Showshifter DVB

Microsoft might have grabbed the headlines with the launch of its Media Center edition of Windows XP, but it's not available for all of us who want to build our own media PCs. Fortunately, we enthusiasts are catered for by a range of companies including Showshifter, which has been in this market for years. The latest version, Showshifter 3, now includes support for digital video cards in the DVB version, although a cheaper analogue version is available.

Installation remains the same as for other versions, and includes the same foibles that can confuse novice users. For example, if you want to use the Digiguide subscription TV guide (www.digiguide.co.uk) then you need to install that software before you install Showshifter, in order to integrate them. Alternatively, there's the open-source XMLTV application, which is free but requires manual tuning to get the same effects.

Next, ensure that you have all the right video capture hardware. Showshifter supports TV cards and direct video capture, but it's worth reading the website for a full compatibility list.

Finally, there's the matter of a remote control. Showshifter sells the Marmitek X10 online, which has direct support in the application. Even if you don't go for this product, a remote control is essential for getting the most out of Showshifter.

All of this makes Showshifter a little more difficult to configure than, say, Intervideo's Home Theatre (reviewed on page 69). However, it gives a greater choice of hardware and software for enthusiasts.

Once installed, there's a quick setup wizard, which lets you choose your capture hardware and automatically searches for TV channels, provided you have a TV card installed. Once the wizard has completed, you're ready to run.

The interface, as with previous versions, is large and friendly, which is perfect for use on a TV. The main menu comprises all the options that Showshifter offers, including TV, DVD, CD, images and Jukebox.

We started with the music Jukebox, which is used to play digital music. Showshifter needs to be told where your music resides before you can select any tracks. For the most part it's easy to browse through digital media, but it's not perfect.

For example, tracks can only be browsed by name and album. There are no options to browse by category or artist, which is a staple of all MP3 players. It's a shame, as once you fill a PC with music these extra options can make it a lot easier to locate a specific track.

The player also misses out on visual plug-ins, so you can't have a display running on screen while your favourite tracks are playing. In fairness, this is a minor criticism.

Similar problems exist with the other parts of the software, such as digital images. Only a selection of folders can be displayed on screen, but there's no way to build categories of images, such as a particular holiday.

Showshifter also loses out slightly to Microsoft's Media Center with its menu system. Microsoft's offering has lots of good transition effects and is genuinely easy to use. That said, the simple approach offered by Showshifter requires a lower hardware specification.

Provided you have a source for the digital TV guide, the PVR (personal video recorder) is really simple to use. Just select a TV programme you want to record and it's automatically entered. However, you might want to get an infra-red transmitter to automatically change channels on a satellite or cable TV box to avoid having to set it manually beforehand.

Overall, Showshifter misses out on the simplicity of a Microsoft Media Center. However, it doesn't require you to buy a whole new PC to get this functionality. It's a little trickier to set up, particularly with TV guides for the PVR.

If you like tinkering with home theatre PCs, though, it's the perfect piece of software. It's very configurable and doesn't force you to opt for specific hardware or services. As such, it's the perfect counterpart for a compact barebones PC, and for anyone who has the time to build a home theatre computer to suit their specific needs.

Contact: Showshifter 0131 625 1482
www.showshifter.com

System requirements:

• Pentium II 800MHz
• 64MB of Ram
• 300MB free hard disk space
• Windows 98 or above
• Video capture card for TV options

Pricing details:
RRP Standard: £41.46 (£35.28 ex VAT); DVB: £51.83 (£44 ex VAT)