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[The Faceless Master]

The Xbox360 was not on display at all save for 2 employee only demonstration booths. I did catch the intern working the booth and make him run me through Windows XP Media Center interacting with the XBox360, and here are all the images I captured during the demonstration. One thing was very evident, if you do not like long loading times, and I mean LONG, then do not use Windows XP MCE to serve files to your Xbox360.

Source (& pics): Gamersreports




edit: HUGE pic shrunk

 

[Suikoguy]

But isn't that the only option for some content? WTF

I was seriously planning to use it for that too

 

[Tiktaalik]

As soon as possible I'll be modding my xbox360 and installing xbox media player 360*



*provided it will eventually exist.

 

[Ecrofirt]

Pretty ridiculous that a free application on Xbox can accomplish something that Xbox 360 can't seem to do right.

With XBMC I can stream without Windows XP Media Center Edition, and there's no long load times. I can also count on the program being updated continuously for improvments and new video and audio formats.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Pretty ridiculous that a free application on Xbox can accomplish something that Xbox 360 can't seem to do right.

With XBMC I can stream without Windows XP Media Center Edition, and there's no long load times. I can also count on the program being updated continuously for improvments and new video and audio formats.

Not only that, it can play video files in rar, while you are still downloading (out of market tv shows). It is pretty much Tv on demand.

 

[Norse]

Wouldnt the load times vary on what you are streaming, and network? I am sure a HDTV stream would most likely need to buffer quitee a bit more than your general videos.

 

[Straightballin]

Yea maybe it was just a HD stream. Im sure that mp3s will be fairly easy to stream and med. quality videos.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Wouldnt the load times vary on what you are streaming, and network? I am sure a HDTV stream would most likely need to buffer quitee a bit more than your general videos.

XBMC can not play HD video, so there is not answer to that. However, streaming DVD/VOB has the same wait as a divx tv show. You can set the buffer to whatever you like.

 

[bill0527]

Somebody posted an article here a few weeks ago from some trade show and the author claimed that there were hardly any load times at all between MCE and Xbox360, which flies directly counter to what this article is claiming. I didn't tag the article, but I wish I did... maybe somebody else remembers it and can find it.

 

[Ryudo]

I doubt this is what will happen for end users, in fact i find it hard to believe.

 

[Rhindle]

Wait, they were saying earlier that you HAD to use Windows MCE to stream video files .... but from that screen it appears that Video streaming and MCE access are separate options?

 

[HokieJoe]

I doubt this is what will happen for end users, in fact i find it hard to believe.

I doubt it as well, but should it, I'm sure that MS will offer a fix.

 

[Norse]

Wait, they were saying earlier that you HAD to use Windows MCE to stream video files .... but from that screen it appears that Video streaming and MCE access are separate options?

i dont think the video, etc options in that screenshot are about streaming...bet they are for local content on the hd, usb drive, or ipod.....the mce option is for the streamed content.


Also, keep in mind we have no idea if the guy was on wireless with a shitting connection or directly cabled to a switch/router. I also remember the article the others are mentioning where the guy said all video streaming and music was almost instant at the show....not sure if it was the japan show or the x05

 

[joaomgcd]

If you stream from a wireless PC in XBMC it also takes like 10 seconds or so to begin playing a file. With a wired connection it's much, much faster. Maybe this was the case here?

 

[ThirdEye]

nm.

 

[marmaraS]

i bet it was a wireless connection, i reckon if it was wired it would run better

 

[cyberheater]

From the live video demo's i've seen. It looked almost instantanous. Must have been a configuration issue.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

XBMC can not play HD video

Wrong, at least from today:

Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 will enable customers to stream digital music, videos, photos, and standard and high-definition television and movies from Media Center PCs to any television in their home via the Xbox 360 gaming system.

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/9525/Windows-Media-Center-Update-Focus-on-Xbox-360/

 

[123rl]

Any confirmation about whether it'll stream DRM'd material?

AFAIK it won't and because it's not got a HDCP-enabled port, it can't do it...I was just looking for a confirmation of whether it does or not

 

[Yusaku]

Wrong, at least from today:



http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/9525/Windows-Media-Center-Update-Focus-on-Xbox-360/

You're mixed up. Xbox Media Center is the homebrew app for the Xbox. Media Center Extender is the included app on the Xbox 360 that streams content from Windows Media Center Edition PCs.

The MCE on the 360 has tonss of limitations that XBMC doesn't have, except the Xbox isn't fast enough to do HD video. Although I know there's a mod out there that will OC the Xbox to support it.

 

[Doc Savage]

There was a video demo of the 360's media extender function about a month ago and the MS employee was going through his videos and specifically mentioned that he had recorded some HD content and was able to play it back on his 360.

Also there appeared to be no loading times when he was streaming the files at least no loading times that were of any significance. It could be an issue with the demo units being debug kits.

 

[Suikoguy]

Any confirmation about whether it'll stream DRM'd material?

AFAIK it won't and because it's not got a HDCP-enabled port, it can't do it...I was just looking for a confirmation of whether it does or not

I'm 99% sure they said it won't.

Anyway, I hope everybody is right about load times

 

[AyuFanatic86]

I want my PS3

 

[Beer Monkey]

Saw this on AVS, not sure where the source page is:

This was just updated on MSN:

Supported Media Types for the Media Center Extender
The following media types are supported on the Media Center Extender (Xbox 360, Media Center Extender set-top boxes, and Media Center Extender for Xbox):

Xbox 360

Video

Microsoft Windows Media Video (WMV) 7, 8, & 9
Maximum resolution of 1280x720 (720p) at 30 frames per second
Windows Media digital rights management (DRM) support up to level 2000
WMV Image 1 & 2
Maximum resolution of 800x600
MPEG-1
MPEG-1 layer I and II audio
MPEG-2
Maximum resolution of 1920x1080 (1080i)
MPEG-1 layer I and II or AC-3 audio
Audio

Windows Media Audio (WMA) 7, 8, and 9, WMA Professional
Windows Media DRM support up to Level 2000
WMA Lossless
Windows Media DRM-protected WMA Lossless is not supported
MP3
Any other format that has a DirectShow decoder installed on the host computer that outputs pulse code modulation (PCM)

 

[The Faceless Master]

wow, the leak/rumor of support being just wmv and mpeg1/2 video and wma/mp3 audio is confirmed!