Google’s quietly introduced a (Windows-only) media server gadget:

Google Media server is about exposing content from your local compute(s) via UPnP protocol for devices on your home network. Google desktop is looking for content on you computer and network (if it is configured to do so). Google Media server uses Google desktop index.

Of course, being Google, they offer the ability to stream the web content under their control (YouTube and PicasaWeb) from PC to UPnP devices - in addition to the non-DRMed photos, videos, and music residing on your computer. As an occasional Connect360 user, this forum note caught my eye:

At time of development the only way to connect the XBox 360 to a UPnP  server, was to have a service that is only found on Microsoft services and for the server itself to be claimed to be made by microsoft. Legal would not allow us to pretend to be microsoft (although there are other servers out there that do).

It’s quite interesting to see Google dabbling in this arena - I wonder where they’re going to take it. In the current state, it’s purely a geek toy… (via Last100)

EngadgetHD’s Ben Drawbaugh recently abandoned TiVo in favor of a CableCARD Vista Media Center and has been evaluating the current crop of extenders. His ultimate advice: If you’re a gamer, stick with the Xbox 360 (despite the cost and noise). Otherwise, the quiet and relatively inexpensive Linksys DMA2100 ($240) is the way to go.

Yes! I received my very first YouTube takedown notice for an unedited presentation of the TiVo Series3 startup animation, originally posted fall of 2006. Of course, the irony here - and something THX may not be aware of - is that TiVo, Inc facilitated and OK-ed this video upload as a supplement to my Engadget review. I forwarded their email back to copyright@youtube.com asking for a THX contact. However, I don’t expect to receive any sort of info without filing a DMCA counter notice. Which I have no intention of doing. THX (and TiVo) will just lose out on the free advertising. Works for me.

I’ve been talking about this for quite awhile, and it’s finally time to get going. The Battle Royale will be a comparison of various set-top boxes (pictured above), with an emphasis on the movie rental experience. Each (weekly?) Battle Royale blog entry will focus on one specific topic (remotes, content selection, etc) and the devices will ranked from best to worst - there’ll be NO ties. Participants include:

• TiVo HD
• Xbox 360
• Vudu
• Apple TV
• Roku Netflix

Let’s get ready to rumble…

Gizmodo has gone back in time to document the evolution of the TiVo peanut remote, including a few unique images - such as molds and prototypes.

What caught my eye were images of a remote stand (where can I get a couple?) and discussions of a more text-entry friendly remote. For some time, I thought an Xbox-style Chatpad would be the way to go. However the Vudu (scrollwheel), Wii (motion sensor), and FiOS TV DVR (triple tap) have proven there are more efficient ways to “type” without squeezing a full-on keyboard into the remote.

And while we’re talking TiVo remotes, over the years my two favorites have been the Toshiba SD-H400 (other than ‘zero’ key placement) and the Series3/Glo (below). Additional info on Series3/Glo remote improvements over the Series2/THD can be found here.

In the talking typing heads policy battle currently raging across the blogosphere, I hereby declare the NCTA as winner. I actually have very little interest or knowledge of the topic at hand, however there can be only one… and Verizon’s lobbyist is still ending sentences with two spaces, while Cable’s lobbyist linked his rival’s blog. (Bonus 1/2 point to Cable for using WordPress, though they haven’t upgraded to 2.5.* yet.)

Verizon’s PolicyBlog initial salvo:

First, should consumers have information from all providers before choosing a carrier for voice or video services . . . or a package of services? Of course. That seems like a no-brainer.  Information – the much-touted concept of transparency – is both the consumer’s and competition’s best friend. How can consumers know if they’re getting the best deal if one of the service providers can’t give them information before they’ve made the purchase?

CableTechTalk’s return fire:

However, when customers make a decision to leave you, you are obligated to honor their decision to request that their phone number be transferred to their new provider, and respect their privacy by porting their current number within 4 days without harassing them with marketing retention calls. Congress, on a bipartisan basis, and the FCC have previously recognized that integrity in the number porting process is essential for true competition to flourish.

Cynthia Brumfield suggests they’re both speaking out of turn:

More interesting than the fun back-and-forth blogfight between the highly paid lobbyists is the fact that they’re arguing over an FCC decision that hasn’t been publicly announced yet and is part of a rare “restricted” proceeding, meaning that no one is supposed to be blabbing about it unless everyone who is a party to the proceeding is present.

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs:

• The Femtocell Primer: Media Experiences 2 Go
• Mapping Out Home Media Connections: Brent Evans Geek Tonic
• Using SDV for the MPEG-4 Transition: Media Experiences 2 Go
• $35 Rumored Rogers iPhone Unlimited Rate Plan: The Daleisphere
• Does Your GPS Tweet: Dash Points of Interest

I received the same Hulu email as Mari earlier this week. And it didn’t move me. I don’t want to stream full length feature films on my laptop. Hulu’s real strength has been in shorter form television entertainment. (Given their NBC and FOX DNA, this comes as no surprise.)

During Hulu’s beta I was pretty tolerant of their “random episode” policy, figuring it’d take awhile to encode the content library. However, after many months I still see no rhyme nor reason to what shows are available and when.

For example there’s not much on TV these days, so when I heard about USA’s Pysch I dropped by Hulu to check it out. As you can see above (click to enlarge) - only a few episodes are offered, they’re not in any sensible (sequential) order, and at least one will expire (before I’d get to it). As someone who’s never seen Psych, at the very least Hulu needs to provide the first episode of each season so I can see what it’s all about without joining mid-stream. Ideally, they’d present the entire season - but even if they offered a few episodes, perhaps they’d hook me and I’d buy the DVD or (gasp) even watch live.

The bottom line here is that big media still doesn’t (seem to) get it. I’m willing to sit through the commercials, generating additional new revenue for these guys. Online, they need to focus less on (the false premise of) cannibalizing DVD sales or television viewing and focus more and monetizing what people are acquiring for free… or ultimately ignoring. Too hard to find Psych? Fine, I’ll skip it. They’re leaving money on the table.