XBOX360 and Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2

[Parm]

For those of you who don't yet have it, Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2 is available and has some added functionality which can be used with the XBOX360.

Taken from the official site:

The new Media Sharing feature of Windows Media Player 11 lets you enjoy the contents of your Windows Media Player library from anywhere in your home. If you have a home network (wired or wireless), you can use Windows Media Player 11 to stream the contents of your library to networked devices. For example, if you have an Xbox 360 or other digital media receiver (DMR), you can use Windows Media Player to stream music and pictures from your computer to that device.

What does this mean? Well this means no more Windows Media Connect, it's not built directly into Media Player and I personally think it's great.

By being built directly into Media Player, you can also take advantage of some of Media Players features from your 360. In the past with Windows Media Connect I was only able to use playlists I'd created.
Now with WMP11 I can use the Auto Playlists. I can make an auto playlist to play all the songs I've rated 5 stars, and whenever I select that playlist on the 360, it'll quickly scan my music and start playing through my top rated songs.

All I need now is volume levelization for the music player on the 360.

[Tom Scott]

Is this just music or is it videos as well?? I can't be arsed to buy a MCE PC seeing as Vista is just around the corner.




--- bah update ----

example, if you have an Xbox 360 or other digital media receiver (DMR), you can use Windows Media Player to stream music and pictures from your computer to that device. This even works with music that you've downloaded from PlaysForSure music stores and services. For more information, see Digital Media at Home.

Music and Photos only still

[Parm]

Yep, just music and pictures mate. I do have MCE though so I can't complain.

There were rumours of the Autumn dashboard update adding video streaming functionality via XP.
I personally don't believe those rumours though. With Vista around the corner I'm sure MS won't want to steal any of the limelight from that.

[digit]

What excellent news, windows media connect is fine but having its functions available within WMP11 kidna centralises things nicely One less tray icon as well

[Odc]

Yeah I used this the other day, I certainly prefer it to Windows Media Connect although it works in the same way. You don't even need to have WMP open to use it.

[Nick F]

Not really good if you have a mac

Still there is a piece of software out there that can help.

Anyone remember the name?

[Lee H]

it's called Windows

Transcode360 is good for streaming video's and I've been using this for xvids/divx files and all sorts of goodness contained in the avi container format

[Steven W]

I use Windows Media Connect to share files between my 360 and PC- view pics and listen to music. Is there any free software that allows you to play video?

[Lee H]

Take your pick Steven W

VLC360
TRANSCODE360
MCE video encoder - With guide and images

Note: Some of these do require MCE2005 as the operating system

[Parm]

Steven, without Windows MCE I don't believe it's possible. At least not that I'm aware of.

With Windows MCE you can stream supported video formats, and with a bit of extra software (Transcode360 being my preferred choice) you can also stream every other format.

I'd suggest Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2 though m8, I find it much more pleasant than Windows Media Connect.

[Steven W]

Steven, without Windows MCE I don't believe it's possible. At least not that I'm aware of.

With Windows MCE you can stream supported video formats, and with a bit of extra software (Transcode360 being my preferred choice) you can also stream every other format.

I'd suggest Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2 though m8, I find it much more pleasant than Windows Media Connect.

Cheers, might give it a go.

[Odc]

What's the quality like once it been transcoded?

[Nick F]

ah I have found the Mac version again, its called connect360

http://www.nullriver.com/index/products/connect360

Connect360 automatically indexes your iTunes and iPhoto libraries and shares them to your Xbox 360. You can then use the Xbox 360 Dashboard to browse and play your media, organized in the exact same way that it is on your Mac.
*iTunes smart

You can browse and play your iTunes music by song, artist, album, genre or playlist. As you add and remove content to/from your iTunes library, Connect360 keeps your Xbox 360 up to date.

You can even listen to your iTunes songs while playing a game on your Xbox 360! Now that's entertainment.

Further, Connect360 can automatically update your iTunes play count and play date for songs played on your Xbox 360.
*Shoutcast streaming

Connect360 now supports streaming of live Internet radio broadcasts to your Xbox360! Simply add any station to a playlist and enjoy the live tunes from your Xbox!
*iPhoto in big

With Connect360, you can view your iPhoto photo library on your television screen, they're especially beautiful in vivid high definition.

Browse by photo album or watch a slideshow, its all easy and fun!
*What formats are supported?

Connect360 supports MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF and Apple Lossless for Music. For Photos, Connect360 supports: JPEG, RAW, GIF, PNG, BMP and TIFF.