When one of the leaders in home networking, Linksys, bails on a product set; you have to wonder what they know that we don’t. According to a few websites & forums, Linksys (Cisco) has discontinued production of their Media Center Extenders.

The short and sweet message from Linksys posted on the web regarding their Extender DMA2100 is, “Yes, they are in discontinue status and right now there is no plans to replace. Sorry.”

I have owned a couple of Media Center Extenders and I have a guess as to what industry changes may be driving these devices into extinction.

First off is the ever changing Cable DVR. The DVR has changed the way we watch TV… at one TV. However, some cable providers (including AT&T U-verse) are now offering networked DVR boxes that allow you to watch programming recorder on one TV, on any other TV in your house with a box.

Secondly is the move to TV’s with embedded Internet abilities. Since there are several ways to get your programming online (including using a slingbox for your own broadcasting), why hook-up another device. Just set your TV to internet, and enjoy your media there.

Finally comes the Windows 7 “Play To” feature. This addition to windows is meant to select songs or pictures from your PC, right click them, and tell your PC to play them on your compatible home stereo or digital picture frame. Add to this the ability to play direct to one of the fancy new TV’s mentioned above, and you completely eliminate the need for a media extender.

I am very happy that extenders had their time. It gave people a chance to stream media to TV’s without having to add a new PC to every room. Unfortunately as with most new whiz bang tech, the need is about to be filled by Microsoft and the Cable company. [via]

My first few How-To blog posts dealt with setting your goals & limits, now for the fun stuff… getting started. With the popularity of digital music (ala iTunes and Windows Media Player), I thought it made sense to begin our journey by setting up a digital jukebox.  The goals of the jukebox will be (for starters):

• Ability to play ALL of your digital music tracks
• Ability to play music through your home stereo or receiver
• Ability to control your music from anywhere in the house

At the heart of almost any new technical project is a home computer. The PC has come a long way since its inception when most thought it was a typewriter that doesn’t require white out.  Over time, I have been able to acquire dozens of PC’s through upgrades of my own, or as friends and offices were upgrading to the latest and greatest. This has allowed me to dedicate PC’s to specific tasks: Media Servers, e-mail hosts, office machines, home automation server, guest PC’s, and others.

If you don’t have multiple PC’s, that is no problem.

Most new computers today have enough horsepower to be an office tool, e-mail machine, a web surfing research tool, complete photo and movie studio, a music jukebox, a dedicated cardless solitaire machine, and millions of other things at once.  Because of this, the home PC makes a great start for your project.

For our Music Jukebox PC, I recommend a computer with the following MINIMUM specifications:

• Windows XP or 32 bit Vista
• 600mhz Pentium or better
• 512MB RAM

In order to get the most from your music server. you should also have access to the Internet.

If you eventually plan to add music videos or movies to your server, I recommend the following minimum:

• Windows XP or 32 bit Vista
• 2Ghz Pentium or better
• 1GB RAM
• 32MB video RAM

Beyond the above, you will also want to take into account the hard drive size. Your average digitized music file will be roughly 6MB. This means you could store approximately 160 tracks on a 1GB hard drive. Since this is not 1990, you will most likely have a hard drive that is significantly bigger then that.  I personally like to use an external hard drive connected to my PC via a fire wire cable. This gives me a couple of benefits:

• I can upgrade to a larger hard drive as needed for more media without having to move all of the applications loaded on my PC to a new drive.
• In the event of an emergency, I can grab the drive and run. It is a lot easier to run from the zombies in your robe carrying a little hard drive than a big PC case.

With the hardware in place, it is time to give consideration to software.  My next How-To entry will discuss the basic software required to start our jukebox.

When I first read about the concept of wireless power, I thought to myself… How cool! I can use a device anywhere I want without plugging in a cord. Then it occurred to me, Isn’t that how Energizer has been making a living for years? Turns out, wireless power is much cooler then a copper top.

