TVSquad

It's been nearly two years since Microsoft announced plans to let DirecTV customers watch and record programs using Windows Vista Media Center. I wouldn't blame you if you'd kind of forgotten about the whole thing or thought that the two companies had given up on the idea. But Chris Lanier uncovered a Microsoft job listing that would seem to indicate that the companies are still working together.

This is a job posting, not a press release, so we have to read between the lines to figure out the details. But Microsoft is looking for a software design engineer to work with "newly developed dual-tuner TV receiver devices." In addition to the dual-tuner tidbit, it appears that the devices will support Pay-Per-View and H.264 HD video.

Of course, there's still no word on when you'll actually be able to get a tuner from DirecTV or how much it will cost.

You're stuck in Indianapolis on a business trip and facing the prospect of staring at a hotel TV that has the four networks and the History Channel. Not looking promising, is it? Well, fear not road warriors, because if the hotel you're in has On Command, you'll soon be able to drift off to sleep to Beetlejuice, Jeff the Drunk, or -- best of all -- Carmen Electra riding the Sybian.

Yes, that's right, folks, Howard TV is coming to a hotel room near you!  On Command, who runs the in-room pay-per-view services for most hotel chains, and iN DEMAND, who provides on-demand programming for cable companies, have signed an agreement to offer content from Howard Stern's channel in rooms across the country. So, if you're in the right frame of mind, you'll be able to find entertainment for the night that will be funny and maybe a bit... uh... bawdy, but won't be embarrasing to see on the bill you get the next morning.

Oh, and if the last sentence of my first paragraph read "blahblahblahblahblah Carmen Electra blahblahblahblah" to you, well... there's always Modern Marvels...