Windows XP Media Center Edition

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Windows XP Media Center Edition

A typical Windows XP Media Center Edition desktop
Website:	Windows XP MCE 2005
Company/ developer:	Microsoft
OS family:	Windows XP
Source model:	Shared source
Latest stable release:	Update Rollup 2 / October 12, 2005
Kernel type:	Hybrid kernel
Default user interface:	Graphical User Interface
License:	MS-EULA
Working state:	Current

Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) was a version of Windows XP designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. The last version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, was released on October 12, 2004. No new versions are planned due to the inclusion of Media Center functionality in a number of editions of Windows Vista.

Windows XP Media Center Edition is distinguished from other editions of Windows XP by an exclusive preinstalled application, Media Center, which provides a large-font ("10-foot"), remotely accessible interface for TV viewing on the computer as well as recording and playback, DVD playback, video playback, photo viewing, and music playback. The last version also includes a number of other features not included in other editions of Windows XP, such as the Royale (Energy Blue) theme.

Although Windows XP Media Center Edition is based on Windows XP Professional, Microsoft has disabled its ability to join an Active Directory domain post install in the last version. This effectively precludes its use in a corporate environment. Media Center still retains most other Windows XP Professional-specific features, such as Remote Desktop and the Encrypting File System.

Due to strict hardware requirements, Microsoft has opted not to supply Media Center as an independent retail version. Microsoft only distributes it to MSDN subscribers and OEM System Builders in certain countries. Consumers generally purchase Media Center preinstalled on a new computer, or from a reseller that sells OEM versions of Microsoft software.

Microsoft has released its own first party remote, receiver and infrared blaster with MCE 2005. A new specially designed wireless computer keyboard for MCE 2005 was released September 2005.

With version 2005, Microsoft has added support for Media Center Extenders—dedicated hardware devices that allow users to view the same content that is available on the MCE computer over wired or wireless Ethernet. Linksys and other companies currently sell Media Center Extenders, and Microsoft sells an add-on kit for the Xbox game console that allows it to function as an extender. The Xbox 360 also has Media Center Extender functionality out of the box, including HDTV support (which is notably absent from current extenders). Media Center 2005 currently can support up to 5 Media Center Extenders per household.

Unlike competing commercial DVR products, Microsoft does not charge a monthly subscription fee for its Media Center TV guide service.

Contents 1 Exclusive features in the last release 2 Hardware requirements 3 Versions 4 Hacks 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Exclusive features in the last release

• Windows Media Center is an application designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub.
• Windows Movie Maker is upgraded to version 2.5 with new effects and transitions and support for DVD burning.
• Windows Media Player is upgraded to version 10; Windows Media Player 6.4 is no longer included.
• The Royale theme is included and enabled by default.
• A number of applications from Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition are included.
• A special edition of SoundSpectrum's G-Force as one of the music visualizations.

[edit] Hardware requirements

Media Center has higher hardware requirements than other editions of Windows XP. MCE 2005 requires at least a 1.6 GHz (or equivalent) processor, DirectX 9.0 hardware-accelerated GPU (such as a recent ATI Radeon X series or nVidia GeForce 6 series), and 256 MB of System RAM. Some functionality, such as Media Center Extender support, use of multiple tuners, or HDTV playback/recording carries higher system requirements.

Media Center is much more restricted in the range of hardware that it supports than most other software DVR solutions. Media Center tuners must have a standardized driver interface, and they must have hardware MPEG-2 encoders, closed caption support, and a number of other features. Media Center remote controls are standardized in terms of button labels and functionality, and, to a degree, general layout.

[edit] Versions

There are four versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition. No new versions are planned due to the inclusion of Media Center functionality in a number of editions of Windows Vista.

• Windows XP Media Center Edition (codenamed 'Freestyle') The first release based directly on Windows XP Professional, this release was only available from Tier 1 computer manufacturers (HP, Dell, Zitech, et al).
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003 added a number of features, including FM radio tuning.
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 (codenamed 'Harmony') released in 2003 and was later part of Windows XP Service Pack 2.
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (codenamed 'Symphony') The first edition of MCE available to non-Tier 1 system builders, includes support for Media Center Extenders, and CD/DVD-Video burning support. This version, in order to include Media Center Extender capability, disables the ability for a MCE computer to join an Active Directory domain. Active Directory domain support can be activated by editing the registry, although there is a loss of Media Center Extender functionality.

To determine the underlying edition of XP on which a particular revision of MCE is based, the System Properties Control Panel can be used. All editions of MCE are based on Windows XP Professional with all features enabled (with exception to Active Directory in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 as noted above). To determine the revision of MCE that is being used, the Media Center application's About option can be used.

See also: Microsoft codenames

[edit] Hacks

There are a number of hacks that change the intended features of Windows XP Media Center Edition. There is a method to allow an MCE computer to join a Windows networking domain.[1]^{[citation needed]} The viewing of Pay-Per-View using Media Center without an IR transmitter allows the recording of videos, which can later be burned onto a DVD.

[edit] See also

• Windows Media Connect
• TVedia
• Media PC
• SageTV
• Front Row
• SnapStream Beyond TV
• XBMC (Xbox Media Center)
• MediaPortal
• MythTV
• Portable Media Center
• Digital (Personal) Video Recorder
• Microsoft PlaysForSure
• Hauppauge Computer Works
• TiVo
• Joost
• LinuxMCE

[edit] External links

• Australian Media Center Community:
• German Media Center Community:
• Official Microsoft Media Center Edition Website
• Listing of Logo'd Hardware Partners for MCE 2005
• Xbox Media Center Extender Page
• The Green Button: A MCE Community Website
• David Fleischman of MCE Project Management
• Getting Media Center on to a Domain (Active Directory)