MS answer top 10 Q's about x360; Won't stream vids from XP
- Thread starter scooby_dooby
- Start date
scooby_dooby
Legend
so those 1000MB ethernet ports are for mp3's and jpgs?
mckmas8808
Legend
And that Blu-ray drive that can sell a 100 million will not play movies? Riiight. 
scooby_dooby, just to make sure.. You realize that they are talking about being able to stream video FROM a Windows Media Center PC to the xbox360 , right? I get the impression from reading your posts that you think they took video streaming out of the 360 and you're supposed to use a MCPE in its place for that feature. The two are meant to compliment each other.
The biggest pain in the butt on this is that the X360 will have less media centre functions than the current Xbox with "Xbox Media Centre". That's stupid!
I know I'm not going to upgrade unless I get "more". Otherwise I'll need to keep my Xbox in the cabinet as well, which quite frankly sucks.
I know I'm not going to upgrade unless I get "more". Otherwise I'll need to keep my Xbox in the cabinet as well, which quite frankly sucks.
scooby_dooby
Legend
SanGreal said:
No.
My point is MCPC is completely unnescessary for streaming video, and that it should be available for all x360 owners with regular old Windows XP.
In addition, I'm dissapointed by the fact that the x360 even when using MC-PC doesn't have support for even the most common codecs(divX), though this is trivial.
There was a whole lot of repeated rantings in there, so I'm going to address them as a whole.scooby_dooby said:
The biggest errant belief is that the PS3 will have every video streaming capability known to man. There's no real reason to believe this will be the case.
You also think that you should be able to install arbitrary video/audio codecs on consoles. But that flies in the face of what consoles are about. That's a PC function.
And several times you state that the 360 will not play video at all which is clearly wrong. And it's not a downgrade. The X1 has less video streaming features as far as I know. It's no more a downgrade than MS not enabling you to play pirated games on the 360.
And yes, they're using this to promote Media Center stuff. That is so obvious it doesn't need stating.
Also, you seem to be quite content with your modded Xbox which seems to do everything you want, so why are you so upset with this?
In what ways is the X1 Extender more featured than the X2 Extender? And vice versa?PARANOiA said:
scooby_dooby said:
Not as simple as you think.
1.
PC codecs won't work on the xenon's CPUs. PC codecs are x86, the xenon's processors are PPC. Someone will have to port them. Besides, there's no way MS will let you run arbitrary executables on a xenon -- that's practically begging for the system to be hacked and cracked with viruses, trojans, spyware, etc. That's goes completely against what a closed-platform like a console is supposed to be.
While the modders might eventually figure out a way to do it, it is not in Microsoft's best interest to help people run hacked software on their console.
2.
Open source codecs like xvid may be fine for the home user or pirate, but if MS tried to use codecs derived from xvid or what not, they'd have to pay for licenses from patent holders (like the MPEG4 LA) that own the algorithms implemented in xvid.
XBMC gets away with this because they fly under the patent radar, being underground/l33t/pirate, but MS is a big fat lawsuit target.
3.
That means evey codec (open source or not) that people might use, MS would have to go out and get legal permission to make an xbox 360 version, and then compile and sign it. These guys (divx, real, quicktime, etc) won't give MS their work for free, they'd probably demand millions of $ for it.
The end result is a universal media player like XBMC is not something I think would be technically or economically feasible for Microsoft to do, even if it was in their best interest to offer such a feature.
The only way I can see something like this working is if the video decoding was actually done on your PC, using whatever codecs you had installed there, and the decompressed video was streamed over the network to xbox 360 (and have huge problems over something like 802.11 wireless) or maybe recompressed on the fly to MPEG2.
A lot more work than supporting MP3s and pictures...
Sucks.
I guess in my mind I was hoping for the 360 to optionally function as a remote extension of my PC.
I wanted to hook it up to the AV center (other end of the house & upstairs) and be able to remotely take over my desktop if I wanted too.
It would be nice to be able to remotely access everything on my PC from my entertainment center (music, photos, VIDEO, or even surf the internet & check my mailbox.)
What's preventing MS from offering this anyway? I thought that was the point? They won't have to allow CODECS to be stored on the 360 if it just streams everything, nor do they need to worry about the 360 getting some kind of virus via e-mail if all it does is function as a remote gateway/viewer for your PC.
I guess the door is wide open now for Sony, or someone else to fill that void.
