Smart Home Blog

MCEGuru is a software for Windows Media Center users which allows to control it from several touchscreen devices. One of those device can be Nokia Internet Tablet – Nokia770, N800 or N810. Once installed on the device and MCE the MCEGuru gives you following options:

• See your photos
• List your movies and videos, with their thumbnail image
• List TV channels configured on your Media Center, as well as the program guide for them
• List all the music available on your Media Center, and even listening to it directly on your controlling device
• Manage current playlist on your Media Center
• Control the currently playing media on your TV, browse in it, etc…

To install MCEGuru on your Internet Tablet use that direct link or check the project page on Maemo site.

NetStreams presented its new multi-room solution which uses VUDU XL as a video server. Built-in 1Tb storage is quite enough for that purpose. NetStreams integrated VUDU XL with its IP-Based Distributed Audio, Video and Control system DigiLinX. So, media content (more than SD and HD 5000 movies) is streamed through the VUDU XL set top box, distributed throughout the home and controlled via DigiLinX. VUDU offers an efficient way to control its STB by IP. So, NetStreams just utilized it to build its new multi-room solution.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

Iomega presented its new media product ScreenPlay HD. That multimedia drive is equiped with cost effective 500Gb HDD, HDMI port and component / composite connections and Coaxial S/PDIF output and USB 2.0 interface. ScreenPlay HD can handle most formats from MPEG-1 to MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB) and MPEG-4 (DivX3-5/XviD). Thanks to HDMI interface SD video will be upscaled to 720p or 1080i digitally. To comfort work with the ScreenPlay HD it comes with slim remote control.

The ScreenPlay HD is available on the Iomega site at $218.45.

[via Everything USB]

It seems that ASUS is going to crowd aOpen and MacMini produced its version of miniPC – Essentio CS 5110. It’s compact – 29 x 20 x 8 cm but has enough power to playback even HDTV! The miniPC is also equipped with built-in 802.11n wireless adaptor with transmission rates of 300Mbps and Bluetooth 2.0 adapter, HDMI and S/PIDF with 7.1 Sound. The CS 5110 is quiet. The operation noise level is only at 23.9dB at idle mode (thanks to 2-in-1 thermal module). So, it provides a very comfortable computing environment. Stylish design of the CS 5110 won’t break your living room appearance.

The availability and price are not known yet. The But I already started to think about using it as media director in LinuxMCE. It has nVidia video adapter and it’s stylish, compact and power. So, let’s see when it’ll be available for buying.

Detailed specification after jump.
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Simplify Media released a new version of its software for mobile devices. That version includes following new features: using Amazon Web Service to search album art, getting artist bios from last.fm and lyrics from lyrics wiki, select Shuffle from the top of any song list, and the tracks from an album, a genre, an artist or a playlist will be randomized for your enjoyment.

Note that build 949 of Simplify Media Mobile is a recommended update for all iPhone and iPod Touch users with firmware 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3 and 1.1.4. Enjoy!

[via SimplifyMedia weblog]