Windows Media Center Extender
Encyclopedia
Windows Media Center Extenders (officially "Extender for Windows Media Center") are devices that are configured to connect via a Network
link to a computer running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
, Windows Vista
Home Premium/Ultimate or Windows 7 Home Premium or higher to stream the computer's media center functions to the Extender device. This allows someone to be able to use the Media Center and its features (such as view photos, videos, listen to music, watch live television and use DVR
functions, watch recorded TV, etc.) on their television or other display device.
The advantage with these devices is that the household's primary computer (hosting Media Center) can be physically set up in a location more appropriate for its role, instead of being in the living room. Additionally, with an Extender, the Media Center can be accessed at the same time by several users. The Xbox 360
gaming console is a very popular example of a Media Center Extender.
. First generation hardware based devices were based on the Windows CE
operating system whereas the second generation devices can use other embedded OSs such as Linux
as well. The Extender creates its own user account on the host PC(MCX1, MCX2, etc.) and then uses a version of Fast User Switching
to enable the use of the host computer and Extenders at the same time.
Version 1 Extenders only support Media Center versions up to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 - they cannot support the version of Media Center incorporated in Windows Vista Home Premium/Ultimate Edition.
The server software, which runs on the host PC and streams the media, is built into Windows Media Center
. An MCX device must be paired with the MCE software before use; this is done by pairing the MCE software with an identifying number generated by the MCX device.
The MCE software makes the user interface available via the Remote Desktop Protocol
(RDP, which is also used by Remote Desktop
client). All processing done by the MCE software and plug-ins happen at the host computer; only the user interface is streamed to the MCX devices.
As such, the device can render the interface even though the Media Center-specific software (or the plug-ins) might not be installed there. However, the media files are streamed over a different protocol
. To render the media, the Extender needs to have an implementation of the codec
used to package the media locally installed on the Extender; having the codec on the host computer is not enough. Alternatively media can be trans-coded on the fly by the host computer to a codec that is supported by the Extender. In Windows 7 this is now a standard feature which will probably relieve Extender vendors in the future from having to include such a wide variety of codecs.
All Version 1 Extenders have been discontinued and are not supported in Windows Vista.
was the only Version 2 Extender available that could work with Windows Vista. When connecting an Xbox 360
to a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC, a free download is required to connect for the first time. When connecting an Xbox 360
to a Windows Vista PC, no download is necessary as all required components are built into Windows Vista.
Microsoft eventually announced the v2 Media Center Extenders from partners (Linksys, D-Link and Niveus Media) on 5 September, 2007. Version 2 capable Extenders boast animated transitions between screens and additional capabilities of Windows Vista to handle newer video formats, notably, DivX
, Xvid
, Windows Media Video
HD
and H.264. They can stream HDTV (including 1080p
) through HDMI
like the Xbox 360
, can stream protected content and many incorporate draft 802.11n wireless connectivity.
In addition to these updates, Extender manufacturers will be able to integrate Extender technology into other popular consumer electronics devices. Examples include DVD players, HDTVs, HD DVD players, Blu-ray players, etc. Windows Media Connect
and Windows Media Player Network Sharing are able to connect to them on Windows XP; however, they do not work with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 as extenders. Xbox 360
is the only device that can work as an extender with both Windows XP
Media Center as well as Windows Vista
.
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
link to a computer running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition is a version of the Windows XP operating system designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. The last version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, was released in October 2004.-Versions:...
, Windows Vista
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows users to view and record live television, as well as organize and play music and videos...
Home Premium/Ultimate or Windows 7 Home Premium or higher to stream the computer's media center functions to the Extender device. This allows someone to be able to use the Media Center and its features (such as view photos, videos, listen to music, watch live television and use DVR
DVR
The initialism "DVR", when used by itself, can refer to:* Digital video recorder* Discrete valuation ring* Distance-vector routing* Direct volume rendering* Derwent Valley Railway * Devco Railway...
functions, watch recorded TV, etc.) on their television or other display device.
The advantage with these devices is that the household's primary computer (hosting Media Center) can be physically set up in a location more appropriate for its role, instead of being in the living room. Additionally, with an Extender, the Media Center can be accessed at the same time by several users. The Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
gaming console is a very popular example of a Media Center Extender.
Technology
Media Center Extenders (MCX) can either be dedicated hardware devices, such as set top boxes or televisions, or software based implementations such as the Xbox 360Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. First generation hardware based devices were based on the Windows CE
Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
operating system whereas the second generation devices can use other embedded OSs such as Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
as well. The Extender creates its own user account on the host PC(MCX1, MCX2, etc.) and then uses a version of Fast User Switching
Fast user switching
Fast user switching is a feature on some modern multi-user operating systems such as Windows XP and newer, Mac OS X, Linux. It allows users to switch between user accounts on a single PC without quitting applications and logging out. Analogous functionality was first developed on consumer level...
to enable the use of the host computer and Extenders at the same time.
Version 1 Extenders only support Media Center versions up to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 - they cannot support the version of Media Center incorporated in Windows Vista Home Premium/Ultimate Edition.