I guess in my mind I was hoping for the 360 to optionally function as a remote extension of my PC.
I wanted to hook it up to the AV center (other end of the house & upstairs) and be able to remotely take over my desktop if I wanted too.
It would be nice to be able to remotely access everything on my PC from my entertainment center (music, photos, VIDEO, or even surf the internet & check my mailbox.)
What's preventing MS from offering this anyway? I thought that was the point? They won't have to allow CODECS to be stored on the 360 if it just streams everything, nor do they need to worry about the 360 getting some kind of virus via e-mail if all it does is function as a remote gateway/viewer for your PC.
I guess the door is wide open now for Sony, or someone else to fill that void.
Sean*O said:
Dunno about the full desktop thing, but there's not enough bandwidth on 802.11b/g to stream uncompressed video over the network. You have to have it compressed somehow, and since it's not really feasible to have all the PC's codecs installed on the xbox, the only really choice is to decode from divx/xvid/etc using whatever codecs you have installed on the PC, then re-encode to MPEG2 to stream to the xbox.
It's kinda how the current Media Center Extender works with live TV, so it's maybe the reason why you need an Media Center PC to make the 360 video streaming work...
(Not that I know any details about how the media features on xbox 360 work.)
Double encoding doesn't sound too wonderful for IQ
scooby_dooby
Legend
AAAAAAooooooo...i didn't consider that. So there really are some valid reasons not to do something like XBMC with x360, ok I'm a little less dissapointed.
However, why not support mpeg and wmv files at the very least?
Also, if X360 can playback videos using codecs installen on the MC-PC, why can't it also use codecs installed on the XP machines??
Sure longhorn may solve this problem, and allow for streaming video, but again it's another example of trying to sell unrelated products rather than just making the 360 a standalone media centre.
Inane_Dork - I am happy with my xb1, like I said personally this doesn't bother me, I'll make due. I'm just dissapointed they aren't bringing this to the masses.
All my friends absolutely love my setup with my xbox, they just can't believe how cool it is, "You do all this off your xbox?? WOW!" I know for a fact people would love this if it were made available for Joe Public. And MS could do it, but they won't.
Like Sean-o said, the void is now open for someone else to fill.
As for my belief Sony will support video, 1st of all I only said "if", so they may or may not. but IF they do it's a major selling pont for PS3. ALso, given aaaaoooo's coments, codecs are probably out of the question, but I see no reason to believe Sony wouldn't offer basic video playback. Why wouldn't they? They have no competing product to push, so why not include this into PS3? It only makes sense.
"And yes, they're using this to promote Media Center stuff. That is so obvious it doesn't need stating. "
Do you even read my posts? Of course this is obvious, it doesn't make it COOL! Why are you defending this? You prefer less functionality? You would rather NOT play video? Where exactly are you coming from?
"In what ways is the X1 Extender more featured than the X2 Extender? And vice versa?"
- Here's what xb1 and a $50 modchip can get you: http://www.xboxmediacenter.de/info_project.htm
However, why not support mpeg and wmv files at the very least?
Also, if X360 can playback videos using codecs installen on the MC-PC, why can't it also use codecs installed on the XP machines??
Sure longhorn may solve this problem, and allow for streaming video, but again it's another example of trying to sell unrelated products rather than just making the 360 a standalone media centre.
Inane_Dork - I am happy with my xb1, like I said personally this doesn't bother me, I'll make due. I'm just dissapointed they aren't bringing this to the masses.
All my friends absolutely love my setup with my xbox, they just can't believe how cool it is, "You do all this off your xbox?? WOW!" I know for a fact people would love this if it were made available for Joe Public. And MS could do it, but they won't.
Like Sean-o said, the void is now open for someone else to fill.
As for my belief Sony will support video, 1st of all I only said "if", so they may or may not. but IF they do it's a major selling pont for PS3. ALso, given aaaaoooo's coments, codecs are probably out of the question, but I see no reason to believe Sony wouldn't offer basic video playback. Why wouldn't they? They have no competing product to push, so why not include this into PS3? It only makes sense.
"And yes, they're using this to promote Media Center stuff. That is so obvious it doesn't need stating. "
Do you even read my posts? Of course this is obvious, it doesn't make it COOL! Why are you defending this? You prefer less functionality? You would rather NOT play video? Where exactly are you coming from?
