TwonkyServer 6.0.1 Available

TwonkyServer 6.0.1 is available from today.

“TwonkyServer 6.0 includes a new feature that enable users to aggregate media located on multiple PC’s or other media servers throughout the home into one cohesive view.”

One new feature that should please many is the new multi file auto hide, this works by recognizing the same file on multiple machines and then hiding the others, resulting in only one being shown at any one time.

Check it out here.

Written by
Matthew Glover

DVBLogic EPG beta version!

DVBLogic have just released a beta version of their new EPG, sounds like an easy install in order to get working. They are including periodic scan so it will bring through all the latest program info direct from stream every 12 hours.

They are warning this will only works with DVBLink Server v3.0 or higher!

Check it out here.

Written by
Matthew Glover

TwonkyServer 6.0 User Guide

Twonky have released an updated User’s Guide for TwonkyServer 6.0.

The 13 page TwonkyServer UI Configuration User Guide can be downloaded in PDF format directly here.

Microsoft Security Essentials Beta Installs on WHS

Microsoft are offering a new public beta of their Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) anti malware product and the good news is that our friend Drashna Jael’re  bought to our attention that it installs on both Windows Home Server v1 as well as Vail too.

This is great news for Windows Home Server as MSE will provide a great free antivirus solution for Home Server users

And this new 2.0.0375.0 version also has the following new features:

• Windows Firewall integration allows you to turn on or off the Windows Firewall during setup.
• Enhanced protection from web-based threats by allowing MSEs an enhanced integration with Internet Explorer which helps prevent malicious scripts from running and provides improved protection against web based attacks.
• New protection engine – The updated engine offers enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities with better performance.
• Network inspection system – Provides functionality to help protect from network-based exploits.

NOTE: The network protection feature, under "Settings" – "Real-time protection" which inspects your network traffic and blocks suspicious connections only works in Windows 7 and Vista (and thus Vail as its based on Server 2008 which is the same code base as Windows 7) and is not available in XP or Windows 2003, including Windows Home Server v1.

This public beta is currently available to customers in the United States, Israel (English only), People’s Republic of China (Simplified Chinese only) and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese only).

To download either the 32 or 64 bit version, visit the Microsoft Connect site and fill out the beta registration form.  Once registered, you will find instructions for downloading and installing the beta.

Drive Balancer for Adding Hard Drives

The Drive Balancer app is designed to balance data distribution to all disks in the pool in Windows Home Server, ideal for when you add a new hard drive to your Home Server and it doesn’t necessarily start getting used for a while.

While Microsoft has made changes to the usage of the Landing Zone (as in it doesn’t exist anymore), some people’s systems might still be in a non "evened out" state and wish to correct this.

The latest version of this app (1.05) can be downloaded from here, but make sure you thoroughly read the readme and usage notes before using.

DVBlink TVSource 3.1

Version 3.1 of DVBLogic’s DVBlink TVSource is available.

As an ideal software application for having tuner cards in Windows Home Server. here is what is new and fixed in version 3.1:

• Substantial speed-up of channel changes for systems with satellite tuners and diseqc
• Substantial speed-up of channel scan
• Fixed compatibility with AnySee tuners and their softcam when using it with multicas providers
• New software registration mechanism: full overview of registration status of all installed DVBLink products in a single place
• New software purchasing mechanism. Now you can start purchase page directly from DVBLink Server configuration application. Next to the improved user experience new purchasing mechanism allows us to work more efficiently with our partners. More announcements on this subject are due very soon!
• Fixed "This program has stopped responding…" error in DVBLink addin
• Fixed issue with disappearing EPG data when using xmltv

The download link and information on upgrading is available from here.

DVBLink Walkthrough Presentation

Gary [WMA] recently done a DVBLink presentation and has since kindly uploaded the screen capture with annotations (no audio) which will walk you through the the DVBLink setup process.

Its a great 46 minute presentation which you can either watch on Blip TV or download the 261MB WMV file.

Information courtesy of TheDigitalLifestyle.com

DVBLink for ATSC and QAM Version 1.0B1

As you are aware we are fans of DVBLink which will allow you to install tuner cards into Windows Home Server if you so wish and stream the content across your network. But up until now it only worked with European content, but as off yesterday those of you in North America can now use the software too, as it now works with ATSC and QAM tuners (like the Hauppauge HVR 1250) bringing the signal straight to the DVBLink tuner.

This is the first beta release version 1.0B1 and does have the following limitations:

• The EIT packets (guide data sent over the air) are not yet forwarded to Media Center
• You might get a No Tuner Created message when scanning. In this case, try scan a second time.
• If you have DVBLink Server 2.X or 3.X installed, you can hit “Skip” when the installer asks you to update your DVBLink Server.

To try it out head on over to 1geek1tool.

Many thanks to Garry [WMA] for the update.

DVBLink TVSource 3.0.1

More updates from DVBLogic this week who have upgraded the DVBLink TVSource component to version 3.0.1 which is inline with their Network Pack.

DVBLink TVSource v3.0.1 is available!

Minor update to DVBLink TVSource that has the following fixes:
- Fixed TVSource not allowing standby
- Fixed some of the "No TV signal" errors
- Made extra functionality for correct handling of several USB tuner cards of the same type (needs testing!)

The released versions of DVBLink products can be downloaded from http://www.dvblogic.com/download.php.

For the installation instructions please refer to the release notes of v3.0 release:
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=10397&start=60#p27554

This version does not fix "Program has stopped responding…" message in MediaCenter. If you experience it, please post here to help us solve it:
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=10422

DVBLink Server Network Pack Version 3.0

DVBLink Server Network Pack version 3.0 is out, allowing you to watch your favorite TV channels not only inside your house, but also over the Internet using a browser interface wherever you are.

The DVBLink Server Network Client stays at version 2.1 to ensure interoperability with the currently available release version of all DVBLink source products and all existing DVBLink network pack users will upgrade for free as the new version of Network Pack will pick up their registration information automatically.

The one big addition to the DVBLink Server Network Pack v3.0 is that it allows streaming TV over the internet:

Streaming is done in Windows Media format that does not require any special codecs to be installed on the client side

• Access to your DVBLink Server is secured with user name and password
• Easy to navigate user interface
• Four quality levels for optimal bandwidth/quality selection
• Windowed and full screen modes
• Tested to work with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera
• Compatible with all DVBLink source products v2.x and the upcoming v3.0
• TV and Radio channels playback

A 20 day fully functional trial version of DVBLink Server Network Pack v3.0 can be downloaded from here. (ZIP file)