As many of you know by now, Embedded Automation has been working hard to port their software to other devices besides the desktop PC. The latest migration being the introduction of the mControl Add-In for Windows Home Server [press release], which apparently now has an iPhone/iPod Touch compatible web interface coming in version 2.1. I can’t wait to see a video of this in action. Photo posted by Ted Singh on the company forum. [via]

I am huge fan of the ShoutCast Internet radio directory (I tap in daily). Being the case, I am floored by the slick and accessible interface the German developer behind mcShoutCast has created. Gone are the boring browser lists we are all accustom to navigating. The MCML driven interface provides users with a bevy of features we all expect (and some neat advanced ones like stream recording and station logo presets), but in a more visually compelling living room friendly 10-foot experience. MORE »

We have all seen the power of various third-party apps on the iPhone (though most have to be installed via a “jailbroken” iPhone). Now we are starting to get a taste of what’s to come for Google’s Android open mobile platform. Luckily, one of the earlier projects, dubbed AutoHTN, is right up our alley. As you can see in the screenshots and video, one is able to easily manage lights, security sensors, network webcams, power outlets, AC/Heat, multi-room audio/video, and streaming video. AutoHTN (HTN, by the way, stands for Home Theater Network) leverages xPL for communication with Z-wave, UPB, and X10 automation adapters, TV streaming via VideoLAN, and multi-room audio/video control using custom network commands through Denon’s network enabled AVR receivers (support for RS-232 coming soon). MORE »

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is urging Microsoft Corporation to fix the problems it will cause when it shuts down the MSN Music validation servers, making it impossible for customers to transfer their music files to new computers or even upgrade their operating system.

In an open letter sent to Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer today, EFF outlines five steps Microsoft must take to make things right for MSN Music customers — including a issuing a public apology, providing refunds or replacement music files, and launching a substantial publicity campaign to make sure all customers know their options. MORE »

Infineon Technologies, Intel Corporation, Panasonic and Texas Instruments today announced the creation of HomeGrid Forum, which aims to promote and influence a single, next-generation worldwide standard for networking digital content, such as movies, music and pictures, over home wiring.The forum will be a companion to ITU-T G.hn working group, supporting the interests of service providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, PC OEMs and other networking companies to create a single MAC and PHY protocol for transporting multimedia across a home’s existing wiring to include coaxial cable, power lines and phone lines. HomeGrid Forum is contributing next-generation technology requirements to ITU-T G.hn, quickly developing consensus around one worldwide standard. ITU-T is the standardization sector providing global telecommunication standards in the International Telecommunication Union. MORE »

Pete Stagman has posted a how-to guide that shows technically adept PC users how to hack their systems, with help of script called Transcoder.dll, and coax their Media Center Extenders to play DVD VOB files as MPEGs via DVD Library. Pete explains: “Media Center Extenders can’t play .vob files, so the files have to be renamed to .mpg files. But wait! If I rename all the .vob files to .mpg files then other apps may stop working right? Correct. So, the solution is symbolic links. A symbolic link is a fake file with the name you want that links back to the original file. So VTS_01_1.mpg is a symbolic link that points to VTS_01_1.VOB. That also means you do not get anything other than the main movie.” If you’re up for the task, give it a shot. Pete warns, however, that you can seriously screw up other programs (and Windows Home Server) if you don’t follow his instructions to the letter. [via]

Whew! Our buddy Felix Lung at Krunker.com has posted a fantastic guide that details the process and components he used for producing a Mac mini Media Center HTPC running Windows Vista (via Boot Camp). I know… Say what? In total, Felix incorporated a $599 Mac mini with a 1.83 Ghz core-duo processor (RAM boosted to 2GB), a copy of Windows Vista (Home Premium/Ultimate?), a NewerTech miniStack V2 hard drive enclosure stocked with a 500GB IDE drive for recordings, and a SiliconDust HDHomeRun TV tuner. Of course Felix could have stopped there, but, since he owned an Xbox 360, he decided to use the game console as his Media Center Extender to his living room HDTV.

And in case you were wondering if a 1.83 Ghz processor was powerful enough to run such a setup, Felix responds:

…Definitely. The 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo is certainly beefy enough to handle a Media Center Extender connection, recording two HDTV streams from the HDHomeRun as well as streaming a recorded HD stream back to the Media Center Extender. If you’re familiar with the Mac mini, then you’ll also realize how incredibly silent this system is. Seriously people - you hardly hear the system when it’s on. In fact, I often I hear the whir of the external hard drives more than I notice anything from the Mac mini. The keys to the silent operation of the Mac mini lie in the cool running Core 2 Duo processor and the external power supply. This translates to a quiet and cool running system.

Nice job, Felix!

After long hours and endless work the Mythbuntu team is excited about the release of Mythbuntu 8.04. This release is built on the LTS base of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron. We would like to thank everyone that contributed in getting to this second release. MORE »

The leading network-attached storage (NAS) provider QNAP Systems, Inc. today unveils the next generation Linux-embedded one-bay and two-bay NAS: TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II for power users, SOHO, and business users. The TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II series adopts high performance Marvell 500MHz CPU and 256MB DDRII large memory, which is a double of the memory size of the previous generation (TS-109/209 series) and becomes the best hardware specifications in the present SOHO NAS market. The Turbo NAS maintains superior system performance even if there are multiple accesses to various network services of the server concurrently. The new models are equipped with enhanced software functions, including the new BitTorrent download engine, built-in Joomla! CMS 1.5.1 for ease of PHP/MySQL-based web server hosting and upgraded TwonkyMedia version 4.4.4 for DLNA compliant media playing. Other professional features such as HDD S.M.A.R.T., complete log system, schedule backup from NAS to external storage device, etc. are also available. TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II series is the ideal choice of high performance and energy-saving NAS for modern business and home users. MORE »

Today’s most popular TV shows are watched by millions online through their computers, laptops and mobile phones. For the first time, TV fans can catch up on full-length TV episodes, music videos, sporting events, news, Web TV shows, and even favorite radio stations on the Web for free, through ARCHOS Portable Media Players (PMPs). With wireless access and the highest quality 4.3- and 7-inch screens of any portable player on the market, ARCHOS brings true mobile entertainment to consumers wherever they go. MORE »