Windows MEDIA CENTER Integration

[RedZot]

With the explosion of multimedia around well-known standards such as DVD, DIVX and MP3, many readers have been sold recently. To meet the growing expectations of users, Microsoft has created a new OS called Windows Media Center.

Especially dedicated to media: TV, Video, Music, Pictures, etc and controlled remotely via a remote control, this solution still little known to the general public, however, is out since 2002 in the United States. Because of the required equipment, the sale of this product has done only with new PC hybrids. And very few manufacturers have embarked on the adventure from the beginning.

You can now listen to the radio through Radio tuner built into the PC. In addition, some problems have been corrected, thus improving its stability, and performance. Always sold with a new machine, Media Center is no longer a simple operating system, is the union of the system and the machine. And more and more manufacturers are finally beginning to work with Microsoft to create machines of all kinds, the most compact to the most efficient.

Windows XP Media Center

Media Center is nothing more than the 5th version of Windows XP Pro (from XP Home, XP Pro, XP Tablet PC, and XP 64bits) with a layer dedicated to multimedia. It can therefore be used as a PC is normal or (as is often Microsoft) put in the living room for the whole family. However Internet connection is more than recommended to use all the features.

• Active Accessibility 2.0: Media Center now supports accessibility tools, such as reading aloud, the Braille displays, and screen magnifier.
• Display Calibration Wizard: A wizard that allows you to calibrate your monitor (CRT, flat screen, overhead projector) to get a better picture quality.
• Set-top Box Learning Mode: A wizard that configures the remote to enable it to run on different devices.
• Enhanced 16:9 support : The support of 16:9 at the slideshows, thumbnail view and the guide (30min longer displayed)
• Digital Media Library & Automatic synchronization: Media Center will automatically find all the changes made in the Windows Media Library.
• Phone Call Notification: When you receive a phone call, an alert is displayed on the screen.
• High Contrast Schemes: Several themes based on Windows contrasting black or white.
• Automatic updates Guide: The guide is automatically updated once or twice a day.
• Recording: Audit of delays or advances for recording TV programs.
• Advanced conflict management: Automatic verification with the latest information guide. If the program has changed and that your records fall at the same time, an alert you can choose one of two programs. You can also set priorities on your recordings.
• Enhanced Record History: List of all recordings made with more details if some problem occurred regarding cancellation, bad TV signal, etc.
• Copy music from a CD to My Music: Allows you to directly copy a CD in "my music" during playback in Media Center.
• Navigate and play digital media using familiar controls and views: Improvement of the guide can see 14 days in advance.
• Now Playing (music): The music is played while browsing.
• Filtering Guide: Can filter the TV guide function of some kind, to display only the specific programs.
• Silent Personal Video Recording (PVR) Functionality: Media Center can wake up when it is in hibernation to record a program. If you already use your system to another application, the registration will be done invisibly.
• Shared Channel Support: Switches between the same chains from different services.
• Auto-playlists: New machines were added playlist in the Media Library.
• Full-Screen Visualizations: Media player visualizations are visible in full screen while playing music. And information such as title, length can be seen below
• Print pictures : Print directly from a photo in My Pictures
• Picture viewing controls: Can be rotated 90 degrees; zoom in on the picture during the slideshow using the remote or the My Pictures.
• FM and Internet Radio: Use of Radio on the Internet or directly from the FM tuner.
• Online Spotlight: The online gallery allows you access to tips on using Media Center, media on demand, games and services.
• Multiple fast-forward and rewind speeds: Three speeds now available to rewind or fast forward 3x, 40x, and 250x normal speed.

[RedZot]

Setup and Installation:

When you start Media Center for the first time you'll need to configure your computer according to your location. The first item that is checked is the operation of the remote. If it is not detected, the plug on another USB port. Once the stage finished on the remote, you must now make sure that the computer has Internet access (most configurations Media Center PCs are equipped with an integrated 56k modem). This connection is really important because it will allow you to download configuration information from television and the TV Guide.

If the Internet connection is working properly, select the type of reception for television. This happens in two stages:

1) Choose the type of service TV used: And yes you can watch channels from cable or satellite in Media Center.
2) Select the type of antenna: In my case I use an antenna to pick up the six strings of bases. You only need to select a provider from the list. The guide is downloaded and television functional.

DVD Support:
Upon inserting the DVD magic acts. A message tells you that a DVD has been inserted and asks if you want to read it. The picture quality is perfect; the navigation using the remote control is easy. Can we move from chapter to chapter, forward, backward several speeds, pause, resume. Moreover thing very well done, if you stop reading that the PC is turned off and you come back more lately; playback will restart from the same place.

As in all applications for Media Center, it is possible to return to the menu during playback. The DVD does not stop just because, no, it continues in the lower left corner to be able to return later.

