Xbox Media Center - Articles - Zimbio

Turn Your Xbox 360 into a Streaming Netflix Player [Xbox 360]

Mon, 24 Jun 2008 16:00:00 GMT

posted by thekevinpipe

Netflix subscribers, if you've got an Xbox 360 and a Windows Vista PC, you don't have to shell out $99 for Roku's Netflix Player box to get your Watch Instantly library on your TV screen—you already have everything you need. Using the free Windows Media Center plug-in, vmcNetflix, you can turn your Xbox 360 into a Netflix Watch Instantly box. Here's how.

What You Can Expect

Once you've installed and set up vmcNetflix (original post), here's a video demonstration of what you can expect.

With vmcNetflix, you can watch, browse, and queue movies to your Netflix Watch Instantly queue all from your Xbox 360 or Vista Media Center. A highlight of the list of growing features listed on the vmcNetflix site include:

Stream WatchNow movies directly to the Media Center player.
Download WatchNow movies to a "Watch Later" gallery.
Support for Vista Extenders on both x86 and x64 platforms.
Support for Netflix Instant Queue.
Support for Episode listings.
Search for movies by keyword.
Browse DVD and WatchNow movies by genres.
Sort Gallery by Title, Year, or Star Rating.
View your queue, history, and recommendations.
Add, remove, move movies in your queue.
Supports DVD/Movie Parental Controls

What You'll Need

Now that you've got an idea of the end product, let's take a look at the short list of things you'll need to turn your Xbox 360 into a Netflix player.

An Xbox 360
Windows Vista with Vista Media Center (it's included by default in Vista Home Premium and Ultimate)
A Netflix subscription
The freeware vmcNetflix plug-in

Got all that? Then let's set it up.

Step 1: Set Up Your Xbox as a Media Center Extender

If you've already set up your Xbox 360 as a Media Center extender, you can skip this step. Unless you're already using your Windows PC as a Media Center powerhouse and have a tuner card installed on your Windows machine, chances are you haven't had much reason to set up your Xbox as an extender. With vmcNetflix, you've got a great reason.

Microsoft already provides detailed instructions for setting up your 360 as a Media Center extender, so here's the nutshell version. Start up your Xbox 360, head to the Media blade, and select Media Center. Since you haven't already set up an extender, your Xbox will walk you through the setup process between your Xbox and your PC. The Xbox will generate an eight-digit code to authenticate the connection between the two. Then you need to fire up Media Center on your PC, go to Tasks -> Add Extender, and fill in the blanks in the setup wizard with your eight-digit code when prompted.

Step 2: Install the vmcNetflix Plug-in

Now that your Xbox is set up as a bona fide Vista Media Center extender, you're ready to download and install the vmcNetflix plug-in. There's nothing to it, so just download the latest plug-in from the link and go through the installer.

Step 3: Set Up Watch Instantly on Your PC

Before you can stream Watch Instantly videos to your 360 extender, you need to make sure your PC is Watch Instantly-ready first. If you've already watched videos on this computer using Netflix's Watch Instantly feature, you can skip this step. If not, forge ahead.

Your PC needs to install a plug-in or two from Netflix to help deal with the DRM and such used to stream videos. Installing them is as simple as logging into your Netflix account using Internet Explorer, clicking the Watch Instantly tab, and then playing anything. You don't have to finish it, so just click Play on the first video you stumble across.

Netflix will prompt you to install their plug-in before the video starts, so just accept their prompts and install. When you're finished with the simple installation, you should be watching the video you just chose. Once you're there, you can stop the playback. Soon you'll be watching that through your Xbox, on your TV, from the comfort of your living room.

Step 4: Set Up vmcNetflix on Your Xbox 360

Now you need to run your Xbox 360 in Media Center extender mode. To do so, turn it on, head to your Xbox dashboard, and fire up Media Center from the list where you set it up originally. Your Xbox will find your computer and start up in Media Center mode.

Once there, scroll down to the Online Media section and then move left to select the program library. You should see an entry for vncNetflix. Fire it up.

Since this is the first time you've run vmcNetflix on your extender, you'll need to set it up with your Netflix account. Doing so is as simple as providing the plug-in with your Netflix username and password. Do that, and you're ready to start watching movies.

Step 5: Enjoy!

That's all there is to it. You can now stream any Netflix Watch Instantly video directly to the TV in your living room using the Xbox 360 that's already there. No $99 out of your pocket, no extra piece of equipment to add to your entertainment center. vmcNetflix handles everything nearly perfectly, from separate episode listings for television shows to managing and accessing your Netflix Watch Instantly queue.

The vmcNetflix plug-in has been in steady development for a few months now, but as the video above points out, the vmcNetflix plug-in can be a little slow and sometimes buggy. I hardly notice the sluggishness, though thinking about it, it does feel a little slower than normal Media Center extender operation. If you run into bugs, the vmcNetflix homepage offers tips for troubleshooting. I've found that restarting my 360 and or Media Center PC remedies any problems. Be sure to check back in with the vmcNetflix homepage from time to time and keep an eye on updates, since the developer is fixing problems and adding features at an impressive pace.

Also—as the video pointed out—vmcNetflix can download Watch Instantly videos and save them on your computer. This comes in very handy because saving videos means you don't have to worry about downloads buffering, and video playback, fast-forwarding, and rewinding all work better. The downside is that saving videos is not part of the Watch Instantly terms of service.

