Submission + - What is the best Media Center software out there?
brm1974 writes: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_center
For the product by J. River.
A media center is a computer adapted for playing music, watching movies and pictures stored on a local harddrive or on a (in some cases wireless) network, watching DVD movies and often for watching and recording television broadcasts.
Have You guys tried any of those?
What do you think?
* SageTV
* Front Row (Apple)
* GeeXboX (Linux)
* GBPVR (Windows)
* SesamTV (http://www.sesamtv.com)
* MythTV (Linux)
* Freevo (Linux)
* Elisa (Linux) (http://www.fluendo.com/elisa/index.php)
* My Media System (Linux)
* MediaPortal
* TVedia
* Windows XP Media Center Edition
* Xbox Media Center (not to be confused with Windows XP Media Center eXtender)
* Domotix (http://www.mydomotix.com)
* XLobby (windows) http://www.xlobby.com/"
For the product by J. River.
A media center is a computer adapted for playing music, watching movies and pictures stored on a local harddrive or on a (in some cases wireless) network, watching DVD movies and often for watching and recording television broadcasts.
Have You guys tried any of those?
What do you think?
* SageTV
* Front Row (Apple)
* GeeXboX (Linux)
* GBPVR (Windows)
* SesamTV (http://www.sesamtv.com)
* MythTV (Linux)
* Freevo (Linux)
* Elisa (Linux) (http://www.fluendo.com/elisa/index.php)
* My Media System (Linux)
* MediaPortal
* TVedia
* Windows XP Media Center Edition
* Xbox Media Center (not to be confused with Windows XP Media Center eXtender)
* Domotix (http://www.mydomotix.com)
* XLobby (windows) http://www.xlobby.com/"
Submission + - Benefits of Windows User Access Control
Abtin Forouzandeh writes: "Having used Vista for a few months, something keeps nagging me about windows user account control. For UAC to be useful, the user needs to have a fair amount of knowledge about a) what UAC is, b) what application its blocking, c) the consequences of blocking the action, and d) an alternate approach if the blocked action did something useful. Anyone who has ever worked with end-users can tell you that they are generally disinterested in learning anything about computer usage beyond how to use word and make a spreadsheet. Frankly, even as a highly technical user, I nearly always approve the UAC dialog even if I don't know the consequences. Since users lack knowledge, and Vista keeps asking esoteric/ambiguous questions, then users will always approve UAC dialogs.
So my question is, since UAC so clearly fails in its goal of making computing more secure, and substantially increases complexity, why is it common wisdom that turning off UAC is "not recommended"? For 99% of users, is there any true downside? Or has the community come up with ways to make UAC useful?"
So my question is, since UAC so clearly fails in its goal of making computing more secure, and substantially increases complexity, why is it common wisdom that turning off UAC is "not recommended"? For 99% of users, is there any true downside? Or has the community come up with ways to make UAC useful?"
Submission + - US Historical Tornado Database and Map
Anonymous writes: "Weather geeks rejoice! Programmers keep finding novel ways to use the wealth of information available on the Internet. In this case, the Tornado History Project has combined historical tornado data freely available from the National Weather Service and combined it with Google Maps. The result is a free, searchable database of every official tornado in the United States from 1950-2005. Search results can be output and sorted in text form (results include date, states and counties affected, fujita rating, injuries, fatalities, width, path length and much more) or overlaid on a Google map. Additionally, users may leave comments (personal memories, etc) about any tornado in the database. Users may even share their own photos or videos of any tornado. The site's creator, Josh Lietz, plans to keep it up and running in perpetuity as a kind of virtual museum. He also plans to add to the database as each new year of tornado statistics becomes available."
Submission + - NASA to Duct Tape Psychotic Astronauts
Thib writes: After NASA astronaut Lisa Novak reportedly tried to kidnap and kill another woman in a much-publicized love triangle last month, NASA added five pages to a thousand-page document detailing all procedures for dealing with medical emergencies. Their guidelines: duct tape. From the CNN article: "The documents, obtained this week by The Associated Press, say the astronaut's crewmates should bind his wrists and ankles with duct tape, tie him down with a bungee cord and inject him with tranquilizers if necessary." The article features various tidbits from previous NASA and Russian missions and from previous stays in the International Space Station and in the Mir space station. NASA is also thinking of revising its policies on psychological screening.
Submission + - ESA Uses U.S. Law To Target Mod Chips in Canada
CanuckGamer writes: "Michael Geist is reporting
that the Entertainment Software Association is targeting mod chips in
Canada by claiming that U.S. copyright law applies north of the border.
An ESA lawyer has tried to import the U.S. Grokster case into Canada,
which Geist argues should be subject to a claim of copyright misuse and
reveals the ESA's double talk on mod chips and copyright reform."
Submission + - ATI is not supporting the All-in-Wonder in Vista
Working-Person writes: Thinking about using your expensive All-in-Wonder with Vista? Think again. Here's the response from ATI when looking for Vista drivers "The product you purchased was not advertised or broadcasted as Vista Compliant it is fully functional and supported on the specified Operating Systems. The tuner on the board doesn't meet Windows Vista's requirements and is not compatable. That means it will not be supported and there will be no drivers or software release for the tuner on the ALL IN WONDER Board."
Apple May Be Re-Entering the Sub-Notebook Market 281
An anonymous reader writes "AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has plans to reenter the sub-notebook market this year. The project, the article states, should be unveiled around the time of WWDC (summer). Drawing parallels to the legendary PowerBook 2400, the sub-notebook will offer some of the best elements of old and new. With a small footprint, light weight, and manageable screen it will fill a niche not currently occupied by any Apple hardware. At the same time, it will offer some new technologies that the current crop of computers do not: 'The new MacBook model is expected to introduce some features not yet available with Apple's existing notebook offerings, such as onboard NAND flash. Plans reportedly call for the notebook to be the first of the company's MacBook offerings to utilize the solid-state memory in order to improve power efficiency and facilitate near instantaneous boot times. This feature, however, had not been frozen upon last check.' Apple hopes this micro-notebook will capture interest both here in the states and in Japan, where the appeal of small consumer electronics may offset the current weak computer market."
Submission + - Vista retail sales low compared to XP launch
PetManimal writes: "A comparison of first-week retail sales of Vista compared to first-week sales of XP back in 2001 found that Vista sales were 60% lower. Steve Ballmer has admitted that earlier sales forecasts were "overly aggressive," but at least there is some good news for Microsoft: early Office 2007 sales were very strong compared to the early sales of Office 2003, despite almost no advertising or marketing until the retail launch at the end of January."
Submission + - Vista "express" upgrade program bungled
Josh M. writes: Thousands of customers who purchased new Windows PCs this past Christmas are still waiting on their promised Windows Vista upgrades, despite the Vista launch occurring more than two weeks ago. Ars reports that Dell and HP have both pushed their shipping dates 6-8 weeks back after launch, meaning some people won't get their upgrades well into April. It turns out that because those customers get free Vista support, the OEMs are waiting for better driver support, hence the delay. So much for "express."