If you look in the DVD settings menu found some pretty classic:

• configuring the audio language, subtitles and menu
• Audio Setup using the configuration window of the program installed for DVD playback. And yes, you must install a player like WinDVD to play DVDs. Most configurations are equipped with hardware’s SoundBlaster Audigy 2 or equivalent for 5.1 sounds, Dolby Digital.
• Setting the remote control.

Eventually the DVD playback is fairly standard, but very well integrated with the rest of Media Center.

Online Support

This part applies to all future services will be available on demand and now the presentation of programs developed for Media Center and advice. This part is still underdeveloped in some parts of the world. You will get:

• Online Games
• Movies on demand
• Internet Radio
• Information on the Weather and Stock Exchange
• From music

It's just exploring websites compatible Media Center that is to say that you can navigate with the remote that the fonts are large to be visible from afar and some sites even allow purchase products directly online. The boards are small, more or less interesting tips that help you in handling Media Center. This part is also downloaded from the web and you can also find the same tricks on the Microsoft site.

Videos:

My Videos menu lets you view all your videos, even Divx. Simply post or create shortcuts in the My Videos that is located in My Documents for that video is listed. This list works much like the explorer i.e., a vignette, captured randomly in the video is displayed with the title below. You can sort the list in two ways by name or by date. If you create a tree containing folders with videos, the files will be displayed with four miniatures inside.

As for music and pictures can be directly from the menu, look for videos stored in the Shared Video folder (located in Shared Document) or even on removable media, which is handy for Divx. Indeed menu Other media will be looking on the CD / DVD or on the multi-card reader that supports most of Media Center setup. As soon as you insert a CD for example, will detect a Media Center (as does XP) the content type of the CD and then ask if you want to watch videos, images, or listen to music.

[RedZot]

Pictures :

The presentation is very similar to that described above, which makes Media Center very homogeneous and therefore easier to use. The little cool feature here is the slideshow. The photos will then scrolled with a transition effect which is calculated according to the shapes of the two images to be transposed. It's pretty well played the part of Microsoft Research who developed this wonderful visual effect of zooming with face displacement.
In addition everything is configurable random mode, the type of transition, the duration of the transition. Pressing the Info button on the remote, you get the menu specific to the selected image. From there you can do the job basics, such as rotations of 90 °, or slightly more complex, such as image corrections: Red Eye, and Contrast. For touching up red eye that walking around one in three times but not bad. In contrast level is not bad, but nothing extraordinary.

As for videos, images are stored in the My Pictures or Shared Pictures. So make shortcuts in this folder to access all your photos in Media Center. The menu other media is very interesting here if you have a digital camera. You insert your compact flash (or other) in the Multi-Card Reader and go for a slide show live.

TV Guide :

This is undoubtedly the most worked by Microsoft, and they still work. As we have seen at the beginning, the configuration of channels is very easy when you have an Internet connection. Just then press 1 for TF1. However, if it does not suit you can easily change the order of channels and add channels by going to the TV settings. In terms of image quality is simply net! It's better than on my normal TV, just a small delay to the registration of Time-Shifting to mpeg2. You can pause the TV for about 30 minutes, or go back. To resume the direct pressure on a button on the remote control is needed.
The TV program guide presents a clear and simple programs for the channels that you captured that they are terrestrial or digital. It is updated automatically (or manually) from the web by a free service from MSN.

Guide Supports :

Navigating the guide, then press the record button. A small red circle appears on the right program to bring the next record. Press again to save the series or program each time. The red circle will then grow to let you know that there will be multiple records. You can also search based on a category, title or keyword.

The last solution is to set yourself recording by selecting a channel frequency (once or more) the date and time. You then say damn I must leave my PC turn for the registration of that night. If a recording is scheduled Media Center can emerge from hibernation. The live recording is of course possible in the same way by pressing the record button on the remote.

A list of records that you have made is then available on recorded TV. This list displays only records still present. You can sort by date or by name and see details about a record. You can also delete the record directly to make room on the disk. Regarding the configuration of disk storage you can set on which hard disk will be writing files to allocate a quota on the disk and choose the recording quality (Optimal, Better, Good , Correct). Also in the settings, you can find this time the complete history of records. The advantage here is that the records that could not be made are listed with the reason for that registration has failed.

Music :

Here one might expect, everything is entirely based on Windows Media Player 9. This is actually a rather good presentation of Media Player to Media Center. There are rankings by albums, artists, genres, our playlist (selections) and the search. I spoke of a presentation rather good since the album covers will be automatically downloaded to be displayed with the title just below. Audio CDs have not been forgotten, as we can, during playback, directly copy music on the hard drive to WMA. (The format depends on the configuration of Media Player, if you installed a plugin for mp3 encoding will be done in mp3).