If you've been using vmcNetflix to turn your Xbox 360, Vista Media Center, or other Windows Media Center extender into a full-fledged Netflix streaming device, let's hear about it in the comments.

Adam Pash is a senior editor for Lifehacker who needs no Roku Netflix Player (though he wouldn't mind one in the other room). His special feature Hack Attack appears every Tuesday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Hack Attack RSS feed to get new installments in your newsreader.

Are Microsoft ready to cut the price of the Xbox 360?

Thu, 27 Jun 2008 12:49:06 GMT

posted by danswayuk

There have been various rumours surfacing around, that Microsoft are considering cutting the price of the Xbox 360 leading up to E3. Sony’s Playstation 3 console has begun to outsell the Xbox 360 considerably in Europe and is also outselling it slightly in the US. It will be interesting to find out if Microsoft cut their console, if it will boost sales, and how Sony would react to this.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes that this new Revelation would make a lot of sense for Microsoft. In an interview over at gamesindustry.biz, he states, “Microsoft has historically been a price taker - meaning that they typically wait for Sony to cut first,”
“However, they haven’t been in the position of having a cost advantage before, as they do now. Putting Microsoft’s cost advantage together with Sony’s reticence to lose more money, it’s easy to conclude that you will see Microsoft reverse course and be a price leader.”

It may be time for Microsoft to re-think their strategy, as the recent release of Metal Gear Solid 4 has helped boost PS3 sales further. While Blu-Rays victory over HD has also done no favours to Microsoft, it may lead to them producing a Blu-ray add on to their 360 in the future.

If Microsoft does decide to cut the price of their console, Pachter believes the ball will then switch over to Sony’s court and it will be them to may need to respond. “Sony will have to respond if they see 360 sales increase significantly - say to over 300,000 a month in the US, I believe that every 360 sold is one less potential PS3 sold - and vice versa - and expect Sony to behave rationally.”

What do you think of this latest info; it would do no harm at all, if the console did receive a price cut. To read the full article, follow the link below.

Source: Read

Written by Alan for Product Reviews
In Sections: Gaming, Xbox 360
Related Posts

Microsoft Cut Canada’s Xbox 360 Price: should we see more cuts?

Will the Xbox 360 HD-DVD price cut make you buy one?

Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD to get price cut in Europe

Euro Xbox 360 price cuts have started

Xbox 360 Arcade GameStick Price Cut

Rumor: Xbox 360 Premium Price Cut to $299

Wanted : Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive

Tue, 15 Oct 2008 15:17:12 GMT

posted by easyd
Hi all,

I'm after an Xbox 360 HD DVD drive. Obviously as cheap as possible. :grin:

It doesn't need to be in the original box, but must be in good condition and come with the setup disc and leads. I don't need the remote that comes with it.

Can pay by bank transfer, paypal etc.

Thanks,

James

Location: Liverpool
I have read the trading rules and agree to abide by them at all times until the transaction is concluded to the satisfaction of all parties involved : Yes.
--------------------------------------------------
This message is automatically inserted in all classifieds forum threads.

By replying to this thread you agree to abide by the trading rules detailed here.

Please be advised, all buyers and sellers should satisfy themselves that the other party is genuine by providing the following via PM to each other after negotiations are complete and prior to dispatching goods and making payment:

1) Landline telephone number. Make a call to check out the area code and number are correct too!
2) Name and address including postcode
3) Valid e-mail address (no disposable addresses such as @gmail or @yahoo for example).

DO NOT proceed with a deal until you are completely satisfied with all details being correct. It's in your best interest to check out these details yourself.

Also we advise that the vendor post images of the items for sale. This helps your sale by showing the condition of the goods prior to dispatch.

Microsoft Bails on HD DVD

Sat, 24 Feb 2008 05:28:17 GMT

posted by franz

Microsoft has announced that it will no longer manufacture HD DVD players for the Xbox 360.

As more and more movie studios threw their support behind Blu-ray technology, HD DVD certainly seemed to be circling the drain. Toshiba's decision to stop manufacturing HD DVD players and recorders was yet another nail in the coffin. And now, just to completely throw our metaphors into a blender, Microsoft's fat woman has decided to sing:

As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market. As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace.

Now, armchair analysts, it's time for you to tell me what effect, if any, this news will have on PS3 and 360 sales.

For Sale : Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive + film bundle

Mon, 2 Sep 2008 09:35:29 GMT

posted by easyd
Xbox 360 drive + remote (fully boxed)

HD-DVD films:

Batman Begins
The Thing
The Sting
Transformers (the new one)
Jimi Hendrix - Monterrey
The Deer Hunter

£55 + P&P :thumbsup:

Location: Abingdon, Oxfordshire
I have read the trading rules and agree to abide by them at all times until the transaction is concluded to the satisfaction of all parties involved : Yes.
--------------------------------------------------
This message is automatically inserted in all classifieds forum threads.

By replying to this thread you agree to abide by the trading rules detailed here.

Please be advised, all buyers and sellers should satisfy themselves that the other party is genuine by providing the following via PM to each other after negotiations are complete and prior to dispatching goods and making payment:

1) Landline telephone number. Make a call to check out the area code and number are correct too!
2) Name and address including postcode
3) Valid e-mail address (no disposable addresses such as @gmail or @yahoo for example).

DO NOT proceed with a deal until you are completely satisfied with all details being correct. It's in your best interest to check out these details yourself.

Also we advise that the vendor post images of the items for sale. This helps your sale by showing the condition of the goods prior to dispatch.