Easy way to view home values
Found out about Zillow from ABC Nightline tonight. Very cool.
Media Center Links
Setting up a Media Center Extender
Fun with DVR-MS. Article about program to modify metadata (includes source)
Thread discussing how to burn/edit recorded shows to DVD (content may be dated)
Transcript with Windows Media Center experts
One guy’s method of convering DVR-MS to DVD
DVRMSToolbox
Media PC
I received my Dell Media PC this week. I’m looking forward to using it as a DVR. The computer came with what seemed like an abundant 9 USB ports, 5 in back, 2 in front, 2 on LCD Monitor, though I’m quickly using them up:
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Infrared receiver for Media Center Remote
- Extender from monitor to enable the USB ports on the monitor (1 for 2 swap)
- Digital camera docking station
- PC Video Camera
- [Unused]
- [Unused]
- [Unused]
There was lots to plug but it was all straight forward. Setting up the OS, I only had one criticism and that was how they tried to lead you to sign up for one of the Internet access trials from various 3rd party providers that were pre-installed. I read that the Media Center edition of Windows was closely protected against pre-installed crapware but I didn’t find that to be the case. The choice for Internet access made it seem like you didn’t have a "bring my own" choice but I canceled the screen and the next one allowed me to use my existing Cable connection.
My TV Tuner didn’t work the first time, but after I ran through the setup wizard a second time and selecting manual setup, it worked. I selected all the same options that the automatic-setup asked me to confirm.
Update 05/03/06:
Played with the Media PC Guide to view TV. I really like it. Selecting shows to watch and record is very easy and intuitive. When you select a show to record you can record a single instance or the entire series. Probably my favorite feature of a DVR is for each recorded show to be saved independent of each other and to be able to quickly locate and playback a recorded show.
Pausing live tv is cool. I had some problems where the program did not play back properly after pausing it. I never had expectations that a PC based DVR would be BETTER than a dedicated DVR (i.e. TIVO) device so it didn’t bug me too much. It works pretty well, just not perfect.
Links
RSS and Email
Squeet allows you to receive RSS feeds via email [via Scoble]
How many more readers do you think would subscribe to your syndicated feed if they could receive your content via email? Certainly, more than otherwise. Give your readers the Squeet option.
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 Download
I was installing IIS on a machine and it asked for the Windows SP2 CD.
I found it available for download here
DotNetNuke
I’m hosting my www.neighborhoodswap.net domain at GoDaddy. They offer the DotNetNuke content management software. I installed it and was getting into it. Then I reached a point where I wanted to customize it and add my own module. Turns out you can’t do that unless YOU install DotNetNuke yourself. Don’t understand why but looks like I’ll have to start over.
HowTo Manually Install DotNetNuke on GoDaddy.com derived from this thread
DNN Designer – a DNN Control Panel Replacement
Microsoft’s Virtual Earth
API Profile: Microsoft Virtual Earth
Virtual Earth: MSN’s answer to Google Maps
Creating your first Virtual Earth Page
Creating your first Commercial Page
Via Virtual Earth, all things Virtual Earth
Virtual Earth standard map control use requirements
Virtual Earth Commercial map control use requirements
FlashEarth
MSDN Doc
Website Design
You can have an ugly site and be successfull
Robert has a post titled "The role of anti-marketing Design" where he supports the idea that ugly websites do better than attractive ones. I don’t think the sites are popular BECAUSE they are ugly, rather despite their appearance. I think the popularity of "ugly" sites proves that it’s all about the content.