Consumer Electronics Installer Blog : Video

Media Center University: Whole House Integration of Media Center Systems – Part 5

cei — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:42:00 GMT

The second half of Todd Rutherford's presentation on integrating Windows Media Center into a whole home solution focuses on content acquisition for the customer.

Topics covered include:

Content
- Online - Download / Streaming
- Personal media
- Other

Download: iPod | MP3 | WMA | WMV | WMV (high) | Zune

You can download the white paper presentation from CE Pro's web site and follow along with the video. Please keep in mind that while Microsoft is posting these videos, the presentations were recorded by Microsoft at the express, written approval of EH Publishing. The content and presentations are not the property of Microsoft and are for information purposes only. No guarantees, expressed or implied, are provided to the accuracy of the content provided.

Media Center University: Whole House Integration of Media Center Systems – Part 4

cei — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:21:00 GMT

Our very own Todd Rutherford builds on previous Media Center University topics in the first half of his presentation by providing guidance on integrating WMC with automation systems and designing the right WMC solution to meet the needs of the customer.

Topics covered include:

Automation System Integration
- Controlling Media Center from Control Systems
- Controlling Automation hardware from Media Center
- Hybrid Solution Options
Whole House Entertainment
- Understand the Customer's Entertainment Needs
- Choosing an Architecture and Solution

Download: iPod | MP3 | WMA | WMV | WMV (high) | Zune

Media Center University: Optimizing for Entertainment & Networking – Part 3

cei — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:05:00 GMT

In the final segment of Optimizing Media Center for Entertainment & Networking, Mike Seamons walks through Extender set up, network tuning, Windows Home Server and some different deployment topologies. WMC can be installed as a HTPC, centrally in the rack or as a headless Extender server and Mike speaks the benefits and considerations of each configuration including advanced topics like integration into a whole home audio system.

Topics covered include:

Setting Up a Media Center Extender
The 3 Server Solution
Display Connected or Headless
MCX Design Best Practices
HTPC Design Best Practices
Simplifying the Experience

Download: iPod | MP3 | WMA | WMV | WMV (high) | Zune

Media Center University: Optimizing for Entertainment & Networking – Part 2

cei — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:01:00 GMT

Mike Seamons continues his presentation of Optimizing Media Center for Entertainment in this second video filmed at EHX Spring 2008. In part two, he discusses the steps he takes to optimize Windows Media Center. He discusses removing all unnecessary software, installing Windows Updates and other configuration. Additionally, he discusses how to integrate Zune with WMC.

Download: iPod | MP3 | WMA | WMV | WMV (high) | Zune

Topics covered include:

Removing all Unnecessary Files
Network and Sharing Tips
Cleaning the Desktop
Setting the Resolution, sounds, and screen saver
Setting Up Windows Media Player
Syncing everything with Zune
Default Content Removal

You can download the white paper presentation from CE Pro’s web site and follow along with the video. Please keep in mind that while Microsoft is posting these videos, the presentations were recorded by Microsoft at the express, written approval of EH Publishing. The content and presentations are not the property of Microsoft and are for information purposes only. No guarantees, expressed or implied, are provided to the accuracy of the content provided.

More Media Center University videos are coming soon...

EngadgetHD Extender Overview

cei — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:28:00 GMT

If you are looking to get a better understanding of which Extenders are right for your installations, take a look at Ben Drawbaugh's The Media Center Extender shootout article. He walks you through some of Extender options on the market today, their features and stats.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/19/the-media-center-extender-shootout/

Media Center University: Optimizing for Entertainment & Networking – Part 1

cei — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:56:00 GMT

Download: iPod | MP3 | WMA | WMV | WMV (high) | Zune

In the first installment of Optimizing for Entertainment and Networking at EHX Spring's Media Center University, Mike Seamons provides guidance on choosing one technology over another. In his presentation, he covers the difference between analog and digital formats, component cables and HDMI, Cat 5 and Cat 6 Ethernet wiring, several TV tuner options, and how to deal with protected content.

Topics covered:

Video, Audio, Network, and TV Technologies
Digital Media Copy Protection

You can download the white paper presentation from CE Pro’s web site and follow along with the video.

Keep an eye out for more Media Center University videos coming soon.

In-room Extender Design Strategy

cei — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:34:00 GMT

One of the simplest strategies for setting up a Windows Media Center (WMC) home entertainment network is to place the Extenders in the same room as the audio and video equipment.

Similar to the centralized Extender design we covered previously, the Windows Media Center (WMC) is still centrally located and on the IP network, but this strategy is less complex because IR repeating and audio distribution are not required. Each Extender is located physically in the same location with the a/v equipment and the WMC experience and content is delivered from the centralized WMC. This configuration is best suited for customers who have five or less displays and are not concerned with having additional equipment in the room.

