Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

So you want to watch Blu-ray movies on a computer? Then PowerDVD Ultra 9 is the program for you. The latest version of Cyberlink’s media player, at a cost of $99, is all about high definition movies and Blu-ray, plugging the hole left Vista’s lack of native Blu-ray support. PowerDVD Ultra 9 is a solid step in the right direction. Nothing revolutionary but improvements all around.

PowerDVD Ultra New Features
Cyberlink was kind enough to provide me with a release candidate version of PowerDVD Ultra 9 to review for this article. From the press materials they provided me, the following features were added to PowerDVD:
• TrueTheater™ Technology up-scales DVD for playback on HD displays
• Cinema Mode provides seamless Blu-ray playback to Microsoft Windows Media Center PCs
• Up-to 8-channel high-definition audio is supported for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound
systems
• FancyView enables easier, more pleasurable navigation of DVD titles, chapters and movie information.
Library features allow information to be stored about both DVD and Blu-ray titles
• MoovieLive.com enables sharing of stored movie information, personal ratings and reviews.

The Good
For me, PowerDVD Ultra 9 offers two main upgrades over version 8: tight integration with Windows Media Center and DVD upconverting through its new TrueTheater settings. Support for HD Audio codecs is once again included, as it was in version 8 (note: hardware is still not available to actually listen to these HD audio codecs and won’t be until Q3 of 2009).
Media Center integration works well. No dropping to the desktop or anything funky like that. The experience is almost seamless. Just don’t hit the “back” button too many times or you will get kicked out of Media Center. Third-party plugins are able to piggyback on to PowerDVD. This means programs like Open Media Library and Media Browser are able to launch ripped movies from the media center UI. Finally.

PowerDVD Ultra had been losing market share in the media center word to TotalMedia Theatre by Arcsoft, mainly because TotalMedia Theatre was integrated better with Windows Media Center. Cyberlink had worked with OEMs like Velocity Micro PC to develop a media center plugin but it was never made available to the public. PowerDVD 9 rectifies this and once again appears to be the top choice for watching Blu-ray movies on a PC.

The Bad
PowerDVD suffers from an odd design choice, the inability to play ripped Blu-ray movies. You have to rip movies as an ISO file and then use a virtual drive to “load” the discs. For media center users, playing digital movies from a hard drive is essential. This has nothing to do with piracy. People just want to organize their movies like they organize their digital music files.
Out of Cyberlink’s control, the copy protection for Blu-ray movies can be a real pain, especially on a computer. You have to have a video AND a monitor that both support HDCP. If you have a monitor or video card older than two years, you are most likely out of luck. I use a 24″ Dell monitor to watch Blu-ray movies on my desktop. I have to use AnyDVD HD to strip out out the content protection since my monitor does not support HDCP.

Moovielive.com also seems kind of pointless. I really am not too interested to see what other PowerDVD users are watching. It seems like everyone is trying to add social networking to their products. Moovielive.com information should be made available though the media center interface.

Conclusion
With Blu-ray drives now easily found for under $100, high definition movies are more attainable than ever for the home theater computer crowd. PowerDVD Ultra 9 is an evolutionary product that should be looked at by any media center user, especially those with Blu-ray drives. If you are just looking for a software DVD player, PowerDVD is overkill, with cheaper options available.

I was recently contacted by Best Buy’s PR folks to review a webcam under their in-house label, Rocketfish. The Rocketfish Webcam, retailing at $62.99, has all the expected features of a high-end camera, including a built-in microphone. Features include:

* Up to 8.0-megapixel still image capture with software interpolation; video capture up to 1600 x 1200; up to 30 fps
* 2.0-megapixel sensor
* Built-in microphone for videoconferencing and recording
* Smart Face Tracking technology focuses on you
* Autofocus ensures a sharp and precise image
* Advanced Video FX enables you to add exciting effects while you video chat
300° camera rotation

On my Dell monitor the cam rests nicely and is easily adjusted, mainly because the USB wire is attached the base of the camera and not to the camera itself, unlike the Logitech camera I currently use. Some reviewers have recommended a piece of velcro to tie it down. I am not sure if that is necessary. The webcam is not designed for notebooks since its base is too wide.

Installation:
Installation is straightforward. Install the bundled software and then plug in the webcam. I did have an issue with my main Vista computer. I could not get the drivers installed properly. Granted, it most likely is a result of my computer being subjected to rounds of hardware testing. Technical support was of little help in solving my issues.

Bundled Software:
The included software, called Live! Cam, is very average. Nothing fancy or innovative. It offers screen and video capture with a minimal interface. The camera shines when used with televideo programs like Skype or Google Chat. I think most people will use software other than the what is provided in the box.