"In what ways is the X1 Extender more featured than the X2 Extender? And vice versa?"
- Here's what xb1 and a $50 modchip can get you: http://www.xboxmediacenter.de/info_project.htm
scooby_dooby said:
You seem to be forgetting that they ARE bringing it to the masses, as the masses don't have a modded xbox. Yes xbmc is great, but it is not without its own problems, hence the constant upgrades/patching, the need to know how to ftp, and then to edit the .xml file.
As an aside: Every xecuter I have ever bought has ALWAYS been more than $50 (usually $60+ w/ shipping), that also doesn't account for the tools required, I'm not sure if everyone has flux, pigtail, solder, torx drivers, and soldering iron in a drawer somewhere.
While I also think it would be great to stream from XP, I don't see this as a screwing of the customer. I can't believe I am defending MSFT, but "the masses" as you defend them are still getting more than what a "standard" xbox gives them now without out the before-mentioned problems.
scooby_dooby
Legend
Meh, I really can't accept any argument that condones holding back on video playback to sell software(MC).
It should play back video's, bottom line is you can't pitch something as teh centre of the living room then give it only 50% functionality. Even if it doesn't support codecs it should playback video.
As an aside to your aside...I use a softmod, so my mods were free. Just a few hours of my time...well and a couple torx bits
On trhe subject of configuring XBMC, you're right, out of the league of 95% of people. I had always hoped MS would bring it to the masses by developing a GUI that easily manage fileshares, and let you set-up your filesharing in a very user friendly way.
Basically my whole beef is that they have linked video streaming and media-centre PC together. I think that's a BS move, and I do view it as kinda giving the shaft to the customer
who the hell wants to buy an new PC just to stream video off another PC you already own?? All through your $300 USD console? Just make the console stream video!
Seriously...can I get an AMEN or what??
It should play back video's, bottom line is you can't pitch something as teh centre of the living room then give it only 50% functionality. Even if it doesn't support codecs it should playback video.
As an aside to your aside...I use a softmod, so my mods were free. Just a few hours of my time...well and a couple torx bits
On trhe subject of configuring XBMC, you're right, out of the league of 95% of people. I had always hoped MS would bring it to the masses by developing a GUI that easily manage fileshares, and let you set-up your filesharing in a very user friendly way.
Basically my whole beef is that they have linked video streaming and media-centre PC together. I think that's a BS move, and I do view it as kinda giving the shaft to the customer
who the hell wants to buy an new PC just to stream video off another PC you already own?? All through your $300 USD console? Just make the console stream video!
Seriously...can I get an AMEN or what??
AMEN!!! I whole-heartedly agree with you in respect to the "center of the living room"
But still, its not like people HAVE to buy another pc, they can go on newegg get a larger HDD,,(and who wouldnt want a larger hdd for all of their stuff) and buy an OEM copy of XPMC. The downside is that there is no upgrade path, its a clean install only, IIRC.
How about I propose this, if you get a gold xLive account you get the video streaming upgrade for XPSP2
That way they still make some money and maybe they convert some people who would not have bought a gold account.
But still, its not like people HAVE to buy another pc, they can go on newegg get a larger HDD,,(and who wouldnt want a larger hdd for all of their stuff) and buy an OEM copy of XPMC. The downside is that there is no upgrade path, its a clean install only, IIRC.
How about I propose this, if you get a gold xLive account you get the video streaming upgrade for XPSP2
That way they still make some money and maybe they convert some people who would not have bought a gold account.
I don't see why this is such a big deal. The people who want it will get it. It may be through hacking your Xbox 360 in order to get some type of functinality like you get from XBMC on regular Xbox. To expect Microsoft to provide this functionality from the very start is asking for a little too much. To most people the "center of the living room" is an all in one machine that will allow you to play movies, music, look at pictures, and also what the machine was designed for; playing video games. Streaming images and music over a computer probably won't be used by the majority of those who own the console. And what most people consider watching movies is through a DVD, not from a computer elsehwere in the house. MS is offering one hell of a machine for a very good price. $300 buys you a piece of hardware that will play some really great games and have graphics that are better than youu standard computer. Pluis a new version of Live that will make things even better. If you want the video playback to stream from Windows XP or where ever else then I suggest you wait for a group of people to hack the machine and have a piece of software to include that functionality. People will do it, especially if the thing comes with a harddrive. It might take some time, but it's going to happen.