On June 10 local time, Microsoft released a new version of media center technology "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005", which can add digital entertainment functions to personal computers. This technology is positioned as the core of Microsoft's digital entertainment strategy "Digital Entertainment Everywhere". It can be used all over the world at present. In addition, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Sony and Toshiba will launch a personal computer "Media Center PC" equipped with this technology.
When talking about Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Bill Gates, president and chief software designer of Microsoft, said, "Our company has put forward a strategy to provide the best online entertainment environment for the world, and this technology will be the core of this strategy." "By cooperating with partner companies, it will bring real innovation to the digital entertainment of personal computers." (Bill Gates)
With Windows XP Media Center Edition, you can easily enjoy digital entertainment such as photos, movies, music and TV. In addition to using the mouse and keyboard, you can also use the remote control to operate. You can record and pause TV programs that are playing, save photos or movies/TV programs to CD-R/DVD media, and edit photos imported from digital cameras. Using the "Movie Finder" function, you can search for movies with actors, categories or directors as keywords, and you can also find similar movies.
This version integrates "Windows Media Player 10", which can easily download or play music and movies through various online services. With "Windows Messenger", you can chat with your friends while watching TV.
The company will also provide the extended function "Media Center Extender". With a device that supports this function, you can enjoy music, photos, TV programs, videos and so on. On the computer in the media center at home. In addition, the introduction of "Media Center Expander for Xbox" can make the company's game console "Xbox" support the Media Center Expander.
On the same day, HP began to provide devices supporting Windows Media Center Extender, and Linksys, the business unit of Cisco Systems, USA, will also provide similar devices from the end of 2004. Xbox's Media Center Extender will go on sale in the holiday of 2004.
Microsoft also introduced the services of several content partners supporting Windows Media Center Edition 2005. It mainly includes on-demand music and video service AOL Music OnDemand, photo sharing service Kodak EasyShare of Eastman Kodak Company of the United States, music service MSN Music provided by Microsoft Internet service MSN, news from National Public Radio (NPR) of the United States and Reuters of the United Kingdom. In addition, content providers such as CinemaNow and Napster will also provide services supporting Windows Media Center Edition 2005.
Media Center 2005 will release a retail version.
I believe that Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition operating system is still a bit mysterious to most users, and everyone is generally familiar with Microsoft's Windows XP home edition and professional edition. However, there has been no detailed report about this Media Center version of Windows XP, and Microsoft's strict restrictions on software licensing make the software rarely have genuine users, so most people have no chance to use this operating system on the spot.
Windows XP Media Center Edition came out about two years ago, and its application direction is remote control of home theater operating system based on Windows XP. This product belongs to the xp product department and uses the same Windows XP kernel, but Microsoft's Media Center application can be used in the user interface. Through this system, you can easily play and record TV movies, as well as special music and video operations. When Microsoft completely integrates the original computer operating system, various existing media applications and remote control hardware devices into the system, XP Media Center Edition has better integration with the operating system than other media center software, and the program runs more stably and smoothly.
Unfortunately, Microsoft's strict release control of this version of the operating system has long hindered the further promotion of this product. XP Media Center Edition has never had a retail version, and low-end users can't buy a cheap OEM version directly from PC manufacturers. Therefore, if you want to have genuine XP Media Center Edition, you must buy a PC with this system pre-installed. Who would buy a whole computer just to try a new operating system except those fanatical HTPC (Home Theater Personal Computer) lovers? This is tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It is precisely because of these limitations of Microsoft that other brands of home media center software have got a good development space, such as SageTV and Meedio. They can complete most of the functions that XP Media Center Edition can provide, and they are products that have made great progress recently. What is more threatening to Microsoft is that many HTPC users have turned their attention to the Linux operating system, because the software such as Freevo and MythTV based on this system is not only powerful, but also free to use.
So far, these different brands of media center software are running normally, and many of them are easier to use than Microsoft's solutions, so they are very popular with users. However, Microsoft finally realized the importance of media center for home computers, and it will soon release a Windows XP media center version directly for end users. At present, the latest version of the software is Media Center Edition 2005, and users can buy it in the market immediately. At present, there is still a period of time before the official release of the software, and we have got the sample of the product, so we will show you the first-hand test results of Media Center Edition 2005 at the first time.
As mentioned earlier, Microsoft has equipped this system with a remote control device and a receiver. The picture below is a photo of these devices. The product quality is very good, reaching the level of other consumer-grade remote control products. At present, the market is full of some inferior PC remote control devices, but this one is obviously not. The hardware produced by Microsoft has always been of high quality, especially the keyboard and mouse, and this remote control device has reached this level. Touch a button, and all buttons will emit light green light, which is not dazzling, but it can also be used conveniently in the dark. Of course, the product will come with a battery and can be used directly. Remote controller with Microsoft logo and infrared receiving unit with USB interface
As you can guess, the main control key of the Media Center remote control is the largest button with the Windows logo printed in the middle. In the startup state, pressing this button will automatically run the Media Center program immediately, no matter what your computer is doing at this time. If you are already running Media Center, pressing this button will take you back to the main menu of Media Center. This Start button is the center of Media Center Edition.
There are many other buttons on this remote control. We found that all the control functions of Media Center can be easily completed by the five buttons above the start button (up, down, left and right plus OK buttons). With these buttons, you can control Media Center more easily. At the same time, I also found the functions of other buttons. A series of buttons above the arrow buttons are specially used to control the playback of DVDs and other videos, while the number keys at the bottom are used to watch live TV and record TV programs.