Performance:
The 2 megapixel camera sensor is the what makes this camera stand out from the crowd (and somewhat expensive). The image quality is a step above most webcams, putting it in head-to-head competition with high-end models like the Logitech Pro 9000. The image is not grainy and the video is smooth. The low-light image that the camera produces is adequate for most situations, picking up details you would expect. In a dimly lit room, shadows were reduced on my face but the image was not over-exposed.

Conclusion:
The 2 megapixel sensor is what separates this camera from its competitors. To buy a comparable web cam from Logitech with a 2 MP sensor, you have to spend just about $20 more than the Rocketfish cam. After using a 1 MP camera for over a year (a Logitech cam that I spent about $30 on), I have to say that a 2 MPs (and at 30 fps), like the Rocketfish Wedcam, is worth the extra cash. Overall, I think the Rocketfish camera is a solid competitor in the crowded market of webcams.

Why is it sooo hard for someone to come up with a way to support lossless high definition audio codecs on a computer? It seems like we have been waiting for years to have someone support Dolby TrueHD. Blu-ray drives are under $100. But you still cannot “hear” HD audio from Blu-ray movies using those drivesr.

Auzentech originally stated that the X-Fi HomeTheater HD would be available in November. Then it was January 09. Now it is “first quarter 09.” I am beginning to think this is vaporware, like all those slick Sideshow remotes. From the Auzentech website:

The Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD outputs a bitstream of high-definition, multichannel audio from Blu-ray Discs with no downsampling, to take full advantage of lossless digital audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Developed in partnership with Creative, Cyberlink and Silicon Image, the X-Fi HomeTheater HD has broad support for the latest audio technologies in the marketplace.

My recent purchase of an iPhone has caused me to restructure my Sonos system, adding a ZoneBridge. Since I now use the free Sonos app for the iPhone, I sold my Sonos controller on Ebay for about $150. I was always hesitant to add more rooms to my Sonos setup, since I only had one controller. Now that my household has two iPhones (my wife had to get one too), I figured it was a good time to expand my music network.

When I originally purchased my Sonos, I got the bundle that had a Zoneplayer 80 and 100. I had to “sacrifice” the ZP 80 and had it wired to my router. Last week I purchased a ZoneBridge for $99 from Amazon so I could unhook the ZP 80 and put it in my bedroom.

The ZoneBridge is quite small, looking like the younger sibling of the ZP 80. The sole purpose for the ZoneBridge is to “talk” with the other Sonos units in the house. It does not play music itself, hence the low price tag. Installation was a breeze, though the instructions made it sound more complicated than it actually was. Basically, you just connect the ZoneBridge to your router and use the Desktop controller to search for a new unit.

If you have an iPhone or iTouch, you can buy a one room system for about $450 ($350 for the ZP 80 and $99 for the ZoneBridge).

Cyberlink and Microsoft have been working closely to integrate Windows 7 and PowerDVD Ultra, which is the most widely used Blu-ray software in Vista. From the press release:

CyberLink has been working closely with Microsoft to support many of the advanced capabilities of Windows 7. PowerDVD Cinema mode has been designed to automatically integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full Blu-ray playback capability on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware. PowerDVD Cinema mode integrates seamlessly with the advanced user experience that Windows Media Center provides and allows consumers to be able to use a remote control to select and watch Blu-ray titles from the comfort of their couch. PowerDVD also provide a great user experience when launched directly from Windows, with new and exciting ways for everyone to browse and enjoy movies and video files on any Windows desktop or laptop PC.

One of the main complaints about Vista Media Center is its lack of native Blu-ray support, relying on awkward third party software. Cyberlink currently has a plugin for Media Center that is OEM only. Supposedly it is sufficient but not seemless. Arcsoft also has made some strides with its Total Media Theater, which integrates somewhat into Media Center. Native Blu-ray support is not expected in Windows 7 so I guess this is Microsoft’s next best option.

Cyberlink has to constantly update its software to stay current with the frequently changing DRM schemes on Blu-ray. Maybe this is Microsoft’s way of avoiding the DRM (and Java) issues of Blu-ray.

Source: Chris Lanier’s Blog

I finally bought a HP MediaSmart windows home server. I jumped on the OfficeMax deal two weeks ago. Great machine. I am not sure if it is worth $500 but I think it is worth the $300 I paid.

I have been ripping some of my blu-ray movies I bought last week onto the system. I had to set-up a shared drive that my login could access. When I first did it, I kept getting an “access denied” error everytime I tried to open a folder over the network. It turns out I had to remote desktop into the MediaSmart and “unlock” my account. For a system, that is supposed to be plug and play, that was an odd thing to have to do, especially considering that the Windows Home Server console was useless for this.

The remote desktop computer name for your MediaSmart should just be its name you gave it during start-up, most likely HPServer, which is the default. The password should be the password you use to access the console. Just remember that your login is “administrator.”

