Xbox 360 able to stream high-definition content from Media Center PCs

A new update for Windows XP Media Center Edition will extend the Xbox 360’s media capabilities.

The update, known as Update Rollup 2, will work in conjunction with the Xbox 360’s built-in Media Center Extender technology to allow the Xbox 360 to connect to a Media Center Edition PC.

Once connected, Xbox 360 users will be able to stream movies, music and photos from the Media Center Edition PC to their console. An Xbox 360 connected to a Media Center Edition PC will gain all the functionality of a Media Center Edition PC, allowing users to:

• play, pause, rewind and record live TV
• stream high-definition and standard definition audio/video from the MCE PC
• set up series recordings
• view meta data for all shows, actors and directors

Using the Xbox 360, the above functions can be accessed wirelessly, presumably with the Xbox 360’s Universal Media Remote.

“Media Center Edition and Xbox 360, together with offerings from hundreds of industry partners, are providing fantastic interactive entertainment experiences that can be experienced throughout the home,”

said Microsoft senior VP Will Poole.

New free or pay-per-view streamable content will also be made available with the update, including VH1 VSpot, the MTV Overdrive on-demand channel, Akimbo Service and a Comedy Central on-demand channel. Media Center customers will be able to choose from over 5,000 programs from more than 75 partners.

Update Rollup 2 can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.windowsupdate.com.

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• Preorder your Xbox 360 here