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How to automatically skip commercials in Windows 7 Media Center

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 8:22PM Featured Story

Windows 7 Media Center
Skipping commercials on a HTPC DVR has been around for a long long time, but it isn't always the easiest thing to setup. And even if you do get it working, there are so many options, it can take some time before you get it working the way you want it. So in the spirt of Windows 7 day, and the fact that the next major version of ShowAnalyzer is being released, we figured we'd write up a how to with a few tips and tricks of our own. We start by downloading and installing the main components; DVRMSToolBox, the DTB Media Center Add-in and ShowAnalyzer, and finish off with some troubleshooting for when things go wrong. So if you use Media Center, click through and never pick up the remote to skip a commercial again.

Continue reading How to automatically skip commercials in Windows 7 Media Center

How to import HD movies into Windows Media Center

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Aug 18th 2009 at 11:00AM Featured Story


The upgraded Movie Library in Windows 7 Media Center is very appreciated, but while it's better than Vista, it still doesn't do everything we want. Our main point of contention is that although it is possible to play more file types, it still isn't possible to fast forward or rewind them (you can skip forward, back, and resume though). The other issue is that connecting the HTPC directly to a HDTV is for the birds, and codec support on Extenders is very limited. The good news is that with a little help from our favorite Media Center utility and our new best friend, we've devised a very easy way to convert just about any HD movie to DVR-MS (Media Center's native format). This is pretty easy to setup, lets you have full trick play capability on extenders, and the results are good enough to please even our discerning eye.

Continue reading How to import HD movies into Windows Media Center

Automatic commercial skipping comes to Windows 7

by Ben Drawbaugh posted May 17th 2009 at 2:52PM


When considering any software upgrade it is important to check and make sure all of your other software will work on the new platform; so as expected many have been holding out on testing Windows Media Center on Windows 7 full time because of their hatred of commercials. Thanks to plug-ins like DVRMStoolBox (DTB) automatically skipping commercials in Vista has been a reality for years, but when Microsoft introduced a new SDK and recorded TV format (WTV) in Windows 7, all the old plug-ins ceased to work. Well we're happy to be the ones to tell you that we've been fortunate enough to play with early release versions of DTB and Show Analyzer -- the software that actually finds the commercials -- and they work on Windows 7 perfectly. Once again we can skip commercials without even touching the remote -- and this includes recordings that are still in progress. The bad news is that we have no idea when these updates will be available for mass consumption, but judging by how well they seem to be working, we'd expect 'em sooner rather than later.

How to automatically download and import HD to Windows Media Center

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Feb 24th 2009 at 11:00AM Featured Story

Media Center Recorded TV screen
We don't try to hide how much we like Windows Media Center around here but that doesn't mean we hesitate to complain when warranted, and one of our biggest complaints has always been the limited codec support -- especially when it comes to Extenders. Well we're happy to say that we've found an acceptable work around, one that does require a little initial let work, but after that it is all automatic. The process is actually simple and in the end you'll have a hard time being able to tell which shows were recorded with Windows Media Center, and which were downloaded -- and of course they're in HD. The bad news is that the legality of downloading HD from the internet isn't exactly crystal clear, but if you aren't scared of BitTorrent and you're looking for a way to fill in the gab left by the HD channels your provider doesn't offer, then click on through.

Continue reading How to automatically download and import HD to Windows Media Center

Automatic commercial skipping is a go for Media Center in Windows 7

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Feb 9th 2009 at 6:55PM

Windows 7 Media Center
There were plenty of people upset -- including us -- when they discovered that they could no longer automatically skip commercials after upgrading their Vista Media Center with the TV Pack. Well we're very pleased to let you know that our assertion that Microsoft broke our favorite third party application on purposed, was unfounded. You see we recently got the word from the developer behind DVRMSToolBox that the Windows 7 Media Center SDK was in hand and that it won't be long before we'll be able to can skip commercials without ever picking up the remote -- nice.

It's time to speak up for automatic commercial skipping in Media Center

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Sep 3rd 2008 at 4:46PM

Windows Media Center TV Pack
Although the skeptic in us still kind of believes Microsoft may have intentionally broke automatic commercial skipping in Vista Media Center -- the developer (Andy) of DVRMSToolBox (the most popular commercial skipping software for Media Center) is no longer under NDA and has spoke out about how the TV Pack breaks his software. The long and the short of it is that the Media Center API that notifies the application that video is playing, no longer works. He sees this as a bug, and although Microsoft is aware of the issue, they have no intention of fixing it -- or even publicly admitting it. So according to Andy, our only hope is that enough people report the issue, it may just be enough to make Microsoft stand up and listen.




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