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DCS-Media provides reviews, techniques, technologies, programming and design tips to help you conduct not just business, but smart business.
PVR: Three MythTV Distros Reviewed
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 5:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Looking for some software that performs like a TiVo? Linux.com has the scoop.
For those who've been following my posts on how to build a TiVo clone (part II), you'll be happy to hear that more Linux-based PVR software is becoming readily available every six months-one year.
Linux.com posts a review of three MythTV Linux distros. For those who don't know what MythTV is, it's a popular open-source PVR recording software for building your own DVR, or TiVo.
How to create extreme entertainment rooms
Thursday, July 26, 2007 4:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
I know some wives are going to kill me for this post.
Ever since I watched my first movie when I was a child, I was amazed as to how much equipment it took to entertain people with so much excitement in one room.
Flash forward to 30 years later. Now, you can equip a specific room with the best technology for possibly a new music server for your entire home, your own PVR (Personal Video Recorder), an extreme HD TV with surround sound, or the ultimate: an extreme home theater system. Since this is a technology site, I thought it'd be great to talk about these various systems and what it would take to setup these entertainment rooms.
How to create the ultimate iTunes Media Server
Friday, June 15, 2007 7:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
After seeing all of the hullabaloo of iTunes, I figured some Mac-heads would love this post.
For those who are interested and VERY passionate about Apple iTunes, I've found a great post about how to create your very own Mac-based iTunes Media Server in your home.
For the other individuals who have no interest or are looking for an alternative to iTunes, make sure you check out Songbird.
How to secure VNC
Wednesday, June 06, 2007 8:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Virtual Network Computing (VNC) allows other users to attach to your PC (with your permission) to help with troubleshooting issues. Here's how to secure your sessions.
If you're a help desk user, you've no doubt heard of VNC. Install the server on one computer and install the client on the other.
One of the advantages of having VNC is that you can troubleshoot someone's computer remotely if the software is installed properly.
Sorry MythDora, I'm leaving you for Ubuntu
Thursday, May 10, 2007 5:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
With Ubuntu rising above the Linux ranks, I decided to create a "Feisty MythTV!"
I felt it was time to upgrade my Tivo media box to MythTV 0.20, so I started to research on adding a little bit more to the Linux box.
Since Ubuntu 7.04 is one of the best distributions of Linux out there, I thought I'd take a look around and see if anyone had an ISO or build of Ubuntu/MythTV together.
Hacking TiVo: 23 tips to turbocharge your DVR
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
If you have a TiVo, here's a way to rev it up to high gear.
For those who are still paying a subscription fee for TiVo as opposed to building your own TiVo, SatelliteSweeper.com posted an article on 23 ways to supercharge your DVR.
Again, great article....if you have a TiVo. ;-)
How to create a TiVo clone, Part II - Windows Software
Wednesday, January 10, 2007 5:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Part one focused on using Linux software. Part II was spawned by a user who posted a comment on Part one's chatterbox.
A user recently posted a message in the discussion of my How to create a TiVo clone post about creating a TiVo using Windows software as opposed to the Linux path.
The two individuals who built TiVo's with me purchased the same hardware. They went down the Windows path. With me, though, I went the cheap route with Linux. If you have the funds, go with Windows.
How to build a Skype Server for your home phone system
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 11:30 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
If you have a PC sitting around at home, you can convert it into a Skype phone system and cut the cord.
After building my custom TiVo, I started looking at the phone bill. Hmmm...How can I create a phone system? I swear, there are times in my life when things are put in front of me for a reason.
Andrew Sheppard over at Linux Journal posted an article about how to Build a Skype Server for your home phone system. For those who don't know what Skype is, bottom line: it's a free Vonage. According to the article, the Linux phone system has saved him about $700 for an entire year or 82% off his current phone bill. I'm up for that!
How to find Angel investors
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 5:30 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
You've got a new product in mind, but you need cash to get started. Here is a list of angel investors to help move your company and product forward.
Business 2.0, along with PowerHomeBiz, posted a great article on how to locate angel investors.
This is strictly assistance for micro-ISVs (developers) who turned into businessmen overnight. :-)
How to get people to trust you
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 2:00 PM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Bottom line: Make yourself trustworthy.
Most small businesses trying to take off have a problem conveying trust to other people. One of the major factors in allowing people to trust you is to first have trust in yourself. If you don't have that, your confidence level will diminish and your business probably won't flourish any time soon. Translation: you need to get out more and network.
Forbes posted an article on How to get people to trust you and provides this same philosophy with more tips and research from the Harvard Business School.
