Well, over a year ago, I bought this domain hoping to share actual Media Center experiences (good, bad, and ugly) with the world.  I’m still planning on doing this…it’s just going to have to wait until probably the end of the summer.

Thanks to all the really active Media Center sites: TheDigitalLifestyle, Entertainment 2.0, and the rest.  The wealth of information provided by these sites has me drooling at the possibilities of a really well thought out, yet not over the top, Media Center solution.  This summer I’m hoping to finally begin setting my dream home theater solution…Windows Home Server w/ NAS storing all digital media, Gig-E LAN, DMA-2200s, etc.

Just ran across this video, from istartedsomething.com, that captures the entire history of Microsoft’s “Media Center” solutions, including video captures of what’s coming in Windows 7.  It’s pretty neat and only 2 min and 27 secs long.

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This news is a few weeks old, but is still VERY worthy of being mentioned now.

It’s looking like Windows 7 will support the Hauppauge HD PVR!  This means DRM-free HDTV recordings!

Unfortunately, the HD PVR has had its share of overheating issues, so be prepared to throw it in a really cold room, or take the cover off and place it in front of a fan.

SecondRun TV…this has instantaneously become a staple Media Center plug-in.  It brings TONS of internet video content right into Media Center.  NBC Shows like Heroes and Fringe, Fox shows like Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.  Some of the shows hosted by Hulu are HD quality, and look outstanding for internet streaming content. SecondRun TV is still in its Early Beta stages, but the developer has been very aggressive in making this bad boy just right for everyone.

Thanks to the Missing Remote “Life with a Plugin” review of Radiotime, I decided to check it out.  Wow!  Even though it’s not developed using the slick MCML, it works great.  I can listen to almost all of my local radio stations through Media Center now.

This Dish Network Windows 7 Media Center integration project is being called Draco.  If this really happens, STOCK UP with Dish Network!  And if this solution is not crippled with DRM and provides a true PVR capability, there will be many, many more Dish Network subscribers. Engadget is the one source for information on this project thus far. But, all the Media Center, Home Theater, and Satellite Cable enthusiast sites are posting like crazy in excitement (and unfortunate skepticism too).

Last Tuesday, Charlie Owen, the Microsoft Media Center Program Manager, posted an article with some neat tidbits and screenshots of Windows Media Center in the PDC Build of Windows 7.  There are also some great comments on the article, which Charlie has forwarded to Microsoft’s Media Center team!

We Got Served also has a review with tons of screenshots.

Ian Dixon has an excellent synopsis of the new features!

Here’s a list of my favorite Media Center sites (as of 08 Nov 2008):

Blogs:

• mceworld - My new favorite Media Center site.  Is frequently updated and contains articles not only on reviews, or general news, but also personal experiences with MCE & VMC (quite a few of which I’ve also encountered).
• Chris Lanier’s Blog - Used to be the #1 blog site for Windows Media Center.
• Ian Dixon’s Blog - Hosts the #1 Podcast Media Center podcast “The Media Center Show”
• Missing Remote - One of the best for home theater, including HTPCs.  Has outstanding reviews on third-party Media Center plug-ins.
• Entertainment 2.0 - Quickly becoming my 2nd favorite Media Center site.  It’s the most active pure Media Center blog out there.
• Mediacenterguides.com - Has the most complete, up-to-date list of 3rd party plug-ins and more
• The Media Center Blog - Contains very detailed posts with tons of screenshots on all things VMC
• My Network Project - Has very thorough and interesting “Living with Media Center” articles

Forums:

• The Green Button - The #1 forum site for Windows Media Center
• Windows Vista & XP Media Center Support Community - Another excellent forum site for Windows Media Center
• Microsoft Windows Vista Community Media Center PC - A good website to get answers on questions about the XP MCE or VMC software from Microsoft MVPs and other savvy users

Even though I don’t have a Windows Home Server (WHS) yet, I reguraly check out We Got Served because it is the #1 blog site for WHS.

Well, if this is your first visit to the site, you’ll notice that I’ve only made one post, and it’s from February.

I’m still hoping to begin sharing mine, and others, VMC and MCE experiences with the Media Center world.

Also, I just upgraded to the latest Wordpress so there may some strange behavior like dead links, etc.  I’ll work through those in the coming days.