Month: December 2004

What do Michael Creasy, Ed Rich, Matt Goyer, and Sean Alexander (and more) all have in common? They must love the product they help put out.  All of these guys work on the Media Center Team at Microsoft and take a very active role in supporting and developing their product outside of work.  The list people on the Windows Media Player Team is quite a bit smaller, and basically consists of one person.  Zach Robinson is basically the only person working on the Windows Media Player Team who seems like he really cares about the product.  The problem becomes that Zach can’t handle … Continue reading Why Can’t the WMP Team Be Like the MCE Team?

After much wait NVIDIA has uploaded there new version of the popluar DVD Decoder to their FTP Severs.  In addition to the new version NVIDIA is now offering a trial of the decoder! NVIDIA DVD Decoder 1.00.67http://www.nvidia.com/object/dvd_decoder.html

You can now enjoy media content in new ways in your home with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Media Center Extender, and Windows Media Center Extender for Microsoft Xbox. Whether it is live TV, recorded TV, or digital music, you can broadcast digital entertainment throughout your home. Media Center Extender devices connect a Media Center PC with TVs and monitors in the home so that you can enjoy TV, photos, music, and movies on any TV in your house. Expert Zone columnist Barb Bowman explains how to set up and use these new technologies at home and how … Continue reading Webcast: Using Media Center Extender Networks in MCE 2005

Looking to build a Media Center machine for yourself?  Have questions about good hardware to use?  ExtremeTech might just be able to help you out with their “Build Your Own Windows Media Center PC” guide! Build Your Own Windows Media Center PChttp://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1741030,00.asp

Via Matt Goyer Having problems playing DVDs that contain Interactual enhanced content on Media Center 2005? DVD won’t play? You have several options: To disable Media Center from launching the Interactual player when the DVD is inserted go to Start > Run and type in regedit. Edit the reg key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MediaCenter\Settings\Autoscan\ _autoPlayMCLEnabled and set it equal to 0. If you are in the Interactual experience but want the native DVD experience press the DVD menu button on your remote. DVDs affected by this: Butterfly Effect Elf the Haunted Mansion Laws of Attraction Lord of the Rings Return of the King … Continue reading InterActual Content In Media Center 2005 Fixes

Check out the thread below for a project that is currently looking to allow you to skin Media Center 2005 to have it look the way you want it! MCE2K5 Skinner: MCE Splendor!http://www.thegreenbutton.com/community/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=27&MessageID=81951

Yesterday I drove home again for my Christmas break. Posts should pick back up in a day or so. 🙂

I have already told you about TweakMCE from the Winter Fun Pack, but what else do you get in this free download?  Let’s see… Holiday Vizualizations for Windows Media Player 10 WhiteCap Holiday Ice Storm Yule Log Holiday-Themed Skins for Windows Media Player 10 Frostbite Ice Ginger man Ginger woman Halo 2 PowerToys for Windows Media Player 10 Holiday Auto Playlists (Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas) Song Signature Plug-in Media Info Exporter Tweak MCE 2005 (Read Below) Wallpaper Changer Add-ons for Photos, Media Center and More! Download: http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/offers/details.aspx?displaylang=en&OfferId=74AA1C1D-DFFC-4D91-BC6F-515BE8E59948

TweakMCE is a new PowerToy that is currently part of the Winter Fun Pack for Windows XP and will be available as a seperate soon. Notable features of TweakMCE… General     * Disable autorun of Interactual content    * Change the DVD notification timeout TV     * Change the skip back interval (2 min skip anyone?)    * Change the storage location for recorded TV    * Change the watched folders for recorded TV    * Change the length of time a notification appears before a recording starts    * Change reaction time compensation    * Change the more info panel timeout    * Change the seek … Continue reading TweakMCE for Media Center 2005 Released!

Over at AVSForum there has been a discusson for some time about true Hollywood Films being released in HD.  The wait seems to be over with several movies being released in Germany in WMV-HD.  Titles such as Underworld Extended Edition, Timeline, We were Soldiers and Italian Job.  These are not IMAX films, they are true Hollywood Films, in HD, that you can really buy! There has to be a catch, right?  Right.  For people in Germany this is not bad, however since I live in the US it will cost over $50 with shipping just to get it here!  The specs … Continue reading Real HD Movies That Look Real Good! In WMV?