Visualizations have not been forgotten, and all that you add to Media Player can be used in Media Center. Moreover, since one can navigate while playing music, nothing prevents us from making a parade photo slideshow with a little background noise, which is nice.

Radio :

Big disappointment on the side of the radio. This is not the quality of reception, but on the radio management features that are limited to just scan the FM band and then add a frequency in a list of nine favorites. All this without being able to retrieve information on RDS radio or assign it a name. Worse still it is not possible to record the radio in WMA.

In terms of Internet radio, this is not that what happens here. No one must go into media player and add Internet radio in the Media Library to listening to them in the My Music.

[RedZot]

Windows 7 Media Center

Setup :

The setup consists of two parts: the necessary setup, in which the Windows Media Center makes the basic settings and the optional setup can be adjusted in the other functions (TV signal, screen, speakers). The call to complete the Setup screen, when you first call to the Windows Media Center, but it can also be found under Tasks > Settings at any time.

Downloads are for the TV program list and more information and online services are needed. If the download method is set to "manually", it may be necessary prior to accessing some functions previously carried out the manual update.

TV Setup :

Prerequisite for this part of the setup is a functioning and Windows Media Center compatible TV card. When setting up the TV signal some general settings like the number of tuners and use the TV listings (EPG will be made), made a final tuning.

Following the establishment of various settings can be done manually :
The TV set can be selected following the necessary setup or afterwards under Tasks > Settings > General > Windows Media Center Setup. In the first steps of the TV setup, the region is set, and Windows Media Center will download updated information about the TV functionality.

After the mandatory steps will now be set whether to use the Windows Media Center one or two tuners (if any). When using two tuners can be a parallel program looked and were taken one. The use of the TV program (EPG) should be strictly selected. The data of the EPG are available via Internet download. The download options determine whether the update takes place automatically in reason, or if you want to call it up from time to time itself. The zip code for regional area provides optimized data. Later, to be more flexible in the channel processing, can 00000 are entered.

The crucial part of the TV setup is the search, which lasted several minutes. It is independent of the TV program list, i.e. it is independent of the choice of region, a complete scan. Already found stations are displayed at the bottom. After the search was completed to appear at the top of two new buttons. If necessary (for example, found little transmitter) you can search for other stations, or delete the channel list and be searched completely. After searching the program is the creation of the television signal is finished and it can fine-tune (done channels and hide, associate program data).

The TV settings are accessed through the Tasks > Settings > TV > TV program. In the TV settings to fine-tune the channels and the program lists are made.

Edit Channels :

In the channel editing the properties of channels and their order should be established. After the call, you can set the desired channels by the check mark (de-activate). If additional properties of a channel to be adjusted, so you can reach by selecting the channel name in the properties.

Note: Encrypted channels, such as e.g. DVB-C very often present, are disabled when searching the program initially, and must also be made initially available at this location.

Channel Setup :

The TV channels can be sorted according to their own wishes renamed, and certain TV cards will be allocated (in multi-tuner operation). After calling the channel characteristics can be provided directly to him a (different) channel number. If selected a pre-assigned, reference is made. You can now change the channel or the other channel assign a new number can be. Rename Through the you can assign the channel a name - this may make sense for example, where the same name as necessary because of external EPG solutions is.

If the TV set-up a general program list is selected, can channels under "Edit List of the" other channel lists are assigned. This is, in some cases even necessary, because sometimes it happens that channels assigned for example due to different naming no channel list. If more than one TV card installed in the system can be established on this point, which may occur TV cards for this station to use a d in what order. This has such a huge benefit if TV cards come from different types of reception for use and / or smart cards come with different releases that are used.

[RedZot]

TV Recording :

The settings of the TV recorder are available on the Tasks -> Settings -> TV recorder. Herein can the location for the shooting and the basic settings are made as pre-and post time. For analog cable reception beyond, the recording quality should be established.

The location for shooting is the default setting in the User folder, but can be moved to other local drives / partitions and limited in size. From (subjective) point of view we recommend the move, as it often through the recorded TV to a high fragmentation is what is seen, especially for a system partition rather critical. A shift to network drives is not possible with simple means.

Recording :

In the media libraries can more folders with TV recordings are included, which are displayed under Recorded TV . New recordings are not stored there, an extension of the host memory is not possible in this way.
The menu item default settings for recording the recording settings:

• Pre-and post time
• Duration of retention
• Audio language
• Inclusion of repetitions (in shooting)
• Definition of which channels will be included (when shooting)

In the DVB receiver types cannot be set the recording quality, as these types always receive the (MPEG2) stream is stored on the hard disk. For users of analog cable TV, the quality adjusted in four stages.

