Microsoft debuts Extenders for Windows Media Center, adds DivX and XviD

Ok, we're gonna break this down, Microsoft really didn't do us any favors of simplicity this time. As you may remember, back in late 2004 Microsoft's hardware partners announced Windows Media Center Extenders, which were basically STBs that could replicate a cheesy version of Media Center's interface on your TV over your home network. Not surprisingly, people didn't want another box (let alone a box with a crappy UI that wasn't as good as a real Media Center) so those boxes never took off. But the best (and most frequently used) implementation came way later on with the Xbox 360, which was able to far better replicate the XP and Vista Media Center experience.

So today Microsoft is announcing a reinvigorated Media Center Extender effort called... wait for it... Extenders for Windows Media Center. Ok, the name totally sucks, but the important part is Microsoft upgraded its wayward Extender system with a new version that takes full advantage of Vista (including live HDTV streaming), supports 802.11n, and adds something that really blew our mind: codecs we actually care about, namely XviD and DivX. Niveus, Linksys, and D-Link will all be launching new devices based on this software platform, so watch out for those -- as well as DVD players, TVs, and all manner of other home theater devices Microsoft is apparently trying to get this new system built right into. Unfortunately this new Extender rev isn't being announced for the Xbox 360 (yet), so we'll all have to wait a while longer before playing XviD and DivX movies on that thing -- without transcoding, anyway.

Gallery: Microsoft debuts Extenders for Windows Media Center, adds DivX and XviD

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[rickane58 @ Sep 6th 2007 12:16AM]

wow, if this came to the three-sitty, that would be the best.fall-update.EVA!!

[Adam @ Sep 6th 2007 1:01AM]

Seriously, finally be able to watch some torrents on the big screen without having to mess around with Orb, etc, etc.

[Eric M @ Sep 6th 2007 12:16AM]

Too bad these days you need to add x264 and mkv. Almost Microsoft... almost.

[E-Rock @ Sep 6th 2007 12:39AM]

x264 was already added in the spring update

[stevo @ Sep 6th 2007 12:44AM]

E-Rock: no actually it wasn't added, only support for h.264 ..x264 is different, hd usenet junkies represent.

[Beau Hunt @ Sep 6th 2007 1:31AM]

Actually it does support x264, I have been converting my dvd's to x264 mp4 with handbreak, and it works great.
Please note that the 360 has a set of specs you need to follow; the audio has to be AAC 2 channel (I tried 5 channel hoping, but it didn't like it),
The video needs to be in a mp4 container (I think this is the most common)
Additionally there are some bit rate specs as (I haven't had any issues with that)
Also for your reading pleasure look up x264 on wikipedia, you will find that it is just the free version of the h264 codec.

[keith @ Sep 6th 2007 12:17AM]

Can I have a great prize to make up for my $200 dive on my iPhone I took today

[E71 @ Sep 6th 2007 7:50AM]

Hit and a miss there keith, hit and a miss.

Try next thread down.

[Ryanmkyle @ Sep 6th 2007 12:17AM]

I still would rather get a cheap old pc and turn it into a media center with an ATI All-In-Wonder.

[Alexander @ Sep 6th 2007 12:18AM]

yea divX

[Xzavier @ Sep 6th 2007 12:24AM]

Finally, a REAL codex... errr... I mean, real support!

:D

[Paul @ Sep 6th 2007 12:24AM]

How can I get this program?

[BFish @ Sep 6th 2007 12:26AM]

M$ should use bit of their effort to make MC to support DVB-C, it' is ridicilous that that it isn't supported by any of their MC versions and it has been on the market for years.....

[Sean O @ Sep 6th 2007 4:16AM]

Why is this guy "Lowest Rank"? Do you idiots even know what DVB-C is?

[Dennis @ Sep 6th 2007 12:04PM]

Maybe because he put M$ like a tool. It is not cool or hip to write M$. Please stop for the good of mankind.

[ejb @ Sep 6th 2007 12:27AM]

finally, great addition, will add alot to my 360

[Javi0084 @ Sep 6th 2007 12:35AM]

Too bad I'm almost done switching to Ubuntu.