The use of remote control is very important to the experience of media center. In addition to using a computer keyboard when booting up and installing the operating system and drivers, once you enter the world of Media Center, you can get rid of the comfort of the keyboard and play the role of a remote controller at will. This is an unusual experience. Microsoft's perfect integration of operating system, program application and remote control equipment is really commendable.
The receiver printed with Microsoft trademark is connected to the system through USB interface. The driver of this device has been integrated into the operating system, so you don't have to bother to install the driver. According to the instructions, the remote control function takes effect five seconds after the receiver is connected. All the equipment has been configured before use, so it will be easy to operate in the field. The receiver and the remote controller are connected with each other through infrared signals. During our test, the response of the receiver is always very sensitive, and the effective distance of the remote control reaches 25-30 feet. The USB cable of the receiver is particularly long, so that the remote controller can cover a wider range, which can completely meet the needs of remote control operation in the family residence.
Before we start testing, let's be clear about one thing. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (hereinafter referred to as XP MCE2005) is a brand-new operating system compared with previous products of the same series. Media Center is an application program located at the top of Windows XP operating system platform, but unlike other HTPC software, Microsoft's media center has always been rooted in the kernel of the operating system, so its integration with the operating system is quite perfect. At the same time, any program that can run on other versions of Windows XP can also run under this operating system. XP MCE2005 is a truly customized operating system for high-end users, while other HTPC software can be used for low-end applications.
Remote controller with Microsoft logo and infrared receiving unit with USB interface
Remote controller with Microsoft logo and infrared receiving unit with USB interface
As you can guess, the main control key of the Media Center remote control is the largest button with the Windows logo printed in the middle. In the startup state, pressing this button will automatically run the Media Center program immediately, no matter what your computer is doing at this time. If you are already running Media Center, pressing this button will take you back to the main menu of Media Center. This Start button is the center of Media Center Edition.
There are many other buttons on this remote control. We found that all the control functions of Media Center can be easily completed by the five buttons above the start button (up, down, left and right plus OK buttons). With these buttons, you can control Media Center more easily. At the same time, I also found the functions of other buttons. A series of buttons above the arrow buttons are specially used to control the playback of DVDs and other videos, while the number keys at the bottom are used to watch live TV and record TV programs.
The use of remote control is very important to the experience of media center. In addition to using a computer keyboard when booting up and installing the operating system and drivers, once you enter the world of Media Center, you can get rid of the comfort of the keyboard and play the role of a remote controller at will. This is an unusual experience. Microsoft's perfect integration of operating system, program application and remote control equipment is really commendable.
The receiver printed with Microsoft trademark is connected to the system through USB interface. The driver of this device has been integrated into the operating system, so you don't have to bother to install the driver. According to the instructions, the remote control function takes effect five seconds after the receiver is connected. All the equipment has been configured before use, so it will be easy to operate in the field. The receiver and the remote controller are connected with each other through infrared signals. During our test, the response of the receiver is always very sensitive, and the effective distance of the remote control reaches 25-30 feet. The USB cable of the receiver is particularly long, so that the remote controller can cover a wider range, which can completely meet the needs of remote control operation in the family residence.
Before we start testing, let's be clear about one thing. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (hereinafter referred to as XP MCE2005) is a brand-new operating system compared with previous products of the same series. Media Center is an application program located at the top of Windows XP operating system platform, but unlike other HTPC software, Microsoft's media center has always been rooted in the kernel of the operating system, so its integration with the operating system is quite perfect. At the same time, any program that can run on other versions of Windows XP can also run under this operating system. XP MCE2005 is a truly customized operating system for high-end users, while other HTPC software can be used for low-end applications.
In this test, we used OEM products of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, including system disk, quick guide, remote controller and receiver control unit with Microsoft trademark. Microsoft will sell CDs and remote control devices separately, which will give users more choices. In fact, since the remote control device is tailor-made for the operating system, we still recommend it to you, even though it costs an extra $30.
Windows XP Media Center Edition is the first operating system in the Windows series to be carried by two CDs. Its installation process is exactly the same as Windows XP Home/Professional Edition, so I won't go into details. XP Media Center Edition 2005 is based on Windows XP Service Pack 2 kernel and is also the content of the first installation disk. The second disc mainly contains some specific applications based on media center. The whole installation process lasted 35 minutes, slightly longer than the xp standard version. On the other hand, this version does not need to spend time installing patches.
The operating system is no different from Windows XP Professional, and all the original functions are available here. Software, games and drivers that you can run on other versions of Windows XP can also play a role here. In other words, xp MCE2005 is the xp version that supports the most hardware drivers at present, and it also supports some functions of XP Professional, such as supporting multiple processors, supporting remote control devices, advanced network protocols and mobile storage devices.
XP Media Center also includes some new applications recently launched by Microsoft, such as Windows Security Center and Windows Firewall provided in Service Pack 2. Of course, like other xp versions, the genuine Media Center Edition needs to be activated within 30 days after installation.
MD5:
CD 1:ebc 36 c 30 bfe 7 C4 BC 2867 ddbf 22 138 CEB
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 English MSDN CD 1. International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
CD2: 17250206 a 4 1ab 6659 dbb 45935 b 98 c7e 0
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 English MSDN CD2. International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Questions about installing activation verification:
Install like XP, serial number 366. You will be prompted to insert a second disk during installation. Do not activate after installation, change the number first, and replace it with the serial number of section 0 1 1 After the number change is successful, activate it with the activator. Then update the internet and apply for genuine verification. If it fails, go to X: \ documents and settings \ all users \ application data \ Windows genuine advantage \ data. Here x is the letter of the installation disk. Open the data with notepad, clear the garbled code inside, type a few letters at will and save it. Check Read Only in the data properties. Ok, let's update it online again.