Extender :

The Extender Setup is simple: Connect Extender, the network settings back to their own network to adapt and call the Media Center setup. For the establishment of a setup key is required, the Extender automatically displays normally. In the settings for the Extender is now reported back to you about this and even more will be added.

Receiver :

External receiver can be used with MCE and VMC. Condition is a MCE remote, since the control of the receiver thereof shall be in. A combined operation between TV and a receiver (e.g. Premiere, satellite, etc.) is not possible or associated with drastic restrictions.

The receiver is connected via an analog TV card with MCE remote and controlled. This one called "red line" known cable is necessary.

Media Center Optimization:

For Windows 7, there is the so-called God Mode, with which one has a number of system settings in the shortcut. Godmode. ED7BA470 (-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C). If you open it now, we get an overview of various system settings.

Standby :

The standby functionality of Windows Media Center is 7 and 7 (as of RC1) in not a few users far from optimal. In order to facilitate the root cause, this contribution gives an overview of the settings that you have on standby / sleep effects. Important for a smooth power mode are also other components (hardware-based drivers), but here cannot be considered.

Some of the settings may at first as not to appear or cause a complete system (which is Windows 7 just yet!) Have no negative impact, they had it but at least on some test systems. Some settings are :

• Disable Slide show screen saver
• Music information or deactivate fixed set
• Saving settings to optimize
• Slideshow disable / enable sleep mode for media sharing

In some systems it may be decisive, preferred to stand off and just be allowed to sleep (or the other way around). But this seems very sensitive to the system and outpace the drivers are, therefore, the settings shown here only one example - are experimenting with these settings can be worthwhile.

Easy Transfer :

Windows Easy Transfer is the transfer of user accounts and settings, program settings, and files and folders. It is in Vista and Windows 7 is already included, for Windows XP can be downloaded. It is compatible between Windows versions, but not between the 32bit and 64bit versions. he program can be found in the Start menu under Accessories / System Tools and must be run with admin privileges.

If the settings are used on the same system, the option "CD, DVD or removable media" users. It also allows the storage on a local hard disk path. After the call is to be selected, whether it is the source or the target computer and how the transfer should take place. With Easy Transfer can (most) user settings from Windows to be transferred, as well as those of some applications (mainly Microsoft Office for example).

The selection of what is to be transferred, allows for example to prevent the transfer of files as the backup file can otherwise be very large (for example, be transmitted with the recorded TV). The selection is achieved by clicking the extended. Then you can start the transfer. The process takes can take depending on the size of the backup and Transfer different at time.

Automatic Login:

Due to the automatic registration of a user, the Media Center without user intervention until the start screen or a per-application to start. Run View in the Start menu and then enter netplwiz. In the settings of the screensaver, the option "login page resume, be disabled or the screen saver will be disabled completely. In the dialog of the user's password is entered. After the close both dialog boxes, this setting is active and the user is logged automatically restarts.

Opens a dialog box that displays the active user of the system. Select in the dialog box, the user, to be automatically logged in the future, then the checkbox Users must enter a password removes everything. Until the account even after the standby can be used without the password entry should now be put in the energy saving plans, the Password option on the closed state to no. If the system is in a domain that is not the manual. In this case, the tool can auto logon to use. For the device (not use) must be disabled if necessary, the UAC.

Conclusion :

By turning your computer into a DVR (with the addition of one or more TV tuners ), you can watch digital television, even for bouquets DTT, cable or satellite pay. The large storage capacity of current computers can record without the constraints of tens or hundreds of hours of programs, even in high definition. TimeShift, direct or delayed, you can pause the live not to miss a single second of your favorite show. You can also consult the electronic program guide over several days, and then plan the recording of your favorite programs.

Despite some flaws still present, Media Center is really well thought out, it is both very ergonomic hand its homogeneity and very functional. It can apply to a wide audience, and I think especially for students who are in their little apartment, which often have little place for a TV and PC.
The future looks bright for Media Center as the next version is already in development and that more and more manufacturers are launching this in the project. But Microsoft does not stop there, since extensions are already planned, including the XBOX.

[henry324]

The presentation is very similar to that described above, which makes Media Center very homogeneous and therefore easier to use. The little cool feature here is the slideshow. The photos will then scrolled with a transition effect which is calculated according to the shapes of the two images to be transposed. It's pretty well played the part of Microsoft Research who developed this wonderful visual effect of zooming with face displacement.
In addition everything is configurable random mode, the type of transition, the duration of the transition. Pressing the Info button on the remote, you get the menu specific to the selected image. From there you can do the job basics, such as rotations of 90 °, or slightly more complex, such as image corrections: Red Eye, and Contrast. For touching up red eye that walking around one in three times but not bad. In contrast level is not bad, but nothing extraordinary.