MP3Car.com - View Single Post

97GST · 03-18-2006, 06:26 PM

The Windows Media Center experience in Windows Vista
By Joli Ballew
I've just seen Windows Media Center in Windows Vista in action, and I must say that I am truly impressed. This version has many exciting new features, including improvements to both the graphical user interface and media performance. In fact, I think the Microsoft team has addressed almost all of the suggestions I've seen posted in the Media Center newsgroups, and that should make a lot of people very happy!

Windows Media Center in Windows Vista makes it even easier to manage and access your digital entertainment from your PC or TV. And, you can easily play, program, and browse your media using a remote control. You can even access your Windows Media Center content through your Xbox 360!

An improved interface
The enhanced interface makes moving through your media library faster and easier. As noted, it's now much simpler to find and play music, photos, TV shows, and videos, and Microsoft has introduced shortcuts to allow playback of all of your music or pictures easily, right from the top level of the Start menu. If you're looking for a specific album or picture, the shortcuts off the main Start menu have been simplified to make managing and browsing your media more intuitive, with fewer clicks to get to the specific media you're looking for.

Windows Media Center in Windows Vista is optimized for faster performance and for high-fidelity display on a widescreen TV or monitor. When using a widescreen display you're able to see up to three times more content than you could in previous versions of Windows Media Center, and it still looks great on a standard TV or PC monitor.

Now both Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center use thumbnails so that you can browse visually. Having thumbnails instead of a lengthy worded list offers a better browsing experience and one that's easier to navigate.

Improved navigation and the use of thumbnails make finding and enjoying your digital media even easier.

Improved navigation and the user of thumbnails make finding and enjoying your digital media even easier.

An enhanced TV viewing experience
As with any version of Media Center, you can still watch, pause, and record live TV; save media and burn DVDs; and easily find what's on by using the Guide. Connect your Media Center PC to a Media Center Extender like Xbox 360, and you can watch your favorite shows anywhere in the house. Like the more recent editions of Media Center, Windows Media Center in Windows Vista lets you experience all your digital entertainment not only on your Windows Vista–based PC, but also on up to five other devices, such as computers and TVs, using Media Center Extenders. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista also offers additional options for enjoying TV content, such as thumbnail images for recorded TV and new overlays.

Thumbnail images
Windows Media Center in Windows Vista offers a more high-fidelity experience than older versions. Using the latest technologies, you can now view thumbnail images from all of the recorded TV in your library automatically. No more long lists of recorded TV with names only; now you can browse through the entries using thumbnails instead.

Overlays
With Windows Media Center in Windows Vista you can browse your channels by simply pressing the up or down buttons on your remote control—this allows you to check out what's on the other channels without leaving the TV show you're currently watching.

You can also click the Green Start Button on your remote control to return to and browse the Start menu, while still viewing what's on your TV or video display. The Start menu appears in a transparent state as shown below.

Here, a TV show is playing, and the subcategory Recorded TV is selected. The TV show is in the background, with the menu overlaid so you can continue watching as you browse (it's not a cool, new theme background as you might think).
Here, a TV show is playing, and the subcategory Recorded TV is selected. The TV show is in the background, with the menu overlaid so you can continue watching as you browse (it's not a cool, new theme background as you might think).

Cable cards and high-definition digital cable
I've read a lot of posts in newsgroups from people with digital cable who want to watch and record high-definition TV on their Media Centers. Well, hold on to your hats—the wait is over.

Windows Media Center in Windows Vista will allow you to take advantage of a digital cable signal to record and watch programs from premium channels, including HBO, Showtime, and Starz.

To do this, you will purchase (or lease) a cable card from your cable provider, plug it into your HD-ready Windows Media Center in Windows Vista PC, and watch and record premium cable content—all without a set top box. These HD-ready PCs should be available during the holiday season of 2006. It's all new technology, and I'm glad it's here!

Xbox 360 and extenders
Windows Media Center allows you to experience all your digital entertainment content not only on your Windows-based PC, but also on up to five other devices (PCs, TVs, etc.) using Media Center Extenders. If you have an Xbox 360, for instance, which has a Media Center Extender built into it, you can access all of your Media Center digital entertainment in any room in your home over your home network.

I'm looking forward to owning a new Windows Media Center in Windows Vista (and a new Xbox if I can find one!). After seeing this new version, my Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 looks pretty outdated and I can't wait to get rid of my dusty, connection-ridden set top box. Once I get it all set up, I'll write about my experiences, including any problems I run across. If you have any suggestions for future articles, feel free to contact me at the e-mail address shown below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joli Ballew is a technology trainer and writer in the Dallas area. She holds several certifications including MCSE, A+, and MCDST. Joli has almost 20 books available, including Degunking Windows (Paraglyph Press), Hardcore Windows XP (McGraw-Hill), and Windows XP: Do Amazing Things (Microsoft Press). Joli is also a regular Microsoft Expert Zone and Windows Vista Community columnist. Joli can be contacted at Joli_Ballew@hotmail.com.