Integration with an audio distribution system in this design is also possible. You just have to run audio back from an Extender connected back to a central distributed audio solution. While this allows the rest of the home to enjoy the audio of a particular Extender session, this addition adds complexity and is purely optional depending on your customer's needs.

Advantages

Single, simple, consistent remote
Easily scaled up to five display locations using home network
In-room source for each display
Extenders with additional features (e.g. DVD, gaming, etc) available in room
Each Extender has full rights access to protected content on the host PC
No IR repeating system required
No switching systems
Distributed audio integration

Disadvantages

Synchronized video playback in multiple rooms not supported
Heat, noise and space considerations
Additional a/v components in room
Requires additional hardware to re-distribute audio from local Extenders

Other Considerations

Performance – As with other WMC design strategies, the PC should be a single machine dedicated to the entertainment system. Performance requirements of the WMC increase with the number of Extenders connected to the system.

Heat & Noise – Because the Extenders are in the individual rooms, heat and noise should be managed appropriately.

Control – Customers can easily get confused with multiple remote controls in a room. It's easy for them to forget which remote goes to which device. You should consider using programmable or universal remote controls so customers have one simple interface in each room.

CE Pro Remote Guide

cei — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:41:00 GMT

Are you looking to revamp your remote control offering or find new ways to reduce complexity for your customers?

CE Pro just published an article and slideshow that walks through many of the latest remote control options on the market.

Most of the remotes featured can be programmed to or specifically designed to work with Windows Media Center based home entertainment systems.

Windows Media Center experience throughout the house with rack-mounted Extenders

cei — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:31:00 GMT

There are several ways to provide your customers with the Windows Media Center experience. This post covers one of those design strategies simply referred to as centralized Extenders. Like all designs, this approach has certain advantages and disadvantages and it will be up to you, the installer, to determine which is right for your customer’s system.

This solution is particularly advantageous for the customer that wants a minimal amount of AV hardware in each room, or who wants to distribute the audio from their Media Center experience throughout the house using a conventional distributed audio system, or desires the elegance of both.

In this design approach shown above, all five Extenders are located in the rack with the Windows Media Center PC, with the Extender’s video output connected to dedicated, in room, displays. This connection can be done via one of the various methods used to extend video between rooms that exists today (primarily baluns, and in-wall wiring) In addition, the audio from each Extender is routed to an audio switcher and amplifier, then on to speakers in each room.

For the user who simply wants a display with speakers (and no distributed audio speakers) in each room, traditional A/V or cat 5 wiring can be used to bring the audio and video signals to the displays. We highly recommend using HDMI or component video to ensure HD performance on the display. For distances over 25 feet, an HDMI or component video extender can carry the signal up to 150 feet or more (depending on model/mfg used).

Here is a quick list of the various advantages and disadvantages of using the centralized Extender design strategy.

Advantages

Single, simple, consistent remote
Single source to each display
Simple to add an audio distribution system
Central location of equipment simplifies maintenance and servicing
Heat and noise of equipment removed from the local room
Each Extender has full rights access to DRM content on the host PC
Easily scaled up to five Extenders

Disadvantages

No gaming on Xbox used as an Extender
Requires an infrared repeater or IR repeating DA keypad in each room
DVD viewing not supported
Synchronized video playback in multiple rooms not supported

Key considerations

Heat and noise, particularly with Xbox360s and PCs, will need to be managed with adequate ventilation

A powerful and robust PC is needed to effectively stream audio and video to all Extenders

Like all Windows Media Center design approaches, you can combine aspects of centralized Extenders with other designs such as local Extenders (putting the Extender in the room) to meet your customer’s expectations.

Installing Extenders in a centralized rack with the PC is advantageous in certain scenarios and it is easily scalable because the equipment is located together. This option in one way to give the customers the design they want with the functionality of Windows Media Center. Over the next several weeks we will introduce you to other design approaches such as:

Localized Extenders
Centralized and switched Extenders
Localized Windows Media Center PCs
Centralized Windows Media Center PCs

Installing & Configuring WebGuide

cei — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:23:00 GMT

In the last WebGuide installment, we gave an overview of the rich feature set that allows users to remotely access content. This installment covers the installation process, including how to configure WebGuide so users can access their Windows Media Center PC from outside the home and you can easily set everything up for them.

Installation

If you visit http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/default.aspx and click on the download button you will be directed to another page where there are three download choices. You can download WebGuide 4.1 for Media Center 2005, WebGuide 4.1 for Windows Home Server, and WebGuide 4.1 for Windows Vista. Once you choose the appropriate button and click on it, a window will pop up and ask you if you want to save or run WebGuide. Choose run, then the guide will automatically install and place a WebGuide folder inside the computer’s Program Files. Then open the folder and click on the WebGuide Configuration icon to open the program. When the program is opened, it automatically starts the configuration process. Then after a few minutes you are able to further tweak the program to the customer’s needs. By clicking on the Configure Tab you personalize it using the different sections titled General, Users, Network, Media Sharing, and Localization. Below are the different sections and what each of them can do so as an installer you can set the program up with your clients so they can access their Media Center content from outside the home.

