Using xbox 360 as media centre extender?

[Parm]

I transcode and stream content to a 50" HD Plasma and find the quality to be very very good. Depends on the source of course, but if you're streaming HD files the quality is great.

[Odc]

I use my 360 to stream HD movies over the network using Transcode 360. It works like a beast . It's also much quieter than my old pc too.

[Bluecube]

If you're streaming WMV HD content then you don't need to transcode it. If you want to avoid transcoding then I'm sure can you can convert whatever media you have into WMV. Transcoding does work and works well but I found it a pain having to select the transcoding option instead of just playing away.

[Nick]

Sorry, only just seen this thread.

I'm running Windows MCE 2005 and using the Xbox 360 as a media extender.

I have a freeview digital TV card installed in the PC and stream all the TV through the Xbox 360 from my MCPC.

I use the MCPC for PVR and recording, though backing up recorded TV to DVD is a nightmare to first get the right software and then to do the transcoding... So anything I REALLY want to keep, I just record direct to my DVD recorder at time of broadcast or just plug the Xbox 360 into the DVD recorder and record while streaming.

The big bonus of the Xbox 360 as a media extender is that suddenly all those digital pictures that have sat on the PC for ages can now be viewed in the living room... dead easy...

It's worth noting that you DON'T need Windows MCE to stream your music and pictures to the Xbox 360... when you hook you Xbox 360 up to your network, it'll walk you through connecting it to your PC... you just download a free bit of software called Windows Media Connect and you're away.

[Bluecube]

One difference to note between using the 360 as an extender and linking to the PC through Media Connect is that when you play music through a surround sound system, MCE will play the music as stereo (correctly in my opinion) while the 360 streaming through Media Connect will play it in surround sound. This can be manually fixed through your surround sound amp but if you're a music fan you might want to be aware of this.

[colincliff]

The only thing that is stopping my buying a 360 now to replance my pvr is the fact that the interactive and subtitle services are not supported, although i think i will soon learn to live without them.

hopefully there will be some nice prices/packages around christmas time

[fuddam]

The only thing that is stopping my buying a 360 now to replance my pvr is the fact that the interactive and subtitle services are not supported, although i think i will soon learn to live without them.

hopefully there will be some nice prices/packages around christmas time

I think you can get around the subtitle problem by learning to speak Chinese & Japanese - it isn't difficult, and it will boost your CV

you'll just have to live without the Afrikaans ability, though. sorry.

[JimmyBoy]

so, even wivout mce 05 i could, using the wifi on my pc, stream video files, pics and mp3's, easily to my tv??

wat about video formats? could i, say 4 instance do xvid, divx, avi mpeg etc, u know, all the typical formats easily just by gettin a few proggies on my pc?

this makes the 360 very tempting...

[SmileyUK]

no, you need mce for the video. Only the rest you can do without it

[JimmyBoy]

no, you need mce for the video. Only the rest you can do without it

ah that sucks cuz id only really want it for videos anyway,

[colincliff]

I think you can get around the subtitle problem by learning to speak Chinese & Japanese - it isn't difficult, and it will boost your CV

you'll just have to live without the Afrikaans ability, though. sorry.

Actually i can speak Arikaans quite well, i learn it from a book.

The subtitles are for my wife, she seems to have trouble hearing....

[BCFCRULE69]

I have media center running but it is very slow - any ideas how to speed it up?

[Bluecube]

System specs/ network specs/ more info would be helpful!