For most Windows Vista users, Media Center is unknown territory. Unleashing Microsoft® Windows Vista® Media Center shows both newbies and experienced Media Center users how to use Media Center to experience music, photos, videos, movies, TV shows, and games in a whole new way. Windows Vista Media Center takes full advantage of the latest multimedia features: widescreen displays, HDTV, and Media Center Extenders. Mark Edward Soper shows you how to use these and other new and improved features to make the most of your Windows Vista multimedia experience. You won’t find a single book that devotes this much attention to Media Center. Unlock your PC’s hidden multimedia talents and turn your office, living room, and whole home into a multimedia paradise that will leave your friends drooling. Unleashing Microsoft® Windows Vista® Media Center is your indispensable guide to Vista Media Center! Here’s a sample of what you’ll find inside Complete coverage of every feature of Windows Vista Media Center Learn how to import video, photos, and music to enhance your entertainment experience Discover better TV viewing and recording with new support for HDTV signals Share the fun of Windows Vista Media Center with Media Center Extenders Create customized CDs and DVDs of your favorite videos, TV shows, audios, and photos Feature checklists help you design the perfect Media Center PC or upgrade your PC for Media Center Use your Media Center PC with Microsoft Windows Home Server Troubleshoot common problems with Media Center Tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Media Center Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Windows Vista Media Center Chapter 1: Introducing Windows Vista Media Center 9 Chapter 2: Equipping Your PC for Media Center 19 Chapter 3: Setting Up Windows Media Center 53 Part II: Enjoying Media with Windows Media Center Chapter 4: Viewing and Recording Live TV 85 Chapter 5: Watching and Recording Movies 137 Chapter 6: Importing and Playing Audio 165 Chapter 7: Importing and Viewing Photos 189 Part III: Beyond the Basics of Windows Media Center Chapter 8: Enjoying Sports with Windows Media Center 223 Chapter 9: Playing Games and Enjoying Online Resources 251 Chapter 10: Creating CDs and DVDs 289 Part IV: Adding Windows Vista Media Center to Your Home Network Chapter 11: Adding and Using Media Center Extenders 315 Chapter 12: Connecting with Windows Home Server and Other PCs 337 Part V: Enhancing Windows Vista Media Center Chapter 13: Using Windows Media Player with Windows Media Center 375 Chapter 14: Creating Photo and Video Content for Media Center 393 Chapter 15: Extending Media Center with Third-Party Apps 435 Chapter 16: Troubleshooting Media Center 469 Part VI: Appendices Appendix A: Using Windows Anytime Upgrade to Get WMC Features and More 499 Appendix B: Moving from Windows XP Media Center Editions to Windows Vista Media Center 503 Index 509

Journeys inside Windows Vista to explain how to get the most out of the operating system, discussing its key components and features and discusses installation, multimedia applications, networking, Web integration, Internet Explorer 7, and other essential topics.

This is the most comprehensive, practical, and useful guide to Windows Home Server, including Microsoft’s major updates in PowerPacks 1, 2, and 3. Top Windows expert Paul McFedries brings together tips, techniques, and shortcuts available nowhere else and presents them all in plain English for every Windows Home Server user. McFedries covers all facets of running Windows Home Server: configuration, file/folder sharing, networking, media streaming and sharing, backup/restore, monitoring, Web and SharePoint site deployment, performance optimization, maintenance, and customization. He thoroughly addresses Windows Home Server’s new Windows 7 support, as well as major improvements in areas ranging from remote access to storing TV recordings. This edition presents comprehensive, up-to-the-minute guidance on Windows Home Server security, plus a full section of advanced solutions utilizing Microsoft’s power tools, the command line, and automated scripting. Throughout, McFedries demonstrates key techniques through real-world examples and presents practical configurations you can easily use in your own home. Detailed information on how to… Set up Windows Home Server networks, user accounts, devices, and storage Integrate with Windows 7’s new file libraries, backup/recovery tools, and Windows Search 4.0 Efficiently share folders, files, and digital media Ensure security for both local and remote users Automatically back up and restore all the computers on your home network Quickly set up web and SharePoint sites Tune, maintain, and troubleshoot Windows Home Server Use the new Remote Access Configuration and Repair Wizards

See it done. do it yourself. It’s that Easy! Easy Windows 8.1 teaches you the fundamentals to help you get the most from Windows 8.1. Fully illustrated steps with simple instructions guide you through each task, building the skills you need to perform the most common tasks with Windows. No need to feel intimidated; we’ll hold your hand every step of the way. Learn how to • Use the Windows Start screen, tiles, and touch interface • Connect with everyone you care about through Windows 8.1’s included apps (Skype, Mail, and SkyDrive) • Speed web browsing with new Internet Explorer 11 tools and tips • Enjoy your favorite music and media • Edit and protect your favorite photos and videos • Get free apps and games at the Windows Store • Share what you want to share--and nothing else--on your home network • Plan your trips, dining, and travel with great new and improved apps • Fix problems and keep your computer running fast

