61 Pre Release 1

My Movies, that great add-in for Windows Media Center was recently updated to version 3.17 and now there is a 1.61 Pre Release 1 build for Windows Home Server.

My Movies for Windows Home Server operates as database back-end for My Movies clients in multi-zone environments. My Movies for Windows Home Server 1.60 operates as back-end server for My Movies 3.17.

The My Movies for Windows Media Center or My Movies Collection Management products can be downloaded and installed on client PC’s to maintain movies in the database on My Movies for Windows Home Server.

Only this week Garry and I mention My Movies on the Digital Lifestyle show (which should be out later today).

The changelog for 1.61 Pre Release 1 only shows one change:

My Movies for Windows Home Server 1.61 Pre Release 1

Change: Update to Dune index to become auto-updating

You can download it from here.

Synology Launches the USB Station 2

Andrew Edney

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Oct 5, 2010

2

Today Synology launched their new affordable, power-saving and easy to use file sharing and entertainment center – the USB Station 2.

Here is how Synology describe the USB Station 2:

USB Station 2 is designed to provide a cost-effective solution for USB storage sharing, multimedia center, and print server for home and small workgroup. The operating system, Synology DiskStation Manager 3.0, delivers rich features for multimedia enjoyments, Internet file sharing, budget print server, and energy-saving options.

Plug-and-Play File Sharing

USB Station 2 is ready to use right out of the box by simply plugging in any USB storage device. The built-in File Browser in Synology DiskStation Manager 3.0 (DSM 3.0) allows you to start sharing multimedia with family members or group projects with colleagues right away, with the ease of file navigation through a web browser. Sharing files among Windows, Mac, and Linux users highly increases the work efficiency in a platformmixed environment. USB Station 2 is completely fan-less with only 5W in operation. Not only does it reduce your carbon footprint, but it also helps create a noiseless home or working environment.

Your Own Entertainment Center

Download Station functions as a 24×7 BitTorrent, FTP, HTTP, eMule, and NZB download center without a PC. The eMule download engine allowssearch-n-download capability with a web-browser without installing additional desktop applications.
Audio Station supports music, Internet radio stations, and iPod playback with the optional speakers. An optional direction-free Synology Remote allows you to freely enjoy your music. Streaming mode allows your music to be shared with multiple users over the Intranet or Internet.
DS audio allows you to stream music stored on DiskStation to your iPhone^®, iPod touch^® or Android^® phone wherever Internet access is available. You can enjoy terabytes of music anytime anywhere.
DLNA/UPnP Support allows you to stream multimedia files with an UPnP Digital Media Adapter (DMA) on a stereo system or a TV-set. Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox360 are also supported.
iTunes is an easy way to share music with other iTunes clients over the network. Password protection prevents unauthorized sharing.

USB Printer Sharing for Everyone

USB Station 2 supports up to two USB printers simultaneously. The USB printer sharing capability minimizes your cost by sharing printing resources throughout the home or the office. No professional IT personnel are required to set up the print server in your home or office, as the Add Printer Wizard simplifies setup process on your local computer.

The specs certainly look very interesting:

Here is the full press release:

Release Date: October 5th, 2010

Synology® Premieres USB Station 2 – Most Affordable, Power-saving and Easy to Use File Sharing and Entertainment Center

Milton Keynes, England – October 5, 2010—Synology® Inc. today launched the new USB Station 2, an affordable and easy to use NAS server, featuring plug-and-play file sharing, multimedia content streaming, download without a PC and low power consumption of only 4W in operation, making it prefect for home to small office networks running multiplatform.
“USB Station 2 is the most affordable Synology’s NAS server ever. Almost everyone can afford it and experience the rich features of file sharing and multimedia enjoyment that delivered by its legendary Synology DiskStation Manager 3.0 (DSM 3.0) operating system,” said Chad Cheng, product specialist of Synology Inc.
By simply plugging in any USB storage devices, USB Station 2 is ready to share files and multimedia content among Windows®, Mac and Linux, vastly increasing users’ work efficiency, yet decreasing IT administration cost. Synology’s groundbreaking File Browser feature delivers effortless and intuitive file sharing with the ease of file navigation in a web browser. The USB printer sharing capability further minimizes users’ expenses by sharing printing resources throughout the working environment.
USB Station 2 boasts versatile multimedia features that are available right out of the box. One of them is Audio Station 2 application that supports music, Internet radio stations, and iPod® playback with optional speakers. Streaming mode allows music to be shared with multiple users over the Intranet or Internet. Furthermore, DS audio smartphone application allows users to stream terabyte of music stored on USB Station 2 to iPhone®, iPod touch® or Andriod phone whenever Internet access is available.
Other key multimedia applications are Download Station 2 that functions as a 24/7 download center without a PC; iTunes Server that allows users to share music and video with other iTunes clients over the network; and the DLNA certified media server that allows users to stream multimedia files to a DLNA/UPnP compatible devices, including DMA, TV-set, Sony® PS3 or Microsoft® Xbox360.
“USB Station 2 lives up to our principle of being environmental friendly. It consumes only 4W in operation and enables the connected external hard drives hibernate,” added Cheng. “Together with its fan-less design, USB Station 2 not only reduces users’ carbon footprints but also brings them noiseless environments.”

Availability
Synology USB Station 2 is now shipping globally.

