I’ve been doing a massive amount of testing on Windows 7 Build 7000. You can follow mine and other users findings, issues, bugs and requests etc on this thread here.
The lastest thing I’ve been testing is which file formats play in Media Center now? Both on Media Center on the PC and in Media Center on my XBOX 360 Extender.
I’ve compiled a list of my findings in a PDF table which you can view here.
If the PDF doesn’t open in your browser? You may have to right click the link above and select Save Link As (Firefox) or Save Target As (Internet Explorer) and save the PDF file to your PC and then open from that location locally.
I can say at this point, DVD VOB’s don’t play back natively on the extender, I’m not sure if Microsoft will enable this but I certainly hope so it would make my life a lot easier! Also MKV and MOV files do not play on the extender which was to be expected. MKV support is required and I really hope Microsoft can do this?
If not we need a talented developer to create a transcoder that could remux .MKV files to .M2TS ones on the fly.
M2TS files are now supported in Windows 7 but it is still unclear about native support for the playback of Blu-ray disks from optical drives? As people that have tried this are saying it doesn’t work and Media Center prompts for software? I’ve not tried this myself as I don’t have a Blu-ray drive currently.
The good news is DIVX/XVID I think both? Are now supported on the XBOX 360 Extender, after re-installing an “Optional Media Update” which appeared as a dashboard type pop-up within Media Center, I was slightly confused at first as I already had said update installed on the XBOX. However re-installing the update again then enabled the DIVX playback. Also my MP4 movie files now play natively on the XBOX 360 extender.
Head over to the thread on The Green Button and take a look at the PDF table.
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Stuart,
When you say Divx/Xvid now play on the extender, do you mean in the Media Center UI? I ask because you mention the update on the dashboard.
Thanks
Also, now we just need My Movies and myTV to build in the “resume” feature for video files that has been added. If they can do that, and MS can add MKV support, Media Center will become the perfect machine for me. End of story.
Yes Mr Thursby you are going to be a very happy man! I can play AVI’s in Media Center on the XBOX 360 Extender natively !
I have not fully tested the resume feature yet but I’m sure the Video’s resume from where ever? Video Library, Movie Library, My Movies. Will have to confirm but I think that is the case.
No MKV as yet or VOB playack support !
If MS don’t add MKV support we just need a transcoder from MKV to M2TS then it’s job done we are all playing MKV’s on the extenders! I’m sure some like Vader could do this.
I’ve re-written the last part of the post above so it makes more sense now and so it’s not quite so confusing.
I need to download an AVI I know is XVID and test again. Or use the FourCC changer?
Anyways It definately does DIVX as I downloaded some DIVX-HD samples from divx.com
Mad sweet. Can’t wait to real testing myself but I don’t have access to a true copy and therefore don’t want to put it on my main HTPC.
I know that on the Dell I’m running it on, the resume feature doesn’t work in My Movies. I’m not a programmer but something tells me this feature would have to be added at the app level. Got me though…
Awesome chart by the way. I’m going to crosspost to Entertainment 2.0.
Here’s a little jewel. TSMuxer.
http://www.edandersen.com/2009/01/05/native-hd-mkv-playback-in-windows-7/
Now if someone could build it into a transcoder or automate it using the command line version…?
How do you down load the update for the xbox – do you need to be logged in to xbox live? I’ve never joined xbox live, and all previous dashboard updates, such as NXE have worked without being an account holder.