Weather Plugin for Media Center

I wanted a weather plugin for Windows 7 Media center but could only find old MCE 2005 style plugins, until I uncovered the very slick Heatwave. There are both x86 and x64 versions available. It was created by MCExtended on The Green Button forums but the links I found on there don’t seem to work so please use the Heatwave link via Hack7MC.

Windows 7 Media Center – MKV, Removed panels

I added MKV container support to my Media Center by follow this guide from the fantastic guys at Hack7mc.

I also found a very simple tool to remove some of the panels from the media center start menu. Thank you Mikinhosoft.

Everything Search – Brilliant

After browsing through Lifehacker’s Pack 2009 (some of which I use, some of which I would never use and others I didn’t know about), I stumbled upon a very neat little program called ‘Everything’ search. I like it. It searches as quickly as I can type, far better than Microsoft’s effort. I haven’t figured out if or how it can index any of my network drives though.

Sky Sports on XBox 360

Apparently Sky has done a deal with Microsoft to allow its Sky Sports content (DVD Quality) to be available to XBox 360 users in the UK. As an Englishman in California, being able to watch Premiership football (soccer) and rugby would be fantastic. Unfortunately, reports suggest that it will only be available to UK subscribers, though via “live party” one might be able to share with another over seas!

Here are some photos of the Sky Player in action on the Xbox 360.

Here’s a question: I originally created my live/hotmail account in the UK and have been denied the use of Netflix in the US due to my UK account, will I be able to watch Sky Sports in the US with my UK account?

Here is the BBC article

Windows 7 Media Center

For quite a while I have been attempting to build my idea of the ultimate Media Center. I should point out that I do not require music integration. I have, for many years, been using products from Sonos and am delighted with them. Thus far via many installs, re-imagings and many hours have experimented with various operating systems and software:

XBMC via both Windows, OSX and

Ubuntu

Boxee

GB-PVR

Media Portal

Sage TV

Myth TV

And many others 

Alas, none of the above options met my criteria:

Must play many video types (.avi, .vob and DVD backup folder structure)

Browse DVD’s by cover art

TV show listings

IMDB information

Easy to navigate and use for non-techies

Can play from my network server (Windows Home Server) 

Then later as my needs adjusted. (I ditched my cable/DVR to save money)

Receive analog Cable/Digital OTA signals

Record and play back live TV

Easy to use TV listings Guide

Online Video Content (Hulu, YouTube etc) 

Initially I used Windows Vista and the integrated Media Center (VMC). I have since installed the Windows 7 Release Candidate and am over the moon.

I have also added all of these excellent (free/donation) plugins and application:

MediaBrowser – To display my movie/tv files from share drives in a very customizable format.

MetaBrowser – To retrieve the TMDb and TVDb information/cover art/episode image for my video files

Hulu Desktop Plugin – to access Hulu.com content through Media Center and using my remote control

My Channel Logos – to add simple logos to the TV Guide

Life Extender with this conversion script – to remove commercials from recorded TV shows (after they have been converted to DVR-MS from WTV with the script) 

I am not quite there yet but my holy grail of the the perfect media center is getting closer. I still need to do or find:

An iPod Touch compatible application to control my media files similar to Remote for iTunes/Apple TV or XBMC iPhone Remote

YouTube and other online video content integration

An easy way to manipulate the 7MC panels/icons to display only what I want them to. 

First Post!

First Post! – God! I hate that!

Anyways…

I spend a lot of time tinkering with technology, making it work better for me (and breaking it). Many people ask me questions so I am going to post the ideas, technology and modifications I am working on to make my life and sometimes others better or at least more connected.