Gaming Console’s have been huge for some time now, and I’m sure everyone either has one, or knows someone that has an Xbox, Playstation, or Wii.  So you know what these are, but did you know that some consoles do much more than just allow you to play games?

I bet many of you own a Microsoft Xbox 360 but don’t know the full extent to which you can use it (I’m sure a lot of you do, but I bet a lot of you don’t).  Microsoft has a program called Windows Media Center which allows you to organize and control your entertainment from your PC.  You can play your favorite music, view your photos as a slideshow, watch DVDs, download movies, and you can even watch and record your favorite TV shows (and in the US, you can even record HDTV programs with an HD compatible tuner).  Windows Media Center is included with Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate Home Editions, and is also available separately.

Windows Media Center allows you to add up to 5 Media Center Extenders so that you can expand your system.  A Media Center Extender is a box that you can add to allow you to “extend” the functions of Windows Media Center.  I’ll give you an example that should clarify what this means.

If you have your PC in your office, and it has Windows Media Center installed, you’re able to do the normal functions such as listen to your music, play a slideshow, etc on your PC.

If you add a Media Center Extender to your family room TV (connected through either a network or wirelessly), you now have the ability to do the exact same thing in your family room.  This means that your family room Media Center Extender acts as an extension of your office PC and allows you to extract information from your office PC and play it in your family room.  It acts completely independantly of your office PC.  This means that if you’re watching a slideshow of your trip to Hawaii in your office, you can play a slideshow of your trip to Europe in your family room, without interfering with the Hawaii slideshow.

Another example is I’m in my office listening to the newest Michael Jackson anniversary CD.  You stop by to say hi, and you hear me listening to Thriller.  You decide you want to hear that so you go to the family room, pull up the Media Center software and find Thriller (from the same anniversary CD I’m listening to on my PC) and hit play.  Now Thriller begins playing in the family room, and I’m still listening to it in my office.  Even though you’re selecting this from the family room Media Center Extender, which is accessing the information from the office PC, it’s totally independant so it does not have any effect on what I’m listening to in the office.

You can have up to 5 Media Center Extenders connected, all accessing one PC, all with independant control.  You can listen to a CD in one room, watch a photo slideshow in another room, listen to a differnet CD in another room, etc, all from the same PC, all at the same time.  And because you have the option to do this wirelessly, it’s a very simple way to expand your system throughout your household.

So what does this have to do with the Microsoft Xbox 360?  Well, the Xbox 360 is also a Media Center Extender.  That means if you already have an Xbox 360, and you have Windows Media Center, you just have to add a network connection to your Xbox 360.

 You can do this either using a wired or wireless connection.  For best results, Microsoft recommends using a wired network connection to connect both your PC and your Xbox 360.  Second best method is to use a wired connection from your router to your PC, then use a wireless connection from your router to your Xbox 360, using the Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adaptor.  There are some other basic recommendations that are listed on the Microsoft website.

It’s very easy to connect and setup up.  There’s also a Xbox 360 Universal Remote that allows you to easily control your Media Center through your Xbox 360.

You also have the option of using a stand alone Media Center.  Several companies are manufacturing them and they allow you to do the same thing minus the gaming ability of the Xbox 360.

We offer a couple of units from Linksys, the DMA2100 and DMA2200 which are Media Center Extenders and wireless receivers all in one.  The DMA2200 also has a built in DVD Player, and both units have an HDMI output to your TV.

Also, we carry a couple of very cool new TVs from Hewlett Packard.  The HP SL4278N and the HP SL4778N Flat-panel LCD TVs have a built-in network media device that allows you to create a wireless Ethernet connection to your computer, and access your music, photos, and more from your PC.

It’s really exciting what’s going on in the world of convergence…being able to tie your PC and your home entertainment systems together, sharing your music, photos, TV throughout your house, wirelessly!

So if you have your Xbox, make sure you’re maximizing it by using its Media Center Extender capabilities.  If not, take a look at the Xbox, or one of the other options to make sure your whole house it getting in on the action.

Click here to visit our store for the Xbox and other Media Center Extenders

Well, I find myself listening to so much music these days and thinking “this stuff is so unoriginal (sucks),” or “what happened to the talent,” or “they just don’t make music like they used to.” I guess that means I’m officially old now!

But today a friend emailed me a youtube clip of a girl named Charice Pempengco, a 14 year old girl with an absolutely incredible voice…I was blown away and couldn’t believe it. I thought there was no way that’s really her voice. But it is and it’s amazing. And not just a great voice, she’s a true performer. She knows how to work her audience. There’s no doubt about it to me, she’s a star and I can’t wait to see great things come from her. Here’s the clip my friend shared with me. If she gave this performance at the Apollo Theater, she’d bring the house down!

Wow! The show looks pretty funny too

Vicci Martinez is a friend of mine from Tacoma, Washington. I’ve known her since she was a little girl, and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her perform over the years. I’m not sure how well she’s known out there, but in Tacoma and Seattle, she’s very popular and has a huge following. She’s now in her early 20’s, but she’s been performing in public since her early teens. She performed on starsearch, and opened for BB King, Sting and Annie Lenox and many others, as well as performed with some great musicians.

Vicci writes all of her music, and she also has such an amazing voice and a HUGE stage presence. If you ever get the chance to see her live, you’ll see what I’m talking about. And it’s so nice to see her keep her artistic integrity and do things her way. Here’s a couple clips of her performing live.

Vicci’s a true talent, and hopefully you’ll get a chance to see her and pick up her CDs. I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot of her in the future.

While I don’t know Ms. Pempengco, I can say that her tremendous passion comes through in her voice and her stage presence. And I have seen the years of hard work Vicci’s put in and her passion for her music is unbelievable. These girls are not only incredibly talented, but they are true performers, and true inspirations.

My first night in Las Vegas for the CES show, I was fortunate enough to be a guest at the 2008 Monster Retailer Awards, hosted by Noel Lee, owner of Monster Cable, at the Paris Hotel. Noel Lee has been very generous in his award shows going back many years now, and I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few over the years. They’re always a great time, and this one was no different…featuring the one and only…

Mary J. Blige

As you can see from the picture, I think Mary and I had quite a connection, and I’m pretty sure she was singing directly to me…it was a very magical moment…for me at least

Here’s a short clip that shows why she’s so great. She sings with so much soul and passion…it was just amazing to see her perform like this so close.

In this short clip, Mary shares some very inspirational words…then breaks into another awesome performance.

What a performance, and what a night. If they ever happen to read this, thank you Noel Lee and Mary J. Blige!