HoustonWinMeet: A Windows Entertainment and Connected Home Meet-up

Update: We have a new location in downtown Houston. I apologize for the late notice, if you have registered for the event you will be receiving an e-mail from me shortly.

#houstonwinmeet

Sponsored by Microsoft

With talks from Cannon PC, Fluid Digital, Amulet Devices, Missing Remote’s Michael “Mikinho” Welter and more!

  • Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010

  • Time: 6:00-9:00 pm

  • PageSoutherlandPage
    Architects Engineers Consultants
    1100 Louisiana Suite One
    Houston, TX 77002

  • Space is limited! Please RSVP via houstonwinmeet.eventbrite.com

What’s going on?

Ever wanted to unleash the power of a PC on your home entertainment experience? Want to create one seamless entertainment solution for your TV that gives you one interface for TV, DVR, Internet-based content, music, pictures and more? Looking for a great ways to make sure all your content is backed up and safe? Ever wanted to build your own Home Theater PC or really take advantage of that sweet HDTV you recently got? Got questions for the experts? Then this is the meet-up for you!

Connect with other digital entertainment and digital living enthusiasts in and around Houston, and have a chance to check out some of the latest products when you join us for a few hours of presentations, demonstrations and hands-on time with the latest Windows features and related hardware that make next-generation entertainment experiences possible today. Plus, have a chance at winning some great prizes and giveaways!

 

Who’s going to be there?

This meet-up brings together digital entertainment enthusiasts and experts from around the Houston-area, hobbyists and professionals who have embraced the power of the PC to power their digital entertainment experiences – everything from home theater PCs running Windows Media Center to PlayTo devices, home entertainment networks and mobile devices.

What are we talking about?

We are still finalizing the exact agenda – but we expect to cover the following:

Windows Entertainment and The Connected Home

  • Tips and tricks for creating a home entertainment network with Windows Media Center and multiple Windows 7 PCs

  • Windows 7 PlayTo and DLNA devices like Western Digital’s TV Live Plus

  • Amulet Devices‘ Voice-Activated Windows Media Center remote control

  • Ceton InfiniTV4 multi-tuner PC card and Windows Media Center

  • Windows 7 SP1 with RemoteFX

  • Windows Media Center running on Windows 7 Embedded: Check out the beta and discuss what this means for the connected home

Backing it up: Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server

We’ll talk about backup solutions for a Windows connected home entertainment network, focusing in on the interaction between Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server: what features and benefits the two products collectively provide, and have an overview Windows Home Server – Vail product.

On the Market: Product Demonstrations from around the Ecosystem

We’re working to bring in a variety of different ecosystem products – from high-end HTPCs from OEMs like Cannon PC and Fluid Digital, to TV tuner cards, DLNA devices, Windows Media Center Remotes, Windows Phone 7 and Media Center related apps, and more.

Space is limited

Reserve your spot today

Interested in helping organize or participate in the meetup? Got questions?

We could use a few more hands to help organize this and future Houston meet-ups. Interested? Ping Mikinho at houstonwinmeet@live.com.

Help us promote the meet-up!

Twitter: #houstonwinmeet

 

We’ll post a final agenda in the next few weeks so check back for updates!

  • Bad news: I apologize for the
    Bad news: I apologize for the short notice but due to a scheduling conflict we needed to find a new venue for the #HoustonWinMeet.

    Good news: Same date and time, just a new location. I am also extremely excited about the new location. It is in the heart of downtown at the PageSoutherlandPage Houston office.

    PageSoutherlandPage
    Architects Engineers Consultants
    1100 Louisiana Suite One
    Houston, Texas 77002

    Again, I apologize for the short notice. If you have already registered for the event you will be receiving an e-mail from me shortly.

    • Need a copy of Windows 7?

      Need a copy of Windows 7?  Retweet the below before Nov 26th and I’ll pick one lucky (i.e. random) winner to receive a copy of Windows 7.

       

      Can’t make it to #HoustonWinMeet? Help spread the word. Retweet to enter a chance to win a copy of Windows 7. Details at @MissingRemote

      [Retweet]

       

  • Great event last night. 

    Great event last night.  Please do it again.  Would love to see the Ceton guys next time if they can make it.  Maybe some home control/automation integration with Windows and Media Center would be interesting.  I would also like to hear from enthusiasts about their set ups and best practices.  I overheard some great ideas in the room.

    • rfmullerjr wrote:Great event

      [quote=rfmullerjr]

      Great event last night.  Please do it again.  Would love to see the Ceton guys next time if they can make it.  Maybe some home control/automation integration with Windows and Media Center would be interesting.  I would also like to hear from enthusiasts about their set ups and best practices.  I overheard some great ideas in the room.

      [/quote]

      I know Jeremy (Ceton) wanted to make it, like you said–hopefully next time.

      I’ll going to blog about all the products I brought with me tomorrow and will eventually expand that to the various systems I use at home.

      In terms of Home Automation…any HA companies interested?  Contact me and hopefully we can setup another even here in Houston!

  • Agreed, it would have been

    Agreed, it would have been great if Jeremy Hammer had made it. Even though I’m a Dish Network guy, Ceton might convince me to go to the dark side (Comcast: “ThatGeekGuy, I am your father”. Me: “Noooooo!”)

    Still a good night even with the no-shows, maybe Michael could organize a quarterly GeekFest here in Houston for enthusiasts to share gear, successes and war stories. Michael, whaddya think?

    • ThatGeekGuy wrote:Still a

      [quote=ThatGeekGuy]

      Still a good night even with the no-shows, maybe Michael could organize a quarterly GeekFest here in Houston for enthusiasts to share gear, successes and war stories. Michael, whaddya think?

      [/quote]

      Would love to! Even if over a few beers to start with.

  • To all that attended—thank

    To all that attended—thank you. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the event but I am very happy with the participation and outcome. I had a good time and really enjoyed the discussions. It is great to meet with other enthusiasts that are as passionate about the technology as I am.

    For those that couldn’t attend, we had a few last-minute adjustments to the agenda but we covered Windows 7 Play To, checked out the Windows Product Scout to help highlight Windows 7 certified devices, had some great discussions and demonstrations by Pat Lawless from Amulet Devices, Gregg Cannon from Cannon PC, Kevin Buchanan from Fluid Digital, Drew Peterson from Microsoft and Dan Laycock from Microsoft.  Check back tomorrow for answers to follow up questions and a full list of products demonstrated (Hint: Most of them will be reviewed here at Missing Remote :evil:.)

    And special thanks to Microsoft for sponsoring the event.  In particular Wendy Stidmon and Pete Brown.  I know they would love to see feedback and comments!

  • Still wish I lived closer

    Still wish I lived closer 😉

  • EVA456 wrote:

    [Yummy spam

    [quote=EVA456]

    [Yummy spam for breakfast]  This isn’t the post you’re looking for.
    –George

    [/quote]

     

    Reminds me of an afternoon a couple of years ago when I had to call HP tech support over a printer issue I had.