Hauppauge’s HTPC HD-PVR device, originally scheduled for March availability and then later this spring, has been delayed and “should hit the market toward the end of May, early June.” Another tidbit I’ve picked up is that the HD-PVR, which will record digital television straight from any component video output, won’t initially be compatible with Microsoft Media Center – though support is planned for sometime this summer. MC integration may be more difficult because Vista doesn’t currently offer native H.264 playback. My guess is that we’ll see H.264 support within the upcoming “Fiji” Vista Media Center update, now recruiting beta testers, as they roll out DirectTV tuning functionality. Additionally, I expect both SageTV and BeyondTV to support Hauppauge’s device; Company representatives have both mentioned the HD-PVR and seem to understand the extra capability it would bring to their software.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.

I want to follow up on the all-day Netflix outage reported on Monday. Because my DVD delivery was affected by the outage, Netflix sent me a nice apology e-mail giving me a 5% credit for my inconvenience. It’s a nice gesture that is appreciated.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.

One of my favorite Home Theater PC software programs is SageTV. SageTV turns your PC into a souped-up TiVo providing DVR functions, a movie and music interface, plus so much more. For new users of SageTV, the first plugin I always recommend they install is the user-created and supported SageTV Web User Interface. The Web Interface allows you to remotely view your personal TV guide, view streamed live or recorded TV programs, remotely schedule and manage your recorded television programs, manage and view (or listen to) your music, pictures, DVDs and videos that reside on your SageTV at home. By installing SageTV Web Interface on your SageTV PC, you can access your content from any machine by using a web browser, including a cell phone or mobile device. It works with any Windows operating systems, as well as Linux. Even if you already use SageTV and Web Interface, it’s likely that there are features that you didn’t even realize were present.

Head on over to Brent Evans Geek Tonic for a complete SageTV Web User Interface feature listing with installation and customization guidance.

Snapstream has released an update to Beyond TV, the software-based PVR application. Their focus continues to be ease of setup, ease of use and powerful PVR functionality. This version, a free upgrade for existing BeyondTV customers, includes the following significant new features:

• Record by saved, keyword searches (like Tivo)
• Frame by frame playback
• Conflict notifications via e-mail
• Separate levels of access using user accounts
• Sort your recorded shows library by name, original air date, or date recorded
• Speedier recording scheduler

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.

I’ve been using Netflix’s Watch Now feature much more lately mostly because of the excellent Netflix plugin for SageTV that allows me to browse, search, and play the Watch-Now movies from the comfort of my couch.  The plugin has been improved by Morgan (the plug-in developer), but once you start a movie or show there were still some issues controlling everything without pulling out a keyboard and mouse. This has been a stumbler due to the fact that Netflix offers very few keyboard shortcuts for the service. Well, I’ve been tinkering with a program called girder to make my remote control communicate with my PC. And in doing so I discovered a few hidden windows commands that give you more control over the Netflix Watch-Now feature.

Grab your IR receiver and head on over to Brent Evans Geek Tonic for complete instructions (or to just download the gml file).

I’m setting up my SageTV HD100 and a key component is the HDMI cable used to connect the HD media extender to the LCD television. One thing I learned long ago was to not buy theater cables from the big-box retailers, including Best Buy, Circuit City,Walmart , etc. Instead, I save myself a bundle by purchasing online. Why not cave to convenience and purchase at the store? Despite what the kid at the store tells you, those Monster Cable and lesser known “high quality” cables are being sold at huge margins and no noticeable differences in performance.

Best Buy sells the fancy packaged, 16′ Monster Cable – Ultra Series 800 HDMI A/V Cable (not rated for in-wall installation) for the low, low price of $149.99. While Monoprice.com, my favorite cable vendor, sells a HDMI Tin-Plated Copper CL2 Rated (For In-Wall Installation) Cable (22AWG) – 30ft (Gold Plated) for $36.87. Feel free to include shipping fees, and you’re still way below the big-box cost. Delivery is very quick and you’ll end up with a better cable for less. Another retailer with good, inexpensive cables is Newegg.com.

Next time you have a home theater project, do your homework and shop around to save in places you didn’t expect. Trust me, you’ll need that money later for something else in your theater.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.

Let’s say I win the lottery. Not just a little jackpot, but a really big one. If that happens, this is the home theater I might want to put in my mansion. It costs about $6 million and includes a gigantic, Snowmatte laboratory-grade screen, Sony ultra-high-resolution (4,096-by-2,160) SRX-S110 digital projector, a 8.8-channel audio system with THREE center-channel speakers, SIXTEEN 18-inch Snell Subs, and the list goes on and on. In the end, the setup powers 11,315 high-quality watts in the room designed for the sole purpose of being the ultimate home theater. Is it overkill? Heck yes, but who’s going to judge you when it’s your cash?

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.