HQ NETWORKXbox One | Xbox | C64 15,196 HQ Network UsersHQ Network: 15,196 | Members OnlineGuests: 3437 |Guests OnlineMembers: 0

Xbox 360 Forums
Get involved in our Xbox 360 forum discussions..
Get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
360-HQ.COM :: Tutorial: MCE More Programs. Adding more programs
Tutorial: MCE More Programs. Adding more programs
360-HQ.COM Forum Index -> Xbox 360 Windows MCE Discussions
Post new topic Reply to topic    
 Tutorial: MCE More Programs. Adding more programs View previous topic :: View next topic  
 
 
 
 
bazgee
360-HQ Enthusiast
360-HQ Enthusiast




Joined: Dec 09, 2006
Posts: 48
Location: Sunderland, UK
XP: 0

Post Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:18 am   
Post subject: Tutorial: MCE More Programs. Adding more programs
Reply with quote
 
If you're lucky enough to have an Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center I'm sure you've tried using your Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender. The functionality is cool but it's no replacement for XBMC (Xbox Media Center) on the original Xbox or a Good TV-OUT on your PC. The huge disappointment for me was the lack of DIVX/XVID support as most of my movies on my PC are in these formats due to the good compression.There's also no option to browse the web which seems a bit stupid as the functionality is essentially there.

The aim of this tutorial is to include any information on ways to modify Windows Media Center to expand the funcationality of your Xbox 360.

MCL Files
It is actually possible to (kind of) browse the web with your Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center. This can be achieved through the "More Programs" feature of Media Center. If you've ever taken a look at this feature you'll notice that it has a couple of programs in it that are basically windows applications e.g. Windows Messenger. It is possible to add new applications to this menu through the creation of an MCL file. An MCL file is basically an XML file that tells media center to open the chosen URL in the Media Center Browser rather than the Computers browser. By placing the MCL file in the correct directory on your Media Center PC it will show up in the "More Programs" menu on your Media Center and Media Center Extender.

Example of an MCL File
The MCL file contents below would open up the Google homepage in the Media Center Browser. The URL attribute is straight forward the bgcolor, startimage, and thumbnailImage are also self explanatory.

Code:

<application url="http://www.google.co.uk/" name="Search Google"
bgcolor="RGB(1,33,186)"
startimage=".\StartImage.png"
thumbnailImage=".\thumbnailImage.png"
sharedviewport="true">
</application>


Adding the MCL file to "More Programs
The MCL file is now ready to be run from your Media Center or Media Center Extender. To add it to the more programs menu open up windows explorer and navigate to the following path. (may need to be adjusted for your PC)

Code:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Media Center\Media Center Programs


Save your MCL file in this folder and copy any startimages into the startimages folder if you've referenced it for your startImage attribute.

Browse the Web on Your Xbox 360
Now you are ready to browse the web (in a limited kind of way), do to media center from your Xbox 360 dashboard and navigate to the "more programs" menu. The option you created with your MCL file should now be visible, selecting it should make your Xbox browse to the web page. You'll need to close any "not meant for media center" messages.

Now the downside, it's virtually impossible to click on any links etc. You can access the screen keyboard buy pressing the "Y" button and eneter text into text boxes e.g. the google search box. I think the best use for this is to access simple information pages e.g. sports scores, stock and share prices etc.

I do hope I helped out some people here! Cool . All im trying to do is find ways of making xbox 360 a more powerful machine than it already is.

_________________________________________________________


Posting and YOU! -> http://www.linuxbench.org/Posting.swf


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
 
 
 
 
forahobby
Administrator
Administrator




Joined: May 22, 2003
Posts: 23942
Location: NSW, Australia
XP: 3,060,024

Post Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:26 am   
Post subject:
Reply with quote
 
nice info.. Thanks for the quick tutorial.. Smile
Feel free to submit your info directly to our Xbox Tutorials area too..
Click on Submit New when you are browsing that area.

regards,

hobbs
http://www.360-hq.com

_________________________________________________________
HQ Network:
www.xbox-hq.com | www.xboxone-hq.com | www.360-hq.com | www.c64-hq.com


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
 
Display posts from previous:   
  Post new topic  
 
  Reply to topic  
|
 All times are GMT | Page 1 of 1
Jump to:  
 

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
 

Xbox Game Pass