Back in June, I wrote a brief blog on some interesting developments from Microsoft, Hulu and YouTube.  I covered how each of these vendors had released news and/or applications to bring more content to the HTPC in new and exciting ways.  At that point in time, Microsoft’s announcement of Netflix integration into Media Center was strictly limited to Windows Vista®.  However, I had suggested that they would include this integration into Windows® 7 by launch time.  Well, I am happy to say that Microsoft released an update for Windows 7 in the past couple of days that now adds Netflix.  However, Microsoft did not stop with just the Netflix integration; the update includes support for the Adobe Flash player and even more mainstream content from content providers like CBS, NBC, PBS and others, offering both current  shows like ‘How I Met Your Mother’, ‘Dateline’ and ’60 Minutes’ to  classic shows like ‘Star Trek’, ‘Twilight Zone’, ‘MacGyver’ and more. 

If you have not seen this yet, Hack 7MC has a nice overview on the new features added to Windows 7.

You can also find a discussion on these new changes at The Green Button

While some may raise concerns regarding viewing quality of the content, I think this change should be viewed from a larger perspective.  This change puts the framework in place for delivery of real and interesting content on Windows 7 capable PCs.  I have spent some time over the past couple of nights checking out the content and while it is not HD quality, it was certainly better than low resolution web video I have seen on other sites.  I’m hopeful that the visual quality of the material will be improved upon as time moves forward; it is the framework that I find really exciting.

As I stated previously, these are exciting times for the HTPC.  The role of PC technology in the home is constantly changing for the better.  The industry is rapidly changing, bringing more content to the consumer in ever easier ways to navigate and enjoy.

Till next time, Happy Trails!

Jay Taylor is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.

I have seen different sites put together a list of potential HTPC hardware for budgets under $1000 USD.  While many of these sites are showcasing some nice systems, I think there are multiple ways to approach this project.  As such, I put together my own list for a potential HTPC build while offering some options to hit different price points — entry level, mainstream/mid level and higher end systems — each less than $1000 USD. So here’s the first part of the series: The Entry Level Build.

For me, there are two things that drive my decision process when making a component selection for an HTPC; product performance/features and cost. I want technology that will offer good performance, aimed at the HTPC space, yet will not “break the bank”.  As I outlined in my previous blogs, the HTPC does not require the absolute highest performance products, nor should it be about buying the cheapest products. What the HTPC needs is a combination of more balanced products that offer good performance and low power draw — all within a reasonable budget. I have seen too many individuals less that satisfied with their HTPCs because they bought the absolute highest performance products on the market and their HTPC was just too loud.  Similarly, I have seen many others buy the cheapest products they could find only to realize their HTPC could not handle the tasks they desired.

So what can you expect from an entry level HTPC build?  An entry level system can handle many of your standard HTPC duties. It should be able to offer smooth HD playback without dropping frames. It should handle most streamed online content (think Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, etc.).  It should be able to drive HD resolutions (1080p, 720p) and do a decent job of upscaling standard DVDs.  It should be able to play most mainstream games at lower resolutions (1024 x 768, 800 x 600, etc.) and still look good.  However, check with the game manufacturer for complete system requirements. 

Motherboard
At the heart of any HTPC platform is the motherboard and critical to the motherboard is the chipset. For this entry level budget HTPC build, I opted for the Gigabyte GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H. This board has a host of features that make for a good HTPC system.  Being uATX, it can be put into a reasonably sized chassis (think ~VCR size). It is based upon the AMD RS785 chipset so it has great video performance and supports HD Resolutions (including Blu-ray), when combined with an HD monitor. The UVD-2 support is really useful for hardware acceleration of video related content.  The powerful integrated graphics eliminates the need for a discrete card (saving power and money). The HDMI output offers easy connectivity to your HD TV. All-in-all, this makes for a good solution for the HTPC. 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H $94.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128399&Tpk=GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H

CPU
Processing power plays an important role in an HTPC. Depending on what it is you want to do with your HTPC, you may need more speed in your CPU or you may need more cores in your CPU. For example, if you will be using your HTPC to do a lot of transcoding, a CPU with more cores will offer you better performance. However, some applications may benefit from higher frequencies. You should really look at all the applications you are going to be using with your HTPC and determine if those applications would benefit from more cores or higher frequencies. In any case, you will still want low power CPUs for their superior thermal performance.  The processor I selected for this entry build is the AMD Athlon^TM II X2 240 dual-core processor.  It is a dual core, low power processor that offers a great performance for the price. 

