Matt Goyer, in his daily quest of linking to hot new applications and developments for MCE, has got details on two new applications that I’m sure will make most MCE users salivate. The first one of interest is an application called EtiVo, which enables users to pull pre-recorded video content off their TiVo and consume it via MCE. And the second is a kick-butt application that allows users to control their home MCE offsite via TCP/IP. From the developer, “To put it simply, MCE Controller, allows you to simulate a press of any button on the MCE IR remote control by sending a text command to a TCP/IP port on the MCE machine.” MORE »

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Syntax Groups Corporation, manufacturer of the high-quality, affordable Olevia brand of widescreen HDTV-ready LCD TVs, today announced the launch of its newest 26-inch Olevia LT26HVE model, highlighting Syntax’s proprietary “iDEA” digital video processing technology for enhancing consumers’ control over picture performance and quality. Syntax will showcase its new “iDEA” technology at DisplaySearch’s US FPD 2005 conference. MORE »

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Today, Embedded Automation announced the introduction of its new mHome product line. The mHome product line is a set of products set at the intersection of the rapidly growing home automation and digital media center markets. Built around Microsoft’s popular Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005, mHome is the simplest way to enjoy digital media and control your home from one convenient location — your couch. MORE »

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Over the weekend Jeremy Allaire, one the creators of ColdFusion and co-founder of Allaire Corp. (later sold to Macromedia), publicly announced, Brightcove, his latest venture into IP video and Internet TV distribution. With $5.5 million of first-round venture funding from General Catalyst Partners and Accel Partners, Allaire hopes to level the playing field and enable content creators to take more ownership/profits when using Brightcove as their backbone for content distribution and monetization. From the front page of Brightcove.com, “Content owners, video rights-holders and independent producers will get an empowering new direct-to-consumer distribution channel, creating more flexible business models and a greater share of profit margin than they can achieve from traditional distribution channels. Viewers will get access to an online service that offers new levels of control over their use of video and television.” MORE »

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Bill Gates: “We predicted at the beginning of the decade that this would be the decade that the digital approach would be taken for granted, whether it’s photos, music, communicating. There was a lot of work to do, getting the software breakthroughs, the hardware breakthroughs, the ease of use, the security, all those tough problems.” – CES 2005 MORE »

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If you thought Microsoft was being too restrictive with their software activation procedures, wait until you read this. Microsoft has just announced that Windows XP users, who are considering reinstalling their OS on PCs purchased from any of the top 20 PC makers (i.e. Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.), must call a customer service representative to get a code that will reactivate their Windows XP system. Reason being, Microsoft has permanently disabled the Internet product activation feature on these systems as of February 28th. MORE »

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I wanted to respond to Lawrence Lessig article in Wired issue 13.03, “Why Your Broadband Sucks.” While his intentions are noble and his wording bloated, Lessig gets it all wrong when he insists that local governments should be in the business of providing free broadband because the free market has failed us. What he seems to miss, or chooses not to bring into account, is that there is a cost for providing so-called “free Wi-Fi.” You can’t overlook the fact that the cost of equipment, service, and maintenance needs to come from somewhere. And that somewhere is always your pocket book, in the form of added taxes. MORE »

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Breakthroo examines the collision between broadcast television and broadband video, what new innovations are at play for scheduling or distributing video, and analyses if any are disruptive to incumbents, and what that would mean for the existing broadcast television value net. MORE »

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Contrary to widely held industry beliefs, U.S. consumers are not overwhelmingly antagonistic toward the concept of copy-restricted music CDs, provided these CDs come with the proper incentives, according to Parks Associates’ forthcoming report Digital Rights: Content Ownership and Distribution. MORE »

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Microsoft yesterday officially released their latest service for Media Center Edition Software, MSN Remote Record. The service is free and allows you to schedule and manage all of your television recording remotely via an internet browser. The service includes a comprehensive guide via MSN with powerful search features. MORE »

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