[daxie @ Sep 6th 2007 12:40AM]

at last! may be this will help :D

[ryanworrell @ Sep 6th 2007 12:54AM]

If there is a god, we will see a fall update soon with divx. Give me a reason not to love my XBMC over my 360 M$!!!

[ryanworrell @ Sep 6th 2007 12:56AM]

no read link??

[yannick @ Sep 6th 2007 1:09AM]

I can't wait, I am getting tired of tversity taking away the core that I use to download torrent with.

[Iced_Eagle @ Sep 6th 2007 1:26AM]

Fall update material for the 360? I believe so! :-)

[Gnaget @ Sep 6th 2007 1:27AM]

I'm with everyone on the 360... I still haven't found any better solution for a HTPC than my modded XBox 1. With the lack of modding going on with the 360, I suppose I'll have to wait for MS to be nice and finally add these codecs before I can even consider using my 360 as my HTPC.

[David Katz @ Sep 6th 2007 1:33AM]

XBMC will never die!! No need for anything else. Sure takes up alot of space tho.

[Typhoid Mary @ Sep 6th 2007 1:34AM]

To little and WAY to late.

No x264, bah!

Ill stick with XBMC and wait for XBMC Linux for full HD.

[Brad @ Sep 6th 2007 2:38PM]

For the love of christ, someone teach these kids the difference between a standard and a specific encoder!

H.264 is a STANDARD. It describes how a file is encoded, and how to decode it.

x264 is the name of an ENCODER, a particular program (codec) which encodes to the H.264 STANDARD. More specifically, it is a medium-quality, low-speed codec for that standard. There are significantly better ones out there, but they can cost many thousands of dollars and the open source one is good enough for most things.

Once the file is encoded by x264 or any other H.264-compliant codec, you can play it on the 360.

Now quit bitching that the xbox360 doesn't have x264. It doesn't even make sense. That's like complaining you don't have Dreamweaver and so you can't view web pages.

[Twitchy @ Sep 6th 2007 1:43AM]

For some reason my eyes read "Microsoft debuts Eastenders for Windows". I think I need a holiday - hint hint for the giveaway there Engadget.

[Joshua @ Sep 6th 2007 3:25AM]

silly rabbit. you won't win any if you post it here.

[DAZA @ Sep 6th 2007 3:45AM]

*sill wabbit

[DAZA @ Sep 6th 2007 3:45AM]

*silly wabbit

I just owned myself.

[taylor @ Sep 6th 2007 1:57AM]

Is it just me or is engadget really harsh on anything microsoft. Come on guys we all know you love (REAALLLLY LOVE) that shiny white (and sometimes brushd aluminum) fruit, and that you are not REAALLLY a professional jouralistic news source, but at least try to be unbias please.

[Martin @ Sep 6th 2007 2:08AM]

RYAN PLEASE READ:

Microsoft doesn't need to concentrate on more extenders (the 360 works really well). What they NEED to do is get the cable and satellite companies (and whoever else) to allow them an easier way to access HD programming in Media Center (and subsequently the extenders). The new ATI Digital Tuner is a step in the right direction. Now they just need to make them easy add-ons or find other alternatives. I ask you Ryan...nay...I BEG YOU, please tell me Microsoft has a resolution to this problem. EVERYONE should be using Media Center PCs with extenders around the house.

[Sean O @ Sep 6th 2007 4:22AM]

The 360 is big, heavy, expensive, and really noisy. I can't velco it behind my wall mounted plasma. What good does an 360 extender do if it's just as big and noisy as my HTPC? With a lightweight extender, I can keep my HTPC in the closet where it belongs.

I'm really happy there are now extender alternatives. It may be time to retire Meedio.

[Martin @ Sep 6th 2007 4:36AM]

Having lots of extender options isn't gonna matter if you can't get HD television or even good quality premium channels to your TV. Without that feature, there's plenty of other alternatives that do the same thing including the Apple TV. The only thing that really stands Media Center Extenders apart is awesome TV functionality.

