By Whitson Gordon Top 10 Ways to Power Up Your Home Theater PC You guys voted (and we agree) that a custom-built home theater PC is by far the best set-top box for on-demand video. Whether you've built yourself an XBMC machine, a Boxee box, or a Windows Media Center PC, here are our ten favorite ways to turn it into a media-watching powerhouse. 10. Load Up on the Plug-Ins If you haven't gone into your media center's plug-in repository, you're missing out. XBMC alone has a ton of cool content available, including those that let you play Netflix, Blu-Rays, Grooveshark, and more. You also have skins galore, which can make your home theater PC a gorgeous beast suitable for impressing all your friends. And, of course, you can grab plug-ins for Windows Media Center and Boxee as well. 9. Whip Your Metadata and Art Into Shape Of course, if you want to take full advantage of those beautiful skins, you'll need to make sure your media's metadata and art are up to snuff. Programs like XBMC follow specific rules to determine which files are what, so you'll need to make sure your library follows all those rules This can take a bit of work if your library starts out disorganized, but it's worth it for the wow factor it adds to your machine. 8. Add a TV Tuner So you've got on-demand movies and TV shows on your machine, but there's still something to be said for seeing what's on the tube when it's on the tube. With an inexpensive TV tuner, you can turn your on-demand-only home theater PC into a full-featured, DIY DVR. You can watch live TV, record your favorite shows, and funnel them right into your media center program of choice. There's no need to buy an expensive separate device like a TiVo when you can integrate it into your existing system. 7. Automatically Download TV Shows as Soon as They've Aired If you've ditched cable for good, or the TV tuner route isn't quite your style, you can also download your favorite shows using BitTorrent or Usenet and get them funneled into your favorite media center program. Our detailed guide will help you set up an automatic downloader that'll grab new episodes as soon as they've aired, so it's almost like having a real live PVR right on your system—but without the hassle of antennas and cable. 6. Set It Up to Work With Your Remote Sure, the Windows Media Center remote might have worked fine when you first bought your machine, but why add more remotes to your coffee table when you could control everything with one, universal remote? We've shown you how to control a PC with any infrared remote using LIRC, which is a perfect setup for home theater PCs (I've now got a single $16 remote controlling my HTPC, audio receiver, TV, and more). If you'd like something a bit easier but more tuned to your media center of choice, you can always turn your iPhone or Android phone into a killer remote, too. 5. Set Up an HTPC that Non-Geeks Can Actually Use Programs like XBMC are great, but let's be honest: they really aren't that friendly to the less tech-savvy. It's a sad fact, but if you have a spouse or roommate that isn't quite as in tune with the inner workings of your PC, they'll have a hard time watching TV without you around. We've gone through how to set up a more friendly media center before, and it's worth a look if you're getting sick of turning on the TV for your roommate every time they continue their Dr. Who marathon. 4. Build It Into Your Entertainment Center If you've got a box or old tower stashed inside your hotbox of an entertainment center (or worse—sitting next to it, looking all ugly), it's time to turn it into a more permanent fixture. We've gone through one cool way to do this, and all it uses is a bit of IKEA furniture and some elbow grease, and it does a great job of keeping your entertainment center looking clean and your PC running cool. 3. Rule it From Afar with Wake-on-LAN Unless you keep it on and running full steam all the time, you'll actually need to get up and press the button to turn it on. Since most of us are a bit lazier than that (come on, this is America!), consider setting up a Wake-on-LAN system for your home theater PC. With it, you'll be able to turn it on from anywhere in the room, just like you would a normal set-top box for your TV. Some IR receivers even support Wake-on-LAN, so you could turn it on using the power button on your universal remote. 2. Synchronize Your Media Center Between Every Room in the House If you have more than one home theater PC in your home, you probably like to watch TV as you move around the house. With a bit of set-up, you can actually get XBMC in sync across all your machines, so you can pause your media center in one room and continue watching where you left off in another room. 1. Turn Your Media Center into a Video Game Console If you aren't satisfied with just the usual music, movies, TV, and photos, you can actually turn your media center into a video game console as well. With a plug-in and a bit of work in XBMC, you can add emulators and ROMs galore, browse through them just like you do movies and music, and play them on demand. No longer do you need to waste space and clutter your cabinet with old game systems and controllers—you'll be able to play nearly anything from one device, with whatever controller you want. You can also do the same thing in Boxee as well. Share this:

June 18th, 2011 Top Stories From the Tips Box: Selecting Text, Portable Silverlight, and Drinking Glasses This Week's Most Popular Posts Make a Pair of Soundproof Headphones on the Cheap How Can I Quiet a Noisy Computer Fan? Drag Your Bank Into 2011 With PayPal More Stories on Lifehacker »

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Why You Need an HP TouchPad Now; Alternatives to RSA SecurID

