Smart Home Blog

Recently GeeXboX announced its new software for HTPC called Enna. It offers a standard set of functions such playback video and audio, showing photos from local drives, USB storage or network shares. However, there is one unique feature in the Enna. It’s a BookStore allowed to read your favourite eBooks from different Internet content providers. Also the new GeeXboX media center software comes with VDPAU supports which is very important for HD video fans.

Enna development team has a huge todo list which includes adding games, integration with VDR to watch and record digital TV, supporting UPnP and DLNA. Long-term plans include online services integration (currently there is no one, even YouTube), Instant Messaging, VoIP Telephony and Video Conference and TelePresence. Souns very promising. But we’ll see the progress this summer.

To install Enna under Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic) just add GeeXboX repository to your apt sources list and use apt to get it. Also note that Enna is a part of GeeXboX distribution. Users of other Linux distributions can install Enna from the sources.

After releasing of XBMC 9.11 “Camelot” and skin Transparency! it’s time for Xperience Beta1. I posted the amazing demo video of that XBMC skin. Know you can grab it here and try it on your HTPC. There is an Xperience Release Thread on the XBMC forum where you can watch the progress, leave your comments or ask help. Enjoy Xperience!

Yamaha offers possibility to control its Network multi-zone A/V Receivers for iPhone/iPod Touch owners directly from their devices. Using free Yamaha App consumers do following for specified zone: control power, volume or select desire input. Communication between iPhone and receiver is done via WiFi. So, be sure that you have access point in your house.

The following is a list of compatible Yamaha Home Theater Network A/V Receivers that will work with this App:

• RX-V2065 – 7.2 ch Home theater receiver
• RX-V3900 – High Performance Home theater receiver
• RX-Z7 – Flagship Home theater receiver.

Yamaha App can be downloaded from App Store free of charge. But by some reason it’s available for US and Canada only. Sounds very strange for me.

There are many useful plugins for Windows Media Center but all of them hosted in the different places. So, it’s difficult for users find them. So Microsoft decided to make life of MCE users easier by opening App Store. Additionally to simplifying searching of plugins the App Store offers an easy way to install them even using remote control. Also I suspect that all plugins hosted in the App Store will be tested more carefully to do not break user’s HTPCs.

Currently there are not so many plugins in the MCE App Store. But I’m sure that number will be increased soon. Because it should also interest developers as well.

[via CEPro]

As it was announced before yesterday night the Beta version of Boxee was demonstrated for Boxee fans in Brooklyn and online viewers. It’s planning to be in public on Russian Christmas – Jan 7th, 2010. However, you may see the screenshots of new UI and read about novelty on the Boxee blog. Additionally you can ask invitation to test Boxee beta before its public release. Just add here your email, desire OS and Boxee user name is so.

From the first glass I like new media management system, especially immediate access to the content without going through an App. Queue looks also very useful with possibility to add new episodes for favourite TV Shows. For sure, sharing of what your watching with custom message which can be viewed by your Boxee, Twitter or Facebook followers is really cool. This is a social media center isn’t it?

Using DirectX with DXVA for Windows instead of OpenGL will allow to playback HD content (even flash) on nVidia Ion nettops with Atom processors. That’s great, but I prefer VDPAU support for graphic acceleration under Linux. Hope it’ll be added soon (for XBMC is already done). Official support for Snow Leopard and Ubuntu Karmic can be also counted as plus of the Boxee Beta.