Due to the number of comment spam bots that have been attempting to use my site I have added Captcha to the comment pages to help prevent them from spamming the site.  It has not been a issue on the site as far as the users have seen as I moderate all comments anyway and only allow legitimate comments to be posted but this will help me on the backend so I do not have to manually search through comments looking for the legit ones, in turn this will lessen the chance of legit postings being deleted by accident.

Also sorry for my slackerness as I still have not created the new logo for the site   I will be working on it soon..

If you’re looking for a way to view YouTube videos from within Media Center then you might like to give this plug-in a go.

It’s fresh off the compiler, so any feedback (epecially constuctive criticism) is very welcome.

The functionality is pretty straight forward, so I’m hoping instructions won’t be necessary.

Download the 32-bit version here.
Download the 64-bit version here.

A kind user suggested I include a donate button, so please find one above.

Version 0.8.2

• Revamped search function which remembers previous searches, uses Google search suggestions, and uses the built-in on-screen keyboard
• The ability to add and remove providers from within the program (the manage providers link on the providers page)
• Categories now wrap when navigating past the first/last item
• Fixed the problem with multiple searches causing issues, and added the ability to configure how many previous searches will remain visible
• Added some new automatic update functionality to notify users when a new version is available
• Numerous minor cosmetic changes and tweaks

Version 0.8.1

• Changed the functioning of the OK remote control button on extenders and remote controls that simulate keyboard input to allow the search function to work correctly
• No longer attempts to search for blank search criteria
• Installs to Media Center start menu
• Added an option in the Appearance section of Settings to add/remove from Media Center start menu
• Hides the search option if searching is not available for a provider (e.g. the “SearchUrl” attribute is blank or missing).
• Minor cosmetic changes

The Windows Phone 7 version of Big Screen byRemote (finally) went live on Windows Marketplace a few hours ago – and is available now for trial + purchase!

Big Screen byRemote allows you to remotely access one or more Windows 7 Media Center PC’s – and browse+search your EPG, manage your scheduled recordings and recorded TV Files – plus a whole lot more. (so this is not just a simple ‘remote control’ but a fully integrated remote PVR solution). The app is developed with Silverlight for Windows Phone and is optimized to work on 3G + Wireless networks (and uses very small amounts of mobile data due to inbuilt compression algorithms).

Please visit the following link for more information (includes Zune Download link) : http://bigscreenglobal.com/bgbyrwp7.aspx?PID=BSRV1

The full version of byRemote costs just USD$4.99 from Windows Marketplace (prices vary based on location) – and works with the free ‘Basic Edition’ of byRemote for Windows 7 Media Center (which operates as a Host service). A single purchase of the client allows installation on multiple handsets (which share the same windows live ID).

A fully functional trial version is also available – but limits PVR scheduling/browsing actions to your first 3 configured channels.

One of the features that the Ceton InfiniTV4 was poised to offer was tuner sharing.  This would allow you to have your InfiniTV4 in one HTPC and assign tuners to other HTPCs in your home.  Unfortunately CableLabs put the kibosh on this rather quickly.

Luckily, they’ve seen the light and as of Friday, tuner sharing is now approved in OCUR devices.  That means you can install multiple tuners in a single PC and spread them throughout your home.  While Ceton will obviously be the first to benefit from this new feature after a pending firmware update, it was all but mandatory for Silicon Dust’s upcoming networked tuner.

While not important to Media Center users, CableLabs also approved DRM Free Copy Freely content.  What this means is that other HTPC software will be able to utilize CableCard tuners for Copy Freely content.  While this won’t get you HBO or Showtime in SageTV or Myth, it will get you any content that your cable company has not flagged with copy restrictions.

Jeremy Hammer, VP of Systems Integration for Ceton has stated that the company is already working with the developers of MythTV to bring the InfiniTV4 to the popular Linux based HTPC software.

The Green Button strikes again!  This time while taking a look around the other morning, I came across Macrotube.  As the name suggests, the application provides a way to pull YouTube content into Media Center.  Happily though, that’s not where the fun ends, but just begins.

