WHS Update Includes New Media Center Features

Microsoft recently announced their Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 beta, which includes better Windows 7 support, improved netbook support and some nice new features for Microsoft Media Center users. While it still doesn’t allow you to use WHS as your one, MediaCenter “server” it’s a step in the right direction. Microsoft needs to enable … Read more

Digital Media Bytes: Last100 Edition

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our friends at Last100: 10 years on Blockbuster still lacks a digital strategy Blockbuster’s management talks a good digital game but it’s nothing more than “marketing fluff”, often confusing the company’s dominance in physical media with that of digital. The company’s underwhelming and late to the game set-top … Read more

American Film Institute Takes Video Online

In keeping with the growing trend of publishing archives online, the American Film Institute (AFI) has launched its own video portal with material collected over the last 42 years. The launch takes place just as the Institute is honoring Michael Douglas today with a Life Achievement Award. Tribute coverage of Michael Douglas is featured along … Read more

TiVo on Twitter

TiVo gets a mixed review when it comes to online community outreach (aka “Social Media” – whatever that means). They pioneered customer engagement on a company-focused forum. Yet, TiVo has stumbled in the blogosphere…. from joining the conversation late (and still currently suffering from trust issues) to their own craptastic blog initiative. Fortunately, they’re leading … Read more

The Intimated Threat of Google Voice for Android

Until now, Google Voice has been a web-only service to manage voicemail in the same way Gmail manages email. That’s no longer the case. But, as of today, Google Voice is a first class locally installed mobile application, available in the Android Market, deeply integrated with the Android operating system. (And there’s a less robust … Read more

Best Buy in the Digital Content Biz

Ryan Lawler over at Contentinople has put two and two together and come to the conclusion that Best Buy is taking aim at the digital media space. The clue trail actually started last fall with Best Buy’s acquisition of Napster for music, but then last week Lawler noted that Best Buy’s partnership with TiVo and … Read more

Blockbuster OnDemand coming to Samsung HDTVs

Blockbuster may be way down, but they certainly aren’t out yet.  Blockbuster and Samsung just announced a partnership to provide Blockbuster OnDemand service on nearly all new Samsung video devices including new Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray players and some home theater systems starting this Fall. No details of which specific devices at this point, but it’s … Read more

Hands On with the Seagate Replica

The Seagate folks recently sent me a pair of devices to check out, including Replica – their newer, sleek and slim bundled hardware+software PC backup solution. I wasn’t sure I’d find time to play with it before the big move, but Melissa’s Dell Studio XPS 13 has been in need of some TLC. Her laptop … Read more