CPU: AMD Athlon^TM II X2 240 dual-core processor $60.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688

CPU Cooler
This one can be a little harder to address. When buying an AMD Processor In a Box (PIB) product, the heatsink will generally come with the CPU purchase in a nice box. These can be very effective and quiet coolers for most HTPC tasks.

Memory
Now for memory. There are not a lot of optimizations a memory vendor can do for an HTPC type scenario. Unlike video games applications or other mainstream desktop applications, HTPCs don’t need the fastest memory available. Likewise, they don’t necessarily need huge amounts of memory to provide great performance. I have found that 2GB is a pretty good amount of memory to start with for an HTPC. Rule of thumb is to get as much of the fastest memory that fits within your budget.  For cost effectiveness, brand recognition and performance, I chose to go with memory from Kingston for this build.

Memory: Kingston 2GB Kit (2×1GB) of DDR3 1066 $43.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134492

Note: if you are using a 32 bit operating system, anything over 4GBs will not be recognized by the system (actually about 3.5GB will be seen by the OS).

HDD
Vendors like Seagate, Western Digital, and Hitachi also offer a variety of products for the PC space. Like AMD, they have some products that target this lower power environment.  Seagate’s Pipeline HD series, Western Digital’s Green series, and Hitachi’s Cinemastar series drives are optimized for low power and quiet operation.  These drives typically have fluid bearings, improved firmware and thermals that make them more suited for HTPC applications.  Like memory, more storage is usually a good thing for an HTPC.  If you plan on doing a lot of recording of TV, storing movies, music, etc. then again, purchasing as much storage as your budget allows is probably a good thing.  For this build I chose the Western Digital 500GB Green drive.

HDD: Western Digital 500GB Green HDD $54.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136358

Optical Disk Drive (ODD)
Selecting an optical drive can be a little challenging because it is often hard to tell the advantages of one over another. I have used a variety of drives over the years — some more reliable than others and some quieter than others. However, for me when it comes to the HTPC discussion, it boils down to DVD vs. Blu-ray. With the HD DVD / Blu-ray format war over, it does make the decision a little easier, but you still really need to look at what you are planning to do and how much you want to budget for the ODD. Upscaled DVD content can look very good on an HDTV. In my opinion, the clarity of Blu-ray really starts to show up at screen sizes larger than 50 inches. At 50 inches and below, upscaled DVD can look very nice and can save the consumer some money.  Therefore, to keep costs within an entry level price point, I opted for a standard DVD. 

ODD: Lite-On DVD ROM $17.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106274

Chassis
In an earlier blog, I covered some of the different chassis solutions on the market. Selecting a chassis really depends on personal tastes, budget, room decor, etc. The criteria I used below included a combination of price and functionality, yet still fitting the overall HTPC look and feel. However, adjust your budget based upon your own goals.

Chassis: HEC SECC 7K09 $54.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121027

Power Supply
Included in Chassis for this build.  PSU selection is an important topic and we will talk more about this in upcoming blog.

Remote Control
The Remote Control is another important piece of your HTPC. I have already posted part 1 of the 2 part series on remote controls and I am currently working on the second part of that series. Microsoft’s Media Center product that is included with some versions of their operating system does a very nice job of bringing the “10-foot experience” to the PC. They make it very easy to access things like live and recorded TV (assuming you have a TV tuner installed), music, photos and more with just a remote. In fact, I have my HTPC set up so that I rarely (if ever) need to pick up a keyboard. As such, I think every HTPC user should add a remote to their configuration. Some higher-end remotes can be very expensive while offering more functionality, but may not be required for many of the basic functions of the HTPC. For a budget solution, I opted for the basic IR-based Media Center remote from Anywhere.

Remote: Anywhere Media Center Remote with IR receiver $22.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880121001

Keyboard/Mouse
Similar to remotes, keyboards are another important part of your HTPC solution. See part 1 of the Remote Control series for more info on keyboard options. For this budget build, I chose the Logitech keyboard/mouse Bluetooth solution for both range and functionality. Having both keyboard and mouse functionality out of the same device makes it easy to use.  You could buy a separate keyboard and mouse as an option, but you would probably be close to this same price anyway.

