MA XIMUMPC DECEMBER 2004MEDIA CENTER 101:
Introducing WinXP: Media Center Edition
Media Centers
Chances are you haven’t seen much of Windows XP: Media Center
Edition 2005. So before we look at the hardware, let’s take a quick
spin through the OS’ most prominent features.THE GREEN BUTTON
It all starts here. Per Microsoft’s spec, the centerpiece of the remote
also serves as the informal icon for Media Center. The green button
functions similarly to the Tivo button on Tivo remotes; whenever you
press it, you’re taken to the Media Center start page and the interface
you see below.
While Media Center remotes
come in a wide variety of shapes
and sizes, there is a standard
spec dictating where the buttons
are positioned in relation to one
another. We’ve heard rumors,
however, that this spec is about
to change. That’s a good thing—
while we like the green button,
we found it difficult to find a
“home” location for our fingers when using
the Media Center remotes. In addition to being easier to use, Tivo’s
directional-pad style of navigation makes it easier to transition from
menu navigation to the fast-forward, reverse, and play buttons.THE DIRECTED
INTERFACE
Media Center is essentially
a Windows applet. It runs
on top of Windows XP
(when you boot, it replaces
the Windows desktop).
The 2004 version forced
you to manually launch
the Media Center interface
from the WinXP desktop. The
2005 version, which empha-
sizes the “10-foot” experi-
ence—Microsoft parlance
for allowing you to control
everything with your remote
control—launches directly
into Media Center.
Media Center looks and
feels like a completely sep-
arate OS. For example, it
features a unique “directed
interface” that allows you
to use your remote to scroll
through and select a usage
mode—pictures, TV, music,
etc. From there, the 2005
version lets you drill down
into further options without
reverting to the main menu.
“Right-click” functional-
ity, which allows you even
more contextual options, like
burning audio CDs within
the Music section, can also
be accessed in the new
version by pressing the
“More Info” button on the remote.
Finally, here’s a tip: If you have an old version of the Media
Center OS and want to boot straight into Media Center, simply drag
a shortcut of the green Media Center icon into your Startup folder.from the WinXP desktop. The
2005 version, which empha-RECORD YOUR
FAVORITE TV SHOWS
Even if you don’t have a Tivo, you probably know that, in addition
to allowing you to pause live television, the device also allows you to quickly
and easily record TV shows.
Media Center enhances Tivo’s notions of PVR (personal video recording) func-
tionality by minimizing the TV viewing area to the bottom left-hand corner of the
screen while you’re browsing the built-in program guide, plus it has a full color
interface. Also nice: The new 2005 version of Media Center allows you to instant
message (MSN Messenger only) and chat with your friends while watching TV.
Finally, the 2005 version of Media Center includes two built-in tuners, and
features support for a third HD tuner, which allows you to hook two standard
cable/satellite boxes and one HD box up to the same PC. Conveniently, the
Media Center OS will automatically switch between them when necessary,
which means that you can watch TV while recording two different shows.Even if you don’t have a Tivo, you probably know that, in additionyou see below.come in a wide variety of shapes
and sizes, there is a standard
spec dictating where the buttons
are positioned in relation to one
another. We’ve heard rumors,
however, that this spec is about
to change. That’s a good thing—
while we like the green button,
we found it difficult to find a
“home” location for our fingers when using
the Media Center remotes. In addition to being easier to use, Tivo’sMOVIE WATCHING:
MUCH BETTER
THAN TIVO
Although recording and watch-
ing movies is a sub-function
of recording and watching
TV, the manner in which the
2005 version of WinXP Media
Center Edition allows you to
sort, browse, and select mov-
ies to watch and/or record
is truly amazing. This screenshot says it all—Media
Center automatically aggregates all the movies currently playing on all the
channels you receive, and includes the thumbnail movie posters for those
movies. You can also see what movies are on next, and sort these and all
other movies appearing in the next two weeks by star rating, cast, genre,
and a few other categories. This is indispensable for movie buffs—you can
sort through all the movies for the next two weeks and set them to record.
Assuming you have the hard drive space (two-hour movies take up about
2GB each), you can build a massive library of recorded films!MUSIC AND PHOTOS
In addition to recording TV
and allowing you to watch
DVDs, WinXP Media Center
Edition also organizes all of
your music and photographs
into one, easy-to-use pack-
age. This is particularly nice if
multiple people use your PC; rather
than wade through each individual “My Documents” folder, you
can aggregate them all in Media Center. Even though you can play slide
shows, and choose music to accompany them, it would be nice if this
process was automated or made easier. As it stands now, you have to first
choose your music, then choose the slide show. In a nice touch, the slide
show automatically pans across your photos during play.
New to the 2005 version of Media Center Edition: The OS automatically
detects if you’re on a network and asks if you’d like to add any shared
folders to its library. This is nice if you store music files on different PCs
in your house, even at the relatively low data transfer rates of Wi-Fi.
Additionally, the OS includes a utility that will convert all your music files
into WMA or WMA lossless format.is truly amazing. This screenshot says it all—Media
Center automatically aggregates all the movies currently playing on all the“More Info” button on the remote.
Finally, here’s a tip: If you have an old version of the Mediayour music and photographs
into one, easy-to-use pack-
age. This is particularly nice if
multiple people use your PC; rather
than wade through each individual “My Documents” folder, you
can aggregate them all in Media Center. Even though you can play slide
shows, and choose music to accompany them, it would be nice if this
process was automated or made easier. As it stands now, you have to first
choose your music, then choose the slide show. In a nice touch, the slide
show automatically pans across your photos during play.
New to the 2005 version of Media Center Edition: The OS automatically
detects if you’re on a network and asks if you’d like to add any shared
folders to its library. This is nice if you store music files on different PCs
in your house, even at the relatively low data transfer rates of Wi-Fi.
Additionally, the OS includes a utility that will convert all your music fileseverything with your remotefrom the WinXP desktop. Thechannels you receive, and includes the thumbnail movie posters for those
movies. You can also see what movies are on next, and sort these and all
other movies appearing in the next two weeks by star rating, cast, genre,
and a few other categories. This is indispensable for movie buffs—you can
sort through all the movies for the next two weeks and set them to record.
Assuming you have the hard drive space (two-hour movies take up about
2GB each), you can build a massive library of recorded films!MUSIC AND PHOTOS
In addition to recording TV
and allowing you to watch
DVDs, WinXP Media Center DVDs, WinXP Media Center
Edition also organizes all of
your music and photographsmultiple people use your PC; rather
than wade through each individual “My Documents” folder, you
can aggregate them all in Media Center. Even though you can play slide