Connect! Create! Play! And discover digital home entertainment made easy with Windows Vista, Windows Media Center, and Xbox 360. This book is full of activities that help you create a vivid entertainment experience in every room of your home. It’s loaded with easy how-to’s, helpful hints, and troubleshooting tips to help you focus on the fun. Let your imagination run wild and take a front row seat as you enjoy eye-popping graphics, 3D gaming on the big screen, and stunning cinematic experiences—all with one remote!
Discover how to:
Transform one PC into a hub for entertainment throughout your entire home
Bring home the concert hall and movie theater with dazzling sound and hi-def, big-screen picture
Create digital slide shows, home movies, photo albums, and music libraries to share throughout the home
Rent and download movies, record your favorite shows, watch them on your time
Game on! Download the hottest games or your retro favorites, and match wits online
Customize your system and set parental controls to meet the needs of the whole family
Technical Matters
Chapter 1 Media Center Overview
Learn Windows Media Center Basics
Know Where Content Comes From
Navigate Media Center
Work with Libraries
Understand What Types of Files Are Supported
Use Media Center Throughout Your Home
Chapter Summary
Chapter 2 Understanding Audio/Video Formats and Connectivity Issues
Get a High-Level View of Audio Formats
Get a High-Level View of Video Interfaces
Understand Connectivity Concepts
Meet the Standard Home Entertainment Components You Need to Know
Chapter Summary
Chapter 3 Working with Networks
Understand Wireless Technology
Set Up Your Wireless Network
Chapter Summary
Chapter 4 Obtaining Theater-Quality Sound
Think of Sound as Air in Motion
Explore Your Home Entertainment Environment
Stereo Receiver Considerations
Incorporate Your Media Center PC
Planning Speaker Placement
Get Optimum Sound
Chapter Summary
Chapter 5 Hardware Basics
Meet the Minimum System Requirements
Use the Windows Experience Index
Chapter Summary
Chapter 6 Using Media Center Throughout Your Home
Set Up Media Center
Use Media Center Throughout Your Home
Connect Any Media Center Extender
Set Up Xbox 360 as a Windows Media Center Extender
Set Up a Windows Media Center Extender Device
Add the HD DVD Player
Chapter Summary
Managing Your Home Entertainment System
Chapter 7 Accessing and Organizing Your Media
Organize Your Libraries
Optimize Media Center
Chapter Summary
Chapter 8 Setting Up Voice Commands
Get Started with Speech Recognition
Turn On Speech Recognition on Your Media Center PC
Use Media Center with Speech Recognition
Chapter Summary
Chapter 9 Working with Media Center Controls and Settings
Work with General Settings
Set Up Music Visualizations
Set Closed Captioning Options
Chapter Summary
Chapter 10 Watching and Recording TV
Get the Goods on the Guide
Navigate the Guide
Watch Live TV
Record TV Shows
Play Recorded TV Shows
Chapter Summary
Chapter 11 Finding and Downloading Online Media
Explore Online Media
Subscribe to a Service
Download Media from a Service
Chapter Summary
Chapter 12 Watching DVDs and Movies
Set Up Media Center for Your DVDs
Play DVDs Through Media Center
Burn a TV Program or Movie to a DVD
Chapter Summary
Music and Memories
Chapter 13 Working with Windows Media Player
Get to Know Media Player 11
Navigate Media Player
Sync Portable Devices
Rip CDs for Your Music Library
Share Your Media
Chapter Summary
Chapter 14 Finding and Playing Online Music, Sports, and News
Explore More Music
Chapter Summary
Chapter 15 Mastering Your Music Collection
Use the Music Library
Access Your Music Using the Views
Use Search
Use Play All
Chapter Summary
Chapter 16 Creating Photo Slide Shows and Editing Your Pictures
Create a Slide Show
Edit Pictures with Photo Gallery
Burn a Slide Show to a DVD
Chapter Summary
Chapter 17 Working with Movie Maker
Get to Know Movie Maker
Understand Video Formats
Import Existing Videos
Make Camera Connections
Make a Movie with Movie Maker
Publish a Movie to Your Computer
Chapter Summary
Get Your Game On
Chapter 18 Healthy Gaming
Get to Know Xbox 360
Use the Xbox 360 Dashboard
Use Xbox Live
Chapter Summary
Chapter 19 Playing with the Xbox Controller, Downloads, and Games
Use the Xbox 360 Controller
Download Games
Access the Active Downloads List
Play Games Using Windows Vista and Media Center
Chapter Summary
Chapter 20 Playing Games with the Family
Understand ESRB Game Ratings
Apply Parental Controls in Xbox 360
Speak to Other Gamers
Explore These Top-Five Family Games
Chapter Summary
Chapter 21 Working with Xbox Media, Events, and Accessories
Use the Media Blade on Xbox 360
Connect with Media Center
Go to Some Events
Buy Some Accessories
Chapter Summary
Extras for Everyone
Chapter 22 Making the Most of Windows Vista
Explore the Ease of Access Center
Run Windows Aero
Use Windows CardSpace
Chapter Summary
Chapter 23 Troubleshooting Tips and Shortcuts
Hot Topics
Keyboard Shortcuts
TV
Voice Recognition
Video
Music
Cameras
Xbox 360
Appendix About the Authors
Title:
Windows Vista®: Home Entertainment with Windows® Media Center and Xbox 360™
S.E. Slack is passionate about teaching users how to get more from their PCs. She has written several computer books, including Breakthrough Windows Vista: Find your Favorite Features and Discover the Possibilities. She also contributes to Microsoft.com Web sites, including Microsoft At Home, and Windows Vista Community.
Greg Slack, MCSE, is an experienced IT professional and a high-tech gadget wizard. In his own home, he created a jaw-dropping Windows Vista–based entertainment system complete with surround sound in every room—bringing his favorite action movies to life. Now, he brings his digital media expertise to your family. Warning—your neighbors might get jealous!
