The Daily Button – December 12th, 2007
This time last year I felt like a wide-eyed kid on Christmas day. 2007 was going to be THE year that Media Centers moved main stream. Companies would bend over backward like they do to gaming enthusiast. MissingRemote.com would be at the center of this providing as PR folks clamored at my door step to provide review samples of the latest and greatest Media Center innovation.
What happened then? Well not a stinking company came through with their promise. CableCard was a flop, though a tiny amount of momentum was gained with Dell’s announcement of making one computer CableCard ready. Of course, if you want to record satellite, you are out of luck. You can bet neither of these options will work for a DIY builder. DRM? Yup still there. HD DVD/Blu-ray on the HTPC? Eh, its getting there.
As always we did move forward. QAM is now available to the masses with the introduction of the HD Homerun and programs like SageTV support capture card QAM tuning. Though not perfect, HD DVD and Blu-ray are there and somewhat affordable.
What about 2008? Is this going to be THE YEAR? Call me pessimistic but I have had too many years in a row of saying this is going to be the year. My official statement is 2008 will be have extended periods of meh with small periods of good news. Well enough of this lookback, onto the news.
Memory News: 2GB Corsair Dominator PC3-144400 memory kit review at Benchmark Reviews
Internet TV News: iTunes Canada to have TV shows available this week @ PVRWire
Giveaway News: The SageTV HD Media Extender giveaway @ Zatz Not Funny
Digital TV Transition News: No plan exists for DigitalTV transition @ ARS Technica
Display Device News: Toshiba to delay OLED TV development @ Reg Hardware
Streaming Software News: Orb releases Winamp Remote to allow streaming to your iPhone @ Gizmodo
RIAA News: imeem.com has all four music giants on board for social music sharing @ Slashdot
Video Card News: BFG GeForce 8800 GTS reviewat [H]ardocp.com
Video Card News: Sapphire 3850 review at Overclockers Club
High Def DVD News: Will HD DVD and Blu-ray follow the same path as SACD and DVD-A @ Audiophiliac