Month: July 2008

VidaBox Releases the vController – a Solid, Feature-Rich Hardware Solution Integratable with Software-Based Automation packages‏ Westbury, NY – July 17th – VidaBox is excited to offer the vController, a powerful rack-mountable automation solution. Designed for heavy-duty automation, it comes standard with four USB ports, dual Ethernet Ports, VGA video out, and two standard RS-232 ports. Optionally, it can be configured with up to nine RS-232 ports for the most demanding of integration projects. “With the growing popularity of PC-based automation platforms, integrators have been looking for a solid, pre-built hardware solution where they can reliably run their software,” explains Steven … Continue reading VidaBox Releases the vController – Hardware Solution Integratable with Software Automation

VidaBox Announces the PicoPC with Malware-Proof Write Protection & Solid State Design for Ultimate in Reliability & Ease for PC on TV‏ WESTBURY, NY – July 16th– VidaBox LLC is excited to announce the new PicoPC. Unlike traditional computers, this 13-ounce device is designed to be ultra-compact at only 1-1/4” tall, has no moving parts, and comes with built-in write protection that restores the software to its original condition upon every restart. “The PicoPC is the ideal solution for anyone who wants simple, fool-proof access to PC capabilities on their HDTV,” says Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox. “Because it’s so … Continue reading VidaBox Announces the PicoPC for Ultimate in Reliability & Ease for PC on TV‏

One of the most popular Media Center plug-ins has always been TweakMCE, but with the release of Vista the community has been lacking such a tool produced by Microsoft.  That has now changed with the release of TweakMC for Vista Media Center.  The new tool exposes an interface for the various registry settings that control Media Center behavior. TweakMC allows easy access to several dozen Media Center settings including some of the ones listed below.  The UI is hardly pretty to look at, but the good news is that once you change the settings this tool shouldn’t be needed again. … Continue reading Microsoft Releases TweakMC for Vista Media Center

Dell is pushing out Linksys Extenders at $100 off retail via their website.  This means you can pick up a DMA2100 for only $150.  The DMA2200 can be purchased for $250, however it is currently listed as out of stock. At $150 Dell/Linksys hits the perfect Extender price point which I’ve talked about in the past.  Even given the issues I had when I reviewed the DMA2200, I’ve grab one or two at $150 and not think twice. (Via The Green Button)

I never thought I would get a dozen posts out of this topic, but what do you know!  Some said I was dead wrong when I predicted that Microsoft wasn’t planning on adding Blu-ray to the Xbox 360.  After covering the issue from every different angle possible (Here,  Here,  Here, Here,  Here, Here, Here,  Here, Here, Here, Here) I still couldn’t come up with a good reason why it was in Microsoft’s best interest to add Blu-ray to the Xbox.  It isn’t hard to come up with reasons why potential or existing Xbox 360 buyers want Blu-ray, but taking a … Continue reading My Twelfth Post on Xbox 360 Not Getting Blu-ray

Yesterday Microsoft announced that they are partnering with Netflix to bring Netflix’s streaming content to the Xbox 360 Dashboard.  What was not announced however is the same in Media Center.  The good news is that Microsoft now has the backend to make it work.  The bad news that knowing them Netflix streaming may never be ported to Media Center.  Looks like the Xbox 360 Dashboard is still Media Center biggest enemy. On the same Netflix partnership, I think people might be getting too worked up about the usefulness.  While Netflix has a great amount of content that you have heard … Continue reading Short Bits: Netflix

Xbox 360 promises best and broadest entertainment lineup ever; more fun, social and simple-to-use experience. LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 — As Xbox 360 readies for the next wave of audience expansion, Microsoft Corp. today announced a new Xbox experience that will reinvent home entertainment from the inside out, changing the way we play games, watch movies and TV shows, and even become contestants in game shows. It all begins this fall with a bold new look and feel that is fun, social and simple to use. The announcement was made during the E3 Media and Business Summit in … Continue reading New Xbox Experiences Reinvent Home Entertainment, and Everyone Is Invited

Exclusive agreement creates game-changing home entertainment experience; more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available to watch instantly at no additional cost to paying subscribers. LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 — An exciting new home theater experience is coming to living rooms this holiday season. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) and Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world’s largest online movie rental service, today unveiled an exclusive partnership to offer consumers the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via the Xbox 360 video game and … Continue reading Microsoft and Netflix Unveil Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies and TV Episodes to the TV via Xbox LIVE

60GB storage now included with Xbox 360; 20GB console will drop to $299.99 in U.S. and Canada. REDMOND, Wash. — July 13, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. is giving consumers more gigabytes for their buck. The company today announced an Xbox 360 console with triple the storage space of the original console, but for the same price of $349 (U.S.) estimated retail price (ERP). Available in retail stores in the U.S. and Canada starting in early August, the upgraded Xbox 360 will include a 60GB hard drive for storing the growing wealth of digital entertainment available for the console, including music, … Continue reading Xbox 360 Console Now Offers Triple the Storage for Same Price