| Windows Media Center is a powerful program that produces a user-friendly environment so that you can watch TV and movies, show off your pictures, listen to your music, and much, much more. What you can do with Windows Media Center depends very much on the equipment that you have, such as a TV tuner or a cable card and lots of disk space, and whether you have access to high-definition video. You can even link up an Xbox 360 or other type of extender accessory over your network to extend Media Center away from your main computer and throughout your house. Media Center, however, is available only in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate versions. The following tables show you what you can do and how you can access the features. These are the items you'll see on the main menu screen. After you've selected a feature, you'll often find many more options. Most of these options are self-explanatory, but if you need help figuring out how to do something, just search Windows Help for Media Center. Also remember that some of these features won't be available if you don't have the equipment installed. For example, you need a card that supports radio reception if you want to listen to over-the-air radio. If you want to view one show while simultaneously recording a second one, you'll need to have two TV-tuner or cable cards installed on your computer. Category: TV + Movies Option | Function |
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Recorded TV | Plays previously recorded TV programs. | Live TV | Lets you watch TV programs. | Guide | Displays listings of TV programs. | Movies Guide | Lists movies available on TV. | Play DVD | Plays a DVD in your DVD drive. | Search | Searches media guide listings. |
Online Media Option | Function |
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Program Library | Lists programs, including games. |
Tasks Option | Function |
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Settings | Changes the way Media Center works. | Shutdown | Closes Media Center; locks, shuts down, restarts, or puts Windows to sleep. | Burn CD/DVD | Creates music or data CD; or data, video, or slide-show DVD. | Sync | Synchronizes portable device contents with Media Library. | Add Extender | Sets up networked extender-enabled device. | Media Only | Allows access to Media Center only. |
Pictures + Videos Option | Function |
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Picture Library | Displays all pictures in your Media Library. | Play All | Plays slide show of all pictures and videos. | Video Library | Displays all videos in your Media Library. |
Music Option | Function |
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Music Library | Displays all music in your Media Library. | Play All Music | Plays all music in your Media Library. | Radio | Accesses on-air and Internet radio. | Search | Searches your Music Library. |
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