Using XNA Game Studio 3.0, any programmer can master the art of game development and begin selling games to millions of Xbox 360 users worldwide. Now, there’s a practical, comprehensive guide to game development with Microsoft’s powerful new XNA Game Studio 3.0 and the entire XNA Framework. In Microsoft® XNA® Game Studio 3.0 Unleashed, XNA expert Chad Carter covers the entire XNA platform, presents extensive sample code, and explains that code line by line. Carter walks you through the entire process of game development, including installing XNA, creating objects, handling input, managing and extending the content pipeline, optimizing game performance, and creating both 3D and 2D games. Carter presents sophisticated coverage of using XNA’s high level shader language; creating physical effects; and endowing characters with realistic artificial intelligence. A case study section walks through the entire process of planning and coding a game, improving it, and putting on the finishing touches that make it marketable. This edition contains nine new chapters, including all-new sections on creating networked games, programming games for the Zune handheld, and preparing and submitting games to Xbox LIVE, where accepted titles will reach gamers worldwide. Plan your games to deliver solid performance on the platforms you’ve targeted Understand essential XNA Framework concepts, including object creation, cameras, input handling, libraries, game services, and managing and extending the content pipeline Create a 2D game that will run across 3 platforms (Windows, Xbox 360, and Zune) with a single code base Create a Visualizer media player for the Microsoft Zune Use the High Level Shader Language (HLSL) to communicate directly with graphics hardware Bring realistic physics to your game action and realistic artificial intelligence to your characters Create sophisticated 3D effects that use advanced texturing and a particle system Build networked games, including multiplayer demos, turn-based games, and real-time network games Create 4 full games–2D parallax side scroller, 3D shooter, multiplayer turn-based 2D card game, and a multiplayer real-time 3D game Discover best practices for creating Xbox LIVE Community Games Sell your finished game on Xbox LIVE Marketplace CD-ROM includes: All C# examples and source code presented in this book.

Visual, step-by-step hands-on tutorials for the most common tasks a user needs to perform. Updated for the 2017 Spring and Fall Creator releases of Windows 10. See it done. Do it yourself. It’s that Easy! Easy Windows 10 teaches you the fundamentals to help you get the most from Windows 10. Fully illustrated steps with simple instructions guide you through each task, building the skills you need to perform the most common tasks with Windows. No need to feel intimidated; we’ll hold your hand every step of the way. Learn how to... • Use the improved Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Start menu in Desktop and Tablet mode versions • Discover exciting new 3D and mixed reality apps • Share your wireless Internet connection with smartphones, tablets, and PCs • Use Cortana with more apps and new Cortana-enabled speakers • Use the new OneDrive Files on Demand feature for easy access to files stored in the cloud • Use Windows Ink to enhance your photos and make map directions more powerful • Touchscreen, keyboard, or mouse—use Windows 10 your way!

See it done. do it yourself. It’s that Easy! Easy Windows 8 teaches you the fundamentals to help you get the most from Windows 8. Fully illustrated steps with simple instructions guide you through each task, building the skills you need to perform the most common tasks with Windows. No need to feel intimidated; we’ll hold your hand every step of the way. In Full Color Learn how to... • Use the new Windows Start screen, tiles, and touch interface • Connect with everyone you care about, through Windows 8’s free apps • Speed web browsing with new Internet Explorer 10 tools and tips • Enjoy and organize all your music, videos, and photos • Get free apps at the new Windows Store • Share what you want to share—and nothing else • Network your home safely, reliably, and painlessly • Play free Windows 8 games and connect to your Xbox 360 • Fix problems and keep your computer running fast Category: Windows Operating System Covers: Windows 8 User Level: Beginner The Least You Need to Know Windows 8’s new tile-based interface and improved desktop provide a great balance of easy access to media and news and robust system management. To discover some of the most useful features included in Windows 8, see the suggestions below. Start Screen with Live Tiles Windows 8’s new Start screen puts you just a click away from your favorite media, web browsing, games, messaging, and more. Live tiles display current weather, top news headlines, your favorite photos, and more. Whether you use a mouse, touchpad, or touch screen, Start screen makes work and play easier. Instant, Intelligent Search Want to find an app, setting, or file? Just start typing. Windows 8 instantly displays the results. Click Apps, Settings, or Files to filter the results. The Windows Store Is Open for Business Get free and paid apps made especially for Windows 8 from the Windows Store online. Easy updates and reinstallation as needed. Supercharged File Management The new File Explorer makes file management easier than ever before. It runs from the Windows desktop and includes enhanced file copy/move and new pinned location features. Easy File Protection with File History The new File History feature makes it easy to back up your files and restore a file if it’s lost, damaged, or replaced by a different version.