Xbox 360 and Media Center

[moycon]

I've had my 360 connected to my PC running MEdia Center for some time. I never really messed with it too much in the past, but since I started playing around with the Live content you can download (HD Classic Star Trek!!) I started experimenting with other movies. There are sites the offer public domain flicks for free,

 

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=retrovision+&hl=en

 

Unfortunately the ones I've tried out so far are very poor quality when played through the 360.

Still trying to find some that look decent and dont cost a bunch.

I'd love some decent looking copies of classics flicks like The Terror or Night of the Living Dead....ect...ect..

I found also stumbled onto sites like MovieLink

 

http://bellsouth.movielink.com/store/web/h...?modelID=model1

 

These movies look pretty good on the 360, have free content and have weekly specials and 99 cent movies .

This week it is Casino Royal, last week it was Happy Feet.

 

The cool thing is you store the files on you PC so even if you just have the standard 360 harddrive (20 Gig) its all good.

 

I've snagged free copies of Gumby and the classic TV show My Favorite Martian, and while they are not in HD or anything, the picture is decent, you can keep and watch them for as long as you want and they are free!

 

You must play them through the Media Center tho. I tried just picking "Videos" and playing the files and Gumby was all pixelated and MFM wouldn't play.

[moycon]

Another benefit to linking your 360 to your PC is custom soundtracks.

I have many many MP3s stored on my PC in a variety of genres.

For games like Solitaire that have monotonus ambient background music this set up is perfect.

I simply connect to the PC, pick my favorite music and start it going in the music player, back out and launch Solitaire and it automatically mutes the background music in the game and inserts my playlist. The actual game sound effects are still present.

Where as before the background music would get on my nerves after 5 minutes I can (and do) play while listening to 80's punk for hours (That normally seem like minutes)

 

Does no one else use these features?

And if so can anyone suggest a site that has good downloadable HD movies or shorts?

I found out the HD Trailers on Gametrailers.com look awesome, but would like more shows or movies.

[rxd]

My brand new HP computer for some reason came with Media Center 2002 not 2005. Even though MS supposedly came up with a patch to allow 2002 to work with the 360 I've not had any real success doing this at all. My toys don't seem to play well with each other...

Edited June 8, 2007 by rxd

[Lord Helmet]

My brand new HP computer for some reason came with Media Center 2002 not 2005. Even though MS supposedly came up with a patch to allow 2002 to work with the 360 I've not had any real success doing this at all. My toys don't seem to play well with each other...

 

Mine is the same way. It works fine for music and pictures, but you can't stream video.

 

Try this:

 

http://www.tversity.com/home

 

From what I have read, it works with the 360. I'm going to try and set it up this weekend.

[Atari5200]

yes it's great, i can watch porn on my tv now instead of small computer screen.

[Hyper_Eye]

If you have never checked out Elephants Dream grab the high-def version (1080p) and prepare to be stunned:

 

http://www.elephantsdream.org/

 

As an avid Linux user (as my main desktop and for making a living) for the last seven years I am familiar with the software used to make this short film and it is really incredible what they were able to do with it.