Keyboard: Logitech Mediaboard Pro $69.99 USD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16879212011

Operating System
There are many different options here and many people will have their own opinion of what operating system to use.  For simplicity, I am suggesting Microsoft’s Windows Vista® Home Premium solution.  However, with Microsoft® Windows® 7 just around the corner, it may be worthwhile to wait and use that instead.  Everything I have seen with Windows 7 looks to be very impressive for both general PC duties in addition to HTPC duties.  (A Windows 7 capable PC configuration will be required.)   Linux® is another very viable option and very cost effective. However, you might need more experience with setting up and configuring a Linux based system to get everything working to your liking.

OS: Windows Vista® Home Premium $99.99 USD (or wait for Windows® 7 Home Premium)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116485

OK, that covers most of the components you will need.  The total cost of the hardware listed above comes to $420.92 USD + $99.99 USD for the operating system.  Not a bad price for everything you are getting.  Prices do not reflect any rebates or discounts that might be available nor does it include shipping costs.  Sometimes you can get bundle deals, free shipping, etc. So do your research to get the best deals when you purchase and you may be able to get even better prices than what’s listed here. 

Note, I am listing prices in US dollars found on Newegg as of the day this was written. They are not the only source and there are plenty of choices on where to purchase.

For those that would rather purchase a pre configured HTPC, see my “Build or Buy?” blog posting.

So, as you can see, building a budget HTPC is not all that expensive plus you can get very robust functionality.  In the next part of this series, we will look at a mainstream, mid level build and bump up some of the functions and features to get a more robust HTPC experience.

Till next time, Happy Trails!
Jay Taylor is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.

By now you may have already heard some of the exciting news for the HTPC space over the last few weeks. However, in case you had not, let’s spend a little time talking about it here.

Last week Hulu announced a desktop application that allows you to use a standard Media Center type remote to navigate and view content on Hulu’s website. Now, instead of the traditional mouse and keyboard interface in a two-foot environment to navigate the Hulu website (think watching Hulu at your desk on a computer monitor), you can now launch this desktop application while using your Windows® Media Center Edition remote  in a 10-foot environment (think watching Hulu from your couch on your big HD screen). Adding this so called “Lean Back” interface technology is a big step for Hulu in making it easier for consumers to access and watch content in a much more user friendly environment. This experience can even be integrated into Windows Media Center Edition by using something like the MCE Menu Mender application so you can launch the Hulu application from inside Media Center Edition instead of the desktop.

Earlier this week, YouTube announced YouTubeXL. This is another 10 foot UI for YouTube content. While Hulu chose to release an application enabling the 10 foot experience, YouTube chose to launch a website that provides the 10 foot navigation.  In either case, this is great news for consumers that want to enjoy content from their couch instead of sitting and staring at a desktop or laptop computer screen.

But it does not end with Hulu and YouTube. A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft announced that they have teamed up with Netflix to support integration of Netflix functionality into the Windows Vista® Media Center application. While you could always do this via a 3rd Plug In application, what makes this interesting is that Microsoft recognizes the need for easy access to more content and is taking steps to make that happen.  Now, Microsoft has not yet (at the time of this posting) integrated Netflix functionality into the upcoming Windows® 7 platform.  I can’t speak for Microsoft here, but I would expect them to offer this in Windows 7 as well given that they just launched it in Windows Vista.

These are exciting times.  The role of PC technology in the home is constantly changing for the better.  As content owners and distributors integrate more 10-foot user interface (aka Lean Back) technology into their distribution model and as Microsoft further integrates those things into their Media Center application, the usage model and viability of the HTPC type platform increases.  The industry is rapidly changing, bringing more content to the consumer in ever easier ways to navigate and enjoy that content.

So, tell us what you think about these industry changes.  Are you taking advantage of all the content out there? Are you finding it easier to access this content? What do these changes mean to you? Du Yu Hulu?     

Till next time, Happy Trails!

Jay Taylor is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.

I have mentioned in previous posts about various Plug In applications you can get that can add functionality and value to your home theater PC. This time, I thought I would share a few that I am currently using and provide a list of several more that exist.

