cM :: MORLEY|DIGITAL

I’ve seen a lot of buzz around the web about MSI’s DIVA HTPC platform and its ability to support ATI’s TV Wonder Digital Cable tuner.  This is correct, but not for end users.  The MSI motherboard has the table built in for the AMD/MS OEM partners to put in their CableLabs information to enable playback of digital cable content including encrypted QAM content.  However, this table is not populated.  An individual is not able to enter into the necessary agreements with the relevant parties in order to get this information.  Furthermore, you must be direct with Microsoft to get the special COAs that have a digital cable activation PID.  Without this PID you will not be able to even enable digital cable during the TV Tuner setup portion of Media Center.  So buy DIVA because it’s a kickass HTPC platform, but please don’t waste your money if you think you’re going to get digital cable working.

Edit:  Amazingly, some people still aren’t convinced.  From MSI’s own website:  ”Support ATI OCUR capable for Microsoft OEM approved Integrators” – this doesn’t include end users.

Specialty media server company among licensed Microsoft Partners to deploy Media Center TV Pack 2008

The Woodlands Texas-August 13, 2008– Microsoft OEM Gold Partner and authorized digital-cable media server OEM Fluid Digital is proud to announce the integration of Microsoft’s Media Center TV Pack to enable an enhanced TV viewing experience.

“We’re excited about delivering even more value to our customers with native support for four digital cable tuners, an enhanced electronic program guide, and the ability to share non-protected digital cable content across PlayReady-enabled PCs and portable media devices,” says Chris Morley, Executive Vice President, Fluid Digital.

Fluid Digital Media Servers will begin shipping with the Media Center TV pack in Q4 of 2008. In addition to four digital cable tuner support, Fluid Digital will be able to integrate additional Clear QAM tuners in a heterogeneous manner, with the ability to remap channels to various tuners within the system.

“In my 32 years of designing and integrating home theater solutions, I have never experienced a technology progress so far and at such a rapid pace,” said Kevin Buchanan, President of Fluid Digital. “What Microsoft has been able to accomplish in the living room has been awe inspiring and we are pleased to be a part of the story.”

Fluid Digital Media Servers are sold through a vetted dealer network and are professionally installed to ensure years of hassle-free TV and media enjoyment. Fluid Digital Media Servers are a perfect combination of technology, art, and experience in the audio visual industry.

About Fluid Digital

Fluid Digital is among a handful of Microsoft Partners authorized to integrate Windows Vista with Digital Cable support. Fluid Digital was the first to market with AMD’s 780G chipset integrated in a digital cable media server. Fluid Digital is the only media server company in the business that is wholly owned by a custom A/V hybrid (retailer/installer) that enables them to have the fastest response time in the industry.

Contact:
For dealer inquiries, please contact Kevin Buchanan at 281-298-8778. For technical and capabilities inquiries on Fluid Digital media servers, please contact Chris Morley at 512-535-2659. Please visit our website at www.fluiddigitalmedia.com.

For more information on this press release and Microsoft’s TV Pack, please check out CEPro.

You know the old saying, “Half of life is just showing up”?  I think it’s also followed by “The other half is showing up on time.”  While both are true, the former is what benefited MAINGEAR @ Quakecon 2008 this year.  We had a prominent position at AMD’s booth, and while the competition sent machines, no one bothered to send people. 

So we got to do a lot of mingling with AMD fans and gaming enthusiasts, and were really able to bring our message of performance, reliability, and customer service to the old and young alike.  Wallace and I were AMD’s “Ask the experts” panel and we had a lot of fun talking about AMD technology, being a boutique PC builder, and I even got to talk about some of my favorite subjects like bloatware, crappy chassis, and other stuff.

But two things just blew me away.  Getting to go up on the main stage and give away a MAINGEAR PC in front of a huge crowd of people was just awesome.  Everyone was so excited to be there and the kid who won our F131 was shaking as he filled out some paperwork.  We put a brand new system in the last of the first F131 chassis we ever used.  We painted it red for AMD/ATI, and it was kinda emotional for some of us as we were really giving a part of our history.

You can see me talking about it here.

The other great experience was being involved in a documentary about gamers and the gaming industry.  Wallace, Wendel, and I were all interviewed both one on one, and at our booth about what it’s like to be in the gaming business and actually make money at it, compete with the Tier 1s, what a boutique PC builder really is, and a whole bunch of other stuff.  It was produced by a Tonight Show producer and I have no idea where it’s going to air or when, but the last one they did ended up on MTV.  So we’ll see.

Which is why it’s with a heavy heart that I must tell you that I’ll be transitioning away from MAINGEAR shortly.  MAINGEAR has been a labor of love for me over the past year and was never about the money.  Wallace and crew really restored my faith in this business and I couldn’t be more proud of the work we have done and what we have accomplished.  They are truly a force for good in this business. 

But I’ve been offered such an incredible opportunity that every day this week I have pinched myself to make sure it’s not just a dream.  The possibilities are endless and I couldn’t be more excited.  I can’t talk much more about it, and I really wanted this post to be about my love and respect for MAINGEAR, so I’ll save it for another day.

A little birdy brought this to me last week.

For full specs, read here.  I also received a mATX version of this mini-ITX powerhouse, the DG45ID.

This fulfills all the players I mentioned in my article I wrote for DailyTech last year entitled “Video Processing: A Race To The Bottom.“

That was nearly a year ago, and our options today are fantastic.  AMD’s 780G led the charge, followed closely by NVIDIA’s 8200 chipset, and now Intel’s G45 solutions are starting to enter the fray.  It’s a good time to be an HTPC enthusiast, that’s for sure.

Just to be sure, I did test the DG45FC @ 1080p over HDMI running H.264 content ~30Mbps with 2GB of RAM and an Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 and experienced about 28% CPU utilization.  Not bad in my book!  That was with Vista 32-bit and ArcSoft’s TotalMedia Theatre.

Is anyone else not seriously freaked out about chassis manufacturers attempting to resurrect Voltron? 

Asus is building the head:

 http://www.edbordenblog.com/2008/03/decepticons-attack-asus-ares-cg6150.html

 And GMC is building the legs/feet:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/04/video-hands-on-with-the-gmc-bulldozer-r4-computer-case/

Kids, these chassis are plastic toilets.  And to paraphrase George Carlin, it’s wrong, and it’s bad for ya!