HDMI and DVI: What is the Difference?
Whether you just got a new TV or just want to connect some new components up to your TV, if your TV has HDMI connections to attach a HTPC, DVD player or Blu-Ray player, you’ll want to use the correct type of cable to connect.
If you don’t have the right cable then you can’t utilise the high def abilities of your TV or your dvd player (or other high definition connected component). You should also look at the inputs and outputs of your TV and DVD player to make sure you can everything can accommodate HDMI cables. Read more
Windows 7 Media Centre
So the new windows 7 media centre has been put into alpha release. Although this is only the alpha version, and things are still going to change, there are some really nice features that windows 7 media centre has that are new.
Virtual Channels – if you don’t have a TV tuner there will be virtual channels you can watch media off the internet. This allows you to watch google and youtube videos, as well as online TV episodes through streaming sites.
Touch Compatibility – the new media centre will be able to be controlled by touch. In my opinion this is a useless feature, because unless I grow really long arms and my plasma TV becomes touch compatible, I don’t really see it being useful for my HTPC. I’ll be sticking to my remote. But I suppose if you are using it on a touch compatible laptop or something, it would be pretty cool.
Easier – well I haven’t actually used it, but this is what they say. Hopefully it really is easier to set up and use.
There are some other cool features which although they don’t change the experience of using windows media centre, are pretty cool nonetheless. Read more
Getting content to your HTPC
Well the most important thing about having a HTPC is having content, and being able to watch it through your HTPC on your TV! So here we will cover how to get content onto your HTPC.
The first thing to cover is getting TV through your HTPC. Some people have asked me why I would want to do this, since my TV can already receive TV. Well having it go through your HTPC allows you to use your HTPC as a PVR (a personal video recorder), which means you can record TV for playback later, or pause TV while you are watching it.
So how do you do this? Well it’s quite simple, all you need to do is put a TV tuner into your HTPC (see our TV Tuner section for recommendations). Then you just connect coaxial cable into the card (the cable that usually connects from your antenna to the TV), and you now have TV going into your HTPC.
Some people like to store all their other content on a big harddrive on their HTPC. But if you are anything like me you probably have a lot of your content (like movies, music, photos), on other computers around the house, you probably want to be able to access these on your HTPC. Read more
Internet Connected TV
Toshiba has announced the release of an internet connected TV later this year. Samsung has announced that it is also in the works of developing a similar TV. So what will this internet connected TV do, and will it wipe out the HTPC?
Well these TVs will have an Intel processor in them, and will be able to connect to the internet. They will probably use Yahoo to be able to access movies, music and sport. Not much has been said yet on their general access to the internet.
Because of the chip in them, they will also be able to run Microsoft’s media extender for Media Centre. This will allow users to access their content from their PCs on their TV screens. This is the part that may be the HTPC killer.
I mean if you can access the stuff that is on your PC from your TV, why do you need a HTPC? The only reason I can think of is to record TV, but you could buy a PVR or DVD recorder for this function, which is much simpler to set up and use. Read more
Build a HTPC 2009 Edition
Ok so with the start of a new year, it’s time to look at the HTPC build, and what the best build for the new year is.
So have there been many developments since we did the last build in July last year? Well not really any major development. All parts are still pretty similar and the technology is still the same, so everything that was said in the extensive guide still applies. However as always with computers, things are newer, so you get more value for money and quieter components for the same price.
Case: Antec NSK2480B
This is still the best value for money case. It is a full size case, meaning you can fit any motherboard, and most TV tuner and graphics cards in there. It also comes with a 380W power supply and two fans. This saves you money on having to buy these components, and they are good quality and quiet.
CPU: AMD4850e
AMD runs cooler then Intel. Cooler means less cooling is required so you have less noise, which is very desirable in a HTPC. We go for the 4850e because it is energy efficient CPU as it only uses 45W (less energy consumption also means cooler). It still provides enough processing power to have smooth DVD playback, and at a reasonable price. Read more
Why get a Universal Remote?
Ok well I was always one of those people that would not spend the money on a universal remote. I mean it can’t really be worth all that money just to have only one remote, but boy was I wrong.
The other day I got a Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote for my birthday, and I really regret not buying one earlier. This remote is great, and I love having everything being controlled from the one place.
Currently I use my HTPC to record things, my DVD player just because I like it, my surround sound system, and my Xbox, and I have a lot of remotes to do this.
With the new remote when I press the on button, it turns on my TV, HTPC and surround sound, and sets all the inputs to match so I get the right sound. I press another button, for example the Xbox button, and the Xbox turns on and the inputs change. I have to do no setting up. When I press off, everything turns off at once. Read more
Choosing Which HTPC TV
Ok well you want to buy a TV for your HTPC to connect up to, but which one? Here we go through the different types of TVs available, and outline which is best for use with your HTPC.
Well there are two types of TV technology I am going to cover today, and that is LCD and Plasma TVs. Why LCD’s and Plasma’s? Because these are the nice, sexy looking flat screen TVs. If you are going to buy a new TV, you are going to buy a nice looking new one right? (if you are going to hook up your HTPC to a big backed CRT, I’m going to assume that is because you already own it). Read more
HTPC TV : Choose How To Connect
Part of having a HTPC is being able to connect your HTPC up to your TV. There are quite a few different sources for getting TV, and in this article we aim to cover these different sources, and explain how to connect each one up to your HTPC. Read more
The Best HTPC Video Card
A lot of people are lost when it comes to their HTPC and what video card to get.
To me there are a few requirements when it comes to buying a HTPC video card, which are:
1. Quiet (I don’t want to hear it from the couch)
2. Small (I want it to fit in my HTPC case, not have to buy a huge case just for the video card)
3. HDMI out, preferably with audio
4. Low Power Consumption (equals less heat and noise)
5. Powerful enough to play High Definition content and Blu-Ray DVDs Read more
HTPC Front End
There are two definitions for a HTPC front end. The first one is the software interface that you use to run your HTPC. This means the interface that makes it easy to play your movies, watch TV, access you photos and listen to music etc.
The 2nd definition of a HTPC front end is when you have networked PCs, and the front end is the computer or media extender you use the access the more powerful backend HTPC which runs everything.
In this article we will be using the first definition, and outlining some of the popular front end HTPC programs: Read more