However, before jumping into things, let me first explain a little about “plug-in” applications. As I had discussed in the What Can a Home Cinema/Home Theater PC Do?, Microsoft has developed a very nice application called Windows® Media Center. Windows Media Center provides some great functionality that allows you to enjoy much of your favorite content from the comfort of your couch. However, the very nature of the HTPC makes it very flexible, allowing it to do so much more. As such, Microsoft has enabled tools that allow software developers and others to write their own applications that “Plug In” to the Windows Media Center application. Once installed, most of these applications can be launched and used from inside the Windows Media Center almost as though it were part of the original application. In some cases, the plug-in might run in the background or reside on the desktop to make the Windows Media Center experience better.

The availability of plug-ins has enabled professional software vendors as well as individual software programmers to write a variety of applications that can enhance the overall functionality of your HTPC. There are applications that let you organize and store your DVD collection onto your HTPC, allow you to shop/bid on sites like eBay, provide localized, national and international weather updates, plus a lot more.

Below are some screen shots from My Movies and MCE Weather to give you an idea of the different types of features that can be added to your HTPC.

Movie Collection View

Forecast View

One thing to note about plug-ins is that while many of these are free, most of the developers do accept donations as they do spend a great deal of their free time writing and debugging these applications. If you find one you really like, consider making a donation to show your appreciation and support for the developer. Other plug-ins are fee based but may offer a trial version. Lastly, some plug-ins have specific hardware or software requirements, so it’s important to check the requirements before downloading and/or installing the application.

Below is a list of various plug-ins that I have collected with the help of folks on various forums. Again, this list is not all inclusive nor should it be considered a “recommended” list — it is just a sampling of some of the plug-ins available today.  Most of the sites below will have screen shots and detailed information about their application.

VMC Netflix
vmcNetflix is another Netflix oriented plug-in to manage your Netflix subscription.

My Movies Plugin
Shown above, index all your DVD movies automatically, browse, read about and watch your movies, etc.

ArcSoft TotalMedia™ Theatre (Fee based)
This is a great plug in for Blu-ray and DVD playback. The software supports multiple audio/video formats (Blu-ray or DVD Drive required).

Web Guide 4
WebGuide allows you to remotely view live/recorded TV programs as well as manage your recorded television programs. Offers remote access from any machine that has a web browser an internet access, including mobile devices.  This currently only works with Windows Vista®

Secondrun TV Plugin
Here is a nice plug-in that brings Hulu to Media Center. This is an early release and still a work in progress, but it is a great start.

My Channel Logos for 7MC
Here is a nice plug-in that allows you to add channel logos to TV channels in the EPG (Program Guide).  It is limited to Microsoft’s Windows 7 at this point in time.

MCE Google Calendar
Plug-in for adding Google calendar to Media Center.

Video Browser
Plug-in that provides a simple interface to your videos, movies, and TV shows.

Media Browser
Media Browser is a free media aggregator plugin for Media Center that takes your recorded, digital, or ripped media and presents it in a simple, easy to use interface. Media Browser prides itself on delivering a fast, intuitive, media rich experience for the whole family.

MC Shoutcast (Fee based)
mcShoutCast adds internet radio to your HTPC. +13,000 stations at your fingertips, save your favorite radio stations. Top 500 Station list shows you the hottest stations.

Music Browser
Music Browser is a Vista Media Center application which allow for folder based navigation of your music files, ditching the need to have the Artist and/or Album Artist tagged correctly in all of your files.

MCE Buddy
MCEBuddy is a file compression tool to make large TV, Video, etc. files smaller, saving disk space. It can also remove commercials from recorded TV shows.

MCE Weather
mceWeather shows weather for your region on your TV or PC. The plug-in provides data from all over the world. It shows the forecast for the next days and also shows you a satellite image of your country.

My TV to Go (Fee based)
Easily convert and transfer TV shows directly to your mobile device. Watch TV on your iPod, Sony Playstation Portable, Laptop, Pocket PC, Smartphone etc. Transfer directly to your device using your remote control (connectivity hardware may be required).

Lifextender
Lifextender is a simple commercial-removal application designed exclusively for Windows Vista® Media Center users.

ShowAnalyzer
ShowAnalyzer is another commercial removal based plug-in that basically “watches” the show for you, only really, really fast.

MCE Auction
Just imagine sitting on your couch in the living room with your remote in the hand while you search, browse, bid or buy on eBay! mceAuction brings eBay to your living room on your Microsoft® Windows® Media Center 2005 or Window’s Vista® Media Center.

MCE Contacts (Fee based)
Brings your contacts into media center with the ability to add pictures and detailed info on each contact.