A team known as The Wireless Power Consortium (Sounds like a group from Heroes) has been working on revolutionizing the way devices draw power. The idea is to charge certain devices without ever having to plug them in.

Off the top of my head I can come-up with some places this would be really handy:

• Charging a touch screen remote by laying it on the coffee table
• Wireless Speakers (Outdoor or rear surround sound)
• Charging your mobile phone on the nightstand
• Expandable cordless phone base stations (truly cordless)
• Digital picture frames

I’m not the only one interested in this new charger-free utopia. According to a poll done by AcuPOLL Research, Inc, after testing over 35,000 products in 18 years; Wireless power ranks in the top 20% of all ideas presented to consumers.

Unfortunately the engineering behind this platform goes right over my head, so I just have to trust it is safe and effective. With as many times as I have been shocked by accidentally touching traditional electricity, I’m not sure I look forward to power reaching out to jolt me back.

Here is an excerpt describing the “Basic” principle:
Dries van Wageningen and Eberhard Waffenschmidt, Philips Research
“The basic principle of an inductively coupled power consist of a transmitter coil and a receiver coil. Both coils form a system of magnetically coupled inductors. An alternating current in the transmitter coil generates a magnetic field which induces a voltage in the receiver coil. This voltage can be used to power a mobile device or charge a battery.
The efficiency of the power transfer depends on the coupling between the inductors and their quality. The coupling is determined by the distance between the inductors and the relative size. The coupling is further determined by the shape of the coils and the angle between them.”

HONG KONG, April 27 /PRNewswire/ — Citing syndicated and proprietary international market research from sources including Ipsos Vantis, AcuPOLL, and Frost & Sullivan, the Wireless Power Consortium (the Consortium) continues to drive toward an interoperable wireless power standard for consumer devices requiring up to 5 Watts of power. The studies, conducted in 2007 and 2008, focused on teens, adults, and seniors from around the world and illustrate a very strong demand for a power solution that converges with the growing international wireless lifestyle.

“In the last 18 years, we have tested over 35,000 concepts at AcuPOLL, and wireless power rates in the top 20% of all the ideas we have ever presented to consumers for evaluation,” said George Brown, Vice President of Sales for AcuPOLL Research, Inc.

The groups surveyed in the research said wireless power would fulfill a real need for them, and they see this technology as an innovative, universal alternative to current options for charging their electronic devices. The research also states that more than 80% of consumers surveyed see wireless power as something they would use with virtually all of their electronic devices and they expect to use it every time they charge them.

“The market research we have studied expressed an outstanding interest in a universal wireless power solution,” said Menno Treffers, Chairman of the Wireless Power Consortium. “It is this obvious need with consumers that is driving our goal of providing the specification for low-power devices.”

Standardization Prevents Proliferation of Incompatible Wireless Charging Stations

Consumer research scores wireless battery charging as a leading new product feature in the range of feature-rich possibilities. Wireless battery charging is transcending specialized niches, including electric toothbrushes and water purification systems, to become a mainstream feature in mobile phones, remote controls, cameras, MP3 players, video recorders, PDAs, BluetoothTM headsets, and other battery operated consumer products. This new development promises to eliminate the need for multiple chargers, greatly reducing the clutter in consumers’ lives and adding new levels of convenience by offering a single interoperable power source to service multiple devices.

Like the wired chargers moving toward standardization through micro-USB, the wireless power industry’s move toward standardization through the Consortium’s pursuit of a universal wireless power solution is driven by the rising consumer demand for more convenient charging solutions.

The Wireless Power Consortium

Established 17 December 2008, the Wireless Power Consortium’s mission is to create and promote wide market adoption of an international wireless low-power delivery standard for compatibility across electronics devices. The nine founding members include ConvenientPower Limited, Fulton Innovation LLC, Logitech International SA, National Semiconductor Corporation, Olympus Corporation, Philips Electronics N.V., Sanyo Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Sangfei Consumer Communications Company Limited, and Texas Instruments Incorporated.

