Popcorn Hour A-110
‘Networked Media Tank‘ a.k.a. ‘Popcorn Hour‘ is another name for an awesome piece of hardware. It’s a small device (the size of a 8-port desktop switch)) that enables you to view media on your TV. You name the format, and it plays it. No matter what the resolution is.
The Popcorn Hour (PCH) is a specialized piece of hardware just for decoding media. Even MKV (Matroska Containers) files are supported. I tried this by downloading a sample of Iron Man in 1080p with DTS audio, and it performed flawlessly. The picture quality was superb.
Besides watching video’s you can also;
- listen to music
- watch your holiday pictures
- watch (pre-programmed) online media like YouTube
- use it as a torrent downloader
- use it as a usenet downloader (NZBGet)
I currently use mine solely with the HDMI connector hooked up to my Pioneer A/V Receiver. This way I get to enjoy all the benefits of HD content. There are numerous ways of connecting the PCH to your TV/Home Theater. Both analog and digital.
One little drawback; don’t plan on doing a lot of pushing buttons on the remote when you are copying lot’s of files over the network to the device. I had to reset my PCH twice in an hour. The CPU for the operating System (OS) on the device is for the interface and basic network connectivity (there’s a CPU for displaying media, and a CPU for the OS). So if you’re gonna stress the device it might hang.
So, if you’re thinking about a Home Theater PC (HTPC) for the purpose of watching media this is the device for you. If you plan on recording TV you’ll need another device for doing that.
Band of Brothers
Why buy them? I bought a couple of movies in the last couple of weeks. Including the ‘Band of Brothers‘ DVD-box (probably the best TV-miniseries ever). Just to be reminded (again) that the original product (in general) is annoying as hell.
I started the DVD, and the first thing that I saw were some crappy trailers of crappy movies. The menu appeared only after I had FFWD’ed every single one of them.
After watching the first episode I wanted to quickly skip to the second…. No way of doing that besides stopping and starting the DVD from scratch. Which results in trailers etc. of the same (crappy) movies I have no interest in….. Every f*cking button, which might guide me to the menu, on my remote was unresponsive.
First thing on my list when I wake up tomorrow; rip the DVD’s, remove every piece of DRM crap and enjoy the remaining episodes my way.
Honest people are hijacked by the MPAA (and associates) by forcing all this DRM crap upon those who buy legitimate DVD’s. No wonder people are ripping and copying DRM protected content.
Every now-and-then you try to do the good thing, only to be reminded why you were ripping DVD’s in the first place……
The summer is playing up on me at this moment. The long days are killing my movies hours so to say. normally I could watch a couple of movies a week, but the last couple of month I’ve been neglecting myself (sort of).
There are over 15 movies which I have to see, but there are more and more movies released every day. Also the sitcoms aren’t helping. At this moment I’m going through the “That 70’s Show” like a maniac (3 seasons done, lots of them to go). That Donna chick keeps me going 
….
And now the Traveler series is starting here in the Netherlands…. Even more to catch up to. When will it end??? (Hopefully never 
)
Well it sort of features in the new Bruce Willis action movie. The phone is visible for a couple of seconds [50 minutes into the movie].
This first picture shows the phone numbers on the businesscard. I guess he’s gonna make a call to the other characters cellphone ((202)-555 1313), but why enter ‘12′? A slip-up or is this just a typo since he’s under a lot of stress 
B.t.w. mister Willis doesn’t have much to do (see calendar), and he obviously has some bluetooth device, otherwise one wouldn’t put the Bluetooth menu in the standby menu on the phone…. Other observations show that there is no cell reception and that his battery is almost empty. This does match up with the events (to come) in the movie. So they did mind the (very) small details.
Just a few more days, and Transformers (trailer) premieres here. For someone who grew up watching the DJ Cat Show (SkyChannel) this is a dream coming true. After reading this review, I can’t wait to see Optimus Prime kicking MegaTron’s ass
IS IT THURSDAY YET???
UPDATE: Just saw the movie, and it was awesome. The special effects were beyond awesome. There are lot’s of references to other blockbusters like Independence Day, Armageddon, and Men in Black
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