Virtua Computers » Home Theater

Plex now in the App Store

Justin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:23:14 +0000

With Plex 9 dropping tomorrow, the designers released an iDevice app. The remote, costing $4.99, makes a direct connection to your Plex setup. You can stream Plex content over 3G (with some tweaking), so you can watch anything you have in Plex. Did you download it yet…what are you waiting for?

Plex 9 finally has a release date…and it’s pretty!

Justin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:38:47 +0000

Sept 1st won’t only be the day the new iPod’s come out…no no. Plex the hotness in OS X media center software has been revamped from scratch. Instead of being one giant monolithic program, the developers changed the system to make a media server, and a thin client. One of Plex 9′s new features (which ps I’m already loving, without even having tried it) is that you can run Plex media server on one computer…and start to watch your movie, then pause…go to another room launch Plex on that media center computer and pick up where you left off!! Stay tuned – I’m sure I will have a complete review for you on Sept 2nd.

Love Apple and Mercedes-Benz – then this car is for you

Justin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:20:35 +0000

Need we say more?

Ok but because you asked….This is the Brabus Mercedes-Benz S600 iBusiness edition. While the car itself tops out 211MPH, you can be working at 1000MPH on 2 iPads, a Mac Mini connected to a 15.2″ display, and a 64GB iPod Touch. Internet is of course provided by the local 3G wireless provider. Brabus doesn’t post a price, but let’s just say the car alone starts at $150,000….so you do the math….I’m still drooling.

Need Wifi? Use your power outlets!

Justin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:31:47 +0000

Western Digitals new Livewire Power AV Network Kit uses a simple concept. Extend your network through your home’s electrical wiring. So you just plug an ethernet cord from your router into the first box and plug said box into an outlet. On any other outlet that is on the same power grid, which most newer homes are, plug in the 2nd box and plug your internet devices into it. Voila. So easy any “parent” can do it. Just in case you don’t get it here’s a picture:
The device uses 128-bit encryption, which is built in so no passwords need to be remember, and also boasts speeds up to 200 megabits per second. Now I’m sure you are saying “but I have gigabit in my house I don’t want to lose those speeds this device is crap!” But think about it…if you had gigabit around your house, and you had ethernet ports in every room you probably don’t need this device anyway! For those who do need this device, Western Digital claims that 200 megabits per second is fast enough to stream 1080p Full-HD to your internet enabled TV. For extending your Wifi, just plug an airport express right into the 2nd box, and now you have Wifi covering more of your house!

For $140 bucks, I’ll give it the Big Apple Blog stamp of approval – but then again we have gigabit ethernet ports in every room .

Another Swing for Apple TV

Justin — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:31:55 +0000

Apple’s hobby product Apple TV may be seeing a new iteration this fall, making the leap from hobby to something they actually care about. Other than the timing of the leak, this shouldn’t be considered a response to Google’s announcement last week of their set top box, since Apple TV has been around for three years now. The new Apple TV is expected to be more of a front end device using cloud storage rather than a local drive. It is also likely it will be running the next gen iPhone OS making a nice triumvirate of Apple products running their light OS (iPod/iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV)

The rumored $99.00 price point and inevitable iTunes integration is just what Apple needs to be competitive in the Media Center arena. But iTunes integration could be a double edged sword. I know if I can’t access and play all of my digital media on the device it is never going to see the inside of my home. Damn the DRM and format wars!

Don’t expect any announcements next month, but check back again in the fall for information about the release.

Your Mac on the Small Screen

Justin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:25:33 +0000

So you have a new MacBook Pro, and you really want to get your computer screen on your Television. There are a lot of companies out there that make cables to do that. Monoprice has it’s mini-display port cable that will convert Mini-DP to HDMI, but Expansys just released an all in one Mini DP + USB Audio to HDMI cable by TeleAdapt. For $40 USD this cable will convert the USB audio output and integrate it into the already existing wiring of the HDMI port. For those who aren’t yet familiar with HDMI standards; HDMI can carry video and audio. This allow for 1 cable to be run from your HD cable box to your flat screen TV. Many of us have a home theater system with a Stereo receiver with HDMI ports, so this would work great for you. Check out the tech specs here.