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Microsoft Media Center Remotes

Media Center PCs and the versatility they offer

The computer at home has 2 main functions: the first is computing i.e. typing assignments, browsing the internet, downloading music and movies, editing videos and pictures or even writing CDs. The other function is entertainment where we watch internet TV or movies, listen to music, play games, and check out photos. Over the years deliberate attempts have been made to integrate these two functions through inventions such as Sony Vaio and environments such as WebTV and AccessDTV.

The latest trend is bent on creating Media Center PCs for use in homes to provide both audio and video capabilities while maintaining all the traditional functions of the computer. With respect to the Microsoft Windows environment, Media Center PCs are regarded as any computers that are running either Windows Vista Ultimate or Premium or the Media Center version of Windows XP build 2005, as well as the latest Windows 7 (Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate). A PC running media center software such as Beyond TV and Sage TV also falls in this category.

The Media Center PCs enable their owners to get the best of digital entertainment straight from their PCs or by hooking them up to televisions through the HDMI ports. In the latter system, the PC is used as an A/V receiver. For MAC X Leopard Operating system users, the media center software comes through Apple's Front Row. The Linux users have either Freevo or LinuxMCE. A media center program has a graphical user interface (GUI) which may be enabled for use with a remote control. Another name for the remote control is "10-feet user interface". This software may be obtained from the internet or through the satellites of cable broadcasting companies.

A typical desktop media center PC should have large capacity hard drives since recorded television and downloaded television programs take up several hundred or thousands of mega bytes. Also needed in a desktop media center PC is the optimal storage of photos, songs and videos. A decent video card is necessary to view and edit pictures and videos, but even more power is needed if the users wish to also play games. For streaming television programs and movies from the internet, a desktop media center PC requires a high speed fast Ethernet card which will help reduce internet connection and download costs.

A good DVD or Bluray Drive is essential for reading and writing DVDs and Bluray Discs. The Media Center software enables you to use your computer's hard disk to store downloaded television programs and watch them later as in digital video recorders (DVR), listen to internet radio, edit digital personal movies and so forth. Another concern for top end Media Center PCs is safeguarding data so a hard drive failure does not result in the loss of large amounts of media. For these concerns, it is best to combine a Media Center PC with an internal or external RAID Storage configuration, which will maintain data even if a hard drive were to fail.

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For more information about Media Center PCs Please move on http://www.clunkycomputers.com/

Is there a reasonable priced remote that can "really" control all my home theater components?

I have a Yamaha amplifier/tuner, a pioneer 300 disc CD player, a Tivo (first generation) DVR, 47" Samsung HDTV, Sansui DVD/VCR Player, Comcast digital Cable Box (Motorola?) and a Microsoft Media Center Receiver. I've tried several "do all" remotes but there is always something that it won't control. I know there are real expensive (Sony? at $300 to $500) remotes but I think that just too much for a "do all" remote.

If you're looking to spend up to $400 then you've got quite a few options, but as I'm sure you've heard in your research the Harmony remote is the way to go. As far as what you've got I have similar products, and own three Harmony Remotes, each in a different room of my house. I also do training for them Nationally, so I know the products very well.

The coolest thing about a Harmony remote is that it truly will replace all of your remotes. Here's a breakdown of how you program it and how it operates. You make a list of the products that you own (Brands and Models), then list how each device is connected to the other (inputs). Log into the programming site (included software). It will ask you're knowledge level and walk you through the programming. Basically you tell it your model numbers for your products, and what inputs they are on for your receiver and TV. You tell it whether you want to control the volume through the stereo or your TV, then once you've done all that you download that information to your remote. If you want to watch a DVD, you hit Watch DVD on the remote, it will turn on your DVD, Receiver, and TV all to the correct inputs, all you do is hit play. If you want to watch TV, hit watch TV and your cable box will come on, DVD player will go off, and the receiver and TV will switch to the correct settings as well. One button for Off. And if something doesn't operate properly when you turn it on, there is a help button that goes through a series of yes or no questions to fix the problem.

