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Run Windows MCE Applications on Xbox 360

Posted by Hemos on from the embrace-and-extend dept.

BlueMoon writes "A user of the GA-forum found out the Media Extender on the Xbox 360 allows to stream Windows MediaCenter applications over network on your Xbox 360 console. While the applications themselves will run on the MCE PC, it'll stream the interface/input to the Xbox360/PC. Simple MCE apps like those modified browsers to pull down news stories, stock quotes, sports scores etc., as well as several internet radio clients worked fine. Mini-games like a Tetris clone and some card game crashed, but then again ... that seems to be a normal behaviour for the 360."

11 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. that seems to be a normal behaviour for the 360 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sigh....I have a 360 and nope no crashes, no problems, no inner need-to-bash-microsoft for the sake of it.

    1. Re:that seems to be a normal behaviour for the 360 by Eddy+Da+KillaBee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      While the parent was modded as funny, in all seriousness I'm getting sick and tired of people bashing the 360 for "constantly crashing". You guys make it sound like ALL 360s are doing that. Look, the PS2 has had defects, the PSP had issues with dead pixels, and I'm sure other systems have had their fair share of defects. However, it does not mean that all systems are defective; so please, grow the hell up and stop making it sound like all 360s have issues!

    2. Re:that seems to be a normal behaviour for the 360 by pl1ght · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I also have NO PROBLEMS with my Xbox360. By the way. It has come to light in many forums that the issue isnt with the Xbox360 Console itself, but the powersupply having shorts and other issues. Once people have been figuring this out, they have been able to stop the problems from happening until they can acquire a replacement from MS. Which by the way, Microsoft is overnighting Boxes to people with paid overnight shipping back to send the defective PSUs back. Then they are Overnighting back a new PSU. how is that for customer service.

    3. Re:that seems to be a normal behaviour for the 360 by pnice · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I just wanted to add that my Xbox360 hasn't crashed on me yet. I feel the same way you do, no need to bash "just because". I don't doubt some people are having trouble but, as always, the people will trouble will speak out much more than the people with no trouble at all.

      --
      My Xbox Live Gamer Card
  2. Re:HDTV, and how I helped MS lose money by onion2k · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I will be buying an X360 to replace my Xboxes which currently run as extenders. I have less than 10 games (most bought used). If MS is losing money on every X360, then they'll lose 3x that with my units.

    I imagine Microsoft can afford the loss. What they gain from your purchase is perceived market share. Of all the consoles sold there'll be 3 360s and no PS3s as a result of your purchase. As Microsoft are desperate to show their stockholders that the cash they're burning through to grab as large a chunk of the games industry as they can they won't be too bothered that they've lost a bit of money. Money is easy to get. World domination is all in the statistics.

    --
    http://twitter.com/onion2k
  3. Re:HDTV, and how I helped MS lose money by dada21 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    True. I'm no Microsoft basher (I see more wealthy people in my age group because of Microsoft than any other company).

    World domination of one person or cabal is scary, but world domination from a corporation owned by millions (billions?) of people isn't something I think we need to fear, especially if that domination is likely to be ended by some other company (Google, etc).

    I know MS doesn't care if I lose money -- I just wanted to make note to the geeks who care that there is a use for the X360 other than gaming!

  4. Re:HDTV, and how I helped MS lose money by dada21 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Xbox360 can't have market domination if Microsoft continues to not break a profit. Simple free market economics (Austrian School) show that the supply will eventually be more than demand, causing the prices to drop. Once a competitive product is released, this will cause demand to go down even further.

    If Microsoft had a monopoly on video game systems, I believe it would be cause to worry. They don't, and they will never have a monopoly granted by the one group that can create a monopoly: government.

    From what I can see, Microsoft's loss-leader on the Xbox360 IS a smart move to getting in the living room, yet there is much more to controlling the living room than the Xbox360 can handle. My MCE PC (>$2000) still won't do everything I want to see in a single-console computer.

  5. Why not make a MCE Xbox360? by griffindj · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why do these machines have to be two different products? Most people buying MCE PCs are hooking them directly to their primary tv set and if not use an xbox as an extender to the primary tv. I understand that MCE PCs can do a lot more than just MCE applications (word processing, internet, chat) but how hard would it be to put a tv tuner card IN the xbox and have the same functionality?

    I mean if they really want to get into peoples living rooms, an all in one solution is where they should start. Buying two seperate products and then buying an additional extender to me looks like they're trying to squeeze every last penny out of the consumer.

  6. It's not a loss for MS by Kirby-meister · · Score: 4, Insightful
    When you buy a console from MS, think of it from this perspective - they don't lose $126, but rather recoup $400 towards a $526 loss.

    Although in the end they've already made their money from the retailers who stock up. But if nobody bought them off the retailers, the retailers wouldn't order more for their shelves.

  7. Re:Exploits lurking to execute unsigned code? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The 'Problem' with extending functionality of a system (like the XBox 360/PS3) to interface with other systems is that (eventually) exploits will be found to get around your copy protection schemes; think of the PSP interfacing with the memory stick, hackers got homebrew running on it in record time. I suspect that by the time the PS3 is released there will be readily available mod-chips (or possibly other methods) to get games running on the XBox 360 with how much 'functionality' microsoft has added.

  8. Re:so let me get this straight by ImaLamer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why put the MCE in the same room or TV? Most MCE PC's sold today actually don't have TV-OUT hookups (try your local big chain store).

    Put the PC in the closet.

    --
    Get your Unix fortune now!