The server software, which runs on the host PC and streams the media, is built into Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows users to view and record live television, as well as organize and play music and videos...
. An MCX device must be paired with the MCE software before use; this is done by pairing the MCE software with an identifying number generated by the MCX device.
The MCE software makes the user interface available via the Remote Desktop Protocol
Remote Desktop Protocol
Remote Desktop Protocol is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft, which provides a user with a graphical interface to another computer. The protocol is an extension of the ITU-T T.128 application sharing protocol. Clients exist for most versions of Microsoft Windows , Linux, Unix, Mac OS...
(RDP, which is also used by Remote Desktop
Terminal Services
Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008 R2, formerly known as Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 and previous versions, is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allows a user to access applications and data on a remote computer over a network, using the Remote Desktop...
client). All processing done by the MCE software and plug-ins happen at the host computer; only the user interface is streamed to the MCX devices.
As such, the device can render the interface even though the Media Center-specific software (or the plug-ins) might not be installed there. However, the media files are streamed over a different protocol
Communications protocol
A communications protocol is a system of digital message formats and rules for exchanging those messages in or between computing systems and in telecommunications...
. To render the media, the Extender needs to have an implementation of the codec
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
used to package the media locally installed on the Extender; having the codec on the host computer is not enough. Alternatively media can be trans-coded on the fly by the host computer to a codec that is supported by the Extender. In Windows 7 this is now a standard feature which will probably relieve Extender vendors in the future from having to include such a wide variety of codecs.
Version 1 Extenders
- HP x5400
- Linksys WMCE54AG
- Xbox with Media Center Extender Add-On
All Version 1 Extenders have been discontinued and are not supported in Windows Vista.
Version 2 Extenders
For quite some time, the Xbox 360Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
was the only Version 2 Extender available that could work with Windows Vista. When connecting an Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
to a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC, a free download is required to connect for the first time. When connecting an Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
to a Windows Vista PC, no download is necessary as all required components are built into Windows Vista.
Microsoft eventually announced the v2 Media Center Extenders from partners (Linksys, D-Link and Niveus Media) on 5 September, 2007. Version 2 capable Extenders boast animated transitions between screens and additional capabilities of Windows Vista to handle newer video formats, notably, DivX
DivX
DivX is a brand name of products created by DivX, Inc. , including the DivX Codec which has become popular due to its ability to compress lengthy video segments into small sizes while maintaining relatively high visual quality.There are two DivX codecs; the regular MPEG-4 Part 2 DivX codec and the...
, Xvid
XviD
Xvid is a video codec library following the MPEG-4 standard, specifically MPEG-4 Part 2 Advanced Simple Profile . It uses ASP features such as b-frames, global and quarter pixel motion compensation, lumi masking, trellis quantization, and H.263, MPEG and custom quantization matrices.Xvid is a...
, Windows Media Video
Windows Media Video
'Windows Media Video is a video compression format for several proprietary codecs developed by Microsoft. The original video format, known as WMV, was originally designed for Internet streaming applications, as a competitor to RealVideo. The other formats, such as WMV Screen and WMV Image, cater...
HD
WMV HD
Windows Media High Definition Video is the marketing name for high definition videos encoded using Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 codecs...
and H.264. They can stream HDTV (including 1080p
1080p
1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are characterized by 1080 horizontal lines of resolution and progressive scan, meaning the image is not interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard....
) through HDMI
HDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
like the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, can stream protected content and many incorporate draft 802.11n wireless connectivity.
In addition to these updates, Extender manufacturers will be able to integrate Extender technology into other popular consumer electronics devices. Examples include DVD players, HDTVs, HD DVD players, Blu-ray players, etc. Windows Media Connect
Windows Media Connect
Windows Media Connect is a UPnP AV server from Microsoft for Windows XP and later Windows operating systems, to share and stream media on a Windows computer to WMC clients. The first two releases of WMC were made available as stand-alone software, and included a client as well...
and Windows Media Player Network Sharing are able to connect to them on Windows XP; however, they do not work with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 as extenders. Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
is the only device that can work as an extender with both Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
Media Center as well as Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
.
- HP MediaSmart Connect - x280n
- Xbox 360 (Works in MCE 2005, Vista, and Windows 7)
- Linksys DMA2100
- Linksys DMA2200 (Integrated DVD Player)
- D-Link DSM-750
- Niveus Media Extender - EDGE
- HP MediaSmart HDTV (With software update from April 2008)
- Samsung MediaLive Digital Media Extender MR-00EA1
External links
- Extender for Windows Media Center
- FAQ: Windows Media Center Extenders and Xbox 360
- Media Center Extender Support
- Media Center Extender for Xbox Review
See also
- Windows Media CenterWindows Media CenterWindows Media Center is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows users to view and record live television, as well as organize and play music and videos...
- Windows Media ConnectWindows Media ConnectWindows Media Connect is a UPnP AV server from Microsoft for Windows XP and later Windows operating systems, to share and stream media on a Windows computer to WMC clients. The first two releases of WMC were made available as stand-alone software, and included a client as well...