Thread: Xbox media center

Forget conventional "media boxes", which was presented similar Pinnacle, D-Link, Linksys etc. They are not so cheap, they have a very limited range of connection options (which, in this day and age, TV activities connected with the composite video cable?), And, most importantly, they do not play back half of file formats that I was lying around in his system .

No, what you need to do is pick up an Xbox, and then get a modem chip, which allows it to execute arbitrary code (for example, not games).

Then you need to find a copy of the Xbox media center, where you can find what euphemistically called the "usual places" (Microsoft's conditions make it technically illegal distibute binaries)

Why do I recommend vanilla xbox when the 360 is just around the corner? Read…

If you just want to get the game console, skip this post. Buy 360, or PS3, and be happy.

I, on the other hand, wanted to create a device that I could connect to my TV, which will play back several hundred gigabytes of programs, I archive my PVR in the past few years. A device that the mother would handle several different varieties MPEG, AVI and quicktime encoding. A device that can play a CD from my archive (losslessly stored as FLAC files).

Guess that: Xbox is ideally suited for this task! He has built a network to talk to my share of the media. It has a high-definition communications package that gives excellent quality products. She will be pleased to talk with my Dolby Digital decoder for surround sound. This is roughly the same price as one of the above media boxes.

S XBMC you can still play games, if you need a little diversion, but it can be done much more… He will speak to IMDB details of the movie you are watching, it will show it is impossible to understand these songs, and, as of 2 days ago He also receives a long-awaited multi-region DVD player than can display menu, the disc correctly, rounding off the package nicely!

(Yes, and for those of you hiding in the basement with a PC, but also connects to the weather channel to tell you about what is happening outside)

If ever there was a device which deserves to be at the centre of a digital media center that was.

"But 360 will do all these things" I hear you cry…… Well, yes. and no. Rumours I am hearing is that it will be able to speak with the Media Center PC and playback files stored in it (Microsoft, of course welcome, send me a free 360 prove me wrong). Thing is - I do not want the media center PC, I want it to reproduce arbitrary files stored on my LAN. I tried to work MPC concept and now it is simply not working in the UK (for reasons I will go on another occasion)

I shall take of wild bet that the 360, if he has any of these opportunities will not be as flexible as my XBMC. He probably would not handle all AVI formats, I can play back, and today, he almost certainly will not cope with FLAC audio. Connection to the Apple movie trailer site to watch the latest previews? I want to see it, but I am not holding my breath.

Negative? In xbox is noisy and ugly. So stick it in the cupboard with a path.

I bought mine clearance of AdvancedXbox in Britain, certainly there are many other partners around the world, offering similar services.