The Wireless Power Consortium welcomes and invites all interested companies to join as members. More information can be found at wirelesspowerconsortium.com.

SOURCE Wireless Power Consortium

Using your PC to play video back on your snazzy large screen TV or projector is a lot more fun than being stuck in front of your computer monitor. One hurdle for many people trying to assemble this A/V convergence is the wiring. It is not always easy to convince the home aesthetic police (your spouse) to let you put a computer by the TV. If that is your case, or you just hate new wires, Atlona may have a solution for you.

The soon to be released Atlona AT-HDAiR (5/10/2009) is able to send an HDMI or VGA video signal up to 30 feet without wires. The small 2 piece system transmits a 720p image with a resolution up to 1400×1050.

Based on the website, it appears the hardware setup is straight forward. Plug the USB sender into your windows PC and plug the wireless receiver into your TV, via a VGA or HDMI cable. The documentation states that your receiving device can either be used to mirror what is displayed on your PC monitor… OR it can extend your PC’s desktop. The extend option makes this device a possibility for adding a second PC monitor without installing a new (or dual) video card.

A few drawbacks jump out at me. The 30ft limitation is a bit frustrating. If I can get my computer that close, I can probably swing running a cable. The second issue is the 720p limitation. If I am going to be using HDMI to a TV, I should at least be able to play 1080i (but really 1080p).

The biggest short coming I see is the lack of audio. Even with the HDMI connection, the documentation states that the device will not carry audio. So unless you are a huge fan of Charlie Chaplin videos, you will still need to figure out an audio solution.

Overall I like that this product promotes getting video from your PC to your TV (which everyone should do)… and I like that it does it wirelessly. If a few tweaks are made to this product, or if you already have an audio solution, then I would say this product is worth keeping an eye on.

The system is available for pre-order via the Atlona website for $199.00.

Here are some of the features and requirements from the Atlona Website:

• HD TV or Projector Compatible
• High Resolutions up to 1440×1050 or 720p
• Extend computer from the display up to 30ft (10m)
• Capable of Mirroring or Extending Display, Atlona suggests to use Extended mode for video playback
  Standard and wide-screen aspect ratios (4:3 or 16:9)
• Full room coverage with line of site and non-line of site
• VGA & HDMI connectivity (DVI with additional adapter), both outputs are active at the same time to provide signal to up to 2 displays simultaneously
• 32-bit True Color depth for high quality images
• Compatible with Windows Vista and XP
• Quick and easy installation

Minimum PC Requirements:
CD-ROM Drive
Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
One USB 2.0 port
512mb of Ram
Pentium 4
30 megabytes (MB) of free disk space

Technical Specifications:
Compatible with Windows XP and Vista
HDMI connector: Standard HDMI 19-pin female
VGA connector: Standard HD15 15-pin female
Gross Weight: 1lb.

Package Includes:
1 x USB Sender
1 x Wireless USB Receiver
1 x VGA/HDMI Base to hold the USB receiver
1 x Universal Power adapter to use with VGA/HDMI Base
1 x User’s manual

One often used device in our home, the faucet, gets very little attention when it comes to technical advancement. For as long as I can remember, there are two handles and a spout… OK, sometimes there is just one handle, but you get the idea. However, recently I have come across a couple of cool innovations to update our sink buddy.

By now I am sure you have run into the automatic faucets at the airport or restaurants. These flow control devices turn off & on automatically based on the presence of your hands. This is especially handy if you don’t want to re-dirty your hands by turning the handle off. Add an auto soap dispenser and you have a germ-o-phobic’s dream.

These faucets tend to have two big drawbacks for the home…

• First, they are usually industrial looking. I don’t mind this so much, but my wife, the interior designer, would have something else to say.
• Secondly, the commercial versions usually use IR to turn the faucet on. This means you have to be in just the right spot to get the water going.

This has all been changed with the new Sensa Field faucets by Fontaine. These faucets not only look like traditional home faucets, but they also use a new sensor tech , Sensa-field, that will pick up a dirty hand coming from any direction.

