Written by Matt Swider  on January 11, 2006

Special: But wait... there's more!

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By now, everyone and their mother knows that Xbox 360 has ushered in the next-generation of video games with out-of-this-world graphics and state-of-the-art sound. But Microsoft is out to improve more than just our gaming experiences. Its system can also be the ultimate source of all entertainment when connected to a Windows Media Center PC by streaming a variety of multimedia: videos, pictures, music, live television, recorded television and radio. Add the ability to play DVDs and CDs in 360's disc drive and you've got one fully loaded set-top box. Of course, before you sit down to enjoy any sort of digital streaming showcase, you'll have to buy the proper hardware and install the right software to access the content.

The Setup
Owning a Windows Media Center PC
All Windows XP SP2-based computers can stream both music and photos through a program called Windows Media Connect and the 360's blue multimedia blade. But only a PC running Windows Media Center Edition 2005 (MCE 2005) can take advantage of the console as a digital video recorder (DVR) and as a way to stream videos saved on your computer's hard drive. Owning a computer with MCE 2005 as the operating system has become easier over the years for two reasons. The first is that pre-configured MCE PCs have dropped in price and increased in variety. Gateway, Dell, Toshiba, HP, Fujitsu and, yes, even Sony manufacture specific computer models with Microsoft's newest OS pre-installed. And the lineup includes heavy-duty notebooks too, so you're not limited to just desktops when handling taxing multimedia tasks anymore.

The second reason it's easier is that you aren't forced to purchase a pre-configured PC from these manufacturers because Microsoft's unique OS is available in OEM form. These three letters, which stand for Уoriginal equipment manufactureФ in case you were wondering, mean that you can buy the operating system from the internet as a stand-alone CD. This option is not only cheaper than purchasing an entirely new PC, but less expensive than a copy of XP Pro. This is the route I chose when building my first computer in the fall, and from experience, you'll need two things: a graphics card with a TV Tuner (like the latest ATI All-In-Wonder) and a lot of patience when putting it all together.

Software Download and Installation
Besides buying or building a high-tech computer with Windows Media Center 2005, you'll need to download and setup additional software. You must upgrade to Update Rollup 2 via Windows Update, download Windows Media Connect from Microsoft's website and install the Media Extender program at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/pcsetup. Thankfully, all of these PC files are free. Connect links your computer to different Windows devices, in this case Xbox 360, and allows you to share specified multimedia folders. The 20 MB Extender software asks you to enter an eight digit setup key from the console and continues with some simple installation instructions.

Wireless Network
The extender software establishes a connection with Xbox 360 through your network router, and because the console doesn't come with built-in Wi-Fi, you'll want to have a compatible wireless network adapter attached to the 360's rear USB port. You can always plug an Ethernet cable into the 360 and router to connect them that way, but it kind of negates the whole idea of having the living room (or whenever your high-definition TV is located) become your multimedia hub away from the computer room. Microsoft has its own $99 network adapter designed for Xbox 360 and connects to all three wireless network types, a/b/g.

B and G routers, the most common kind, work with this 360 network adapter and are just fine for pictures and music. Video, however, produces choppy results over either interference-prone band. Instead, you'll want to opt for a router capable of using the A band if you intend to stream videos and record television. The best option to go with is the Microsoft-recommended Linksys WRT55AG Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router for about $120. If you don't heed my advice and want to try out video over one of the slower bands, be sure to turn the sound down first. Along with the choppy video, sound tends to be unclear as well and it's hard to stop a file from playing once it has started.

Remotes
In addition to a Media Center PC, a wireless network adapter and a dual-band router, you may want get your hands on a Media Remote Control. Xbox 360 launch bundles included a mini-remote that will work just fine for most people, but there's also a full-sized version. This slightly longer Universal Media Remote is backlit and includes standard number buttons and the ability to change the volume and channel up and down. More or less, it's essential for users who intend to watch television through their extender. It's also possible to use the Media Center remote that comes with MCE PCs in conjunction with Xbox 360 for all of your TV and DVR purposesЧand it's the best remote of the three despite being the oldest.

