TVersity through a DirecTvHD DVR

I love gadgets like this! A quick dwnload of Tversity (use your favorite search engine for this) will get you a FREE download of TVersity. This will allow you to stream any digital media files (Video, audio, pics) through your networked DirecTv DVR!
The download was quick (just a few seconds) via my DSL connection. I then did the very simple install, not including any of the add on toolbars or search engine changes, and I was ready to go!
Go to the library screen and it allows you to add you add files (seperately) or folders (very helpful for large collections!) I used the Add Item option to select a Type: Folder and selected the folders from my network which contaied my kids movies, non-kids movies, Comedies, Family Pictures, and my entire MP3 audio collection. The program scanned and added all of my files to the available optins in a couple of minutes.
Using my Directv HD DVR I was able to go into the menu and select Movies, audio and more and view all of my items!
The only downside I have found with viewing videos so far is the inabilty to rewind and fast forward, thouh I now have the ability to pause using my remote control, which is very convenient.
The biggest convenience I find from this is that there is no need to connect my laptop to view my data anyore, negating the need to have a computer of any type hooked up to run my videos. That's very helpful.
As I dig more into the options and uses, Ill follow up with more write-ups.

Why buy an LCD flatpanel?

I debated over buying flat panels/LCDs for my computers for a long time. I just didn't see the value in it as I have a lot of space. There are other issues I didn't think about in the decision though. In the end, the lcd are now on every computer I own.

1. Space Savings - Traditional monitors (CRTs) take up a LOT of real estate. My old monitor (19") was ~20" deep, and about ~18" wide. That's a pretty large space on my desk. But my desk is big, so why did it matter? Well, my new monitor (Acer 19" LCD) is TINY in comparison. With the stand attached, it takes up about 4" of depth (1/5th) with a similar width and height. This allows me to have a USB hub with easy access to all of my thumb drives and external devices readily available in front of me, with room to lay documentation in front of me instead of beside me. That alone saves in strain in my neck (resulting in noticibly fewer headaches after long days).

2. Energy Savings - Depending on your brightness/contrast/etc. settings, these can vary pretty widely on a CRT. On an average CRT in the 19" range, you could be in the 75-90w range, if not higher with maxxed out brightness and contrast. Compare this to a 19" LCD, where the average wattage usage is in the 30-40watt range. You could save upwards of 2/3 the power! Another advantage to LCDs is that when off they ocnsume no power (less than a watt in none in my book) where CRTs can use 2-6 watts (varies by make). Very similar to TVs on standby, CRTs are power hungry even when off.
Think abou tit this way. If you have your CRT on for a full week (7 days*24hours=168 hours) and it consumes 85w/hour you will have used 14280watts. For a similar sized LCD, running say 35w/hour, that figure would be 5880watts. That's 8400watts a week in savings. Take that time 52 weeks a year and you're saving 436800 watts over the course of the year. Now, this assumes your monitor is always on, but this is just a comparison. If your power company charges say 10cents/kwhour, that would equate to $43.68 saved in one year. Imagine if THOUSANDS of homes all over the world made the switch how much power we could save!

3. Cost savings - The energy savings lend to this. CRTs eat power anyt time they are plugged in. Above I showed you can save money. a quality 19" monitor can be had for less than $100 these days, SHIPPED! What's stopping you? One of mine is already 5 years old and going stong. I've saved money, have you? I would also say the added desk space has lended to higher productivity through available space to perform what used to be slightly more time consuming tasks. Difficult to calculate, but noticible day to day.

4. Cool Factor! - LCDs are just cool. Some of the newer systems even incorporate a touch screen into the monitors, if not the entire computer into a 2-3" thick monitor/computer set. Very nice. Very cool. LCDs are the way to go every way you look.

I will again recommend TigerDirect.com as the place to buy yours. They have amazing deals all the time. Check out Amazon also. They have free shipping deals quite often.

Good luck, and happy viewing!

USB 3.0 - 5Gbit/s coming soon!

As a reader of TomsHardware.com, an article published 6/16/2009 discusses this. Check out the link below for detailed information on this upcoming technology.

USB 3.0 on Toms Hardware