Xbox & Mac Based Media Center

Comments

Possibly Related

Xbox 360 Extends Media CenterI've been ignoring all of the Xbox 360 rumor-mongering this week, for several reasons -- I'm not much of a gamer (although I'm sure my kids will twist my arm clear out of the socket when this finally ships), the real details were imminent, and the thing isn't shipping until Xmas season anyway. Anyway, the details are out, and GadgetMadness has posted the official press release. There are, predictably, a couple of items of interest to the HTPC inclined: With Xbox 360, gamers are always on. At its core, Xbox 360 is an amazing game machine with a wide selection of titles. But it is also an entertainment system that lets people power new experiences. Every Xbox 360 system has...


Xbox 360 - Media Center Details EmergeMore details seem to be emerging at E3 regarding the Xbox 360's integration with Windows Media Center Edition 2005, as well as sharing content from non-MCE XP systems. Windows IT Pro has an excellent run-down. The Xbox 360 MCX will include the full Media Center user experience and not the stripped down version seen on today's Extenders. That means you get the full fidelity of the Media Center experience, complete with animations, transitions during photos slideshows, and so on. For many users, the Xbox 360 MCX will even look nicer than the default UI on a Media Center PC, a first for any Extender. If you don't have an XP-based Media Center PC, Xbox 360 will use Windows Media Connect...


HP x5400 Media Center ExtenderOver at eHomeUpgrade, Tim Coyle reviews an HP Media Center Extender that he bought on closeout. I was very impressed with the overall experience of the Media Center extender – I thought it really imaged the Media Center interface well and I didn’t notice any major differences between the two. The extender will suffer due to your network bandwidth so get a fast network if you want to stream TV and video because you are going to need all of it. (Yes the extender has limitations on how much bandwidth it can stream but routers are cheap it’s always better to have overkill than just-not-enough) Even with these issues the extender gives you so much opportunity to place your digital...


Windows Media Center Hidden GamesJust in case you were bored with your Windows Media Center Edition 2005 box (wait for it -- the season finales are almost over), it turns out that there are some hidden games you can access. You should find you have Otto's Magic Blocks and Gem Master on your system as well. Whilst these are not fully installed by default you can quickly and easily add them. I'm not sure how to describe Otto's Magic Blocks but Gem Master is a more complicated version of Tetris....


Media Center Edition to support CableCARDSpeaking of recording premium HD content... Thomas Hawk has the scoop -- Microsoft has just announced CableCARD support in Media Center PCs -- by "Holiday 2006 time frame". REDMOND, Wash. and LOUISVILLE, Colo., Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. and Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs(R)) today announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows(R) Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame. These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCARD(TM) module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their personal computer and throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices, such as Xbox 360(TM), while protecting cable operators' investments in high-value...