Access More Media with Spotlight
Almost all versions of Windows Vista come with enhanced Windows Media Center functionality, which allows you to create, store, organize, edit, and view personal and public media. The Start menu choices in Windows Media Center in Windows Vista are Pictures + Video, Movies, TV, Music, Spotlight, Tools, and Tasks. If your computer is outfitted with the proper hardware, you can turn your PC into a complete home theater system, including a DVD player and recorder, a movie theater, a movie studio, a television, a personal video recorder, a jukebox, a music server, and a photo library.
One feature of Windows Media Center really stands out for me though: the Spotlight. As you can see below, there are currently two choices under Spotlight, More Programs and Online Spotlight.
From More Programs, you can play games such as Chess Titans, Spider Solitaire, and FreeCell, or select Online Spotlight to gain access to online media. You can also add applications or services to your More Programs area for easy discoverability.
In the following image, you can see Online Spotlight in Windows Media Center. As you move the mouse—or click with your remote control—over each choice, the icon comes to the forefront and an explanation is offered regarding what the service or choice actually does. In this example, you can use MSN Remote Record Service to schedule your TV recordings from anywhere in the world, as long as you have access to the Internet! This particular group of icons is available from Showcase
Here are a few more things you can do with Online Spotlight, including but not limited to:
• Access free television shows, Internet radio, news, movie trailers, podcasts, and videos from AOL,
• Yahoo!, Reuters, MSN TV Today, and ABC.
Download and purchase movies and TV content through subscription services such as Movielink, TVTonic, CinemaNow, and Comedy Central. The following figure shows Movielink.
Purchase, Save, and/or Play Music from Napster, Satellite Radio, and MTV Overdrive and from VH1, MusicMatch, and Live365.com.
• Share photos with Kodak Share and view image collections from Gallery Player.
• Play games alone or with others from Gaming on Demand and DISCover Games.
• Burn DVDs of your favorite TV shows from PrimeTime and ARcSoft QuickDVD.
Spotlight makes it clear though: If you’ve been putting off getting an “always on” connection to the Internet, now’s the time. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista will work to its full potential if an always-on connection is available.
Tags: dvd_player, functionality, home_theater_system, jukebox, menu_choices, movie_theater, music_server, music_spotlight, personal_video_recorder, photo_library, proper_hardware, start_menu, tv_music, two_choices, Windows, windows vista
Loading ...
