Software

To use the display and remote control, a small software package needs to be downloaded from the Origen AE website. While it may be convenient to have a driver CD, the company has decided to leave that out. By having to download the software, you will always have the newest version when you first require it, instead of getting an old version on a medium. The IR Trans software installation is quick and easy. It does not require a restart and can be used right away. Once it is up and running, a small system tray icon lets you know that it is ready to receive commands from the infrared MCE remote. Needless to say, it works like a charm right out of the box.

Installation process

S10V in Action

The first thing you notice is the dual color ring around the power button. While the case is in standby, it glows orange and then turns blue as soon as the HTPC is turned on. The standby color is a great little addition, as most home theater equipment features a standby light.

The pictures below show the diffferent states of the VFD. As this is an in-house creation from Origen AE, it is interesting to see what it is capable of.


The default text shown even before the software is installed is "Welcome to HTPC". This is the phrase you will see everytime the entire case has just been connected to an outlet. Origen AE even gives you the abilty to change this phrase, so you could change it to something like "Welcome to the bat cave control center" if you wish. Once the software is in place and the HTPC has been started once, the VFD shows the date and time even when the case is turned off. This looks great and may fool a lot of people into thinking that it is a normal DVD player. Once you start the Media Center interface of Windows MCE you are greeted by a "Welcome to Mediacenter" text.


This changes as soon as you open a picture, video or audio file within the Media Center interface. The implementation is so simple, but does everything it is suppose to. You will not find news flashes or weather information on the VFD. All it does is relay all needed information on media, perfect for the intended use of the S10V - as an HTPC.