Using Live Mesh to access my recorded shows
For the last year I’ve been using Windows Live Mesh to sync files between my desktop PC and various laptops that I own. The process works well, and is very transparent. I basically have folders on my Desktop PC that I’ve designated as Live Mesh sync folders, and any files put in those folders are automatically synced with a similar folder on my other laptop machines. Thus, I can have certain files synced an accessible on all my computers.
In addition, Live Mesh has a “virtual desktop” which is in the cloud (Internet) where I can sync files (there is a limit on total storage size, though). That way, I can store and backup important documents online just in case my computers are damaged in a fire, stolen, etc. What’s really nice, is that Windows Live Mesh is free to use and works very well.
This week, I’m traveling up in Canada and although I brought my Zune HD for watching recorded TV shows, I can’t access the shows that are being recorded nightly on my home PC system. So my favorite shows for this week (24, Fringe, etc) are inaccessible to me while I’m hundreds of miles away…. or are they?
The hotel I was staying at had a fairly high-speed Internet connection (4 MB/sec download), so I was able to access my home PC via a Remote Desktop Connection using my Dell 11z netbook. I then copied two WMV video files (converted from the Windows Media Center WTV format to WMV using DVRSMToolbox) from my standard Zune sync folder to one of my Live Mesh folders. Once I did that, those two WMV files were automatically synced to my Dell 11z laptop via the internet. Each video file was about 450 MB in size, and they seemed to sync over to my Dell 11z in about 2 hours. It was slow, but worked automatically.
So now I can watch those WMV files on my Dell 11z using Windows Media Player. Although these video files were converted for the Zune screen resolution, they seemed to play back just fine on my Dell 11z’s screen when I enlarged the playback window.
So, I now have access to my recorded TV shows even when I’m away from my home PC. If I start the syncing file transfer before I leave my hotel room for dinner, the video files are usually synced by the time I get back. Of course, YMMV depending on your Internet connection speed.
Zune HD Tips
With the lack of good documentation, you’re forced to figure out how to use the different features of your Zune HD by trial-n-error. Below are a few tips that I’ve come across that may help get you started:
1) When you’ve drilled down into several layers of menu picks, you can jump back to the previous screen by tapping the top of the screen (on the “breadcrumb” text) as shown below:
Video Conversion Primer for Zune Newbies
For obvious reasons, the Zune forums are full of questions from new Zune owners regarding every aspect of using a Zune. One topic that I see quite frequently, is people asking how to sync their video files or DVD movies to their Zune. Some are former iPod users with MP4 files, others have AVI or MPEG files, and some have just a stack of DVDs or other obsure video formatted files. Below are some tips for those wanting to convert these video files for their Zune. Note, that I cover these topics more extensively in the individual pages on this web blog site.
First, there are two different generations of Zune devices. The first generation Zune is called the Zune 30, and it has been around the longest. This first generation device will only accept video files created in the WMV format (which stands for “Windows Media Video”). So, the Zune 30 will only accept WMV files, and nothing else.
The second generation Zunes are the more modern models such as the Zune 4/8/16/80/120. The second generation devices will accept WMV and MP4 H.264 formatted video files only.
Also, these video files must fall within certain specifications otherwise the Zune Software on you PC will “transcode” (or reconvert) these files to the proper format during syncing. This transcoding process can take hours depending on how many videos you have, so it could take a long time to sync them to your Zune. To avoid this, you should make sure your video files are created with the proper attributes for the Zune to avoid transcoding. This link on Microsoft’s Zune web page explains all the details for the video file specifications. To make things simpler, below are the specs that I use for my WMV video files for my Zune 80:
- Screen resolution: 320 x 240
- Video Codec: WMV 9, Constant Bit Rate (CBR)
- Audio Codec: WMA 9.2, Constant Bit Rate (CBR)
- Video Format: NTSC 29.97/30 frames per second (fps)
- Video Bit Rate: 700 kbps
- Audio Bit Rate: 128 kbps, 44 kHz, Stereo CBR
Using the above settings will create a WMV file that falls within the Zune specs and the Zune Software should sync the file in less than 20 seconds to your Zune. Read the rest of this entry »
Help for new Zune Owners
The zunerama.com web site has a free Zune Guide (PDF format) which you can download and view on your computer. This guide has several tips and tricks for using your new Zune which you may find useful. It does contain several ads, but nothing more than what you’d see in a magazine. You can download the 2009 Zune Guide from this link.
Automatic Video Conversions using MCEBuddy
As you may have read in my previous postings, I use a freeware program called DVRMSToolbox (Dtb) to automatically convert my TV Tuner recordings from DVR-MS format to WMV format for my Zune 80. The entire process happens automatically, and I simply sync my Zune to my PC to download the converted video files. These files are converted to my exact specifications, and have all the meta data tags included (e.g., episode name, air date, show description, etc.). Granted, it took a bit of effort on my part to configure everything just the way I like it (which I’ve documented on my video conversion pages), but at this point everything is completely automatic.
A poster to this web blog recently brought to my attention an alternative to Dtb called MCEBuddy obtainable from this web site. Apparently, this freeware utility has similar functionality as Dtb, so I downloaded it and gave it my cursory review.
