The Digital Lifestyle Video Show

Running Windows 7 on a Samsung Q1

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:28:00 GMT

When I was chatting with Steve from UMPC portal I promised a video of Windows 7 running on the Q1 and here it is, it’s just a quick look the PDC build of Windows 7 on the Q1. On the video I mentioned the audio problem and I have since given up trying to get the sound working and I am using Bluetooth headphones insted which are working great.

In my next video I am going to focus on the changes in Windows Media Center on Windows 7

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Video: Windows Media Center Sideshow gadgets on Windows Mobile

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:39:00 GMT

I had been meaning to take a look at the Windows Media Center sideshow gadgets for some time now and since Windows Mobile can host Sideshow gadgets I thought I would give it a try on my HP Mobile.

The first part of the installations is to download and install the release version of the Sideshow gadgets for Media Center (64bit and 32bit), when I ran the install it told me I needed the Sideshow Managed Runtime 1.0 which can be download from Microsoft. Once I had the Runtime installed I could install the sideshow gadgets

Then I install the Sideshow Developer Preview on my phone by downloading the update from here and copying WindowsSideShowForWindowsMobile.CAB to my phone and running the install, then I had to pair up the phone with the PC via Bluetooth. I could then go to the Sideshow control panel in Windows and enable the Media Center gadgets.

Once everything was installed I ran the Sideshow application and connect to the host PC. On the Media Center gadgets I could choose whether to connect to my log in on the Media Center machine or an Extender session.

I did have some trouble with the running of the gadgets, sometimes the gadgets would not pull the information back from the host machine and occasionally it would restart Media Center so I would say it's not 100% stable yet but once I had it all up and running I found the gadgets were usefu

In this video I take a look at some of the features of the gadgets including Now Playing, browsing the guide data, playing music and selecting pictures

Note: This was done with the standard version of Media Center and not the TV Pack version which may not work with Sideshow

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A quick look at the Gyration Air Mouse

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:03:00 GMT

Gyration's new Air Mouse is a compact mouse that features MotionSense so you can pick up the mouse and control the pointer in the air.One nice feature is has is the ability to control specific Media Center functions with gestures.

The mouse is small and compact and comes with it’s little travel bag, so it would make an ideal mouse to go with a notebook but it would also be good mouse for a HTPC system as you can use the MotionSense to control the pointer in the air, so no balancing a mouse on your knee when your sat on the sofa. The Mouse is listed at £57.63 on Amazon.co.uk

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Sorry the video is a little dark, I think I need to get some lighting sorted out

How to get rip a CD with Windows Media Center

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:16:00 GMT

This is my 3rd “How to" video and it looks at how easy it is to rip a CD in Windows Media Center and how simple it is to browse your music collection from the Media Center UI. The video is aimed at new users of Windows Media Center as anybody that has played with Media Center will know how simple and easy it is.

You can also checkout my other “how to videos”: How to get digital TV on Windows Media Center and How to get Windows Media Center on an Xbox 360

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Unboxing a Vidabox Premium Wireless Keyboard

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:36:00 GMT

This is a quick first look a the new Vidabox Premium Wireless Keyboard. Last year I reviewed the previous version of the keyboard and this new keyboard has the following new features:

Includes a "Green Button" Hotkey that Launches Media Center
Reception through obstructions such as People and Walls drastically improved
Battery Life Greatly Extended to Six Months
Laser Trackball increased resolution to 2000 dpi

I have just started using the keyboard and this video is a unboxing and first look at the new keyboard I will have a review out when I have been using it a little longer

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How to get Windows Media Center on an Xbox 360

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:05:00 GMT

In this "how to " video I look at how to extend Windows Media Center to the TV with an Xbox 360. I look how easy it is to connect the Xbox 360 with Windows Media Center so you can get live TV, music, pictures and videos on the TV without having to connect up your PC directly to it

All you need is Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate Edition and an Xbox 360 networked to your PC

Watch via Youtube
Watch via Direct Download (WMV)

This "How To" series is aimed at new comers to Windows Media Center

How to get digital TV on Windows Media Center

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:12:00 GMT

This is the first in my series of “How to” posts and this video looks at how to get digital TV (e.g. Freeview) on your PC with Windows Media Center.

You will need a PC with Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate Edition and a TV Tuner (I used a Hauppauge WinTV NOVA-TD Diversity Dual digital freview USB stick)

Watch via Youtube
Watch via direct download (WMV)

This "How To" series is aimed at new comers to Windows Media Center

A closer look at HP'’s TouchSmart UI

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:20:00 GMT

HP's new TouchSmart PC is a fantastic bit of kit and what makes it so great is the innovative touch UI. I have already recorded an unboxing video so in this video I wanted to show off the Touch UI and how along with music, pictures and videos you can browse the web, read RSS feeds and run standard Windows apps from the Touch UI. My kids really love a freeware paint program (Tux Paint) and it works great on the Touch Screen

