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Windows 7 Feature Focus: Windows Media Center

Posted 06/22/09 at 11:00:00 AM by Mark Edward Soper

Working with RAW Image Files in Windows Media Center

In Windows Vista, you couldn't view RAW digital camera files from within Windows Media Center. Thankfully, with more and more photographers switching to digital SLR cameras and using RAW files, all you need to do to enable RAW support in Windows 7's version of WMC is to add the appropriate codec for your camera and operating system type (32-bit or 64-bit). For this article, I installed the Ardfry Imaging, LLC 64-bit codec for Canon CR2 RAW files, as Canon does not yet offer a 64-bit codec.

RAW image files display in Windows Media Center as soon as you add the appropriate codec

Creating a Slide Show You Can Edit and Reuse

In Windows Vista, the Slide Show feature in Windows Media Center was useful only for a quick review of the current folder or month's photos. In Windows 7, though, you can select the picture files and music files you want, change the order of the files, and create a show you can edit and replay again and again from RAW, JPEG or other supported file types.

The process is quite similar to creating a music playlist. WMC automatically syncs the music and photos for you, and, you can also burn your slide show to DVD.

Viewing Your Favorite Pictures

Windows 7 adds the option to play your favorite pictures. To use this feature, rate your pictures, either in Windows Media Center or other Microsoft apps, such as Windows Media Player or Windows Live Photo Gallery. To rate your photos in WMC, you can right-click the item and select the star rating from the right-click menu.

To finish the process for photos, open Tasks>Settings>Pictures>Favorite Pictures, select the criteria you want to use, and click Save.

Choosing criteria for favorite picture playback

To start playback, open Pictures + Videos>Play Favorites. The pictures you selected will be displayed in a screen saver that alternatively scrolls thumbnails of all selected photos in black and white across the screen and periodically zooms in on one photo and displays it in full color (assuming it's a color photo).

Listening to Your Favorite Music

You can also select your favorite music by star ratings or other criteria for playback with Music Favorites. To access the setup menu, open Tasks>Settings>Music>Favorite Music, select the options desired, and save changes. To start playback, open Music>Play Favorites. You can play favorite music and favorite pictures at the same time.

Customizing Sports

Windows Vista's version of WMC offered a strong Sports module, but Windows 7's version one-ups it by enabling you to select how much information you want to display for each league you follow, and now lets you keep an eye on the leading racing leagues: Busch, Truck, Nextel, and IRL.

Windows 7's Windows Media Center puts you in control of the sports you want to follow

Windows 7's version of Windows Media Center builds upon the best features of Windows Vista's version and adds plenty of refinements. It's just one more reason to take a closer look at Microsoft's newest operating system.

COMMENTS:9

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Yes, you need an ATSC tuner to get digital broadcast TV
Submitted by Marcus_Soperus on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 7:36pm

Sorry I didn't make that clear in the original article. I'm using an Hauppauge HVR 1600 PCI TV tuner, but the next one I get will probably be either USB 2.0 or PCI Express x1 interface based on an ATI chipset.

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Ouch
Submitted by alanmc76 on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:47am

Ouch, $120. That kinda negates the cost savings for a few months. I will just have to hold off till I get that new digital TV. Darn ;)

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Dumb question
Submitted by alanmc76 on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 10:36am

Here's a dumb question. Are any of you using an OTA digital antenna? If so, what tuner are you using?

I am considering canceling my cable since the broadcast channels are all digital now anyways. However, I have an older tuner card in my HTPC and I'm assuming that I will have to get a digital one to use the DVR funtionality.

Win 7 is natively digital compatible, but you also have to have a digital tuner right?

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I've been using Windows 7 on
Submitted by Caboose on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 12:45pm

I've been using Windows 7 on my HTPC since RC came out and I love it. Audio works flawlessly, picture is amazing, and the new guy is great! I've installed Sharkey's 007 Vista Codec Pack and it works well. There's the odd movie that doesn't want to play, but it's no big deal. I really like that I could add my movies and HD movies folders to the "Movies" category and they showed up! Plus any of my movie files that were encoded with a DD 5.1 audio track, actually play with the DD 5.1 audio.

I just wish I could set boxart for each of my movies, and access subtitles and audio tracks for any mkv's or AVI's that I have. That'd be nice, but no big deal. If necessairy, I'll just minimize WMC and play the track using WMP and set the audio/subtitle that way.

-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-

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I like the new WMC in 7. I
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 11:18am

I like the new WMC in 7. I use it for my Xbox 360 Extender and it responds fast. Only problem I have with that Internet TV Beta 2.0 is that it hangs horribly for 20+ seconds when trying to watch a video. Might just be a bug but it works better then the Vista version.

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Question
Submitted by Shalbatana on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 6:49am

I remember reading somewhere that either windows 7 or Vista has a "codec folder" per se, where if you put a new codec in there it would simply work with all programs.

Anyone know if this is true, or was it one of the "things we wish" articles, or someone's wishlist?

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Does it support Blu-ray?
Submitted by DravenX on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 4:06am

Does it support Blu-ray?

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Blu-Ray support is a No - and Yes - proposition
Submitted by Marcus_Soperus on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 4:43am

Windows 7 does not include Blu-Ray viewing support (see http://windows7center.com/windows-7-news/confirmed-windows-7-will-not-have-built-in-support-for-bluray-playback-only-burning/), but Windows 7 will burn Blu-Ray discs. As with Windows Vista, Windows 7 can use third-party Blu-Ray viewing programs.

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I have cable internet, but
Submitted by poipoipoi on Mon, 06/22/2009 - 3:11am

I have cable internet, but not cable, but recently discovered several channels (the broadcast ones, plus CSPAN and other stuff) come through the cable wire.... found this out AFTER buying a $40 Terk antennna.

Imagine my happiness then when I saw how compressed and blownout the cable company's picture was, compared to the PRISTINE over teh air signal my antenna was pulling in (I'm in Brooklyn, near all the broadcast towers).

It was my first time using WMC too.

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