HTPC and PVR the home for MegaEPG

Some time ago I updated the channels for Yes (there was the HD channels renumbering again, added Stars Base channel, Next HD channel and JimJam). I provided the channels.xml file to a few people but didn't announce the update. Today I've updated it again and here is the announce. There are HD2 movies channel, MTV HD, Fox Sport HD, TVCI, DomKino and NHK Word channels added. I didn't make the release but you can download the updated channels.xml file (right mouse click, Save As...) and replace the one in the Data directory.

Did you know that there is no legal way to buy Windows 7 Ultimate yet in Israel? Almost a month after the official announcement you can find Win7 Home Premium edition in every possible retail store. But what about the Ultimate edition? Release, upgrade, anything? Nada. I'm really disappointed of this weird distribution policy and can't understand why Microsoft is holding back the black boxes and doesn't sell them together with the green ones. The disrespect towards the Vista Ultimate users willing to upgrade is very strange. Is that a punishment for choosing the most powerful edition of the operating system back then?

For the 1st time since Windows 3.11 I didn't get the new operating system RTM as a beta developer, MSDN subscriber, etc. For the 1st time in many many years I went to the computer and office stores to buy the new OS release. This is kinda embarrassing experience :-) especially when you can't buy it. Only Home Premium, what a pity. Microsoft online store doesn't sell outside the US. Big local retail chains don't even have a schedule for the Ultimate edition sales. Small local shops have an OEM version of Win7 Ulitmate with the license to install it on new computers only. Yes, some of them would sell you an OEM version as a retail but it doesn't make much sense for me to pay for an illegal license.

In other words, I'm stuck and waiting. Hope I can upgrade my development computer soon and the MegaEPG Windows 7 support activity will be resumed.

The site has been moved to the new hosting. The transition is mostly complete and everything should work as usual now. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please let me know as soon as possible if you notice any issue with the web site.

I'm working lately on DVB-S support and you surely noticed the delay in the releases. There is the saying "Never rewrite your code!" which I generally agree to, but new hot ideas make me focus on the new MegaEPG version 2 engine. I believe the DVB support will solve a lot of EPG problems. Be patient, it will be worth the waiting.

I'm taking the opportunity to mention the Vista TV Pack 2008 (aka Fiji). The MegaEPG does not support it yet. Microsoft has completely changed the EPG access and schema in this product so please don't install it if you continue using MegaEPG.

The rest is for Israeli friends: on October 5, 2008 Israel moves to the standard time (DST off, one hour back). A special attention is required. Ensure you have the DST flag off in the operating system (do not correct the clock itself!), ensure your clock is correct at morning October 5th and the EPG is not shifted. Re-run the MegaEPG if required, then update the guide in your PVR application. I wish you happy new year, much of health, wealth and only accurate EPG in the new year! :-).

It seems that YES has changed the EPG pages on their site. This is unconfirmed but the links on the site are updated and they do not refer to tv2day anymore. The bad news is that the tv2day scripts do not work. The good news is that I'm aware of the problem :-) and looking for a solution.

A reminder for the Israeli users: tonight (28/3 2:00am) Israel switches to the daylight saving time which is one hour forward. Since the MegaEPG gets the timezone and DST flag from the operating sytem automatically, please ensure the DST is on in the system time Time Zone properties. Do NOT change the clock itself! After making the DST flag on, ensure that the system clock is correct.

It seems that the Microsoft server has a messy and inaccurate guide data for HOT users. You are advised not to use the vista_he script meanwhile. Leave only the hot_he script configured to obtain a slower but correct EPG. I'd appreciate if someone will check the Vista HOT EPG periodically and notify us when the problem is gone. I'll make then a public announcement that the vista script can be used again.

I'm back from my short ski vacation. Just to let you know about the delay in answering the forum questions and emails. I had no access to the Internet and honestly telling didn't want to :-). Now I'm online again. Thank you.

The poll results indicate that many people schedule their EPG update at night between 2am-6am. Unless you a morning TV watcher, I think a better time to schedule the EPG update is close to the evening prime-time or the time you usually watch TV (but not too close). Thus the EPG information will be more correct and up-to-date. Of course it depends on how often the provider updates its website, but if updates are frequent enough, you'll get a more accurate EPG.

Site hometheater.co.il has awarded the MegaEPG the "Best Product of 2007" title in the HTPC category. I am very touched to receive an acknowledgement from the community of the highest level professionals and good friends. I can not imagine how the areas of audio, video, television, HTPC and gadgets in general could exist in Israel without hometheater's articles, reviews and the forum. It's a honor and a pleasure to serve the community. Thank you very much, guys!

I wish we had a better local EPG support and greater TV providers' openness towards the fast growing group of HTPC users. I wish the next time we'll choose something much more exciting as the best HTPC product. There are a lot of nice and innovative products there: hardware, HTPC cases, media extenders, applications! I wish I could concentrate on something more valuable and helpful having the complete and accurate EPG information provided by our TV companies.