General Configuration Tab

In this tab you can set how many rows of the guide you want displayed at a time, and how many recorded shows you want highlighted on your home page. There are also three features that enhance the WebGuide experience. It automatically colorizes the guide into different categories like movies and sports, it includes a remote control add-in allowing you to access Media Center from the WebGuide interface, and it shows the most popular programs scheduled to be recorded in your area. This last feature, however, allows WebGuide to share anonymous data about your viewing habits with a central server. It is the only way it can compile what the most popular shows are in each local area.

Users Tab

WebGuide offers multiple user accounts all with different levels of permissions, so family and friends can be given different levels of access to the content stored in Windows Media Center. For example, you can allow remote family members to access personal media, like your pictures, and videos, but prevent them from recording or watching TV. A user that is an administrator can change permissions for other users, deciding what users have access to and what they do not. By simply checking boxes in the various categories the administrator can decide who can access recorded TV, live TV, music, and pictures.

Network Tab

In order for WebGuide to access Windows Media Center content from the Internet, the router will need to be modified. Luckily there is the Universal Plug and Play protocol which allows Media Center and WebGuide to automatically detect the two ports and router needed. The WebGuide configuration tool automatically scans your network, looking for a router supporting UPnP, and if one is found, WebGuide will display it and offer to automatically configure it. This will create two port-forwarding rules to forward requests to your Media Center PC. In some cases you will need to manually configure the ports and router and the next section explains how to do that.

Port Forwarding / Router Configuration

WebGuide uses two ports, one for the web and one to stream video. At first install, WebGuide will pick a random port (although you can change it to port 80, which is most commonly used port by the web). The Video port is only used when a request for a streaming Video is made. Most of the time users will never need to manually set the router’s port forwarding because of WebGuide’s use of Universal Plug and Play, however, occasionally it is necessary to do so.

Port forwarding is the act of forwarding a network port from one network node to another. This allows an external user to reach a port on a private IP Address.

First you have to determine your router’s static IP address. To find the machine’s address, open a command prompt on the PC ("cmd" from the start menu), type "ipconfig" and the PC will list the network address. The IP address for the router is commonly the “Default Gateway” and usually looks like "192.168.?.?".

Open this address a browser to the address and you will be asked for a username and password. All routers have different usernames and passwords so check the router’s documentation to make sure.

Once you are inside the site, look for a Port Forward or Port Range Forward icon on the web page.

Enter the specified web port and the IP address of the Media Center PC, and click the Save Settings button.

Each brand of router is a little different, so consult your manual on port forwarding before installing WebGuide. This is a straightforward task in most routers, but if you have more questions about this step, please consult your router’s manual or search for more information.

With media sharing you can further choose what you want available and what you don’t want available with WebGuide. This way if you have seven folders of videos but only want five available, then it is easy to do that. In the Localization Tab you can select from 11 different languages and on the web interface, all text is translated into that language.

Media Sharing Tabs and Localization

Media sharing allows you to further choose what you want available and what you do not want available with WebGuide. This way if you have seven folders of videos but only want five available, then it is easy to do that. In the Localization Tab you can select from 11 different languages and on the Web interface, all text is translated into that language.

Network Address Tab

When you select the Network Address Tab, WebGuide displays a personal web address to access the program, and WebGuide is ready to use. Enter in the private IP address, and sign using the username and password you created. Once you are logged in, you have access to the content on the Windows Media Center PC.

Conclusion

WebGuide is simple to setup and is a great way to extend a Windows Media Center based home entertainment system beyond the home. Enabling customers and their family & friends to remotely access personal media presents a good opportunity for happy customers, additional installation margins and a better overall service offering.

More information on WebGuide installation: http://www.asciiexpress.com/wiki/webguide_configuration.ashx
WebGuide Download: http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/default.aspx

HP MediaSmart Update – Extender for Windows Media Center

cei — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:09:00 GMT

HP recently released a firmware update for their SL4278N and SL4778N MediaSmart TVs that enables the display to connect easily to a Windows Media Center PC and view HD content in any room in a client's home. This is the first Extender for Windows Media Center that is integrated directly into a display and does not require a separate component. As an integrator, this not only gives you another great Extender for Windows Media Center product to offer new customers, but also provides a potentially profitable follow up sales opportunity for existing customers with MediaSmart TVs or Windows Media Center based home entertainment systems.

