TechCrunch » Windows Media Center

This Windows Media Center Boxee plug-in is a must-have

Matt Burns — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:30:32 +0000

Both Boxee and Windows Media Center are amazing and among the most popular media playback programs. However, they don’t really work together as they are both more platforms than anything else. You have to close out of one program to start the other and that’s not an easy task if you’re controlling your HTPC with just a remote from your couch. Enter Boxee Windows 7 Media Center Integration 1.0 plug-in.

This plug-in is so simple. It inserts a Boxee icon into Windows Media Center that when pressed, runs a script that closes WMC and starts Boxee full screen. When you close Boxee, WMC starts back up. Genius! It’s the next best thing instead of a true Boxee Windows Media Center app. [BoxeeWMC via Lifehacker]

Niveus Media has a Sirius plugin for Windows Media Center. Maybe it's good?

Nicholas Deleon — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:00:18 +0000

So I was all prepared to give Niveus Media’s new Sirius XM Windows Media Center plugin a try. (As I found out during a meeting with Microsoft while at CES, Windows 7 comes with Windows Media Center built in. I 100 percent didn’t know that till the Microsoft guys told me. Amazing. What else does Windows 7 do that I didn’t know?) Right, so I was all prepared, installed it, then tried to run the configuration. Oh, sorry! It’s Sirius-only! I’m an XM man, grandfathered into this whole Sirius XM debacle, so I can’t use the plugin. Great.

But let’s say you’re a Sirius subscriber, and one who also pays the extra $3 per month to get online streaming—you can use the plugin! And to be fair to Niveus 1) it has no control over Sirius XM’s incompetence (why are there still two distinct logins/subscriptions if it’s all one big company now? and 2) the plugin actually looks pretty cool. It looks like it belongs in Windows Media Center, which very much is a complement.

So what does it do? Not too hard to figure out: it adds a Sirius section to your Windows Media Center. Then you listen to your Sirius channels from inside WMC. That’s it.

The plugin is free, but you have to be a Sirius subscriber. And just to reiterate: you need to be a Sirius subscriber, not an old XM guy like me who had “Sirius XM” thrust upon him.

I’m annoyed, yes.

Video: The ins and outs of Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 beta

Matt Burns — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:10:48 +0000

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 beta has been out for just over a month and it’s a welcomed update. It adds a whole slew of Windows 7 and Media Center functions, along with fixing a ton of little bugs. But if you’ve been on the fence about installing the beta release, check out this extensive video tour by the Power Pack 3 beta Program Manager, CJ Saretto. If you’re already rocking the beta, you still may wanna check out the video for some undiscovered functions. [via mswhs]

Windows Media Center gets Netflix'd

Devin Coldewey — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:16:04 +0000

Looks like Windows Media Center, that hub for video and audio which I’ve never used, is getting full Netflix streaming support. This is good news for those of you running HTPCs with Vista on them — no need for an extra layer or frontend, just open up WMC, enter your info and you’re on your way.

If you’re not a member, hit up some free trial action and you could be watching a movie in about two minutes without leaving your chair.

Personally I don’t like the all-in-one media applications like iTunes and Windows Media Center, but for people who don’t want to futz around with codec packs and weird open source stuff like Media Player Classic, VLC, and other stuff, the increasing robustness of omnibus media players must be comforting. After all, you do your queue online, why shouldn’t you be able to open up your default player and watch stuff there?

You can find more info at the Media Center site, or at this post on TV on your PC.

CrunchBase Information

Netflix

Microsoft

Information provided by CrunchBase

FUZEbox: home media all-in-one setup

Devin Coldewey — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:25:37 +0000

I’m no expert in these little home media boxes, but I suspect they are excellent investments for those of you with too much money. Certainly the abilities of a Vista Media Center type setup are enviable, but for $2000 you could have put another 10 inches on that screen and built a media box yourself. But I digress (and am probably wrong). This FUZEbox has up to 2TB of space, does DVR and basic media stuff, and networks itself into your home (360 support coming) — if you know how to do that or are willing to pay.