While the application is still in development, a decent amount of content has already been added and the developer has stated in the thread that he’s working on more.  His focus at this time is providing access to user generated content as opposed to podcasts or videocasts but he may consider those in the future.  As of today you can find the following included with the installation:

One nice aspect of the application is that you don’t have to scroll through all of these sources if you don’t want to.  You’re able to manage the sources you want to see on the main screen and only show the ones you want.

As well, it is posted that all of the current sources of content work on extenders, something dearly needed in this space.  I haven’t had a chance to test this aspect though so I don’t promise anything.

In using the application for two days now (and I mean really using), I’ve found the UI to be smooth and relatively quick.  There are times when thumbnails won’t display but usually a reload of the given page they come up.

As with any online content, quality varies.  This of course has nothing to do with the application but the source.  Some of the content sources are of classic content from the days before there ever was an internet and it shows but finding this content in other places can be a challenge.  That said, being able to watch a few episodes of Gunsmoke never hurt anyone.

Hopefully the developer will continue to add resources.  The structure of the UI is excellent, transitions are smooth and it ties into Media Center nicely.  With the application still being in beta, I hold out strong hopes for MacroTube.  That said, the developer hasn’t posted anything in the TGB thread since August.  I hope this doesn’t mean a dead project.  The base of the application is strong and with some more work this could be one of the best online content applications available to Media Center users.

Ever since CableLabs approved CableCARD devices to enable tuner sharing owners of the Ceton InfiniTV 4 have been waiting for Ceton to release the firmware that would turn this functionality on. While it hasn’t been released to the public yet, beta testers of the quad tuner CableCARD device can now do just that. Tonight I installed the latest beta firmware, bridged the connection between the tuner card and my ethernet adapter, and setup a secondary PC to use the InfiniTV 4. Once everything is setup on both ends, you simply go through the standard guided setup process on the secondary PC(s) to setup the tuners, as you would any other tuner device. After that it works just like any other tv tuner. I was able to instantly start watching live HD television immediately, without any noticeable lag from the streams being broadcast across my network.

Again, this is currently only available to Ceton beta testers, but this is definitely good news. Hopefully it means that the firmware, and corresponding software, will be released to the public very soon.

As you can see we are making a few changes around here. A new theme has been uploaded and is in the process of being tweaked and modded to fit our needs. The new logo is in the process of being created and should be done soon.

Traffic continues to grow so we are preparing for it. We also wanted to give the site a more professional look with pleasing colors and more visual graphics. (the old site was a little plain).

In addition we are going to be bringing you more content and fresh articles with hands-on reviews and tutorials.

Thanks to Dave Bryce, a  AVForums member, we have a new theme available for download today. Just attach the MCT file from Media Center Studio and we’ll post it here for our users to enjoy.

Dave’s theme, Streaming Light is currently being worked on and has an active thread available for comments over at AVForums. Be sure to drop in and leave comments, suggestions and praise in the thread. We’ve got the latest version, 1.02, available for download right here in our Download Center. You’ll need Media Center Studio installed in order to apply the theme.

For those unfamiliar with Media Center Studio simply run the program and select the Themes tab. From that tab select the Import Theme button and select the Streaming Light MCT file to add it to Media Center Studio’s theme listing. From there select the Streaming Light theme and press the Apply button. The theme will be applied to Media Center and should appear the next time you launch the program.

Easy as that! Thanks to Dave Bryce for sending in this theme and everyone else who does the same.

Source Article:
Streaming Light Theme

Microsoft have released a new hotfix for Windows 7 Media Center which resolves a problem some users have experienced whereby the Music Library appears to be in a perpetual state of re-building leaving the UI unresponsive.

In KB 981770, Microsoft states: “You frequently experience a music library issue when you access the music library in Windows Media Center or in Windows Media Center Extender. You access a music library in Windows Media Center or in Windows Media Center Extender on a computer that is running Windows 7. However, it takes a long time before the music library becomes available.

This issue frequently occurs when you perform one of following actions:

• You shut down WMCE by pressing power button. (note: In a typical situation, you click Tasks and then click Close to shut down WMCE.)
• You shut down computer unexpectedly. (e.g., you shut down computer by pressing power button while you’re using WMC.)”

Hotfix page || Download Hotfix