People always complain that building your own MythTV DVR box requires some kind of degree in computer science. Well, now you don’t have to let your inexperience in PC building hold you back. You can pick up this hot little pre-configured number called the Monolith Media Center (MonolithMC) – powered by MythTV on top of Ubuntu Linux – and replace your outdated TiVo and/or MCE box. The MonolithMC is built on the small form factor ASUS P1-PH1 and boasts an impressive list of standard features for a modest $649.99 price tag. It’s well worth a look if you prefer to have a device that enables your freedoms instead of one that restricts them. MORE »

The market for networked entertainment devices is currently dominated by gaming consoles. ABI Research estimates that in 2006, 44 million consoles and portable gaming handhelds will ship with network connections. But Mike Wolf, principal analyst at ABI Research says that “As the market for online distribution of content continues to expand, other device categories such as DVD players, set-top boxes and TVs will begin to rival the gaming market’s dominance in the world of networked entertainment appliances.” MORE »

S1Digital LLC and Autonomic Controls’ have partnered to provide custom integrators with two-way, IP based control of S1Digital Media Centers. The control protocol is now available as a pre-installed option across the range of S1Digital’s Media Centers and is designed to ease the integration efforts for custom A/V installers. MORE »

Dave Zatz sheds light on Hollywood’s newest tactic to protect their content through a Macrovision Copy Protection Flag. Who cares about trying to pass a government mandated Broadcast Flag when you can leverage current technology to do your bidding. At the present time, Macrovision’s flag (according to TiVo) only affects Pay Per View, Video On Demand, DVD, and VHS sources, however the big picture impact may soon be that standard television programming that makes its way to DVD will be enforced by the same rules – translation: your TV re-runs will be under the same restrictions. I wouldn’t be surprised if other set-top and PC PVR offerings start doing same. MORE »

Logitech and Skype, the global Internet communications company, today announced that they have expanded their relationship by bringing a complete solution for Internet calling dedicated to Skype™ users worldwide: the Logitech® EasyCall™ Desktop. The European version of the desktop combines a mouse, headset and speakerphone with a Skype-specific keyboard for the first time ever. MORE »

If the Democracy Player is a little too bloated for your taste (personally, I think it’s pretty cool) and you’re looking for a light-weight RSS feed reader to keep track of your favorite podcasts and video blogs/networks, have look at PenguinTV (via LUX.ET.UMBRA). Owen Williams, the developer of the project states: “PenguinTV [is a] powerful interface that shows you what you need to know, and hides what you don’t. You can immediately see what you’ve watched, what’s available to view, and which media are downloading. You don’t have to worry about where files are stored, what their names are, or what format they are in. Rather than try to reinvent the wheel by coding its own media player, PenguinTV launches the media player of your choice to view your downloads.” Bonus: it accepts OPML files and supports internationalization/unicode. MORE »

Today, the Swedish Pirate Party launched a new Internet service that lets anybody send and receive files and information over the Internet without fear of being monitored or logged. In technical terms, such a network is called a “darknet”. The service allows people to use an untraceable address in the darknet, where they cannot be personally identified. MORE »

Digital video recorders (DVRs), which record TV programs to a hard drive, are transforming the way people watch television. Now, Verizon is transforming the DVR as the company introduces Home Media DVR to Verizon FiOS TV customers this week. MORE »

Probably one of the sexiest and smallest USB Skype phone adapters to hit the market, VIVOphone VoiceKey promises to let users easily attach a standard landline phone to their PC and make and receive calls using the popular VoIP service, Skype (via Engadget). What’s more, users can use their phone’s speed dial functions to make quick calls, hold multiple conversations with up to 9 people on separate lines (not sure why you would want to do this), and host a conference call with up to 5 people. MORE »

Seems like ASUS has been doing their homework. The company has released a do-it-all gizmo that will have most technologist buzzing for a while (via Ubergizmo). At first glance, the WL-700gE [check prices] appears to just be a wireless router with a built-in 160GB hard drive for network storage; however, after peeling away the obvious layers, you learn that it’s also capable doing so much more… like sharing USB printers/webcams/speakers, handling BitTorrent downloads, serving streaming media to clients around the home via UPnP, online file sharing via FTP (including Read/Download/Upload support), and data mirroring to either an attached external USB 2.0 hard drive or online server. MORE »