A FAQ to help you understand your HDTV options with an eye to HTPC usage. What is my HDTV’s native resolution? Don’t confuse "native resolution" with resolutions an HDTV set can accept. HDTVs can usually accept all formats of digital TV but they are up/down converted to the native resolution(s) of the TV. CRT based HDTVs – (both direct-view and […]
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Those of you familiar with MissingRemote.com might remember my Guide to Streaming Media article I wrote a while back, comparing Orb, Webguide and SageTV Placeshifter. Well, apparantly the folks over at Cyberlink saw it as well and decided that they could have something to offer and have named it CyberlinkLive. So let's see how their early betas can compare with […]
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As part of the upcoming 2009 digital TV transition the final phase of consumer electronics compliance was put into effect last month: any TVs, DVRs, etc. made from this point forward must also include an ATSC tuner. For the HTPC world this means that any PC TV tuner made from this point forward must have an ATSC tuner in addition […]
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Logitech Harmony 670 Universal Remote Review On the table today is the Harmony 670 Universal Remote from Logitech. Let's find out what it's capable of for an MSRP of $149.99. So, you find yourself armed with a fancy new tv, a top notch receiver, fancy floor shaking speakers, a new HTPC to drive it all and […]
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Monoprice High Quality Speaker Banana Plugs – Solder Type Haven't you always thought banana plugs were the coolest thing ever? I know I have….they just weren't $10/pair cool. That's where Monoprice comes in. They have some very solid banana plugs for less than $2/pair, with prices getting even cheaper if you order multiple pairs at once. Despite being solder type […]
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Radioshack 15-1892: Indoor Antenna w/ RF Remote Today I am taking a look at the Radioshack 15-1892 Indoor Antenna. This is one of the many antennas available at Radioshack. I'm hoping it can improve my reception quality in my first floor apartment. In an urban/suburban area distance to the towers isn't always the only issue, multipath rejection can play […]
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So I'm sure by now you've all heard of Slingbox, that neat little box that connects to your TV and then allows you to stream that content over the internet to any computer you're at. Well, while Slingbox may have been the first to get into the mainstream with this technology, it was far from being the pioneer […]
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Showtime Interactive Today we will take a quick peak at the latest online spotlight application in Vista Media Center, Showtime Interactive. Let's see if it's worthy of becoming a player in the online content world. Showtime Interactive is yet another online content distributor made possible by the generous folks at Showtime, where you can find and download programs […]
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Loudspeaker Design Basics Today we will take a look at the basics of loudspeaker design. Specifically, we will cover general concepts, terminology, design parameters, and enclosure styles which are essential knowledge for a successful build. Loudspeaker design is commonly perceived as somewhat of a “black art†and not really approachable by DIY audiophiles. Sure, it is not uncommon to […]
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Seasonic M12 500W Modular Power Supply Today I am taking a look at the Seasonic M12 500W power supply. The Seasonic M12 is the first modular power supply to be offered by Seasonic. Quiet, cool, stable and modular it has the potential to be a killer solution for use in a Home Theater PC. Let's find out how well it […]
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