Author: Andrew Van Til

These sorts of marketing claims make good copy, but I think they do more harm then good in the long term when we can see the big thumb on the scale when looking at the details. For example, take a look at what was compared and the driver revisions of the integrated graphics (IGP) solutions compared (driver verisons have been […]

I had a great time joining in on the HTPCentric hardware discussion.  We spent a lot of time on GPUs and why deinterlacing performance is really important, but there should be something for everyone if you’re interested in building a HTPC. Enjoy   While we’re a bit late for June, you get a major geek out in return!  This month, […]

I’m not sure I agree with Ganesh that the main selling point of a Media Streamer is low power, but there’s no argument that he knows the platforms and ecosytem really well.   The advent of digital downloads and music / movie streaming have made the HTPC scene quite popular. While pundits keep on debating the reasons as to why […]

For anyone looking to put some serious BHP in a small form factor (SFF) HTPC or WHS J&W has the board for you.  Cooling it will be a tough, but sometimes a good challenge makes it more fun.   J&W, the company that hides under the MINIX brand, has surprised us with one quite unique and feature packed ITX motherboard. […]

PluckyHD of Sage Movie Wall fame (and soon Sage My Movies – which just might be my favorite UI import) just released a theme and main menu customization to get back some of the dynamic menu goodness that V6 had. I haven’t had a chance to install it yet, but the video looks really cool.     Plucky’s Menu Mod […]

For those who love XBMC’s attractive HTPC UI but have HD Audio in their videos and the hardware to match, Damien from MediaSmartServer.net has the guide for you.   One of the most important features  I look for when looking at a front end is the ability and ease to bitstream HD audio (DTS-MA and TrueHD) from my Blu Ray […]

The wait for SageTV V7 should be over soon as Brent is reporting that the public beta starts tomorrow.  The change log is long so it’s definitly worth a full look.  Highlights include a new UI and BDMV/ISO support on the PC.   Probably on the most-requested list for SageTV developers is a re-write of the user interface.  The SageTV […]