So now that you won’t be wasting water while the faucet is left running; how about creating some power when you need to run the water?

Jin Woo Han has developed a concept around a Mini Hydro Turbine. This small box hooks to your faucet that while running forces water over a turbine, producing power. Mr. Woo, believes enough power can be generated to charge numerous bathroom devices… toothbrush, razor, radio. [via]

This seems like a great no-brainer for our energy conscious population. So much so, it made my wife ask a vey pertinent question… “Why not install these turbines in a home’s main water lines, and hook it to the home electrical system?” Now you would be creating power when showering, running the sprinklers, or flushing the toilet.

Lake Forest, CA (PRWEB) April 13, 2009 — Fontaine Faucets proudly announces the release of its new residential line of Sensa Field™ automatic faucets available at PlanetFaucet.com on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. Sensa Field represents the “Evolution of the Automatic Faucet” providing mass appeal for residential applications.

Water conservation is a growing national concern. Following a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report of serious droughts in 11 states and abnormally dry conditions in 17 more states, Americans are feeling the effects of water shortage. In March, Los Angeles utility officials approved higher water rates that will penalize residents who don’t cut their water use by 15 percent. With water conservation being a chief environmental concern, automatic faucets have long been a widely popular way to conserve water in public restrooms. Advanced technology is now available to bring water conservation to homes.

We’re all familiar with those unsightly and difficult to operate automatic faucets inside public restrooms. Most of them use an infrared beam to detect motion. The disadvantage of infrared technology is that your hand must be moving exactly in front of the beam to operate the faucet. Often times you need to continually wave your hand to keep activating the sensor. Then there are those commercial faucets that operate with a spring and you find yourself constantly having to press the handle to be able to adequately rinse soap from your hands. It’s no wonder this technology has not caught on in the residential market.

Finally a solution is available to conservation minded consumers. Sensa Field Sensa Field faucets eliminate all of the problems people have experienced with commercial hands-free technology. The new touchless faucets from Fontaine utilize Radius Touch-Free Technology™. A capacitive field surrounds the spout and is activated when a human hand approaches from any direction. Since the faucet does not rely on motion, the faucet will stay on as long as your hand is in range, assuring reliable use every time.

Great for powder rooms, guest bathrooms and kids’ bathrooms, these innovative and beautiful automatic faucets add a touch of style to any décor. Along with the added benefit of saving in water consumption, Sensa Field faucets also promote better health by virtually eliminating germs transmitted by touching the handles of a regular faucet. This also makes faucet clean-up less frequent and a lot easier. Because there are no handles, you can also enjoy more counter space. The technology is so amazing that it’s sure to get a reaction from your houseguests - definitely adding that “WOW” factor to any bathroom.

If you can replace a regular faucet you, can install a Sensa Field faucet, making it ideal for do-it-yourselfers. With quick connect hoses and no handles, installation is about as quick and easy as that of a regular faucet. The Sensa Field can operate for up to 7 years on a set of 4 D batteries, or an optional A/C power supply can be purchased separately.

Sensa Field is safer than a manual faucet because the water is preset to the comfortable temperature that can also be adjusted. This prevents small children from getting scalded by accidentally turning on the hot water. Families will feel good knowing that children or elderly family members will get just the right temperature automatically, every time.

Best of all, this technology pays for itself with the money saved by using up to 70% less water with the help of automatic shutoff and water-saving aerators. Sensa Field comes in eight of Fontaine’s most popular lead-free faucet styles in bronze, brushed nickel or chrome finish, proving style can be an excellent investment. Choose any of these popular faucets and you can also coordinate with Fontaine’s selection of matching tub/shower sets and bathroom accessories.

“I always wanted to develop a line of automatic water saving faucets suitable for the residential market, but until now, the styles and technology were too archaic,” says Fontaine President and Founder Andy Martin. “Faucets should be the centerpiece of any bathroom. To be able to marry beauty and incredible water conservation technology in a residential application is a real thrill whose time has finally come.”

