WebGuide4 Now Free for Windows Media Center Users

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?item=place-shift-webguide4-now-available-free-for-all-windows-media-center-users' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?item=pla...ia-center-users</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Ok, if you are a frequent reader of the::unwired you know that I'm a big fan and heavy user of Ascii Express' WebGuide4 and it looks like someone in Redmond is or was a big fan as well since WebGuide4 is that missing piece of software Microsoft should put into Windows Vista when it was released. Well, there are two good news: Doug Berrett, the man behind WebGuide4 just announced that he recently finalized a business deal with Microsoft to make WebGuide4 available to users for free. This means, if you own a Windows XP Media Center or Windows Vista Media Center, you can get it free of charge now to stream and place shift your live TV, your videos and DVDs as well as view your photos and listen your music, from virtually any Internet connected PC as well as Internet connected Windows Mobile device."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/webguide4_mobile11.jpg" /><br /><br />I've meant to look into this solution, but never quite got around to it, mostly because no Western Canadian mobile phone operator provides flat-rate data plans - thus making any and all media streaming applications a no-go for most of us since the bandwidth is so ridiculously expensive. If you're fortunate enough to have a fast, flat-rate data plan, this looks like a great way to access your media.

[Arne Hess]

Well, it's not about streaming to a Windows Mobile device only but also starting or scheduling TV recordings from the Windows Mobile device. Let's say you are later at home then you expected, you can schedule a TV recording straight from your smartphone. Saved me many times already when I wanted to watch something but wasn't able due to meetings which went longer than I expected.
Furthermore you can stream to Notebooks as well and I did this recently in my summer holidays when I was in Spain and streamed/watched some TV recordings (and even DVDs) in the hotel which had free Internet for the guests. Now this was cool since I'm not speaking a word Spanish and the hotel had only one German TV channel. However, thanks to WebGuide I was watching live German TV as well as some recordings I hadn't had time to watch before at home.

For me the charm of WebGuide is, that it unwires your Media Center and you can put it in your pocket.

I might recommend my two reviews I wrote about the earlier version of WebGuide4:

REVIEW: ASCII Express WebGuide4 for Windows Media Center (http://www.theplaceshift.net/?itemid=132)
REVIEW: Using ASCII Express WebGuide4 with Windows Mobile (http://www.theunwired.net/?item=review-using-ascii-express-webguide4-with-windows-mobile)

[bearxor]

I wonder what happens now since I paid for WebGuide. Now it feels like I wasted fifteen bucks.

I don't like WebGuide though. It's OK and it does what its supposed to, but I fel that Orb streams video better than WebGuide. Unfortunately, Orb doesn't play very well with MCE. My video always looks better and streams more consistenly over a slower connection with Orb. I've started using both, WebGuide to schedule and record the show, Orb to actually watch it.

[Arne Hess]

I wonder what happens now since I paid for WebGuide. Now it feels like I wasted fifteen bucks.
You haven't wasted it, at least Microsoft recognized that Doug is a great developer and hired him. With Doug's help, I have the hope that the Media Center now could become what it should be already... A great place to store and share media at home.
I don't like WebGuide though. It's OK and it does what its supposed to, but I fel that Orb streams video better than WebGuide. Unfortunately, Orb doesn't play very well with MCE. My video always looks better and streams more consistenly over a slower connection with Orb. I've started using both, WebGuide to schedule and record the show, Orb to actually watch it.
You are right, it depends on the connection speed. Over EDGE or UMTS it seems that Orb works better (which I'm using in parallel as well) but via HSDPA 1.8 Mbit or even better 3.6 Mbit it seems to be equal.
Also within your home, WG works somehow nicer thanks to the deeper MCE integration which Orb unfortunately still lacks.

[bearxor]

You haven't wasted it, at least Microsoft recognized that Doug is a great developer and hired him. With Doug's help, I have the hope that the Media Center now could become what it should be already... A great place to store and share media at home.

I bought WebGuide very recently for the sole intention of letting Doug know I think his program has potential but needs work. I paid the fifteen bucks knowing it would get better ad eventually completely replace Orb and that I would get the updated version from my initial payment.

Now, it's dead.

[Lojik Supreme]

This is a great program, I've been using it for a week now and I must say wow! MSN Remote Record stopped working for some reason, and this is a great replacement. I've been showing the features to my co-workers and now they want to get media centers. I've been trying to convince them for over a year and now they want in bad. As far as bandwith, if you have a laptop w/wireless you're good, same for a WM Device. Just connect to a hotspot and steam.

Try the vista sidebar gadget, on the local machine you have direct access to the media center functions without having to launch media center!