Windows Media Center is a very cool product. It does need some fine tweaking to get it working “extremely cool”. As I have previously mentioned I use “Media Center Extenders” for viewing my content around the house so having add-ins that work with extenders are a must. Here are my “must have” add-ins for every new install…
Media Browser
This has got to be the best TV & Movie navigating addition. It adds a visually cool interface that blows away other media players like PS3, WDTV and similar.
http://www.mediabrowser.tv/
This has got to be the best TV & Movie navigating addition. It adds a visually cool interface that blows away other media players like PS3, WDTV and similar.
http://www.mediabrowser.tv/
MacroTube
This is the only YouTube players that works within Media Center and on Extenders. It is a great little add-in and that also introduced me to some other on-line streaming content. It is a bit slow and YouTube content looks pretty bad but it does the job.
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/86771.aspx
This is the only YouTube players that works within Media Center and on Extenders. It is a great little add-in and that also introduced me to some other on-line streaming content. It is a bit slow and YouTube content looks pretty bad but it does the job.
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/86771.aspx
Media Center Studio
I use this tool for customizing the user interface. It’s not that it looks bad, it’s just that it is fun to change the text, re-arranging icons and customizing backgrounds. Once I found the option for “Entry Points” that would link directly into Media Browser folders, I was then complete.
http://adventmediacenter.com/
I use this tool for customizing the user interface. It’s not that it looks bad, it’s just that it is fun to change the text, re-arranging icons and customizing backgrounds. Once I found the option for “Entry Points” that would link directly into Media Browser folders, I was then complete.
http://adventmediacenter.com/
Shark007
Not all file formats play properly but I still think that Media Center has the most options of playable content compared to other media streamers. To fill in the gaps I use this collection of codecs to get almost anything to play. I have found one issue with MKVs on the XBox, where it will not play properly if they have sub titles or DTS sound, but I can work around this for now.
http://shark007.net/
Not all file formats play properly but I still think that Media Center has the most options of playable content compared to other media streamers. To fill in the gaps I use this collection of codecs to get almost anything to play. I have found one issue with MKVs on the XBox, where it will not play properly if they have sub titles or DTS sound, but I can work around this for now.
http://shark007.net/
My Channel Logos
The TV Guide and PVR features with Meida Center are where I think it stands out the most. The Guide data however has poor labels for channels such as Fox29 shows as WUTV. I can’t remember the call letters for all the channels. This tool replaces those plain grey call letters with the proper colourful logo for the channel.
http://www.mychannellogos.com/
The TV Guide and PVR features with Meida Center are where I think it stands out the most. The Guide data however has poor labels for channels such as Fox29 shows as WUTV. I can’t remember the call letters for all the channels. This tool replaces those plain grey call letters with the proper colourful logo for the channel.
http://www.mychannellogos.com/
If you want some specifics on how I set any of these up, let me know.
For more reading on your own and other options I frequently watch these sites…
http://www.hack7mc.com/
http://thegreenbutton.net/forums/
For more reading on your own and other options I frequently watch these sites…
http://www.hack7mc.com/
http://thegreenbutton.net/forums/
Nick Dorak's IT Consulting Services 
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