All-In-One Multimedia Experience

Music
Music through the Media Center Extender is novel because it gives you the ability to stream your entire music library to surround sound speakers instead of those two small speakers (and optional base) next to your computer monitor. It just doesn't do the music justice and if you're like me, most of the MP3, WMA and ACC files in your possession (legally or illegally) have only been played through these kinds of low-quality speakers or portable headphones. It was quite a different experience hearing the very beginning of Ozzy Osbourne's УCrazy TrainФ echo back and forth between the front right and left speakers and then slowly slide to the rear ones. I probably spent two hours listening to various tracks in with the superior speaker setup.

My Music sorts files by Albums, Artists, Playlists, Songs, and Genres and contains a search option that would be quicker if my keyboard could be used in conjunction with the program. Bonuses include album covers and details like number of tracks, total time and the release year. Although details can be edited on the spot, these features fall short of the more satisfying Xbox 360 music player located outside of the Media Center. Here, files from any XP-based computer can be streamed and sorted in the same fashion and the music player contains visualization. Go full-screen on an HDTV, such as the 108Ф projector television that I tested on, and surround sound with Dolby Digital 5.1 speakers and it'll be music to your eyes as well as ears (and maybe you're neighbor's ears, too).

Pictures
Pictures within the Media Center aren't trumped by the pictures option outside of the program simply because it's almost the same. There are some interface differences and basic picture editing tools exclusive to Media Center, but both prove to be the ultimate slideshow of photographs. If you're wondering how a widescreen television displays square images, the slideshow blows the picture up a little bit larger than the TV frame and then the screen pans the image from one corner to the other before moving onto the next picture. The result, thankfully, is no ugly 4:3 bars on the sides. As far as editing tools go, Media Center gives you the ability to rotate the picture, reduce red eye, adjust contrast, and crop. While the effort to include these tools was nice, everyone is best advised to travel a couple of feet to the computer for another, more versatile picture editing program.

Video
There are two ways of watching video files on Xbox 360: the credit-driven Xbox Live Marketplace and your Media Center PC. Sorry, XP Home and Pro owners, you're out of luck when it comes to this medium. Since video files from marketplace can cost money, streaming your home movies and various video files seems like the best option for cost-concise folks that just invested into a Media Center computer, Microsoft network adapter and an A-band wireless router. Supported file types include WMV, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. If you're looking to play other file formats like Quicktime, AVI or DivX, don't despair. There's already a way to covert them to 360-friendly formats at http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/Xbox360.

Television/DVR
At first, the idea of watching television through Xbox 360 seems silly because your cable or satellite box is probably right beside the system. However, if you don't own a DVR, it's quite a useful after all. Granted, no DVR interface is as user-friendly as a TiVo, but the Media Center comes close by offering you similar options to pause, rewind and record live broadcasts. You'll never miss another Family Guy episode or The Daily Show opening joke ever again. Furthermore, with the well-designed programming guide, you'll know what's on or soon to be on the air through the grid.

The fact that MCE's DVR functions now extend from the computer room to any room in the house weakens TiVo's grip on my front room television. In theory, I can connect the cable to my Media Center computer through the TV Tuner graphics card, hardwire the PC to an A-band router with a CAT5 cable, wirelessly transmit the data from the router to the Xbox 360 network adapter in my basement's home theatre setup, and project live television onto the screen. However complicated the process sounds, it's much easier than tripped over wires, using VHS tapes to record TV programs and paying TiVo $12.95 a month for what Microsoft offers free of charge.

Besides free DVR functions, Media Center further edges out standard TiVo boxes because it's able to broadcast and record over-the-air HDTV and Xbox 360 is able to stream that, too. Only HD DVR-carrying cable and satellite operators offer similar HD recording functions. The downside to these companies is that streaming tends to be non-existent and monthly fees remain intact. On the other hand, they carry channels like ESPN HD, HBO HD and TNT HD. Media Center 2005 is limited to free over-the-air local channels pulled from a digital TV antenna and cannot be combined with a cable or satellite box for HD channelsЕ yet. Vista, the next version of Windows, will incorporate the option later this year along new CableCard PC technology. Xbox 360 will hopefully be able to extend premium channels at that time, giving you the ability to enjoy things like the always-on, always-a-marathon Law & Order on TNT HD.

Media Center Extender successfully makes Xbox 360 more than a gaming console in your living room and gives new life to the multimedia OS outside of the computer room. If you're starting from scratch, setting up a Media Center isn't the simplest or cheapest task in the world. But, once you have the hardware in place and the software installed, it's straightforward streaming for all of your multimedia needs.