Brent and I are giving away a Firefly PC Remote ($50), courtesy of Snapstream. For remote details, check out my brief hands on or Brent’s extensive review. The rules are simple: Leave a comment on this post saying you want in. However, your comment must be accompanied by a Gravatar image/icon - sign up here. (It’s painless, really.) Please be located in the lower 48 (US) and we’ll randomly choose a winner later this week.

Looks like we’ve got a new player in the PC extension business… Last last week, ZeeVee introduced the ZvBox - available for pre-order. The ZvBox transmits both PC VGA video output (up to HD resolutions) and audio (up to 5.1 surround via USB) over coax to televisions in your home. Re-using the existing coaxial cabling installed in most homes is an efficient way to move content, from the SD DIY AVcast to whole-home DVR products from vendors like Verizon FiOS TV and Dish Network. Unlike those solutions, however, ZeeVee doesn’t transmit control over coax - relying instead on a two-way RF remote with a reported range of 150′.

ZeeVee hasn’t yet indicated the exact requirements to receive the “Zv channel.” Can the signal be passed through a set-top box, or will the cable need to be split? And what about my older Panasonic CRT HDTV without ATSC tuner - am I out of luck? Though, the biggest hurdle these guys face isn’t technological, it’s pricing… At $500, I’d rather buy a small, dedicated computer to watch Netflix, Hulu, etc on my television. If they reduce consumer cost by 1/3 - 1/2, they’ll have a much better shot at success.

(Thanks for the tip, Ryan!)

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

• Firefly HTPC Remote Control Review: Brent Evans Geek Tonic
• Grand Theft Auto IV, Diary Entry #1: The Daleisphere
• Grand Theft Auto IV, Diary Entry #2: The Daleisphere
• Cheaper All-Digital, All-HD and All-Switched: Media Experiences 2 Go
• NCTA on Switched Digital Video and CableCARD: Connected Home 2 Go

Are you one of the many anxiously awaiting Hauppauge’s new HD-PVR? Hauppauge’s website still indicates the HD-PVR will begin shipping on May 1st, 2008. But, there is new information that says that isn’t the case.

Unfortunately, I have confirmed with Hauppauge that the first shipments didn’t begin on May 1st. Instead, the earliest, expected shipment dates are mid-May. I’m a little disappointed, but not all that surprised. I’ve heard from representatives of SageTV and Snapstream (Beyond TV) and both of them seem to be as ready for the device, but word is Hauppauge’s still working on the drivers to get them just right. If this means the drivers will work better with the software, then it is certainly the best decision to get things right before putting it in the hands of the users.

If you’ve already pre-ordered, according to Hauppauge, here’s how to determine your expected shipment date:

• For those with an online order # of 32700-33600 you’re first in line - your HD-PVR should ship by Mid-May 2008
• For those with an online order # of 33601-34600 you’re second in line - your HD-PVR should ship by the end of May 2008
• If you’re order number is after 34600, it will likely be after May 2008.

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

SnapStream, the folks behind Beyond TV DVR software, offered Team ZNF a look at the Firefly RF media center remote control ($50). While Brent’s finalizing his review, he shipped the remote back to play with before we give it away on ZNF. The Firefly controls a wide variety of media apps out of the box, including Beyond TV and Vista Media Center (VMC), plus it can be customized to support additional programs. Generally speaking, RF is preferable to IR due to increased range and fewer line-of-sight issues. And the Firefly is certainly superior to my wireless Microsoft keyboard and mouse in controlling VMC from the La-Z-Boy. However, RF’s not going to turn my plasma on… Next!

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

• Comcast Launches AnyRoom: Media Experiences 2 Go
• Mac Mini as Windows HTPC: Brent Evans Geek Tonic
• Grand Theft Gamestop: Davis Freeberg’s Digital Connection
• New Motorola VDSL2 Gateways: Media Experiences 2 Go
• Teaching Time Warner Clear QAM: Brent Evans Geek Tonic
• Femtocells, Region by Region: Media Experiences 2 Go

I received an email yesterday wondering what exactly an HTPC is, and why wouldn’t I just hook up an inexpensive computer to my flat panel for music, pics, DVD, and video? As I told George, that’s exactly what I’ve done.

A Home Theater PC (HTPC) is more of a usage concept rather than a specific piece of a hardware. Generally speaking, one would want an HTPC to have at least one tuner (ATSC, NTSC, DVB-*, CableCARD), an appropriate video card for HD playback, and some sort of software package(s) to power it all. In my case, I’ve temporarily repurposed an inexpensive HP desktop (a1600n) which ran ~$650 18 months ago. (Vista was a free upgrade by mail.) Because the unit lives in the open, instead of within an AV closet or another room, I purposely sought out a fanless video card to limit noise. Under XP, Microsoft’s media center + DVR software was initially an upsell (XP MCE) and initially only provided to OEMs. Whereas typical multimedia-centric consumer Vista systems (Premium, Ultimate) now include this functionality. (And Apple offers Front Row.) So it’s pretty easy to get into the game. HTPCs provide a whole lot more power and flexibility than a typical DVR or extender, but they’re not necessarily economical and require a larger investment of time in configuration and maintenance than a dedicated consumer electronics device. (more…)

What to do with a headless Vista PC? Now that the LCD’s been relocated, the desktop computer needs a new home. In two weeks, I’m visiting my great uncle who’s possibly in need of an updated system. There’s always ebay. Or maybe I need to keep this HP around for random experiments like running Mythbuntu, etc. For starters, I temporarily banished my Xbox 360 and TiVo HD into the closet to give a few Windows-based DVR software packages a whirl on the 42″ plasma. However, to overcome the insufficient integrated graphics, I swung by Micro Center and picked up a Visiontek Radeon 3450 fanless video card with HDMI output ($50AR). Though I got a decent amount of exercise configuring the new card and Vista Media Center, I wasn’t pleased blowing over an hour getting HDMI audio to work. A good reminder why I originally moved away from dedicated HTPCs. At the moment, I’m using OTA ATSC. But if I fully commit to a HTPC in the living room, I’ll probably utilize clear QAM for a cleaner look and more channels.