A purchase of AnyDVD HD, the only viable commercial software to rip and copy Blu-ray movies, has always included lifetime updates, which is essential for keeping up with changes in digital rights management. This is about to change in 2009. From Slysoft’s press release:

Since Slysoft’s beginnings in 2003, all Slysoft product licenses have been sold with free product lifetime updates included. While standards, technologies and SlySoft’s product range have changed significantly since 2003, only now has Slysoft’s free lifetime update policy been reviewed with respect to converting to an annual subscription fee format for new license purchases.

It is unfortunate that Slysoft feels the need to convert to a subscription model. AnyDVD acts alot like an anti-virus software. Without those updates, the software is almost pointless as new DRM schemes are put into place.

No pricing has been announced and no date has been set for the transition. At least Slysoft has made the announcement ahead of time so you can still purchase a copy of AnyDVD HD with lifetime updates for free. For current owners of AnyDVD, upgrades will continue to be free. If you have been contemplating buying AnyDVD, now is a great time to buy.

Update: The tuners now are no longer available. Canon PC is the only place to get new tuners, besides Ebay

After a brief hiatus, Sony has started Vaio-branded digital cable tuners once again at the price of $299 with free shipping. Sonystyle.com is one of the few places to purchase standalone cable tuners if you wanted to add a second, third, or even fourth tuner to you set-up. As before, the tuners available are only the external versions, which connect via USB.

Digital cable tuners are typically only sold bundled with a new computer. These tuners still require a special bios and a special version of Windows Vista to access premium cable channel.

The only other place that I know of (besides Ebay) that sells standalone tuners is Cannon PC. In fact, Cannon is the only place you can buy internal tuners (note: internal tuners still connect via USB).

I finally made the leap into the world of Blu-ray last week with an impulse purchase of a Playstation 3. I found a great deal for one using Microsoft’s Live.com cashback on Ebay, netting a PS3 for about $250. I primarily bought it to use as a Blu-ray player.

Overall, I am impressed with the value of the PS3. This is a console that is begging to be connected to a HDTV. The UI looks attractive (especially at 1080p) but sometimes feels cluttered. Quitting games is a bit awkward. You have to hit the PS button and select “Quit Game” from the navigation.

Blu-ray playback looks great and the built-in wireless is a nice touch. I was disappointed to realize that I could not use my Logitech Harmony remote with it since the PS3 only supports Bluetooth remotes. I ended up buying a PS3 remote at Amazon for about $20.

The Playstation Network works well, allowing you to download demos, trailers, and games. Being able to download content in the background is a nice touch. You can play a game while downloading trailers etc. I only wish there were more free games that you could download.

Streaming of media from a computer is awkward, especially if your files are buried several folders down. I can’t see myself using this feature too much. Maybe the experience will improve when I set up my wired network. Right now, it is just too slow.

The system is noisier than I thought it would be, especially with all the criticism the Xbox 360 has gotten for being too loud. Apparently, the PS3 is louder when is laying flat like a CE device. Unfortunately, I do not have the room to “stand it up” in my cabinet.

Last but not least, the games look fantastic but I am surprised by the lack of original titles for the PS3. Most of the major titles are available for the Xbox 360 or even PCs. I am not too interested in playing BioShock on a PS3.

One thing is clear to me about the PS3: it is definitely a computer. From the USB ports to the upgrading of the “operating system,” the PS3 is marginally a plug and play device. For someone who tinkers around with computers, the PS3 was easy to set up but I could see the average consumer struggling to setup the wireless connection and/or upgrading the operating system.

I have not yet downloaded any HD movies from the Playstation Network. When I do, I will post my thoughts.

About two months ago, I had Verizon’s Fios service installed at my house, replacing Cox cable with both internet and TV service. I saved myself about $50 a month by making the switch. Not bad for blazing internet speeds and crystal clear HD television channels. Plus, they also offer a decent amount of clear qam channels.

Here are some tips I learned to make the install process easier:

1. Inside or Out. Verizon has to install the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) either inside or outside of your house. The ONT is essentially a large cable modem and converts the fiber optic feed from Verizon to coax. I would have preferred outside but, at the time, I did not realize that was an option. I now have an ONT in my laundry room.

2. You have to use the Verizon router. Verizon forces you to use their router if you have their TV service. They give it to you free so it is no big deal. To me, the only drawback is that the router is 100 Mbit/s, and not 1000 Mbit/s (some people also might want a draft 802.11n wireless router instead of a “G” router). The most cost efficient way to remedy this is to install a switch right after the router (or you can just use your old router as a switch instead).

3. Make sure your phone is working before the Verizon tech leaves. With Fios, your phone service will be provided through the fiber optic line and not your old copper line. My internet and TV worked fine but I had an issue with my phone making calls. Luckily there was another tech in the area who was able to come out quickly and fix the problem.

4. Verify your bill. Keep a sharp eye on your bill the first couple of months after installation. I have heard lots of rumors about Verizon incorrectly charging people.