And for the record the 360 is cheaper than the Apple TV and only 70 bucks more than the Dlink extenders for a lot more functionality. And they're only loud when they've got games in there. PLUS with the 360 you get DVD upscaling playback and direct movie/TV show download. So as you can see, if MS markets it right and gets the right content they could really do well. But throwing more extenders out there isn't gonna help the current problem of why media center extenders have never really been that popular with the main stream. KEYWORD: MAINSTREAM

[rlh82 @ Sep 6th 2007 2:37AM]

Just a thought: maybe this means the next gen Zune will also support video codecs that we, you know, use. That'd be one way to turn a few heads.

[Panq @ Sep 6th 2007 2:43AM]

It bugs me to no end when people claim a product has some feature which it does not, and in particular which does not even exist yet (a not-yet-released IEEE 802.11 revision, for example).

[shawnmos @ Sep 6th 2007 3:46AM]

My roommate just bought a 360. Hopefully they will release an update that will play divx files.

[reticulate @ Sep 6th 2007 4:14AM]

This needs to be in the Fall Update as a matter of some importance.

That's the only thing stopping me from building a HTPC, and that's something I'd rather not have to spend the money on if I've got a 360 that can do the job just as well.

[shaun @ Sep 6th 2007 5:35AM]

To be totally honest I'm a total apple fanboy, but I think its important to give credit where its due, and that looks really great

[Skink Lizard @ Sep 6th 2007 6:01AM]

Come on Microsoft, Why can't we have a simple software based extender? I sure the majority here have enough old hardware around that will easily decode xvid/divx/mpeg2 etc.

This software extender could run on top of 2K or XP.

Didn't MS have a software extender in development? Did it get squashed? anyone?

[Erwos @ Sep 6th 2007 6:31AM]

"No x264, bah!"

What is it with you idiots? H.264 support is in there. x264 is just an encoder for H.264. It works just fine right now.

I think people are more interested in MKV support, which would allow for shoving a 5.1 audio stream on there. That's sensible, but MKV isn't a real standard, either.

[Crono @ Sep 7th 2007 4:57PM]

You can get a 5.1 audio stream through WMV-AP. I've spent the last 3 weeks ripping all my DVDs to VC-1 with 5.1 audio.

[Hex @ Sep 6th 2007 8:29AM]

Come on microsoft! Give me this ability on my 360! Then I can eliminate my dedicated media center pc. That would be fantastic.

[TShill7 @ Sep 7th 2007 2:11PM]

So simple - so brilliant! Why do we EVEN have the 360 as an extender? Turn it into the media hub with just an MCE interface and do away with our dedictaed MCE machines!! I like it - Bill Gates won't though.....

[Patrick @ Sep 6th 2007 8:52AM]

FINALLY!
This makes me happy. :)

[porfitron @ Sep 6th 2007 12:40PM]

Well, I don't think this HS solution will be for me... I'm not yet running Vista, and there seem to be more promising solutions out there. XBMC has been great, but is starting to reach it's limits due to the hardware, but a linux port is well on its way. Also, there's also been some buzz about DivX (the company) releasing the "Connected" solution through D-Link in the DSM-330, which not only brings some great codecs to an HDTV, but also web services (Stage6, RSS, games) and is open for community enhancements (plug-ins, skinning, etc.).

[Richard @ Sep 6th 2007 2:05PM]

Excuse the caps, but:

I CAN'T FIND ANY REFERENCE TO THIS ON MS's SITE!

I need a link.

I've been DYING for a Vista-compatible Media Extender so I didn't have to shell out the $$ for a 360.

FINALLY.

[Drag0nfly @ Sep 6th 2007 3:13PM]

What in the giant monkey hell is the problem. Everyone has been harping for well over a year to add QT, DivX, and Xvid for the XBox360. Is there a reason they won't do it? Please give me one reason they feel using or transcoding to WMV is better! It doesn't increase usage of that encoded format one iota... It isn't a better format for streaming... it isn't a tighter compression... and we don't pay for using it. Give us what we want!

[zsyco @ Sep 6th 2007 4:40PM]

There was an unofficial announcement that DivX will be coming to the 360. It was a while ago and I don't know where so I'm not going to try to link it.

Lets hope that means sooner than later.

[Lee @ Sep 6th 2007 3:17PM]

Oh heavens please announce this for the 360!!! PLEEEEEAAAASSSSE