Fontaine wishes to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2009 by reducing your water usage in a beautiful way with a Sensa Field hands-free faucet by Fontaine. Prices are in the $300 to $400 range, which is a small price to pay for water conservation and the other many benefits.

Fontaine is known for its stylishly affordable line of faucets, sinks and accessories sold on Costco.com, Target.com, Buy.com, Overstock.com, Amazon.com, PlanetFaucet.com and a number of other websites and Kitchen & Bath Showrooms across the USA and Canada. For more information, call 1-800-476-2950 or visit fontainefaucets.com/sensafield.

With a new born baby (Carlin the little champion) sleeping in his nursery upstairs and our Master Bedroom being downstairs; we had two choices… Install an elevator or find an easier way to check on our sleeping bundle of joy. I tried a few traditional baby monitors and was underwhelmed by the quality and flexibility. The biggest draw backs are that the Radio Frequency (RF) monitors are highly susceptible to interference and usually can only be displayed on the monitor they came with. I needed another solution.

I built the requirements for my new baby monitor:

• It must display a clear picture
• It must monitor audio
• It must be easy to view in all areas of the house
• It must require no wiring (I’m not a fan of pulling cable)
• It must work in both light & night vision mode

The best device for the job was a traditional wireless network IP camera. I went with the Sharx Security Wi-Fi camera. Amazon now offers a newer model then mine which supports viewing on the iPhone… Awesome!

• The signal runs over my home’s existing 802.11 b/g/n wireless network (no RF & no cables).
• The picture is crystal clear and even offers a zoom to get an up close look.
• The camera auto adjusts between day/night vision.
• There is a microphone on the camera so the audio is transmitted. A nice extra is that the camera also has a speaker, so you can talk back. I imagine that will come in handier as Carlin gets older. “Young man, that bed is not a trampoline.”

My favorite part is common across almost all modern IP cameras. By entering an IP address into my web browser, I can pull the camera up on any computer in the house. This takles care of the view anywhere need. To simplify the process, I added the IP address as a website in my Home Maestro  Webview module… since Maestro is already running on every PC anyway.

Here are just a few places I view my baby….

• My computer in the study
• The TV (hooked to a PC) over our fireplace
• The touch screen PC in the kitchen
• The Media Center PC in the Media Room
• The tablet PC in the Master Bathroom
• And for anywhere without an installed PC, we take my wife’s netbook (Asus EeePC)… hello spa side baby monitor.

I found the installation to be easy and straight forward. If you installed your own wireless router, you can definitely install this camera.

For anyone with a new baby, or just someone they want to keep an eye on, I recommend getting one of these IP cameras and just skip the overpriced “Baby Monitor” at your local baby store.

Here is the Amazon description of the newer camera:

This Wifi b/g wireless moonlight night vision IP camera has its own built in web server. You can view the video from your own local area network or you can configure your router to view and control the camera from computers or cellphones on the internet, without dependence on any third party web sites or subscriptions. With the built-in microphone you can listen in. Excellent MPEG4 video quality at a full 640 x 480 resolution with up to 30 frames per second for fluid, natural motion color. For viewing or recording a single camera no software is required besides just your browser. For viewing or recording multiple Sharx IP cameras the included MultiView software supports up to 4 Sharx IP cameras simultaneously. Truly amazing to see the streaming video on your web enabled cell phone. For frequent use we recommend to upgrade your cellphone service to unlimited data, which costs just $15/mo extra on the ATT network. You can see motion even on non-3G phones like SonyEricsson w580i. If your phone does not support video you can see automatically refreshing JPEG images. At home, you can use this camera with your laptop or iPhone as a baby or pet monitor, and the very high light sensitivity in “moonlight mode” allows you to view out from a window to see what’s happening in the street as long as there is some background light available. For night vision in absolute, total darkness with no visible light, upgrade to SCNC2607 which adds infrared night vision and a higher quality, wide angle lens. If you need bi-directional audio to talk back in addition to listening, consider the SCNC2601 and SCNC2602W models. Wireless operation supports WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption.