Synology at a Glance
Founded in 2000, Synology is a young and energetic company dedicated to developing high-performance, reliable, versatile, and environmentally-friendly Network Attached Storage (NAS) products. Our goal is to deliver user-friendly solutions and solid customer service to satisfy the needs of businesses, home offices, individual users and families.

Look out for the UWHS hand on review shortly, and until then you can find out more from the Synology website.

Western Digital New USB 3.0 and 3 Terabyte External Hard Drives

Tech

Andrew Edney

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Oct 5, 2010

2

Western Digital New USB 3.0 and 3 Terabyte External Hard Drives

Today Western Digital have launched three new drives, all supported USB 3.0 and one that is a whopping 3 TBs!

It’s good to see more USB 3.0 devices coming out, and even better to see a 3 TB model – yeah, I want one, well ok, more than one please!

Here is the full press release:

WD^® DELIVERS USB 3.0 AND 3 TERABYTES WITH ITS NEW EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE PRODUCT LINES

Blazing-Fast USB 3.0 Connectivity Now Available with My Book^® and My Passport^® External Hard Drives

Oct. 5, 2010 – WD^® (NYSE: WDC), the world’s leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its new My Passport^® Essential^™ portable hard drive,

, My Passport^® Essential^™ SE portable hard drive

and My Book^® Essential external hard drive.

All three drive families come in a variety of capacities and offer lightning-fast USB 3.0 connectivity.[1] Highest industry capacity is another key feature for the My Book Essential, which is now available in 3 TB capacity, in addition to 1 and 2 TB capacities. Equipped with WD SmartWare^™visual backup software for automatic, continuous backup, these drives provide users the extra space they need to store or back up all of their digital memories, such as high-resolution photos and videos, along with music and other critical files, all in one place.

The drives not only take advantage of the latest blazing-fast USB 3.0 technology, but are also fully compatible with USB 2.0 connections for those who have yet to upgrade their computers to USB 3.0. When connected to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port, consumers can transfer data at speeds up to 5 Gb/s. At that rate, a two-hour HD video will transfer in as little as three minutes. The same two-hour video would take approximately 13 minutes to transfer on a USB 2.0 port[2].

My Passport Essential, still WD’s smallest portable drive, is available in a 500 GB capacity and comes in five fun colours – Midnight Black, Cool Silver, Real Red, Pacific Blue and Arctic White (Arctic White only available in EMEA and APAC). My Passport Essential SE portable hard drives are available in 750 GB and 1 TB capacities and come in stylish black, silver, metallic blue and metallic red colours. The pocket-sized My Passport portable hard drives are powered directly through the USB cable; no separate power supply is needed³.

My Book Essential, the world’s number-one selling hard drive, also impresses with its small footprint, sleek design and high-capacity storage ranging from 1 TB up to a massive 3 TB.4 The drive is compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, and uses WD SmartWare visual backup software.

“With more and more devices like the iPod touch^®, iPhone^®4 and other smartphones adding video-capable cameras, digital video is becoming ubiquitous. Most homes already have thousands of photos and music files, increasing the need for storage around the house. Having the extra capacity to store these files and move them around quickly is becoming a big issue for many consumers around the world,” said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group. “WD’s newest line of My Book and My Passport external hard drives features the latest USB 3.0 connection technology, which more than triples the speed to transfer media files, but still works with today’s USB 2.0 ports. In addition, consumers can take advantage of the highest capacity available on external hard drives with the new 3 TB My Book Essential drive.”

Features:

My Book Essential external hard drives, My Passport Essential and My Passport Essential SE portable hard drives feature:

– Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interface;

– Up to 3x faster transfer rates when compared to USB 2.0;

– WD SmartWare software for automatic, continuous backup;

– Password protection for privacy; and,

– Planet-friendly packaging from recycled materials which can, in turn, also be recycled.

Capacity and Compatibility:

The My Passport Essential portable hard drive is available in 500 GB capacity. The My Passport Essential SE portable hard drive is available in 750 GB and 1 TB capacities. The My Book Essential external hard drive is available in 1 TB, 1.5TB, 2 TB and 3 TB capacities. The drives are formatted NTFS for Windows^®XP, Windows Vista^®, or Windows 7. These drives require reformatting for Mac^® OS^® X Leopard^® or Snow Leopard^®.

Price and Availability

My Passport Essential portable hard drives and My Book Essential external hard drives offer a 2-year limited warranty and are now available at select retailers and online at www.shopwd.co.uk.

MSRP for My Passport Essential 500GB is 99 Euros. MSRP for My Passport Essential SE ranges from 149.99 Euros to 199.99 Euros. MSRP for My Book Essential ranges from 139.99 euros to 299.99 euros.

AutoExit 2009 UR-1 for Windows Home Server Out Now

Andrew Edney

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Oct 5, 2010

2

AutoExit 2009 UR-1 for Windows Home Server Out Now

Hot on the heels of the beta release for AutoExit 2010, ASoft have just released UR-1 for AutoExit 2009.

Here is what Nick says about UR-1:

It’s a minor update which now has support for Spanish.

And another new feature is that it contains a command line tool that can be used to execute various shutdown actions.

This can be very useful in cases where you script or want to execute actions in other applications that then execute the command line tool and have the power of AutoExit to shutdown/reboot/… machines.

Nick also advises that you should remove the old version before installing the new one.

The update is available now from ASoft.