Configuring Windows Media Center Options

You no longer need to purchase a separate edition of the operating system to enable the powerful Windows Media Center functionality on your computer or designated media serverit is built right into Windows Vista. Although it provides capabilities for viewing and cataloging photographs that are superior to those of Windows Photo Gallery and capabilities for collecting and playing music and videos that are superior to those of Windows Media Player, the main appeal of Windows Media Center is its ability to expand your television into a total entertainment center that accesses content on or through your computer. With a built-in or external analog or digital TV tuner, you can use Windows Media Center to pause, rewind, and record television programs (more than one at a time), including high-definition television (HDTV). And you can do it all from across the room with a remote control.

As with Windows Media Player, you can choose an Express or Custom setup the first time you start Windows Media Center. The Express setup takes less than one minute, and you can immediately get started. For example, you can display a dramatic slide show of photos, with Media Center automatically panning, zooming, and transitioning in a highly professional fashion. By default, Windows Media Center scans your Music, Pictures, and Videos folders for media files. You add or remove any folders you like.

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At any time after you complete the initial setup process, you can change settings for all of your media-related tasks through the Windows Media Center. To configure the options, open Windows Media Center from the Start menu, go to Tasks, and then click Settings.

General settings include:

Startup and Window Behavior. Automatically start Media Center when you log on and control window and taskbar interactions.
Visual and Sound Effects. Control transitions between screens and images, sounds, color scheme, and the background color displayed behind images or videos.
Program Library Options. Control which of the programs installed on your computer are available from within Media Center and whether those programs can control content and access media information through Media Center.
Windows Media Center Setup. Manually set up the Internet connection, TV signal, speakers, and display used by Media Center.
Parental Controls. Block the display of content you deem inappropriate for your children. You can temporarily unblock content by entering a four-digit access code of your choosing.
Automatic Download Options. Retrieve media display information from the Internet manually or automatically.
Optimization. Schedule regular maintenance of Windows Media Center at a time that is convenient to you.
Privacy. Control the sending of anonymous usage and reliability information from your computer system to Microsoft, and prevent Media Center from keeping track of the shows you view the most.

If your computer system has a built-in or external TV tuner, you can watch and record television programs on your computer. Windows Media Center downloads television program listings from the Internet. TV settings include:

Set Up TV Signal. Configure Media Center as a television receiver.
Configure Your TV or Monitor. Control the way Media Center displays content on your monitor or another display you connect to the computer.
TV Audio. Choose the audio output you want; available options depend on your system.
TV Closed Captioning. When watching television programs through Media Center, you control the display of closed captioning (when available).

When displaying a slide show of images from your Pictures folder or another folder you select, you can control the following settings:

Show pictures in random order. Display a slide show of pictures in the order they appear in the folder or in random order.
Show pictures in subfolders. Include or exclude images stored in subfolders of your Pictures or other selected folder.
Show caption. If caption information is saved with an image, you can display it as part of a slide show.
Show song information during slide show. If a slide show is accompanied by music, you can display the song title and artist during each song or only at the beginning and end.

When playing music through Windows Media Center, you can display graphic visualizations of the melody, and show the song title, artist, and other available information during the song or at its beginning and end.

DVD settings include:

DVD Language. You can select language preferences for subtitles, audio tracks, and menus. Your preferences will be automatically selected when viewing a DVD with alternative language selections.
Closed Captioning. Control the display of closed captioning when available on a DVD.
Remote Control Options. Program the actions of remote control buttons.

If you are a serious collector of digital photos, music, and movies, or a television aficionado, you will likely find the Windows Media Center experience a delight.