Archive for the ‘Media Center’ Category

Some TV Station encode digital TV in h.264 format, wtv file recorded in windows media center that can not converted to dvr-ms or mpeg using normal tools, WTV H.264 to TS converter can do that.
WTV H.264 to MPEG TS Converter is a easy-to-use video converter for converting WTV file with H.264 format to TS format, replay recorded TV show on other computer without windows 7 or Vista TV Pack, it is fast, convert WTV file without video stream transocde. user can batch convert wtv files with on-click. It output high quality video and support 1080p/720p HD TV record .
Read the rest of this entry »

Windows Codename Fiji is the prime example of Microsoft sticking to an absurd policy when it comes down to communicating details about its products to the general public. Even at just one month from the release of Windows Fiji, the Redmond company is keeping a tight lid on all details much to the frustration of Windows Media Center users. This, especially since Fiji was released to manufacturing in July as the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008. However, the RTM of Windows Fiji has changed nothing for Windows Media Center end users who, with the exception of a limited pool of testers involved in the Beta development milestones of the products, are being kept completely in the dark.

Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 RTM is Build 6.1.1000.18273, designed for implementation on top of Windows Media Center in Windows Vista RTM or Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The gold bits have been available since July 16, according to the Redmond company. But even so, Microsoft will only offer the first details on Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 on September 3.

What questions do you have about the Windows Media Center TV? I can’t answer or comment on any of them until the official announcements happen at CEDIA. But I can think about the answers before then. If you have specific questions about the Windows Media Center TV Pack leave them

Transport Streams are the combining (multiplexing) of multiple program channels (typically digital video channels) onto a signal communication channel (such as a satellite transponder channel). A MPEG transport stream (MPEG-TS) is also called a multi-program transport stream (MPTS).
Read the rest of this entry »

Vista Media Center TV Pack 2008

What’s the neatest feature in Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system?
The answer is simple: Windows Media Center. And the good news is that the media-centric interface just got its biggest overhaul since Vista launched. The Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 software lets PCs receive high-definition cable content without requiring specially certified systems (though CableCARDs are required for premium, encrypted content). That means high-def cable for the rest of us!

The Windows Media Center TV Pack was released on July 16, 2008. Not all computers that are shipped by hardware vendors in the retail channel have the Windows Media Center TV Pack installed. To check whether your computer has the Windows Media Center TV Pack installed, follow these steps:

1. Start Windows Media Center.
2. In the Start window, scroll to Tasks, click Settings, and then click General.
3. Click About Windows Media Center, and then click Software Version.

If the version is 6.1.1000.18273, you are running the Windows Media Center TV Pack.

If the version number is 6.0.6001.18000, you are not running the Windows Media Center TV Pack. You are running the version of Windows Media Center that is included in Windows Vista or in Windows Vista SP1.

Fiji, officially known as Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008, has Released! The input from Self Host testers has been invaluable to this product and the team would like to thank each of you for your bug reports and feedback. As the release team is taking a much needed break, our next focus will be to post the final build onto the Products servers. Please check the newsgroups for updates. Once the build is live, we will notify you.

What’s the highest-quality way to get H.264 WTV 1080p rips (avc1, 24fps, bitrates approx 8K-10K) to Tivo using pyTivo?

I’ve been letting pyTivo transcode them to mpeg, where the ffmpeg parameters are:
-vcodec mpeg2video -b 20971k -maxrate 30000k -bufsize 8388k -acodec ac3 -ab 448k -ar 48000 -f vob

Lately I’ve read that pyTivo can push H.264. Would I get a higher-quality end result if I pushed the WTV H.264 files instead? If so what ffmpeg parameters would I need?
Read the rest of this entry »