wahlau's online hut

after seeing the video of linuxmce, i am blown away with its features... In my opinion, it looks pretty decent (no those Apple I-somthing feeling though) but best of all, simplicity and it-should-just-work are the selling point of the product. Seeing how things are automated in the video demo shows the potential of such MCE software can be integrated in our homes and daily life. Not that i use a lot of audio video stuffs... but sometimes when i get home, i only want to sit there and do nothing, and let the audio video system entertain me. This piece of application will make my day. Browse through media, look for interesting shows recorded, and also control other stuffs at home (well, no such thing now for me)... neat ;)

go ahead and take a look at the wiki and the screenshots. It currently comes with Kubuntu as based system, which is not what i have on my units. So i guess i need to reinstall my machine in order to try it out ;) Not on my top priority list now, but it would be something i want to play with perhaps next month.

a short list of features taken from linuxdevices:

• Quick-install DVD for Kubuntu/LinuxMCE, or separate CD installers
• Audio-visual setup wizard featuring "Sarah," a woman who speaks English with a foreign accent
• Optional "UI2" interface option superimposes UI elements on full-screen video, optionally with alpha blending
• Daily gallery art from Flickr can be rotated full-screen
• Inserted DVDs play automatically
• Supports wireless Windows MCE remote control with wireless USB dongles
• Custom 3-button remotes for LinuxMCE "are now being sold"
• UI also works with mouse and keyboard, or gyroscope remote ("like Wii")
• Lists do fancy 3D flips when paged
• Lots
  of neat gyroscopic remote features, like jog shuttle random access,
  chapter step-throughs, volume setting, changing channels and so on
• "Ambiance" button + gyro gestures can be used to set volume (with horizontal waving) or room lighting (with vertical waving)
• Supports TV tuner cards with autodetection and authentication
• Three EPG options, including LinuxMCE, MythTV or cable provider's
• Various one-click recording options
• 30-second commercial skip button
• "Plug-and-play" network storage device support
• Search multimedia library by genre, keyword, and metadata
• Can control other A/V equipment via infrared or serial connections
• Task-oriented macros set up multiple devices into desired configuration
• By default, turns off all devices not in use
• Can control cablebox in high-def, with no latency
• Can net-boot multiple remote thin clients for auxillary TVs
• Move content easily between all using "follow me" button on remote
• Can use bluetooth phones and WiFi tablets as remote controls
• Can replace remotes for other devices
• Supports DVD jukeboxes, and can rip multiple movies at once
• Supports ZWave home automation devices such as thermostats and motion detectors
• Supports YouTube, web browsing
• "Orbiter" control software on old webpad for "low-cost graphical remote"
• Supports Bluetooth dongles, enabling phones to control lights, start media, etc.
• Supports various VoIP service providers and IP videophones
• Auto-attendant with voice mail for each resident
• Security system can archive video
• Can manage security systems with compatible alarm systems
• Can manage generic sensors
• Alarm triggers can call your mobile phone, and allow audio interaction with "intruder"
• Data-enabled phones can view sensor output when tripped