Get ready folks. Starting this April Silicondust will be accepting applications to beta test their currently under development HDHomeRun CableCARD product. The new device (expected to retail for $249) will accept a multi-stream CableCARD and will offer dual HD capable tuners that can be accessed by multiple Windows 7 Media Center PCs over your LAN via Ethernet. Not to be greedy… but I’m thinking there’s going to be a lot potential customers who are going to be begging for a 4-tuner model down the line (if not out of the gate) — which by the way is the max number of tuners supported by (non-speciality) Windows 7 Media Center. One potential negative of this setup, however, is that PCs have to share available tuner streams. In other words with a dual tuner HDHomeRun, for example, if one PC is tuned into a program and recording another, the other PCs can’t watch or record anything as far as I’m aware. Attached below is a video recorded by Pete Brown talking with Silicondust’s Jason Ludka about the new product at CES. MORE »

If you’ve been following Windows Media Center development for any length time, you’re familiar with the hurdles and pains of getting CableCARD support on a PC. It wasn’t that long ago that CableLabs was the only organization that could certify and license a PC maker’s CableCARD-ready PC for sale — and might I add… at an exorbitant cost. While those rules may have relaxed in recent times, where anyone can build their own CableCARD equipped PC with the right hardware, CableCARD technology used in both cable providers’ set-top boxes and PC tuners has not advanced much in more than a decade. This is where Sean Alexander, current Director of the Entertainment & Devices Division at Microsoft, chimes in via his latest blog post: “Is CableCARD Really Dead?” Sean covers 8 areas that need to be focused on immediately, with help from the FCC, to improve the CableCARD + tru2way technology experience, or else risk more of the same for the next 15 years. Hope FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, is paying attention. MORE »

You gotta love this. Andy Van Till — the developer behind DVRMSToolbox — has figured out a way for SageTV to use Windows Media Center and its configured CableCARD tuner(s) to do its bidding. The hack is rather convoluted (see diagram above), but is said to work. You can download the “experimental” SageMCTuner release here and help Andy test it out. (Hmmm. Would be nice to see CableLabs work with or allow Microsoft to publish some kind of API for Windows 7 that PVR developers can use to manage CableCARD tuners on their own.)  [via]

You’ve heard about tru2way, right? The next-gen of CableCARD technology that provides two-way interactive television with and through your cable provider? Well, Intel is taking tru2way to the next level with a home DVR server, created for cable TV providers to license, that provides support for a 3 tuner, multi-stream tru2way CableCARD and converts the incoming data into an IP stream that multiple cable TV set-top boxes in a home can use. What’s more, the server is also able to stream recorded TV and other media to DLNA / UPnP supporting devices like PCs (see XBMC in use in the video demo below), digital media adapters, and game consoles. The server archeticture, which uses Intel’s CE3100 media processor (possibly later replaced by Intel’s Atom CE4100), is planned to debut by providers in 2011. Additional pics from Engadget @ IDF here. MORE »

Unbelievable, a day that I thought would never come has arrived. Microsoft Windows 7 Media Center end users — with the blessing of CableLabs — can now add CableCARD tuners (like the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner) to their PC on their own with little to no hassle. What’s more, Windows 7 will integrate “Copy Freely” or CF functionality so users can transfer/stream CF-marked digital cable recordings to other PCs (on their network or remotely), devices, and portable media players. Looks like the HTPC biz just got a much needed shot in the arm. Full press release with additional details below. MORE »

If the idea of having a rack mountable Media Center PC or Home Server functioning at the core of your Digital Home appeals to you, then you’ll be interested in learning more about Okoro’s 2009 RK Digital Entertainment Server offering, which can be configured to run Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64-bit) or Windows Home Server (32-bit). Okoro is also providing the option to install SageTV, if you prefer it over Windows Media Center. All 2009 servers come standard with Intel i7 processors, 6GB of RAM, 80GB SSD for the OS, Blu-ray, and RS232-support. Hardware options include: up to 32TB of RAID storage (2TB standard min.), Quad CableCARD tuners, Multi-zone Audio controlled via UMPC / MID or by Russound / Nuvo house audio systems. Starting price? If you need to ask, it’s probably not for you (kidding… it’s actually not listed yet). MORE »

It looks like Okoro Media Systems heard consumers’ calls for a more attractively priced HTPC. The company today announced availability of the OMS-LX100 low profile Windows Vista Media Center PC with a single CableCARD tuner for only $1,725 (add $300 for the dual tuner setup). At this entry price point the system packs some nice goodies: 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of system memory, 500GB / 7,200RPM SATA hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 9300 video card with HDMI and 7.1 HD audio, dual-layer DVD burner, and a 20-foot range wireless keyboard. Buyers also have the option to swap the CableCARD tuner for a Dual OTA HDTV w/ Dual Analog SDTV Tuner Card at no additional charge. Good stuff. Full press release below. MORE »

Own a CableCARD certified Windows Vista Ultimate or Home Premium PC and have been itching to add an additional tuner? If yes, then make your way over to Cannon PC’s online store and checkout their latest CableCARD tuner offerings – they’re one of the select few places making them available to the public: MORE »

Image Credit: Gizmodo @ CEDIA EXPO 2008

When you take the best possible options for high definition entertainment and combine them into one seriously powerful media server, you’re going to need a new name for the experience you create. Life|ware™, makers of whole home automation and entertainment solutions, have done just that, unveiling a new “High Density Television™” initiative that brings in more high definition entertainment and distributes it around the home more effectively than ever before. MORE »

Cannon PC, the award winning Media Center specialty company, demonstrated to a select group of people the capability of their Media Centers to manage 6 Digital Card Cards. They have also posted a video on YouTube and on their web site demonstrating this capability. The video shows the actual ATI Digital tuners, the Recorded TV section showing the 6 current recordings, the Performance Monitor showing how little impact the process has on performance and resources and the smooth video playback while all this is taking place. MORE »