Media Center Mail
With Media Center Mail you can read your e-mails on your Media Center TV. Media Center Mail comes with its own mail system for receiving e-mails from POP3 servers.

Media Center Status
Media Center Status is a simple application to keep your Facebook and Twitter friends up to date based upon what you are watching in Media Center.

MCE Phone Skype Application (Fee based)
With mcePhone for Skype, your Microsoft® Windows® Media Center turns into a full communication machine. Make/Receive Skype calls from within Windows Media Center (additional hardware may be required).

Menu Mender
Not so much a plug in per se, but more of a nice utility that allows you to customize the menu strips in Windows Vista® Media Center, add short cut icons to launch applications, etc.  This does not work with Windows 7®.

Media Center Studio
Media Center studio is the follow on product to Menu Mender.  It is another nice utility that allows you to customize the menu strips, add themes and customize your Media Center experience in both Windows Vista® and Windows 7®.

MCE Zone
A site with several different plug in applicaitons. They have calendar plug ins, Twitter® plug ins, VOIP plug ins and more.
 
As you can see, there are lots of ways to extend the functionality and enhance your HTPC experience.  Next time, I will provide more info on my own experience with our Maui HTPC.

Till next time, Happy Trails!

Jay Taylor is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.

Show me the content!

For those that have been following this blog, you have heard me share thoughts on the value of the Home Theater PC and all the great things it can do. I have talked about the MSI 7411 platform (a.k.a. “Maui”) and the unique features it offers to this space. I have even dropped a few hints about all this wonderful content that exists online. But where do you find it?

Well, today I thought I would share info and links to some of the content that exists online. Some content is in high definition (HD)* while some is standard definition (SD) and in many cases, you can find full length episodes of your favorite TV content. You can even find older syndicated shows that may not be available from broadcasters in your area or on any station today. Whether you are looking for reruns of Star Trek from the 1960’s, cop shows from the 1980’s (TJ Hooker anyone?) or (sticking with the William Shatner theme) the latest episode of Boston Legal, you can probably find just about all of it online.

This is not to say that every episode of every show is available, but there is a very, very large amount of content to be found with just a little bit of effort. Much of it is free or ad revenue supported. In addition to this ad revenue-supported content, there are also subscription services where you can access even more content and services.

This list is not all-inclusive by any means and is somewhat regional in nature due to my location here in the U.S. For those folks in other regions, make a comment on this blog post with your favorite content providers and we will add to this list.

What I am hoping to show here is just how much content can be found with minimal effort. After all, it is content that we are all ultimately interested in and what helps make the HTPC a valuable part of your entertainment system.

Most of what I have discussed previously involved a remote controlled interface through Windows® Media Center. When you add a keyboard, mouse, and an Internet connection to your HTPC, you increase the amount of content available to your HTPC. It is important to note that broadband Internet connections are very helpful for viewing online content. Most of the links to content below are found through ordinary web searches using your preferred browser software.

Now, enough talk, on with the list:

So, as you can see, there is a whole world of content out there to be enjoyed on an HTPC. Stay tuned for the next update, where I will discuss where you can get your own HTPC.

*HD monitor or TV required to view HD content

Till next time, happy trails!

In Part 1, we discussed much of what an HTPC can do. As mentioned, this was a two part series so I want to continue that discussion on some additional features and experience that an HTPC can provide.

Amplified Audio
Now, you can even turn your HTPC into a high quality stereo amplifier. With the inclusion 5.1 amplifier card, you can enjoy the complete home theater experience in glorious, booming surround sound. Having a great video experience on your HTPC is one thing, but when you combine great video with a high performance, integrated amplifier, movies explode off the screen and music rattles the walls. I have a specific post coming up on this topic shortly…this one is pretty neat!

Music
Another of my favorite things about an HTPC is the easy access to my music. An HTPC can store some or all of your music library onto the Hard Disk with a simple click of a remote control. No more fumbling around with CDs, just store it to the Hard Drive and then put the CD away as a back up. Sure, this depends on how much music you have vs. how much storage space is available on your system, but it’s a great feature. Imagine, every song you own on one HTPC that can be easily accessed anytime you want.

Store your music library for quick, easy access. Set up playlists, play slideshows, etc. Image courtesy of Microsoft

You can sort/search by artist, album, year and more. In many cases, it will provide the album cover art and album details for you as well.  As mentioned previously, you can even have music playing in the background while you are viewing photos from your picture library. It’s a great way to share and re-live your memories.