Repairing your Broken Zune
Back in April 2008 I made a posting that talked about repairing your broken Zune after the original warranty expires. If you’re a DIY (do-it-yourself) kind of person, there wasn’t much available in parts for the newer Zune 4/8/80 GB models. Fortunately, there seems to be more available now with regards to such parts. The site called www.zuneparts.com has Zune 80 parts such as a replacement battery, LCD screen, screen cover, etc. available for you DIYers. They are somewhat pricey, but it may be a good alternative to buying a whole new Zune. The RapidRepair site also provides Zune 80 parts and has several guides to opening and repairing your Zune. If you’re not the DIY type, you can always send your Zune to RapidRepair and they will fix it for you (for a fee).
Since Lithium-Ion batteries don’t last forever, I can see myself replacing my Zune 80 battery in about a year or two. In that case, it might be worth the price of a battery to fix my Zune rather than buying a whole new device.
Controlling Windows Media Center From Your Smartphone
While I’m on business travel, I sometimes forget to set the Windows Media Center software on my home desktop PC to record a special show or event. Luckily, there exists an application called WebGuide4 that allows me to remotely examine my current recording schedule, and make whatever changes I see fit. It’s all web-browser based, so I can make the changes either in a desktop web browser like FireFox or Internet Explorer, or from Pocket Internet Explorer on my Moto-Q smartphone!
Much like the LogMeIn software (which I mentioned in a previous posting), you install a small server application on your home PC which listens for a requested connection from the outside internet world. You can initiate a connection from a remote PC (or your Smartphone) by pointing your web browser to a specific web address that is designated for your computer with a user-defined port access number. This will bring up a special login screen where you can log into your computer system (via the small web server application) to see your current recording schedule and make changes if necessary. I particularly like the fact I can do this using my Moto-Q phone while waiting at the airport or whenever I have some free time on a business trip.
The WebGuide software also has a provision for streaming recorded video to your remote desktop screen, but I found that it works pretty slow and is somewhat unreliable (probably a function of the internet speed).
Since this is all free, it’s definitely worth checking out and playing with if you like to stay connected to your PC and not miss any favorite shows!
Remote Access Your Desktop PC using LogMeIn
When I’m watching my 4 year-old son downstairs in my family room, I often sit at the kitchen table with my Dell laptop and surf the web or try to get some work done via a wireless connection to our home router. What I find most convenient, is using Windows Remote Desktop to connect to my main desktop PC located in my office upstairs. Using my internal home network, I can “see” and interact with my main desktop PC just as if I was sitting in front of it. Luckily, the Windows Vista Business OS has the option of remote desktop access built-in (Vista Home Premium, however, doesn’t).
Recently, I’ve been using a web-based service called LogMeIn which allows me to similarily connect to my main desktop PC from outside my local home network. For example, I often connect to my home computer while on business travel from my hotel room. Why would I want to do that, you might ask? Well, it’s much easier for me to initiate the remote connection to my home PC and then fire up Outlook to check my emails, or to bring up the FireFox web browser on my home PC to access my favorite links, etc. This is much easier than trying to duplicate mail accounts and web links on my work laptop (which I take with me on business trips), and I can keep work files and business files separate.
What’s nice, is that LogMeIn works very well, and is fast (with a reasonable internet connection). And best of all, it’s free! There’s a version called “LogMeIn Free” which is a freeware version of the LogMeIn application that does everything I need to do. The only thing it doesn’t have, is the ability to easily transfer files to and from my desktop PC (if you want that feature, you’ll need to get the paid subscription version of LogMeIn). Read the rest of this entry »
TV Episode Sort Ordering
With the ability to define the Season number, Episode number, and aired date for each TV Show video that I have on my Zune (using the new version 2.5 Zune Software), I noticed through experimentation that I can control the Episode sort order by adjusting the aired date. For example, I did a quick Google search for the episode number and aired date for the Time Tunnel videos I have synced to my Zune. I then edited each of those videos (buy right clicking them and selecting “Edit” in the Zune Software) to adjust their season and episode number and aired date.
Now when I resync my videos I see the episodes sorted correctly, with the episode number to the left of the episode title as shown below:
Pretty slick! Now, it’s much easier to add a new TV episode that fits between the episodes already synced to my Zune. I did run into one snag, where the Zune device shows duplicate episode titles. I corrected that problem by selecting all the episodes for a show in the Zune Software, right clicking and selecting “Do not sync”. That removed the video files from my Zune, and then I reversed the process by selecting “Sync to Zune” which resynced them.
So, it appears that the aired date is the crucial meta data tag for episode ordering. Unfortunately, I don’t think applications like dSHARPIE can edit that particular tag, or the season/episode tag.
Subscribing to Any Podcast
The Zune Marketplace has numerous audio and video podcasts that you can subscribe to, but what if you came across a podcast that wasn’t available on the Marketplace site? For example, let’s say you found a good heath fitness podcast which you wanted to subscribe to… how can you do that for your Zune?
In the Zune Software, you can click on “Collection” and “Podcasts” which will bring up the screen shown below:
(click on image to enlarge it)