How Windows makes their icons
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 10:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Look at this indepth way of how Microsoft creates their icons for Windows XP
This is really not how microsoft creates icons, but how you can create your own Microsoft Windows XP icons.
But I'm sure Microsoft references this once in a while. ;-)
How to create a TiVo clone
Tuesday, September 26, 2006 4:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 8
Everyone has a TiVo, but not many people realize that the main components of a TiVo is a Video Capture card and a large hard drive.
Recently, TiVo just announced they would be releasing a high-end DVR for $800. Noooo thank you. With a subscription service of $15 a month, a new PC, or TiVo clone, would pay for itself within the first year. Nice return, wouldn't you say?
Over the last year, I've put together a TiVo clone with the help of two friends of mine. They were taking the Windows Media PC path, but I decided to take the Linux way. Even though my friends were taking the Windows path, we were all moving towards the same goal: creating a TiVo-clone that outperforms a regular TiVo, adds additional features instead of a DVR that just sits there, and provide an added bonus of upgrading specific components in the future without sacrificing the entire system. I would rather add an additional hard drive at my own leisure instead of throwing out the "baby with the bathwater" mentality of replacing a TiVo with another "upgraded" TiVo.
How to configure OpenVPN
Monday, September 11, 2006 10:32 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Another good article on how to configure OpenVPN
Along with the previous post of How to setup your own VPN with IPCop and OpenVPN and Configure Windows XP Professional to be a VPN server, there is another tutorial on using OpenVPN from Informit.com.
The OpenVPN tutorial is targeting specifically to users with a WRT54G router, so your mileage may vary. :-)
How to turn a city into shambles with Photoshop
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 9:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Designers, take your city scenes and make them post-apocalyptic.
I always get into Photoshop-ing once in a while and I thought this was a pretty cool tutorial called Modern Ruins on how to take a city-scape and turn it into wreckage.
How-To: Run your own network wiring
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 2:00 PM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Save some money and create your own network wiring for your house.
If you are into saving money and not paying someone to wire your small office or home, you can use this mini-guide on how to create your own ethernet cable and wire your house yourself.
For most hobbyists, wiring your house by yourself is a joy in itself. You don't need to call an electrician and you don't need a lot of money, but you will need to purchase some tools. At this point, most people throw up their hands and decide it's too much trouble to make your own cable, and run to the closest CompUSA or MicroCenter store and buy their 50ft cable already made..
How to document a client's network
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 4:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Here's a simple roadmap and template on how to document a client's network.
One of my clients wanted to know if I could provide them with some documentation on how I set up their network. The documentation would include DNS, DHCP, Network Mappings, PC Naming, and other miscellaneous notes just in case the network went down.
After looking over the network, I came up with five (six with screenshots) worksheets (so far) in an Excel spreadsheet that encompasses the infrastructure of the network:
How to set up a personal home Subversion server
Monday, August 07, 2006 6:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
Developers need to have a version control server in place. How convenient...here's one.
With all of the years of coding, developers still "backup" their code on another machine and call that version control. Hmmm...
If you're an independant developer (mISV), you more than likely have a version control system in place. If not, shame on you. There is CVS, Visual SourceSafe, and Subversion. I consider these the big names in version control. Now, for those who haven't tried SubVersion, its an updated version of CVS and definitely easier to install. :-)
How to secure your valuable and sensitive data in mySQL
Wednesday, August 02, 2006 1:00 PM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
If you use mySQL, you want your data protected, right? Follow these steps to clamp down mySQL.
Every DBA has a responsibility in protecting their database and providing enough security so the corresponding people have the right access.
TechRepublic.com posted a short article of six steps on how to secure your valuable and sensitive data on mySQL. The article discusses the different areas to protect and how to go about it.
How to build a cheap and fast RAID 5 NAS
Wednesday, August 02, 2006 11:00 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 0
An exceptional article from Tom's Network.
One of the most common sayings in the technology industry is that you can never have enough memory or hard drive space. How true, how true.
With small businesses, the more hard drive space you have, the more likely one or more of your hard drives will head South on you. That's where RAID technology comes into play.
How to normalize a database
Monday, July 17, 2006 5:17 AM
Posted by Jonathan Danylko | Tag: HowTo | Comments: 1
Most programmers don't normalize their databases. Use this guide to get a better understanding of how to do it.
I was in a recent project with a client where I was given a database and told to work off of that.
The database wasn't normalized at all, but it was working. I noticed there were redundant fields in the tables that could be removed. Well, you can only do so much without rewriting the app.
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