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• Why You Need HP's TouchPad on July 1 • HP's Top Executives • Eight RSA SecurID Alternatives • Customers Consider Quitting RSA • RSA SecurID Replacement: VARs Respond • Desktop Virtualization Taking Off • Top Executives Confused About Cloud • McAfee Launches SMB Specialization • Toshiba Launches IP Telephony Solutions Seven Thin-and-Light Laptop Choices Whether you're taking your work on the road or just looking for a way to stay connected while away from your desk, take a look at this list of thin-and-light laptops to keep you both productive and entertained while on the go. READ MORE >>   Why You Need HP's TouchPad on July 1 HP's TouchPad tablet will hit the market July 1. It will be available from both retail and the channel at an attractive price to consumers and business. Here's why you want to join the ranks of early adopters of this Flash-supporting iPad killer. READ MORE >> HP's Top Executives HP's new CEO, seven months into the job, has shaken up top management at the technology giant this week. Here's the new lineup of leaders at HP. READ MORE >> Sponsored by Symantec.cloud Visit the new Security Solution Center on eWEEK.com for the latest IT security news, reviews, videos, and resources. Go to the Security Solution Center ADVERTISEMENT Eight RSA SecurID Alternatives As RSA channel partners assess the damage of the RSA SecurID breach, it may be time to look at alternatives. SecurID is not the only game in town. Here's a look at several possible alternatives. READ MORE >> Customers Consider Quitting RSA After months of silence and little direction from RSA beyond the release of basic mitigating best practices, RSA's recall of SecurID tokens is the worst-case scenario that partners dreaded, leading them to consider alternate vendors. READ MORE >> RSA SecurID Replacement: VARs Respond IT solution providers may forgive security giant RSA for the security breach that led to the compromise of RSA SecurID tokens. What may be unforgivable has been RSA's silence when it came to telling VARs about the severity of the breach in a timely manner. READ MORE >> How to Get Started with Cloud Computing View this panel discussion with IBM cloud computing leaders on how enterprises can get started with cloud computing -- reviewing which workloads make sense to move first and the right type of cloud for workloads. DOWNLOAD NOW >> Oracle Databases on VMware vSphere 4: A Guide This document will also show that the same best practices, tuning tips and tricks, and skill sets necessary to deploy Oracle databases in physical environments can be leveraged when deploying Oracle databases in virtual environments. DOWNLOAD NOW >>

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The Morning Scoop - Obama's Golf Diplomacy

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The Daily Beast - The Morning Scoop - June 18, 2011
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CHEAT SHEET
MUST READS FROM ALL OVER

ON THE GREEN
1. Obama's Golf Diplomacy

In a city known for power outings, President Obama's golf match Saturday
with House Speaker John Boehner may wind up being the most high-stakes
leisure weekend of the year. Vice President Joe Biden is joining the
pair, as is Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, to round out the partisan
balance. But the subject isn't just golf. The long-planned summit has
turned into a de facto negotiating session over government spending
aimed at trying to strike a deal on raising the U.S. debt limit to
prevent America from defaulting in August. Boehner is expected to breeze
by Obama on the links, but a deal on the debt limit is less assured. The
Daily Beast's Daniel Stone reports.

Read it at The Daily Beast:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/dail1
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DIPLOMACY
2. Karzai: U.S. in Peace Talks With Taliban

Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirms the U.S. is involved in peace
talks with the Taliban. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had said he
was open to talks with the Taliban by the end of the year, but the
Taliban had said they refused to negotiate with anyone but the Afghan
government, and even then only when coalition forces had left. In a
diplomatic overture to the Taliban, the United Nations voted Friday to
treat its sanctions of al Qaeda and the Taliban separately.

Read it at BBC:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/dail2
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OVERRULED
3. Obama Rejected Lawyers on Libya

In defending his Libya mission, President Obama overruled the advice of
top lawyers from the Pentagon and the Justice Department, who told him
that U.S. engagement there fell under "hostilities" and was thereby
subject to congressional approval after 60 days, according to officials
who spoke to The New York Times. The president's rejection of that
counsel allowed him to circumvent the War Powers Resolution and continue
military action in Gaddafi's war-torn nation. Sources say several
members of the White House security team agreed with Obama—though
several high-profile lawmakers beg to differ, some even filing a lawsuit
arguing their case.

Read it at The New York Times:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/dail3
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CLASSIFIED
4. U.S. Maintains Crackdown on Leaks

The failure of the case against Thomas Drake seems to have done nothing
to damp the Obama administration's desire to prosecute leakers. Next up
is Stephen J. Kim, an arms expert who immigrated to the U.S. from South
Korea. Kim, 43, was charged last August with violating the Espionage Act
for leaking classified information to a Fox News reporter. If convicted,
Kim could face 15 years in prison. Critics question the use of the
Espionage Act, which they say unfairly associates men like Kim with
traitors to their country, rather than media gossipers. The U.S. has
investigated five criminal cases under President Obama's administration,
while there were only three total under all previous presidents.

