Cheers Andrew

Going to have a good look into this and see what I can find

Good Luck, PM me if you get stuck, will try to help.

AndrewHG2 wrote:

Apparently and MKV file is a multimedia container format. It is NOT a video or audio compression format (video codec). It is an envelope for which there can be many audio, video and subtitles streams, allowing the user to store a complete movie or CD in a single file

http://www.matroska.org/technical/whatis/index.html

2nd Rower wrote:

Thanks for the reply Andrew - does MKV keep all the quality (picture and sound) of the original source DVD or not? Also How big is a MKV file containing a complete DVD movie?

Lastly does xbmc allow recording of TV in any way like WMC?

I found all this fascinating and I have a couple of old PC's at home that in theory i could use to set something like this up! I'm going to look into it in a bit more detail. Do i need to completely install a new OS on the pc?

Might be easier just to buy a new pc ready built instead? WINNER - 2009 Best Newcomer Award
'09 TDV6 XS Stornaway Grey

'06 BMW 730 D SE (Gone)
'08 A4 TDi SLine Avant (Gone)
Large pack of Flake Cakes (Gone)
6 pack of Guiness (Gone)

2nd Rower wrote:

Lastly does xbmc allow recording of TV in any way like WMC?

I have been unable to find a definitive answer ... did get side tracked on setting up PS3 remote control to now work with xbmc (works brilliantly, no need for keyboard now)

There seems to be a solution (a techie one) for people running Linux... but not much for Windows.

Another issue for someone with my setup would be the ability to add a digital tv decoder card.
I guess you could use an external one, but it just starts to get a bit messy.
Plus you`d have to add another if you wanted to watch one channel whilst recording another I guess.

If you build a HTPC it would be much easier to integrate these.

You`d still be able to control watching/recording programmes just not directly through the xbmc interface.
You would be able to play the recordings through xbmc tho.


Whilst searching I also came across this interesting page:


http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/02/which...-compared/


and alternative to XBMC that might be better for those who don`t want to tinker too much!

http://www.boxee.tv

Would work with any old pc (probable have to get a hdmi enabled GPU)
View the video at the top of the page.


They are also bringing out this nice looking piece of hardware by D-Link.

http://www.boxee.tv/box

Also an app for iphone that turns it into a boxee remote control.

Trying Boxee out on my main pc now.

Wozz wrote:

I found all this fascinating and I have a couple of old PC's at home that in theory i could use to set something like this up! I'm going to look into it in a bit more detail. Do i need to completely install a new OS on the pc?

Might be easier just to buy a new pc ready built instead?

no you don`t need to install a fresh OS, think it will be fine with xp (unsure if win98 etc)

Infact, during my search earlier, I found that you don`t even need an OS on the machine !
You can just use the box as a dedicated XBMC player.

http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=HOW-TO_make_XB...ull_Screen


The boxee software on previous post might be a good idea too ?

p.s. Sorry Scott7 for hijacking your post

2nd Rower wrote:

Lastly does xbmc allow recording of TV in any way like WMC?

Thanks Kaine,

I want(need!!! ) TV recording, but am still really liking Andrew's screen shots of the skins for xbmc!

Do either of you know if WMC can be skinned easily to have the look and functionality of xmbc, with movie info and posters etc?

Moving away from WMC another friend has recommended this to me. Seems to cover all bases without the 'nice' UI:
http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/36110

AndrewHG2 wrote:

Wozz wrote:

I found all this fascinating and I have a couple of old PC's at home that in theory i could use to set something like this up! I'm going to look into it in a bit more detail. Do i need to completely install a new OS on the pc?

Might be easier just to buy a new pc ready built instead?

no you don`t need to install a fresh OS, think it will be fine with xp (unsure if win98 etc)

Infact, during my search earlier, I found that you don`t even need an OS on the machine !
You can just use the box as a dedicated XBMC player.

http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=HOW-TO_make_XB...ull_Screen


The boxee software on previous post might be a good idea too ?

Excellent thanks. I now have a plan for an old(ish) pc!  WINNER - 2009 Best Newcomer Award
'09 TDV6 XS Stornaway Grey

'06 BMW 730 D SE (Gone)
'08 A4 TDi SLine Avant (Gone)
Large pack of Flake Cakes (Gone)
6 pack of Guiness (Gone)

i've remembered why I didn't go any further with xbmc tv now - you can't get any redbutton functions with it (unlike W7 MCE which has all redbutton and text functions)

What specific functions are these Kaine?

the extra interactive services you get with certain channels

I think it would be handy to have that stuff on a computer but surely XBMC/WMC are media centres working in partnership with the TV, not as the TV ?

You may aswell just buy a monitor, if not using the TV features ? ... Yes I know a monitor that size would cost a fortune