New Features in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Have more fun and be more productive at home or on the go with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 20051.

A host of new features offer more ways to connect to and enjoy your digital entertainment wherever you are. Some of the top new features include:

• Multi-tuner support, so you can watch one show while recording another
• Support for Digital and High Definition local TV programming and personal video recording
• Built-in CD and DVD Burning, so you can take your digital entertainment with you
• New media experiences, including a fresh, easy-to-use design, simpler setup, and revolutionary new entertainment features
• Tools and support that let you take your entertainment with you around the house and on the go

Exciting New Windows Desktop Features
Snazzy New Look
A sleek, polished new look across the desktop—on menus, taskbars, themes, screensavers, Windows Media Player 10, and other screen elements—makes all your Windows-based applications a visual treat.

Windows Movie Maker 2.1 with DVD Burning
Indulge your creativity when capturing, personalizing, and sharing home movies, with more than 100 transitions and effects and new built-in DVD burning support.2

Windows Media Player 10
Groove to music and video on your desktop computer with Smart Jukebox. Expand your music and other entertainment media collections by shopping the first Digital Media Mall. Then automatically sync it all to a wide range of devices you can take wherever you go.

Built-in DVD and CD Burning
Enjoy your entertainment in new ways by sharing pictures and home movies, burning CD mixes, and backing up Recorded TV and more on DVD easily with built-in DVD burning.2

All the Benefits and Familiarity of Windows
Choose from the widest range of available software, hardware, and services, which now work together more safely and securely.

Enhanced Windows Digital Media Tools and Utilities

Do more with digital media with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. Now you can create, edit, and share your digital media—including digital photos, music, and home movies—in exciting new ways.
Take advantage of new digital media tools and utilities that let you create CD and DVD labels, compress and convert audio files, and wow your eyes with colorful music visualizations.
Check out the following new features:

Screensavers
Get an ultrarealistic fish aquarium, space scenes, nature, and classic Da Vinci screensavers, or display your own photos in amazing new ways.

Themes
Choose from a variety of dynamic, enhanced, themes—such as Space, Nature, Da Vinci, and Aquarium—with matching icons, sound effects, wallpaper, and more.

Windows Audio Converter
Click a button to automatically convert your entire digital music collection to Windows Media Audio (WMA) or MP3 format, saving valuable space on your computer or portable music player.

Windows Dancer
Lifelike characters dance to your favorite music on your desktop or within Media Center. Select from such dance styles as hip-hop, disco, salsa, and many more.

Windows Party Mode
Turn your computer into a party jukebox, complete with a song request list, visual song title announcements, an interactive guest book, and new effects and features. Party Mode lets your guests act as DJ while restricting access to files and personal information on your computer. You can even run Party Mode by using the remote control.

CD Label Maker
Easily create and print customized CD labels, inserts, and booklets. Windows CD Label Maker automatically adds artist, track, and album information for you.

Fabulous New Media Center Experiences

Faster and Easier Access
Media Center features a fresh design scheme that makes it easier for you to access your digital media. Menu selections are easier to read, and backgrounds are animated. The upgrade includes:

• A new font: Text is brighter and easier to read from across the room.
• New menu selections: Recently used and favorite tasks are but a click away. Submenu selections on the Start menu let you quickly access your favorite digital entertainment. For example, clicking My Music displays your most-recently accessed albums.

Easier Shutdown
Simply click Power on the remote control, and you can shut down your computer or have it stand by.

Enhanced Setup

• Easier setup: The first time you run Media Center, an enhanced setup wizard helps you configure more options. For instance, you can optimize Media Center for your connected display, picture quality, and Internet connection.
• Audio setup: A new feature helps you set up your audio output for 2 speakers, 5.1 speakers, or 7.1 speakers.

My TV

• Watch, pause, and record more live TV shows, including HDTV: Optionally record up to three3 live TV shows at a time, and play them whenever you want. This feature works with any setup, from a basic antenna to cable, digital cable, or satellite.
• Improved recording conflict resolution: You now have more ways to resolve recording conflicts on Media Center computers with dual tuners.
• Start screen: The My TV main screen now displays recent and upcoming recordings.
• More information: View information about the program you are watching, record the show or the series, launch Messenger for Media Center, or get help simply by pressing the More Info button, on the remote control.
• Movie Finder4: My TV now offers powerful new ways to find movies. Browse top-rated movies, new releases, and movies playing now or in the next hour. Search by genre, cast, director, or other criterion. You can even get recommendations for movies you might enjoy.

My Music

• Editing album information: Media Center now makes it easy to edit album details using the remote control. Add or change the album title, artist name, or genre.
• Music queuing: While browsing your music collection, queue up songs or albums to play back or to save as playlists.
• Burn a music CD: Easily burn the current playlist to CD.

My Pictures

• More editing features: Crop photos to best position the subject matter within your pictures.
• Easily import photos: Copy photos to your hard drive directly from an external media source, such as a digital camera or a USB flash drive.
• Burn a photo album: From within My Pictures, build a list of photos and then burn them to CD simply by pressing a button.

Internet Radio
Tune into radio stations around the world. Listen to talk shows, comedy, rock, classical, alternative, jazz, and many more.

Tasks

• Quickly perform favorite tasks: With your media files all centrally stored in Media Center, you can easily burn a CD or DVD, launch Messenger for Media Center, transfer media to a portable device or to removable media, and more.
• Stay in touch with Messenger and Caller ID: Use a wireless keyboard or a remote control to chat with friends and family, even while you use your computer for play or work.
• Compile your favorite media: Assemble your photos, music, videos, and other media files on CD or DVD, or archive recorded TV shows on DVD.

Entertainment Around the Home and On the Go

Guide to Movies, Music, and Information Services
Use the remote control to browse Online Spotlight, an online guide to entertainment and informative digital media content. Online Spotlight now offers an enhanced selection of music, movies, news updates, digital media tools, and more.

Media Center Experience in Any Room in Your House
You can enjoy your entertainment media in any room in the house with Windows Media Center Extender devices that connect your Media Center PC with TVs and monitors. Using the included remote control, listen to songs and albums in your digital music collection, watch live and recorded TV, and view family photos and home movies—all from within the familiar Media Center setting.

Support for the Widest Range of Portable Players
Automatically sync, stream, and transfer music and more to a large array of portable players and digital media receivers, all from Windows Media Player 10 or Media Center Edition.

Portable Media Center Devices
Take all your digital entertainment with you wherever you go. A Portable Media Center with Windows Mobile software lets you easily enjoy high quality digital video, recorded TV, movies, music and photos anywhere, anytime.

System Requirements (Microsoft Windows-based computers)

• Processor PC with 300-MHz or faster processor; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system); Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
• Memory 128 MB of RAM or greater recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
• Hard Disk 1.5 GB of available hard-disk space (actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install; additional available hard-disk space may be required if you are installing over a network)
• Drive CD-ROM or DVD drive
• Display Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
• Operating System Windows XP
• Peripheral Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.