If you use your computer for more than playing solitaire, you most likely have found yourself pushing the limits of your hard drive’s storage. Whether you have loaded up several gigs of music, you have 300 pictures from every event you have been to since you got that snazzy new digital camera, or you have entered the world of digital video (self filmed or ripped); drive space is at a premium. You’re in luck! Amazon is offering a 1TB (or 1,000Gig) hard drive for just $79.99.

Drive description from Amazon:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1 TB SATA 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Hard Drive ST31000333AS

The Barracuda 7200.11 drive delivers up to 43 percent power savings over the previous Seagate desktop generation without sacrificing performance, giving customers the ability to manufacture eco-friendly PC systems and external storage systems that meet energy-savings requirements. Like all other Seagate drives, the Barracuda 7200.11 product family complies with the Restriction of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) directive that limits the use of hazardous materials in electronic goods.With the Barracuda 7200.11 drive, our customers can have the best of both worlds¿top hard-drive performance and a high-capacity drive with a very small eco-footprint. Seagate is committed to minimizing the impact of our products and operations on the environment. We have implemented production efficiency measures, such as replacing or renovating less-efficient equipment, resulting in a 20 percent increase in production efficiency on a perhard-drive basis. In just six months this delivered a savings of 158.93 million kWh, or enough energy to power nearly 15,000 U.S. homes for one year. Seagate also has deployed aggressive waste minimization and recycling programs in facilities worldwide.

Apparently 3-D movies do not go far enough for Philips Electronics. They have decided that viewers may also want to feel the action. Philips is describing this actuator laden jacket at the 2009 World Haptics Conference. How would you like to take a punch from Rocky in the next sequel?

While the jacket is capable of passing on a power punch, that is not the actual intent. Instead this jacket is supposed to pass on the emotions of the on-screen characters. For example, if Chuck Norris is about to fight his way through the entire enemy army, the Philip’s jacket will send a shiver down your spine to help feel the tension. As he runs through the jungle, you can feel an increased heart rate pounding in your chest.

“People don’t realize how sensitive we are to touch, although it is the first sense that fetuses develop in the womb,” says Paul Lemmens, a Philips senior scientist.

Surprisingly the 64 actuators driven by 20 motors can run continuously for a full hour on just 2 AA batteries.

I can certainly see the novelty of this type of device… and I would love to try one. However, I am not so sure I would be able to convince my guests that my home theatre has a jacket requirement. [via]

One of the criticisms surrounding the Netflix streaming video service is the delay in getting new releases online. This is completely understandable when talking about blockbusters, but I think the folks at Netflix have made a content capture that may quiet the cristics. MTV Networks has just penned an agreement with Netflix streaming to offer many of their popular programs, such as Spongbob Square Pants and South Park.

What makes these shows so special is the re-watchability. With 139 full episodes of South Park online you can easily switch between watching the adorable Woodland Critters to seeing a world dominating TrapperKeeper without ever switching a DVD in your player. I can’t think of a better use of streaming video while enjoying a late night bowl of cereal.

Add to this line-up the children’s favorites of Spongebob, Dora the Explorer, and Blues Clues, and you have a great family library without having to worry about spit and jelly all over your DVD collection.

Netflix and MTV Networks Announce Deal to Stream ‘South Park’ and Trove of Nickelodeon Shows on Netflix

Netflix Subscribers Can Instantly Watch Popular COMEDY CENTRAL and Nickelodeon Content on their Computers at Netflix.com and on TVs via Netflix Ready Devices

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, April 6 /PRNewswire/ — Previous seasons of COMEDY CENTRAL’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning animated series “South Park” along with hit Nickelodeon shows like “iCarly” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” have joined the thousands of movies and TV episodes that Netflix subscribers can watch instantly on their computers and TVs. The agreement was announced today by Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world’s largest online movie rental service, MTV Networks (MTVN), a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA.A and VIA.B), and South Park Digital Studios LLC, the joint venture between “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and COMEDY CENTRAL.