Read it at The New York Times:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/dail4
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JAPAN
5. Fukushima's Water Cleanup Halted

TEPCO shut down a newly installed system to clean contaminated water at
the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant only hours after the operations
began, when one of 24 cartridges that was expected to last a few weeks
filled up after five hours. Fresh water being pumped into the plant to
cool the damaged nuclear reactor cores has been contaminated, so that
now roughly 105,000 tons of radioactive water threaten to overflow if
TEPCO does not take action. TEPCO plans to treat the water and reuse it
in the cooling system, but faces the additional problem of storing the
radioactive water and sludge.

Read it at Associated Press:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/dail5
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Click here for more of the Cheat Sheet at The Daily Beast:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/cs

SOCIAL NETWORKING
Obama to Tweet Personally
Leading up to 2012 campaign.
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/cht6

CRACKDOWN
U.S. Investigates Syria for War Crimes
Clinton "chooses to stand with the Syrian people."
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/cht7

STING OPERATION
Conservatives Tried to Tempt Weiner
With fake names and Twitter accounts.
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/cht8

DELAYS
United Airlines Computer Glitch Fixed
After five-hour nationwide outage.
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/cht9

LABOR
Target Workers Reject Union
Would have been first store in chain.
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/cht10
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BLOGS & STORIES
FROM OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Why There Will Always Be Weiners
by Lee Siegel

American democracy demands vain risk-takers who bend rules and aim to
please. Lee Siegel on why politics would be impossible without the
Anthony Weiners of the world.

http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/fea1
*************************************************************************

Greeks Want More Money
by Stefan Theil

Protesters in Greece are using some tactics seen in the Arab Spring. But
instead of trying to oust a dictator, they want another financial
bailout. Stefan Theil reports.

http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/fea2
*************************************************************************

Italy's 'Jersey Shore' Spinoff
by Barbie Latza Nadeau

The cast of clowns left behind more than car wrecks when they departed
Florence. Barbie Latza Nadeau on the outrageous new Italian reality show
their visit spawned.

http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBN-KmkB7SwhTB8bzy2NsjV9ocv/fea3
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10 Great Gadget Gifts for Father's Day; Five Ways to Embarrass Yourself at Work

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TOP STORIES - June 18, 2011 • 10 Great Gadget Gifts for Father's Day • Five Ways to Embarrass Yourself at Work • Skype, Comcast Partner to Bring HD Video Calling to TV • Facebook Friends RockMelt Social Web Browser • 3D Printers Hit the Mainstream SPOTLIGHT IBM at 100: Biggest Hits and Misses From its delivery of a fine-tuned punched card to Watson, IBM has a lot to brag about. But it's also had its fair share of duds. READ MORE >> BEST OF eWEEK • Mac OS X 'Lion,' iOS 5 Converge in iCloud • Microsoft Offers Windows 8 First Look • iCloud Gives Amazon, Google Competition • Apps That Harness Dual Touch Screens FEATURED VIDEO Healthy Dose of Analytics A Texas hospital slashed patient readmissions by 22% using analytics software. WATCH NOW >> MOST READ STORIES • Why iPad 3 Should Be Released This Year • Features We Expect to See in iPhone 5 • Why Motorola Delayed the Droid Bionic • iPhone 5 Uncertain, so Buy iPhone 4 IN THIS ISSUE 10 Great Gadget Gifts for Father's Day From e-readers and tablet computers to smartphones, today's dads may not have grown up with some of the more familiar cutting-edge technologies, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be overjoyed to receive an iPad 2 or a Nook Color on Father's Day. READ MORE >> Five Ways to Embarrass Yourself at Work Global business and demographic trends mean more diversity in the office, and more chances to do the wrong thing. READ MORE >> Sponsored by VeriSign The world's leading SSL certificates now offer more protection and security. Now from Symantec. The VeriSign seal is displayed more than 250 million times a day on more than 90,000 websites and inspires confidence among your customer base when on your site. Start your free trial at verisign.com/ssl/free-30day-trial ADVERTISEMENT Skype, Comcast Partner to Bring HD Video Calling to TV Comcast customers can make and receive video and audio via Skype on a television while watching a TV show. READ MORE >> Facebook Friends RockMelt Social Web Browser RockMelt launches beta 3 of its Web browser with key integration and support from Facebook, one of the social networks it's built around. READ MORE >> 3D Printers Hit the Mainstream Once relegated to scientific industries like space, medicine and engineering, 3D printers are becoming less expensive and easier to use. The newest models are now appearing in classrooms and even households around the country. READ MORE >> How to Get Started with Cloud Computing View this panel discussion with IBM cloud computing leaders on how enterprises can get started with cloud computing -- reviewing which workloads make sense to move first and the right type of cloud for workloads. DOWNLOAD NOW >> Oracle Databases on VMware vSphere 4: A Guide This document will also show that the same best practices, tuning tips and tricks, and skill sets necessary to deploy Oracle databases in physical environments can be leveraged when deploying Oracle databases in virtual environments. DOWNLOAD NOW >>

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