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Xbox 360 as Multimedia Center

It is quite complicated to find the ideal multimedia center, who has all the features we want and, furthermore, its price is reasonable. Now that the Xbox 360 video have Bazaar, in which Microsoft recently implemented some additional functionality could make it the ideal multimedia center.

The obvious advantage of the Xbox 360 is that it combines in a single device various features. Yes, as the console is quite bulky, but if it we avoid having to install other equipment next to the TV, this size is compensated for leftovers.

Leaving aside the functions of console, the Xbox 360 will operate as a conventional media player. We can connect external disks through its USB port and play video, music and photos from them.

Video is supported, among others with DivX, XviD and WMV, which represents a number of videos you can download. Therefore, keeping the contents of the computer to the living room is as easy as using a USB drive. And if you have an iPod, it is also compatible with the format used (except if we have music with DRM).

But if the XBox 360 is connected to the network can use it to not even have to do that. The integration with Windows Media Player lets us play the streaming content directly. If you have Linux or Mac OS X there are also options for that, as Connect360 or Twonky.

Of course not everything is perfect. Some video formats increasingly used as MKV, are not compatible. Nor does it provide support for subtitles, so if you want to use these is necessary to recode the original video to add. This is one of the major hit for many users who download series and want to see them in English with subtitles.

We must not forget, either, to the physical formats, as Xbox 360 allows playback of DVDs and music CDs, in addition to digital content stored on them. We avoid, therefore, the need for an additional DVD player. Too bad that Microsoft has bet on horse loser with the HD-DVD, launching an external player for this format which he was overthrown by Blu-ray.

Despite continued rumors, Microsoft does not appear to have any intention to take no equivalent for Blu-ray nor to integrate this format in future revisions of the console. And watching the news yesterday because it means, do not want more physical formats.

One thing is missing to round out the package, the ability to record television. It does not appear that Microsoft has no intention to develop something similar to PlayTV, so if we are able to record the signal from DTT must choose another option.

Posted on November 21, 2008

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