WordPress as CMS for this site…

October 20th, 2010

The idea of the Install pages is for other users is great, but editing them and controlling them myself is too much so I’ve been looking at CMS (content management systems), there’s Joomla, vBulletin etc etc.

But I’ve also come across how Wordpres (this Blog!) can also be used for CMS purposes so will try and roll that out in the next few weeks to allow more user-install pages to go live. Will require another database on the server but at least it’ll be more controllable.

Linux Pendrive

September 2nd, 2010

While investigating getting a Linux file server going I came across the excellent Linx Pendrive.

This allows you to generate a bootable USB stick from any of the free Linux download OS such as Ubuntu etc.

Of course only any good if your PC can boot from a USB drive, but any PC < 4yrs old should allow this from the BIOS.

There's even Mythbuntu which I may try on it…

Samsung Galaxy S & iPhone4 – Android vs iOS4

June 29th, 2010

Well I wait years to finally get rid of my Windows Mobile 6.5 phone and now it’s like buses, 2 great phones come along at once. Time to see what the hype from both sides is all about…

BBC HD pixelation on nVidia 8800GTS card

June 11th, 2010

…and it’s gone!

For the past 2 years since installing my satellite I’ve been watching BBC HD over Freesat on my lounge Media Center with pixelation for the first 5 seconds of every show, including when I skip forward and backward which makes it very frustrating when trying to jump around programmes. This has never been a problem with my other machines with ATi cards so have always put it down to the nVidia card.

But lo and behold, this evening it’s gone!?! I can’t see any updates in Windows that explain it so perhaps it’s a BBC stream adjustment?

I’ve never seen it on ITV HD and have read that it can be down to the format of the BBC stream itself.

Whatever the reason I feel like I have a proper Media Center now; I feel liberated Smile

Another phone post…

June 10th, 2010

Hmmm, money talks, or so the saying goes.

And it seems that Apple’s investors aren’t quite feeling the iPhone4 love. Apple’s stock has continued to decline since the iPhone unveil on Tuesday (EDIT: 5 days later and it’s now rising again slowly, so what does that say? er, dunno). Historically it’s risen after the announcement of other devices, so I guess Mr Jobs needs to work on his convincing-the-public-it’s-what-they-want hype talks. However something tells me that Apple are down, but not out. Roll on the iPhone5…

And something that I can’t really back up with any evidence, but I read somewhere that it has been reported (so it must be true Wink) that Apple wanted AMOLED displays in the new iPhone but couldn’t get the quantity made in time for release.

Oh, and on a positive note (for me anyway as I’m getting one of their phones), Samsung have come out and been quoted that the Retina display on the iPhone is technically incapable of catching up with the quality of their own made Super AMOLED.

Fight, fight, fight…

iPhone: the legend lives on…

June 8th, 2010

Well a Blog wouldn’t be blog it seems with at least one post on the latest iPhone called, er, iPhone4.

Now I’m not sure who Apple are trying to fool with their ‘creation’ of face-to-face video calling, but surely the fact that it hasn’t really taken off in the past 8years that it’s been available on 3G networks should tell them that it’s not quite what the consumer wants. I can only guess that they are clutching at straws with something ‘new’ to impress upon us.

And their promotional video is positively cringeworthy, no correction, it made me ANGRY! I really think they need strong words with their marketing team; treating your customer as an idiot is not good.

However, there is no question that its one sterling piece of design, no doubt about that. So kudos to Apple for keeping tech sexy (shame Steve Jobs and his turtlenecks bring it crashing back to ‘geek’ level).

ITV HD and Channel4 HD on Freesat

March 12th, 2010

Reading around on the net today, apparently ITV HD will become a full HD channel rather than a Red Button service around Easter time on Freesat. Good news for the world cup then! From here.

And more good news for Freesat, Channel4 HD will also makes its debut around Easter. Hoorah! Also from Digital Spy.

EDIT: Got ahead of myself, that link is about FreeviewHD, d’oh!

Windows Media Center Extenders

March 3rd, 2010

Decent extenders are the Holy Grail of a Windows based system in the home. Not everyone wants a full-blown PC in every room where they want to watch TV, nor do they want to go the cost of adding a Home Server, so an Extender is the ideal option. Unfortunately, only Xbox360s are the most viable option, but they also have their own drawbacks. So, with Windows7 taking the PC market by storm, what is the future for Media Center Extenders? Read this engadget article for some good options.

Wiki launched

February 25th, 2010

After several weeks of integrating MediaWiki into this sites layout, the mediacenterhouse.com Wiki has now launched and is ready for forum members to build and edit if they like. I’m slowly adding to it day by day, but there’s a lot to type and create!

All about Windows Phone 7

February 21st, 2010

Engadget have published a good piece all about the latest Windows Phone 7 here.

Will it stop me getting an HTC Desire or Legend running Android in a couple of months? Er, no.