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Xbox 360 takes on multimedia entertainment
Aug. 18, 2005

[Updated 8:40 AM PDT] -- Microsoft has released a beta of Windows Media Connect that enables playing media files from a PC on the new Xbox 360, scheduled to ship around Thanksgiving. "This is part of our bigger vision of how content moves around the home," Kevin Unangst, director of Microsoft's Media Device division, told PCMag.com.

"For several years, consumer electronics manufacturers have been hoping that the integrated home entertainment network would put some spark into consumer device sales," writes PCMag.com editor Bill Dyszel.

"Microsoft is jockeying to play a pivotal role in popularizing the home media center, by persuading device manufacturers to embed Media Connect technology in an array of consumer electronics devices, ranging from audio players to set-top cable boxes to HD television sets," Dyszel adds.

Microsoft has made no secret of its plans to position the Xbox 360 as a key element of digital home networking and media access.

With its custom triple-core IBM PowerPC processor, 512 MB of RAM, and custom graphics processor from ATI, the new Xbox clearly has the resources to serve as far more than just a gaming console (read more Xbox 360 specs). Built-in Media Center Extender functionality makes it a key element in a home entertainment infrastructure that centers around a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC. Microsoft earlier introduced an upgrade kit to add Media Center Extender capabilities to the older version of the Xbox.

Meanwhile, Microsoft unveiled its Xbox 360 pricing yesterday. "The most powerful and feature-packed next-generation video game and entertainment system" will initially be priced at $299.99 for the low-end "Core System," and $399.99 for a "premium edition" described as "a model with hundreds of dollars worth of accessories" including a 20GB hard drive and several other goodies, according to Microsoft. One of the extras that comes with the premium edition is a Media Remote that lets users play DVDs, movies, and music, and access their Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PC's controls with a single remote.

Read more of what PCMag.com has to say, here.



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