Thanks for the information.

I tried using the media player/streaming server from http://www.videolan.org and it does an "OK" job. I was able to stream a DVD across the LAN and even across two T1 lines, but it doesn’t seem to be the optimal solution. I blogged my experience using VideoLAN here: http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/voip-blog/streaming-live-tv.asp

It didn’t work too well due to my cable provider’s 256kbs "upstream" cap. I’m wondering if it’s more like 128kbps. I think maybe i need a better transcoder or something due to the thin upstream pipe.

Anyway, how do I stream "transcoded" content from the MCE 2005 PC across the Internet with a broadband connection on both ends? (with channel changing capability if possible). In theory I should be able to type mms://x.x.x.x:8080 into Media Player 10 on my work PC and access the "streaming video/audio".

Someone suggested to me to install Windows Media server, but isn’t that just another encoder? MCE 2005 already has an encoder, so in theory I should be able to access that media stream.

I was thinking Media Encoder 9 might do the job, however, I’m not sure how i’d remotely change the channel. Doesn’t Media Encoder just "access" the capture card with no ability to change channels?

As soon as you use Remote Desktop to logon to a MCE PC, the MCE application shuts down (says something like "MCE is not supported under Remote Desktop. Please restart.. blah blah blah). So can’t use Remote Desktop to change the channel. Hmm, I wonder if VNC Viewer will do the trick (to change channels)

any ideas on best method to transcode & stream MCE 2005 content across the internet?

It seems that ripping DVD into the device is possible but not straight forward. What about other formats like DivX, …

Is this possible aswell?

Concerning your comment on using the device as a storage for digital images take from the camera. I was really amazed to read that this is not possible!! Kind of kill app.
Sometimes you are wandering what people have in mind when specifying the functionality

You mentioned the concept of having a media slot. I have a device (the X’s Drive Pro) that is essentially just that. You format and provide your own hard drive (2.5"), then you can take it out and insert portable media cards (using various built-in slots for CF, etc.) and copy them to the hard drive with a single button. It also has an MP3 player function, but that part of it pretty much sucks. No preview of pictures either, but I shoot RAW files anyway.

I was curious as to how the device works with downloaded music from a service such as napster? Can you play downloaded tracks that haven’t been permanently purchased?

Thanks.

The longer cord is supposed to wrap around the back of your neck so you can take them off and easily put them back on.

I am Daimaou the Founder & Editor in Chief of:
http://akiba.sorobangeeks.com Akihabara News
&
http://pmw.sorobangeeks.com Portable Media World

GREAT WORK HERE this review is the best ever done for this PMC ! WOW ! GREAT JOB !
I linked it here http://pmw.sorobangeeks.com/news_49.html and here http://akiba.sorobangeeks.com/news_8584.html

Daimaou

I have been working out recipes to get DVD’s transferred to the Zen, which it turns out is not trivial. I am pleasantly surprised at the battery life, and overall storage capacity.

This family of devices are destined for greatness, but I think the final evolution will look a little different than the early adopters versions.

I am very interested in using PMC’s in film studies programs for critical analysis, as well as at the UCLA School of Medicine for med students. I think it is a pretty neat idea to be able to store an entire semesters lectures (with video!), as well as thousands of still images to support late night studying…

I am very interested in combining these devices with the next version of Photo story, as a great and dynamic alternative to an endless powerpoint slide deck.