What do you know? Multi-touch has been integrated into an HTPC remote for Windows Media Center. The attached video demo shows how Elan Microelectronics Corp.’s capacitive touchpad Smart Remote Control works in conjunction with Windows 7’s built-in touch features over RF. You’ll notice that it makes browsing photos and web pages on your TV a relatively enjoyable experience. Plus, it can operate in 6 modes: handwriting, mouse, remote control, joystick, presenter, keyboard. No word on pricing or availability, but they should definitely be rolling this gadget out ASAP (a quick search online reveals it’s been under development since early 2009). MORE »

Attached above is a video of Microsoft’s Brad Brooks demonstrating Windows 7 Play To (earlier coverage) at a launch party in New York. What’s amazing is that a humble laptop (Dell XPS 16) is able to serve up photo, music, and video content to 15 DLNA certified devices with only a 54% CPU load. Brooks later goes on to show that the PC’s UI is still snappy even while juggling all the streams.

Chris Pirillo (Chris.Pirillo.com), Pete Cashmore (Mashable), and Brian Chen (Wired.com) share their thoughts on the launch of Windows 7 and the possibility of Hulu moving to a subscription model. All in all, it’s an interesting roundtable from three self avowed Mac guys with Windows experience. But I agree with Chris… the OS is becoming irrelevant in these days where everyone just logs in to their computer and fires up a web browser. I might also add that desktop replacement web apps and non-platform specific industry standards in regards to networking and media streaming help make the case as well.

Today Microsoft Corp. announced the worldwide availability of its new Windows 7 operating system. Windows 7 delivers on a simple premise: make it easier for people to do the things they want on a PC. The new operating system offers a streamlined user interface and significant new features that make everyday tasks easier and allow people to get the most out of computers of all styles and sizes. MORE »

You may have seen some of Windows 7’s supported multi-touch gestures, but I’m sure you haven’t seen anything like BumpTop’s multi-touch implementation [full guide] running inside its 3D desktop environment. Personally, I’m torn if this is insanely cool or just over the top and inefficient in real-world use cases (i.e. sitting at your desk trying to get work done). Either way, though, there’s no denying that BumpTop’s gesture commands will influence future multi-touch app development on all platforms. Check the video and tell us what you think. Where would you like to see this setup implemented?

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 »

One of the great new features in Windows 7 for us connected home types is the addition of Play To that allows users to target which network devices they would like to serve streaming media content to from their PC. As such, WonderMedia has designed their SoC PRIZM platform to leverage this technology along with DLNA / UPnP standards. But if that wasn’t enough, WonderMedia has also made the SmartFrame capable of streaming Internet radio, tapping into web services, pulling RSS feeds, checking email, playing video, and even web browsing all on its own. While the SmartFrame shown in the image above is a reference design from the company, WonderMedia plans to license the technology to OEMs so they can produce both SmartFrame and SmartPlayer (TV digital media adapter) devices. [via] MORE »

Wow, the ASUS EeeTop is getting a bit more attractive. The guys at Netbook News got a chance to play with the ASUS ET2002 which features a 20-inch (16:9) touch screen, Windows 7 with Voice Control (for weather, currency exchange, music, etc.), Intel’s Atom N330 processor, and the smoking hot HD capable NVIDIA ION graphics chipset. No word on price or availability. But, if the ET2002 comes in at $800 or less for the whole package, ASUS is going to have a winner on their hands. [via]

Ian Dixon has posted some early screenshots of Brian Binnerup’s My Movies 3 that will available for Windows Vista and Windows 7 on September 1st as a pre-release and then as a full release on October 22nd to coincide with the official launch of Windows 7. Additional details on how you can get your hands on the pre-release are below. Also, be sure to check out Ian Dixon’s forthcoming The Media Center Show podcast where Ian will chat with Brian about what My Movies 3 has in store for users. MORE »

Missing Remote, with help from Microsoft MVP Andrew Cherry, have a posted a quick guide to some newly discovered “switches” in Windows 7 Media Center that people can take advantage of to customize the default user experience. Some of the things you can turn on and off include: startup animation, startup sound, chrome-less windows, start in widescreen mode, start in media only mode, and others. Example: If you want to disable the startup animation, you’d create a target shortcut like %windir%\Ehome\Ehshell.exe /nostartupanimation via Properties under Start > All Programs > Windows Media Center.