Smart Home Blog

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.

Tonight at 7pm ET the beta version of Boxee is going to be released in Boxee Beta Unveiling in NYC. If you won’t participate that even in Brooklyn you may watch watch a live broadcast on Boxee web site or install the Boxee Beta Unveiling App, powered by Livestream and Cliqset, on your Boxee box.

The beta version of Boxee will include a new user interface, improved navigation, possibility to search TV Shows and Movies, a user controlled Queue, shortcuts and more. Stay tune!

A few days after LinuxMCE 0810 beta2 was announced the development team released the first update. There are following main changes:

• fixed issue with broken dependencies for packages pluto-orbiter and pluto-mythtv-scripts. Actually it should be added a new repository URL in the /etc/apt/sources.list:
  deb http://www.avenard.org/files/ubuntu-repos intrepid release
• AV Wizard was improved a bit to produce better xorg.conf and better support of audio over HDMI;
• Wake-On-LAN has been fixed;
• web admin has received some stream lining.

All existing installations can be updated via apt-get. Just don’t forget to add repository mentioned above. Please, submit all found bugs and issues via LinuxMCE Trac (be sure that your issue wasn’t already submitted!) and ask help on the forum. Good luck with new beta!

This simple dashboard widget for Mac OS X allows to control your Boxee box remotely from your laptop over local network. It offers following functions: navigation, playback and volume control. Internally the widget uses XBMC HTTP API and works fine with Boxee Alpha 0.9.14.6992. You may download it here.