Internet TV
Now, here is a cool feature that Microsoft has added, Internet TV. Internet TV lets you see trailers for the latest movies playing at the theater or coming out on DVD. It can stream the trailers directly from the web, and it looks great! It will also provide access to some of the top Viral Videos. You can even find news, lifestyle video clips and more. It’s all just a few remote clicks away.

Movie trailers, cast interviews, viral videos, etc. are all available via Internet TV

You want HD content?
There is a great deal of HD content out on the internet. Applications like Hulu, TV MSN TV, Brightcove TV, Joost, etc provide some great, professional level and even broadcast content over the internet. Likewise, the major broadcasts networks make much of their content available online as well. You can find both trailers as well as full length episodes online. You can also find cooking shows, woodworking shows, technology review shows, travel shows, etc. much of it in beautiful Hi-Def. – and best of all, much of it is FREE! Many of these programs are ad based (like regular TV) while other sources of internet content are subscription based.

At this point it time, some 3^rd party content does require the use of a keyboard/mouse, but the variety of content out there is amazing. With some of the small thumb size QWERTY keyboards out there, it is very easy to use to get to all of this, rich internet content online. It is also recommended that you have a broadband internet connection to enjoy the best experience with this content.

Note that an HD monitor is required for the full HD viewing experience.

Internet Radio
With an HTPC, you can access thousands of internet radio stations. You can find just about any type of music and genre you could possibly imagine. Programs like Windows Vista® Media Center give you access to thousands of internet radio stations and again, most of it is free with your HTPC.

Thousands of internet radio stations are available at the touch of a button

Extend that Experience
With an HTPC and an extender (like the Microsoft Xbox 360 or other DMA device) you can even access the content on your HTPC on a second or more screens in your home. An extender provides remote access of the content on the HTPC over your home network. Similarly, with the right home network setup, you can access much of the content on an HTPC from your other PCs in the home.

Sports Fan
Stay up to date with all the latest score and stats of favorite team. With an HTPC, you can get quick access to all the latest happenings. Track players and stats for your fantasy sports team, find out the latest scores, find out what teams are playing and even schedule TV recordings.

Syncing to Personal Media Players
Take your content with you. Sync your PMP to your HTPC and you can transcode your favorite content on the HTPC (including recorded TV, etc) to your media player and take it with you when you travel. Cell phones, Personal Media players, handheld game devices are all adding functionality that targets entertainment content. With an HTPC, not only do you have a central box that aggregates your entertainment content, but can easily synch that content to your preferred player device so you can enjoy that content while mobile.

Home Control/Automation
With an HTPC, you can even set it up for Home Automation and Control. There are few competing technologies that enable this type of functionality, but by adding Zigbee, Z-Wave, UPB, etc type devices, you can control heating/air conditioning (HVAC), Alarm Systems, lighting, and more all right from your HTPC. Typically, these devices require some software application support in addition to hardware, however it is rather impressive the type of advanced things you can do with an HTPC.

Control lighting, security, heating/air conditioning, etc. with your HTPC. Image courtesy of Aspen Media Products.

View security cameras from your HTPC. Image courtesy of Aspen Media Products

Some of the things mentioned in this write up require a more advanced type set up and are often better left to a professional installer, however all of it can be done on an HTPC when properly configured, equipped, and installed. In a future segment, we will discuss in more detail the advantages of purchasing a pre-configured system and where you can buy one.

Add a keyboard and mouse and guess what? You have a fully operational PC that can do all the typical PC functions as well.

HTPCs a great way to access and enjoy digital entertainment content and the technology is now much more mature, making these solutions available at an affordable price. All of it controlled with a single remote. There are numerous Plug In type applications available that extend the functionality even further. You can add Weather plug ins to get the local and national weather, Movie Database plug ins to manage your movie/video content, Movie Streaming plug ins to access even more movie content online and much, much more. I will be sharing more on this in an upcoming blog.

Imagine, one HTPC that is your STB, Amplifier, DVD or Blu-ray player, music jukebox, video jukebox, internet TV box that can hold all your vacation videos, photos, music. All-in-one box that is simple to use, remote control operated to meet all your entertainment needs!

Till next time, Happy Trails!

Jay Taylor is a Senior Developer Relations Engineer at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.