Interestingly, in the press release it promises “The capability to back up and distribute DVDs and Blu-Rays to various video zones,” but in the FAQ it helpfully states “There are a multitude of software options available for individuals to purchase that allow archiving of DVD content to their personal computers.” In other words, you’re on your own — but we won’t ask any questions. A safe position, I guess, but it would have been nice to have that capability on board. Watch the demo video here if you’re curious.

CrunchDeal: Linksys DMA2100 MCE going for only $99 shipped

Matt Burns — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:46:20 +0000

Windows Media Center is an awesome way to stream all your content over your network, but you are going to need Media Center Extenders to access the info on other TVs. This Linksys model isn’t the top of the line, but it seems to be one of the least expensive on the market and will get the job done if all you want to do is access your media files. Other models may offer more peppy CPUs or optical drives, but for only $99, the wireless DMA2100 would work great for a secondary TV.

Newegg via Gizmodo

Samsung MediaLive coming to Samsung HDTV’s

Contributor — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:59:11 +0000

MediaLive accessory introduced by Samsung allows for the streaming of digital content to most 2008 Samsung HDTV’s. Using Windows Media Center, photos, music and movies can be streamed in real-time. It has the capability to connect via an existing wireless network or using old–fashioned wires.

With access to online content providers such as Vongo, MovieLink, Showtime TV, XM Radio, and FOX Sports, consumers will be able to view a wide variety of entertainment. In the U.S., Windows Media Center features the Internet TV beta program, which offers access to viral videos, news stories, movie trailers, sports clips, cast interviews, movie concerts and more.

Available in August for an estimated $200 street price, the MediaLive will play H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and WMV videos along with familiar audio formats and jpeg pictures.

CinemaNow now on Windows Media Center

John Biggs — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:42:50 +0000

Want to watch 3,400 movies on Windows Media Center? Well, you now can. CinemaNow is now a direct plug-in to WMC, allowing you to download and play first-run titles like Juno (you go girl!). Pay-per-view titles costs $2.99-3.99 while download-to-own costs $9.99-$19.99. You should be able to add the new feature in the WMC dashboard.

Keyspan Announces RF Remote For Windows Media Center

Peter Ha — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:30:44 +0000

Keyspan has announced that the RF remote for Windows Vista is now shipping. That’s right, it’s using radio frequency rather than infrared, because it you don’t need to be standing in front of the paired device for it to work, the signal is far greater (up to 90ft) and it functions through walls, but I digress. One more point about RF and we can move on. Because the remote works through walls or furniture for that matter, you have the option of hiding your PC or AV equipment in a different room (not very smart, but it’s an option) or you can enclose everything into a cabinet. Would be burglars or guests will be amazed at your non-existent home theater. I apologize for that tangent, but I felt it necessary.

Anyways, the Keyspan remote operates your Windows Vista Media enabled devices for the low, low price of $49. Keyspan’s RF Remote is Certified for Windows Vista and works with Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate.

Product Page

Makayama Gives You One More Way To Watch TV On A Small Screen

Contributor — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:15:38 +0000

In case you can’t tell just by looking at this picture, this woman is very excited to be accessing the digital video on her Windows Media Center PC through one of more than 550 mobile devices with the help of Makayama Interactive’s Mobile TV Center. Or she’s just sitting in a room with a TV pretending.

Either way, the app exists as of today. The software takes the shows that you record with your Windows Media Center, automatically converts and moves them to your mobile phone, iPod, PSP, Pocket PC or Palm. If you have the right ingredients to make it work i.e. a Windows Media Center PC, one of 550 mobile devices and at least 128MB of storage (either integrated or by flash memory card), it seems like a $35 no-brainer for adding TV shows to your mobile lifestyle. Like the woman pictured. Or maybe no.

Makayama Interactive [company site]