Comic geniuses Parker and Stone are the creative forces behind “South Park,” which features the misadventures of four foul-mouthed, troublemaking young boys in a small town nestled in the Colorado Rockies. The first nine seasons of “South Park” - 139 episodes in all - are now available to be instantly streamed from Netflix.

The streaming selections from Nickelodeon feature critically acclaimed shows that have helped make it the number-one cable network for more than 14 years. The shows include “Blues Clues” (Seasons 1 and 2), “Dora the Explorer” (Seasons 1 and 2), “iCarly” (Seasons 1 and 2), “True Jackson, VP” (Season 1) and “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Season 3). In total, more than 300 episodes of these and other favorites from Nickelodeon television networks, including The N’s “Degrassi,” are also now available to be instantly streamed from Netflix.

The deal marks an expansion of the relationship between Netflix and MTVN. Netflix currently offers a wide range of MTVN properties on DVD and obtained its first digital license from the company last year through an agreement that allowed Netflix to stream movies, documentaries and original programming from MTVN’s LGBT-oriented Logo network.

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with MTV Networks and be part of their innovative distribution strategy,” said Robert Kyncl, Vice President of Content Acquisition for Netflix. “We have a shared interest in providing fans expanded access to and strengthening MTV Networks’ key franchises, such as ‘South Park,’ ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ ‘Dora the Explorer,’ and others.”

“We want our content to be available to our diverse audiences wherever and whenever they’re spending time, and Netflix is a platform that continues to grow in popularity with kids, young adults and parents alike,” said Greg Clayman, Executive Vice President, Digital Distribution & Business Development, MTVN. “Netflix shares our commitment to consumer focus, and we’re thrilled to expand our partnership by making Cartman, True Jackson, SpongeBob and so many of our iconic characters and shows available to stream at Netflix.”

For one low monthly price, Netflix subscribers can get unlimited DVDs delivered to their homes quickly and can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed over the Internet to PCs, Intel-based Macs and TVs connected to any of a number of Netflix ready devices. Netflix subscribers can choose content to watch instantly from a growing library of more than 12,000 choices.

About Netflix

Netflix, Inc. is the world’s largest online movie rental service, with more than 10 million subscribers. For one low monthly price, Netflix subscribers can get DVDs delivered to their homes and can instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers, all in unlimited amounts. Subscribers can choose from over 100,000 DVD titles and a growing library of more than 12,000 choices that can be watched instantly. There are never any due dates or late fees. DVDs are delivered free to subscribers by first class mail, with a postage-paid return envelope, from 58 distribution centers. More than 97 percent of Netflix subscribers live in areas that generally receive shipments in one business day. Netflix has partnered with leading consumer electronics companies to offer a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes to members’ TVs from Netflix. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

SOURCE Netflix, Inc.

A Home Automation system is only as good as the controls you and your family have to use to operate it. If you have an HAI automation system, you may be interested in the front end GUI from Myro Control. The makers say it is the first simple to set-up automation interface… Looks like they missed Home Maestro.

 The My:ro is being targeted at both DIY’ers and custom installers of HAI products only. I am a fan of anything new that helps bring Home Automation more into the mainstream, but with $500 for the GUI alone, I am not sure this will be accepted anywhere other than the high-end custom installer market.

Requirements:
HAI Home Automation Controller (Omni IIe, OmniPRO II, Lumina, LuminaPRO) with Ethernet Port and firmware 2.14 or later.
MS Windows 2000, XP, XP Embedded, 2003, Vista or later versions of Windows.
Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0
Adobe Flash 9 (or greater) Player
25MB free disk space
512MB RAM
800mhz or Greater Processor
Internet Connection