What about the Zune 3.0 full screen visualisations? They look pretty nifty and work great in the background.
The problem with the Zune software is twofold: it doesn't have a ten-foot interface, and it's not remote-control friendly. Having to grab the IR keyboard every time I want to switch the music would suck. The remote can be used to navigate from song to song with an album, but there's no way to jump to a new album using only the remote. So, sadly, no dice.
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Isn't the heat from the fireplace have the potential to overheat the display?
I thought about that a fair bit, but a few things convinced me it wasn't going to be a problem:
1) We turn on the fireplace maybe six times a year, if that
2) The odds that we'd turn on the fireplace and watch TV there are the same time are quite low
3) I tested the scenario out by turning on the fireplace, leaving it running for about 15 minutes, and doing a "hand test" of temperature below and above the mantle...the heat dissipated outward more than upward, so I don't think there's any potential for overheating the TV
So while that's not terribly scientific of me, those are my reasons...I'll certainly report back if the fireplace blows up my TV.
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Had to laugh at myself when I thought about the term "digital wall" I finished a similar project about a year ago, and, by the same parameters, it should be described as a "digital ceiling"
Couple of "thoughts" for you;
Consider a BT keyboard and mouse... specifically the microsoft wireless presenter mouse (which is BT even though it's not listed as such)
Bluetooth has better range than the ir keyboard and is not subject to "line of sight" issues. I started with the ms ir keyboard but gave up on it when I experimented with BT.
Look at the Harmony Universal Remotes... they have a learning curve, but cover most if not all bases including the ability to issue the MCE ir commands of the MCE remote. The 500 and 600 series are the most reasonable... I use a 620 which was $70 at costco and prefer it to the more expensive models.
Hope you implimented a full 7.1 or at least 5.1 audio layout and are wired digital to the amp rather than rca... makes a HUGE difference in movie experience and is worth the extra effort to get it set up correctly.
fwiw, our (completely different) approach to the same project is documented at
The problem with the Zune software is twofold: it doesn't have a ten-foot interface, and it's not remote-control friendly. Having to grab the IR keyboard every time I want to switch the music would suck. The remote can be used to navigate from song to song with an album, but there's no way to jump to a new album using only the remote. So, sadly, no dice.
Agree that Microsoft should make Zune desktop software remote friendly somehow like they do with Media Center...maybe even change the interface a little and give people option to make things bigger for viewing from a TV. Who knows if this will really happen but think it makes all the sense in the world to do.
I use my zune software from the big screen all the time--and it sucks--but it's better collection method than Windows Media Center.
Looks really great - especially the shelves.
Personally, if I had money to burn (4000€), I would have gone for a real cinema screen in 21:9 format (Philips Cinema) http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadgeth...inema-21-9.jpg
I've also got a Duet and had some connection/networking problems with it.
My solutions:
a) I setup my router to give the PC server network cards, the Duet controller, and the Duet receiver permanent IP's. (I even matched them to the MAC addresses.) That solved many of the problems.
I think I found this suggestion at the Logitech Slim Devices forums, where it was mentioned that giving the system permanent IP's solves many network related problems with the unit. Ditto matching the IP's to MAC addresses of the hardware.
BTW, the Slim Devices forums are a great resource, and even the developer/CEO participates on a regular basis.
b) I also setup the network to only use WEP 64 bit encryption.
Since implementing these two solutions, I haven't had any network problems or dropouts with the Duet.
Consider a BT keyboard and mouse... specifically the microsoft wireless presenter mouse (which is BT even though it's not listed as such)
Good idea - but do they make "all in one" keyboards like the Microsoft keyboard? Having a stand-alone mouse would be a pain I think - I like having both the mouse and keyboard in the same place. I'm fortunate in that I put the IR receiver on top of the HP Slimline, and it has great range and sweeps the whole area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BevHoward
Look at the Harmony Universal Remotes... they have a learning curve, but cover most if not all bases including the ability to issue the MCE ir commands of the MCE remote.
I have a Harmony remote for my main TV room, and it's great! I don't know that I'd really need one for this room though - remember it's just the TV and the computer. No amp, no DVD player, etc. The Microsoft keyboard has buttons on it that turn off/on both the TV and the computer. So two button pressed and I'm up and running. I also have the MCE remote if I don't want to use the keyboard to control things. Once I add an HD receiver/PVR into the mix, which I'm planning on doing, I'll very likely get a Harmony remote.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BevHoward
Hope you implimented a full 7.1 or at least 5.1 audio layout and are wired digital to the amp rather than rca... makes a HUGE difference in movie experience and is worth the extra effort to get it set up correctly.
"The question is, what's the best audio solution? The LG plasma TV I picked looks gorgeous hanging on a wall, so I didn't entertain the notion of putting one of those surround-sound bars on the bottom for more than a nanosecond - that would just look hideous. I briefly pondered trying to get a 5.1 system set up, but that didn't last long: having to hack into my ceiling for the rear channels would be messy, and since this isn't the primary movie-watching location in my house, it's overkill. There's also the question of where to put the centre channel. So I settled on a 2.1 system, which will be much easier to wire. Ah, wires! I want no wires to be visible when looking at this wall, so I have to be smart about how I position the speakers."
I've got my Blu-ray player running HDMI to the amp, digital all the way, and my 5.1 system hooked up the 72" TV upstairs in the media room. This is the "backup" movie TV.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BevHoward
(ps, did the Gecko ever show up?)
It did, thank you - I was sure that I emailed you about it, but in looking at my Sent Items folder, it seems I didn't. My apologies.
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Looks really great - especially the shelves.
Personally, if I had money to burn (4000€), I would have gone for a real cinema screen in 21:9 format (Philips Cinema)
The Philips Cinema is beautiful to look at, but unless you only watch movies and don't watch HD TV, I think it would be a waste. You'd be trading one aspect ratio problem for another one. That's my 2 cents at any rate.
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a) I setup my router to give the PC server network cards, the Duet controller, and the Duet receiver permanent IP's. (I even matched them to the MAC addresses.) That solved many of the problems.
Cool, thanks, I'll have to give that a try...
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I find exactly the opposite... a mouse can normally do 90% of what I normally need to do in a "media" type experience and is easier to handle in the dark without a table.
>> Nope, just a 2.1 system. I talk about why here: <<
Oh, mannnn, 7.1/5.1 is _so_ worth the effort!!!
As you mention, it was a royal pain the in ass to get it set up... while the wiring and speaker mounting were hard do deal with, the amplifier setup, testing and tuning were a close second.
Watched a movie that implemented it the night I got it finished and my jaw dropped for most of the movie starting with the THX jingle... an indescribably different viewing experience.
Logitech Duet Suggestions
Linear Mode
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