JAN 2008
New web site will be launched at the end of the month. I am considering adding a forum, and new sections on media servers, Lan media players and the use of PDA/ pocket pc applications.
DigiTV 3.7.10 has timer issues, after one record session it will not record another program. Email to Nebula with no reply. So still with 3.7.06.
More Hard drive issues, the replacement seagate began to slow/ crash file explorer, simply clicking a directory could take over 30 seconds to read. Found bad sectors so this drive looks like its on the way out, the 3rd 320GB SATA hard drive in 6 months.
7 July 2007
Hard drive troubles again.
So a 6 month old 320gb Maxtor HD dies in the system. All 3 of the SATA drives have been sent back within a year of purchase, but this time the replacement was a Barracuda, this only lasted 4 weeks and died. The 2 ide drives in the system, all maxtor, have had no issues at all, these drives are over 3 years old, both 200gb. I have now decided to keep one of the IDE as a system disk. I will not be purchasing a Maxtor again, I wonder Seagate purchased the company, but at least they come with 3 year wrty.
Pocket PC/ PDA and HTPC
Just purchased a Fujitsu semens pocket loox 560, mainly for sat nav, but as a web surfer as well. This is a great PDA but for for HTPC I can vnc with the server of HTPC and control as a remote, great for pre loading music in media player, quicker than booting up the laptop. It has IR for tv remote control. I will add this and software in the new web site.
20 November 2006
DigiTV
3.7.1 HD
Yes its hear HDTV well only for London trials.
This version along with the previous is much better at playback, no jittering perfect playback. I do not use anything else for playback now only the digi media player. Bob interlace works fine now, at only 22% great timeline interface during playback, now no issues with crashes when fast forwarding.
Only thing to sort out is the EPG, shame it is not compatible anymore with digiguide and DVTrecord. Would love to see integration with digiguide or a feature to look out for future recordings like digiguide did.
Great web streaming support and able to set recordings (would not need to if it worked like digiguide). This allows the unit to cast over the network, only issue is with WIFI, seems to hog bandwidth, and digiTV loaded on the laptop also reduces available memory and lan speed. However was great to watch the world cup up the garden in the sunshine drinking a beer (to drown the disappointment) on the laptop. You can use media player to playback a file that's currently being recorded. I do this now instead of using digiTV on the laptop.
DVTrecord
No new support for the past year, only older digitv versions with crap playback and interfacing. Would not recommend now, its a shame as this was a great bridging software between digitv and digiguide.
Zoomplayer
I don't use it now, only for DVD playback
DivX
Stick another hard drive in PC world have a 320GB USB2 for £80, why mess about.
MEDIA PLAYER 11
Much better interface now has albums and songs much easier to reference. Also can connect better to network drives. Playback now includes mixing so no need for sudden or gaps in you playback, great for parties etc. Searching for year or artist etc now visualise stacks track song or album up looks cool. I lIKE
17
April 2006
Ok
its been a while.
DigiTV
3.5.20
is out. Better play back interface but I still feel its not as
smooth as Power DVD or Zoomplayer. EPG is no way as good as Digiguide.
Future nebula will add tags so that the epg will better.
Not
compatible with DVTRecord now so stick with 3.20
Zoomplayer
5.00
is out for preview. No free upgrade or discount for current owners.
Some interface modifications but I think its not worth the $27.95..
Stick with the old version 4.5 with newer codecs in.
DVTRecord
1.30.03
is out but has bugs use 1.30.02. Is not compatible with newer
DigiTV. Looks like no new development on this.
Nvidia
DVD now Pure video
Now
called pure video. Works better with no audio issues. Download
the OEM version and add your old activation key code. A great
interface is hidden in the nvidia directory called instant media
give it a go.
Digiguide
Version
8.3 is out. Now shows more information including ratings. Still
DVTRecord has issues again with this. I think its time to look
at why and develop a bridge if dvtrecord is not keeping up to
date
DivX
6.2
New
version is out but as I am increasing the storage then its less
of an issue to recodes the films in a smaller format.