I also take a look at how well Windows Media Center works with the Touch Screen

Watch via Direct Download
Watch via Youtube: Part 1 , Part 2

Unboxing and a first look at HP’s new TouchSmart

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:23:00 GMT

I was really looking forward to getting hold of HP’s new TouchSmart PC (the IQ500) ever since I first saw the product back in Berlin. In this video I unbox the TouchSmart, fire up the unit for the first time and take a look at the TouchSmart UI. Since recording the video I have put the unit in my living room and we are really loving it so I will record another video showing the Touch UI in action next week

If you want to skip past the unboxing and go straight to the TouchSmart UI go to 11:49 in the video

WMV Download
Youtube links coming soon

Unboxing and setup of a HP MediaSmart Connect

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:04:00 GMT

HP are launching a new Media Center Extender products called the MediaSmart Connect. It is not just a Media Center Extender it is also a digital media adapter that can stream content from both Vista and XP. One thing I like is from the Connect UI content from multiple devices are pooled together so if you go in to videos you can see videos from your Media Center PC, Home Server and other devices such as laptops.

In this video I unbox the pre-production unit, I take a look at setup, Windows Media Center performance and the Connects own user interface which is very slick.

Don’t forget to register for HP’s Webinar on the new HP MediaSmart Connect

Watch via YouTube: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
Direct Download

Unboxing a HP HDX Dragon Entertainment PC

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:08:00 GMT

As part of the 31 days of Dragon I am giving away a HP HDX Entertainment PC and in this video I unbox the monster machine and take a quick look at the Vista performance rating and Windows Media Center. As I said in my first impressions post it is the most powerful machine I have ever used, and the screen and speakers are fantastic. Don't forget I am giving this machine away

Watch the video on Youtube (Part 1 and Part 2)
Watch via MSN Video
Watch via direct download

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Setting up a HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:42:00 GMT

I final setup my HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server. I recorded the process which from start to finish took under an hour, thankfully for you I edited this down to around 20 minutes. The video shows how simple it was setting up the Home Server especially considering it's a headless unit. HP have added some extra software on top of the standard OS like iTunes serving and photo sharing plus a task pane for getting the server setup

Sorry the video is a bit dark at the end, I think I need to get some lights!

Watch the video via Youtube: Part 1 and Part 2
Watch via MSN Video
Watch via direct download (WMV)

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Technorati Tags: Windows Home Server,HP MediaSmart

How I Record music with a Tablet PC

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:31:00 GMT

I have been recording music with my HP TC1100 Tablet PC for a while so I thought it may be interesting to show how well the Tablet PC form factor works for me. Since using the tablet I use more virtual instruments and my other keyboards are being used more as controllers for the PC. Using the Pen with music software feels more natural that using a mouse and keyboard. You will also be able to see from the video how the tablet PC fits on the top of my keyboard stand as a integral part of my music system.

To connect the Tablet PC to the rest of the system I have a EDIROL UM2 USB midi controller and a EDIROL M100FX USB mixer, the M100FX is a great piece of kit as it's not only a mixer it's also the sound card for the Tablet PC as the onboard sound card does not have enough power to do the real time audio processing.

So here is a short look at how the Tablet PC works for me

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Technorati Tags: Tablet PC,Music

Video: Unboxing HP's MediaSmart Windows Home Server

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:06:00 GMT

In this video I unbox and give a brief tour of a HP MediaSmart Windows Home Server. It's a very compact unit with plenty of space for adding more storage and it has plenty of expansion options. So have a look at this video and then compare it with the video I recorded of Tranquil's Windows Home Server.

The next video should be of setting up the server on my network

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Technorati Tags: Windows Home Server,HP

Video: Unboxing and setting up a Linksys DMA2200 Media Center Extender

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:03:00 GMT

Now that I have the video out on Linksys' DMA2100 I thought I would try the DMA2200. This is the big brother of the 2100 and includes an upscaling DVD Player. (You can read my first impression in here)

This video shows the unboxing of the DMA2200, the setup process and getting it working with my Media Center system.

Watch via Youtube Part 1 and Part 2
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Direct Download

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Video: Comparing The Xbox 360 with a Linksys DMA2100

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:08:00 GMT

I was about to packup the Linksys DMA2100 and unbox the 2200 when I thought it would be interesting to compare the Extender function of the Xbox 360 with the Linksys DMA2100. So with both extenders connected up to my TV I made a side by side comparison of the two users interfaces. I tried standard TV and some hi def content.

My next video will be the unboxing and setup of the DMA2200

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Technorati tags: Media Center Extedners, Linksys, DMA2100, Xbox 360

Linksys DMA2100 Unboxing and Setup (reposted)

Videoshow@thedigitallifestyle.com (Ian Dixon) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:13:00 GMT

I have reposted this as the post didn't get pickup in the rss feed

As promised on my "first impressions" post here is the video of the unboxing and setup of the DMA2100.

The video shows the unboxing and how I setup the Extender to connect with my Media Center PC. It wasn't all plane sailing, mainly due to the lack of HDMI cable and an update needed for Windows Vista. My plan is to look at the DMA2200 and go in to more detail on the performance of the Extenders in the next video which I will be recording next week.

Any questions, comments or if there is anything I should be looking at please let me know

Watch via MSN video Part 1 and Part 2
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Part One
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Part Two
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