03-18-2006, 06:26 PM	#2
97GST banned - scammer 97GST's CarPC Specs Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tijeras, NM Vehicle: 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST Posts: 163 My Photos: ()	The Windows Media Center experience in Windows Vista The Windows Media Center experience in Windows Vista By Joli Ballew I've just seen Windows Media Center in Windows Vista in action, and I must say that I am truly impressed. This version has many exciting new features, including improvements to both the graphical user interface and media performance. In fact, I think the Microsoft team has addressed almost all of the suggestions I've seen posted in the Media Center newsgroups, and that should make a lot of people very happy! Windows Media Center in Windows Vista makes it even easier to manage and access your digital entertainment from your PC or TV. And, you can easily play, program, and browse your media using a remote control. You can even access your Windows Media Center content through your Xbox 360! An improved interface The enhanced interface makes moving through your media library faster and easier. As noted, it's now much simpler to find and play music, photos, TV shows, and videos, and Microsoft has introduced shortcuts to allow playback of all of your music or pictures easily, right from the top level of the Start menu. If you're looking for a specific album or picture, the shortcuts off the main Start menu have been simplified to make managing and browsing your media more intuitive, with fewer clicks to get to the specific media you're looking for. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista is optimized for faster performance and for high-fidelity display on a widescreen TV or monitor. When using a widescreen display you're able to see up to three times more content than you could in previous versions of Windows Media Center, and it still looks great on a standard TV or PC monitor. Now both Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center use thumbnails so that you can browse visually. Having thumbnails instead of a lengthy worded list offers a better browsing experience and one that's easier to navigate. Improved navigation and the use of thumbnails make finding and enjoying your digital media even easier. Improved navigation and the user of thumbnails make finding and enjoying your digital media even easier. An enhanced TV viewing experience As with any version of Media Center, you can still watch, pause, and record live TV; save media and burn DVDs; and easily find what's on by using the Guide. Connect your Media Center PC to a Media Center Extender like Xbox 360, and you can watch your favorite shows anywhere in the house. Like the more recent editions of Media Center, Windows Media Center in Windows Vista lets you experience all your digital entertainment not only on your Windows Vista–based PC, but also on up to five other devices, such as computers and TVs, using Media Center Extenders. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista also offers additional options for enjoying TV content, such as thumbnail images for recorded TV and new overlays. Thumbnail images Windows Media Center in Windows Vista offers a more high-fidelity experience than older versions. Using the latest technologies, you can now view thumbnail images from all of the recorded TV in your library automatically. No more long lists of recorded TV with names only; now you can browse through the entries using thumbnails instead. Overlays With Windows Media Center in Windows Vista you can browse your channels by simply pressing the up or down buttons on your remote control—this allows you to check out what's on the other channels without leaving the TV show you're currently watching. You can also click the Green Start Button on your remote control to return to and browse the Start menu, while still viewing what's on your TV or video display. The Start menu appears in a transparent state as shown below. Here, a TV show is playing, and the subcategory Recorded TV is selected. The TV show is in the background, with the menu overlaid so you can continue watching as you browse (it's not a cool, new theme background as you might think). Here, a TV show is playing, and the subcategory Recorded TV is selected. The TV show is in the background, with the menu overlaid so you can continue watching as you browse (it's not a cool, new theme background as you might think). Cable cards and high-definition digital cable I've read a lot of posts in newsgroups from people with digital cable who want to watch and record high-definition TV on their Media Centers. Well, hold on to your hats—the wait is over. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista will allow you to take advantage of a digital cable signal to record and watch programs from premium channels, including HBO, Showtime, and Starz. To do this, you will purchase (or lease) a cable card from your cable provider, plug it into your HD-ready Windows Media Center in Windows Vista PC, and watch and record premium cable content—all without a set top box. These HD-ready PCs should be available during the holiday season of 2006. It's all new technology, and I'm glad it's here! Xbox 360 and extenders Windows Media Center allows you to experience all your digital entertainment content not only on your Windows-based PC, but also on up to five other devices (PCs, TVs, etc.) using Media Center Extenders. If you have an Xbox 360, for instance, which has a Media Center Extender built into it, you can access all of your Media Center digital entertainment in any room in your home over your home network. I'm looking forward to owning a new Windows Media Center in Windows Vista (and a new Xbox if I can find one!). After seeing this new version, my Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 looks pretty outdated and I can't wait to get rid of my dusty, connection-ridden set top box. Once I get it all set up, I'll write about my experiences, including any problems I run across. If you have any suggestions for future articles, feel free to contact me at the e-mail address shown below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joli Ballew is a technology trainer and writer in the Dallas area. She holds several certifications including MCSE, A+, and MCDST. Joli has almost 20 books available, including Degunking Windows (Paraglyph Press), Hardcore Windows XP (McGraw-Hill), and Windows XP: Do Amazing Things (Microsoft Press). Joli is also a regular Microsoft Expert Zone and Windows Vista Community columnist. Joli can be contacted at Joli_Ballew@hotmail.com.