For more information, see the HP press release and setup instructions.

EHX Spring 2008 - Channel 10 Interviews

cei — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:07:00 GMT

Larry Larsen from Channel 10 caught up with several companies doing great work with Windows Media Center at EHX Spring 2008 in Orlando. Representatives from Autonomic Controls, Superna, Cutting Edge PC’s, and Cannon PC’s showcased several products that you can offer in custom Windows Media Center installations. Below are his videos and his summaries of them.

	Autonomic Controls “I talked to Michael De Nigris from Autonomic Controls. They have a very cool system for Media Center that includes some very innovative solutions. For starters, they can take a 7.1 sound card (which is technically 8 channels) and split it into 4 individual stereo zones that they can send throughout your house. They also have a solution for using a UMPC (or TabletPC, or laptop) as an uber remote control for your Media Center. Very cool.”
	Superna “Superna is a company that makes solutions to connect all your different systems together. They have a software layer that will connect your XP Media Center, Vista Media Center, home automation, and touch panels from various third parties. Oded Vardi from Superna spent a few minutes telling me about their whole home system and walks us through Superna's ControlWare.”
	Cutting Edge PCs “ I got a chance to visit with John Oliver from Cutting Edge PC's. Cutting Edge makes some really nice high end Media Center machines with features like Whole House Control and integration with VideoGiant.”
	Cannon PC “I met up with Gregg Cannon from CannonPC.com. Cannon PCs are high end Media Center PCs including HTPC boxes, rack mount PCs, and a very nice EX series with a built-in LCD. I talked to Gregg about why they choose to focus on Media Center devices and the differences between a Cannon PC and something you'd get in a consumer "big box" store. Gregg also has another announcement coming next month so stay tuned.”

2007 Ultimate Install Contest Winner Article - Imperium Smart Systems

cei — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:51:00 GMT

Residential Systems Magazine just published a great article on the winner of our first Ultimate Install Contest. The article gives a full overview (including pictures) of the winning 12 zone Windows Media Center based system from Imperium Smart Systems LLC in the 8,500 square foot Orem, Utah home.

"A lot of the bigger integrators are only familiar with other automation systems that are heavy on programming. I do a lot of presentations to construction companies, giving them a bid and showing them the difference with the Windows Media Center and Life-ware; we can normally do a project for half the cost of our competitors."

- Tyler Jennings, Imperium Smart Systems LLC

See the article at: It's the Ultimate

New Okoro OMS-ZX 100 Windows Media Center

cei — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:41:00 GMT

Take a look at the OMS-ZX 100 Windows Media Center PCs from Okoro Media:

From the Okoro web site:

ZX100 Digital Entertainment System

Intel Core™2 Extreme Quad Core Processor QX6850 3.0GHz
3 Gigabytes of Memory
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT HDMI output
32GB High Speed Solid State OS Drive with 1TB for Media Storage
Blu-ray and HDDVD Playback
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition
Availability in ANY automotive color

More information at:
http://www.okoromedia.com/newsdet.asp?articleno=24
http://www.okoromedia.com/model.asp?model=ZX100

Windows Media Center & Digital Cable Setup video

cei — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:01:00 GMT

	A new Digital Cable Setup video is available that gives step by step instructions on how to setup digital TV in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista Digital Cable compatible PC. The video walks you through the steps to activate CableCARD™, configure Windows Media Center and set up the program guide. The video also covers how to verify the installation is complete and working as expected.
	This content is also available in the Internet TV section of Windows Media Center.

For additional information on digital TV and Windows Media Center contact see the CableCARD™ and Digital Cable FAQ.

Consumer Electronics Installer Blog : Video

Media Center University: Whole House Integration of Media Center Systems – Part 5

Media Center University: Whole House Integration of Media Center Systems – Part 4

Media Center University: Optimizing for Entertainment & Networking – Part 3

Media Center University: Optimizing for Entertainment & Networking – Part 2

EngadgetHD Extender Overview

Media Center University: Optimizing for Entertainment & Networking – Part 1

In-room Extender Design Strategy

CE Pro Remote Guide

Windows Media Center experience throughout the house with rack-mounted Extenders

Advantages

Disadvantages

Key considerations

Installing & Configuring WebGuide

Installation

General Configuration Tab

Users Tab

Network Tab

Port Forwarding / Router Configuration

Media Sharing Tabs and Localization

Network Address Tab

Conclusion

HP MediaSmart Update – Extender for Windows Media Center

EHX Spring 2008 - Channel 10 Interviews

Autonomic Controls

Superna

Cutting Edge PCs

Cannon PC

2007 Ultimate Install Contest Winner Article - Imperium Smart Systems

New Okoro OMS-ZX 100 Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center & Digital Cable Setup video