Tim Coyle, eHomeUpgrade contributer and publisher of F-Stop Blues, has posted a comparative review (with a mass amount of screenshots) of three popular unlimited music services: XM Radio, Napster, and Yahoo. His favorite? Napster. Unfortunately, Tim didn’t provide the bit rates that the different services use to encoded their music in. It would have been nice to see a sound quality comparison as well. Nonetheless, the review provides choice tidbits if you’re considering subscribing to an unlimited music service. MORE »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Got a SnapStream HTPC you’d like to show off? SnapStream has started a flickr group photo pool for all you aficionados. In addition, SnapStream will be launching a new community section of their website where exceptional living room systems will be highlighted. I guess it’s true… the kid with the most toys wins. More info on how to submit you setup is available here.

Popularity: 2% [?]

It looks like the Intel (Mac) Mini concept PC that was showcased at the Intel Developer Forum in March has been adopted by AOpen. According to SilentPCReview, “AOpen’s new Pentium-M based Mac Mini lookalike, codenamed ‘Pandora’. Unveiled at Computex 2005, this tiny product is yet another AOpen effort to take advantage of the powerful formerly mobile Intel CPU into the desktop world. A fully integrated system incorporating wireless LAN, the ‘Pandora’ was brought to prototype form in just a month, according to Joseph Hsu, a Technical Manager at AOpen. It uses a single blower fan that turns on only when needed. The aluminum casing was warm but the fan was not running when these photos were taken in the hot tradeshow room. Look for a Sept market release date.” MORE »

Popularity: 4% [?]

I’m digging this! Paul Thurrott of WinInfo: “Microsoft’s original plans for Windows Media Player (WMP) 11–formerly code-named Aurora–were fairly low-key, with just a few minor new features. That’s all changed: Microsoft has canceled Aurora, and the company is moving the Longhorn media player to XP. Now code-named Polaris, WMP 11 will be a major release. There’s just one problem: Instead of shipping in November, as per the original plan, WMP 11 will now ship in a public beta during that month, coinciding with Longhorn Beta 2. The final release is roughly scheduled for early 2006. You heard it here first.”

Popularity: 10% [?]

Chris Lanier is an MCE superstar in my book! Check out his ongoing thread over at The Green Button, which was recently updated (5/27), where he lists just about every plug-in and utility created specifically for Media Center Edition 2005. Chris even went as far as tagging each link with commercial or freeware/donation status, the apps’ point release status, and direct links to each product’s homepage. MORE »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Well it’s about time we wrapped up the Video Vault review (view Part 1, Part 2). The reason why I took so long to get Part 3 of 3 posted was because, after talking to the developer, I found out that Video Vault had more tricks up its sleeve than I initially thought. Plus, a friend tipped me off to a Windows XP background DVD copy-protection stripping script called DVD43 (aka DVD For Free) that eases the process of importing DVDs to Video Vault or any other DVD management/ripping/burning application. Note: eHomeUpgrade does not condone or encourage use of such circumvention tools, which by the way, have been found illegal in U.S. court rulings. MORE »

Popularity: 6% [?]

Target has started selling the Bose SoundDock digital music system for the iPod or iPod Mini in my local store. I have to tell you when I heard this thing play – I was blown away. I’ve heard about the superior quality of Bose audio systems but I was very impressed with this. The unit was setup with an iPod that had different genre samples – rock, classical, jazz, and a few others. I am not an audiophile by any means but this system clearly could differentiate between classical and rock. A lot of people are turning to iPod’s to power their home stereo systems – the iPod has a great user interface and if you’ve invested the time and money to setup your iPod with all of your music why not use it around the house as well as when you are on the go. This could make a great listening station in your digital home with easy setup and great sound. MORE »

Popularity: 7% [?]

For all you Beyond TV PVR users, Rakesh Agrawal (SnapStream CEO) dropped us an email letting us know that Beyond TV’s Web Admin Help File has been “massively updated” and now includes a larger library of support docs and advanced settings tips and how-tos. Non-owners can also look at the online file to see what the app is capable of before you buy. You can read more about it on SnapStream’s new company blog.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Well, you’ve probably seen those $20 - $45 RF wireless keyboards with built-in cursor controls for operating your HTPC from the couch. Everything USB has posted a review of the new Belkin MediaPilot which combines the virtues of a wireless multimedia keyboard (bonus: universal remote functionality) but has the ability, when placed in its dock, to expand into a full-blown desktop keyboard. MORE »

Popularity: 3% [?]

The New York Times asks the question whether or not the box office slump for new movies is due to poorer quality movies being made or if perhaps there is a cultural shift with people choosing to get more of their entertainment on demand, through time shifting technology, or though DVD. MORE »

Popularity: 2% [?]