Here's the remotes:
Harmony 670 - $150. This is their newest remote. It will control up to 15 devices. Full universal control of Tivo, Cable, etc. Runs on 2 AA batteries.

Harmony 880 - $250. This is the most popular universal remote on the market today. Does everything mentioned above, plus has a color screen which you can customize to fit your needs (for instance I made the icons bigger for my father because he had trouble seeing them, for my son, I put in his favorite channel icons, so all he has to do is hit the Nick button to watch Nickelodeon), also has a rechargeable battery, and it glows when you pick it up.

Harmony 890 - $400. Has everything mentioned above, but also has RF capabilities, meaning that you can put all of your components in a cabinet and work it from pretty much anywhere in the house.

You may also want to try and find the 659, its last year's model of the 670, but its a great price right now at $100.

I know this was long, but I hope it helped, this is one of those products like Tivo that will change your life.

Microsoft Media Center Remotes
Free microsoft windows xp media center edition remote control

Windows 7:Internet access to home Media

Windows 7 has made the Internet access to Home Media easier. The network policies of some corporate networks block the Internet access to Home Media. But, you can manually configure your home router to increase the possibility of unblocking Internet access to Home Media. Some of the routers do not support the capability of automatically enabling the settings on your home router. So, you must use a Windows certified home router. Try the following steps on how to get Windows 7 settings of your home router:

STEP 1. From a Internet browser, go to the configuration Web page of your home router

STEP 2. Find out the UpnP feature, enable it and save your settings.

STEP 3. Open Windows Media Player on your Windows 7 computer.

STEP 4. Now select ‘Allow Internet access to Home Media’ on the ‘Stream’ menu. You can manually configure the router settings of your home router does not supports UpnP. Follow these steps to determine the TCP port forwarded by home router to your home computer:

STEP 1. On the Stream menu in Windows Media Player, select ‘Allow Internet access to Home Media’. STEP 2. Now select ‘Diagnose Connections’ which is on the ‘Internet Home Media Access’ dialog box. STEP 3. At the bottom of the window, click the Port forwarding information link to identify the TCP ports.

STEP 4. From a Internet browser, go to the configuration Web page of your home router

STEP 5. Now after Locating the ‘Port Forwarding’ feature enter all the TCP ports that you identified in step 3 and save your settings.

Hardware Support If you are installing a Bluetooth audio device on Windows 7 then you might need to install a non-Microsoft driver because Microsoft has removed the Bluetooth audio device drivers from Windows 7. If you don’t have a non-Microsoft driver installed on Windows 7 then you can download it from Microsoft’s website or from Windows 7 Update. Microsoft has made it easier to enjoy your favorite music, videos and pictures even if you are not at home.

The software giant’s latest operating system, Windows 7, includes a new and enhanced Remote Media Streaming feature that allows you to access your Windows Media Player Library over the Internet provided both the computers have the new Windows 7. You simply have to go to the Stream menu in Windows Media Player with the online ID and both the computers can be easily connected. If you want to stream to your TV, you just require additional hardware, and by selecting Play To option you can simply stream it. With HomeGroup option it is also possible to stream between your home PCs. Configuring Remote Media Streaming is same for both remote and Local computers. For consumers and small businesses this feature is of great use as Remote Media streaming in Windows 7 has extended the abilities of media sharing. Microsoft has created a user friendly feature where the user need not worry about the media formats or protocols.

To enhance the set up experience media streaming has been merged with HomeGroup feature, where media streaming is enabled and works by default. Stream menu option also displays configuration options: * If you want to access the media libraries when you are away, you are required to set the PC. * Windows 7 PCs are allowed to push media to your player. * Demands authorization for all home PCs to access your media collection. The shared libraries will be automatically discovered by Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center from Windows Media Player 11 and 12, Windows Home Server and all DLNA compliant media servers.

About the Author

Aantwan Jhon is a technical and security specialist, associated with numerous tech firms including iYogi. iYogi is synergistic ally aligned to offer help for windows 7 Microsoft support, windows 7 installation, Windows 7 release, computer support, windows 7 help services to its clients in US by Microsoft certified technician.

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Microsoft Media Center Remotes