Windows 7 Media Center opens Internet video

The day before yesterday, Microsoft released the "Internet TV" service already available to foreign users to the Windows 7 system in China, so that users can finally watch the video from the content provider network directly in Windows Media Center. In order to let you know the new features of this Chinese user as soon as possible, firstly introduce the interface and installation method. The next part will introduce the story behind this function in detail. Similar to the "Online Store" feature in Windows Media Player, the "Internet TV" service in the Media Center is available through the network for media center update software, updated according to Microsoft updates, and not built into Windows. Also, this feature is only available for Windows 7, which is not supported on Vista.

If we have already run Windows Media Center before (Windows 7 "Simple" and "Home Basic" do not include this feature), then the software will periodically check for updates online, maybe now you run Windows through the Start menu Media Center will be able to find new features under the "TV" category.

If you don't see the new option under the "TV" category, you can manually update it online. The method is: browse to the "task" category in the media center, select "Settings", then go to "General" "Automatic download options", click "Download Now", the program will automatically check for updates in the background. If there is no problem with the locale and network connection of the system, you can find changes in the "TV" category after a while!

In order to be closer to China's national conditions, "Internet TV" is translated as "Internet Video", except In addition, there is an additional "search" option:

After clicking, enter a profile page, because the automatic update of the media center program only adds an entry, so here is also required to install "Internet The Video component is only available. Users are still very willing to accept the emphasis on the "free" feature.

Look at the terms of service, which was updated in March 2010:

The installation process is very simple, you don't need to leave the media center interface, you can complete it in about ten seconds. After the installation is complete, you can go directly to the home page. Compared to the foreign counterparts, the homepage we see is relatively simple. Only three large icons are available for selection. In the upper right corner, you can enter the search interface to search for video resources. From the design of the media center interface, the "click to enter" small characters should not appear. From this homepage, the service launched in mainland China is the result of cooperation between Microsoft and the three content providers of "Sina Video", "Sohu Video" and "China Radio International". According to various channels, this cooperation project has been proposed two or three years ago, and has only been launched until now. In addition to catching up with the fire of Windows 7, the difficulties in the implementation process should be difficult for outsiders to understand.

We choose one of the three content providers. CRI.CN is directly accessible because it uses the WMV video format, but Sina video and Sohu video are currently popular on the web. Flash video format, so you must install a plugin to enter:

Fortunately, this plugin installation speed is also very fast, if the network is smooth, then stretched out and ok:

finally entered the eye Bright content selection interface. Those who are familiar with the media center can use it directly because the interface completely adopts the design layout and operation mode of the media center interface. The upper part is the switch between the first category and the second category. The center is listed in the form of a large color picture. The video, below the picture is a detailed description of the resource, the bottom left corner is the media content currently being played by the media center program. Unfortunately, the "HD" category indicated is not really a high-definition video. How to "high", you can see it as a matter of fact. In short, this is a Chinese characteristic. This design allows the user to use the up, down, left and right buttons and the confirmation button to easily select the content to be viewed and avoid the trouble of mouse and keyboard operation:

After selecting the movie, you can directly view it. For detailed video introductions, let you decide if you are interested in watching, click the OK button to start playing:

Let's take a look at the resources provided by Sina Video. Wow, it's really rich! Don't have to work hard to find the source, just a remote control, all kinds of TV series and movies can be enjoyed at any time:

This is the final full-screen video ( The surrounding control buttons will disappear automatically. Although it is not HD quality, it is also equivalent to DVD quality. Besides, these are all free. Is it a good enjoyment?

If you want to ask, so many movies can choose, how do I find a certain part to see? Very simple, enter the "search" function in the "TV" category of the main interface of the media center, you can use the remote control input method built into the media center, enter the desired movie name to find. Even the "sharp brother" and "feng sister" can be found smoothly, the film source is very rich:

In addition, enter the "guide" under the "TV" category, you can see that the TV program should have been displayed. The guide function of the table now includes the video content recommended by each content provider. After selecting a video, it will automatically jump to the corresponding category in the "Internet Video":

Introduced so much, I hope that you can change your habit of watching Internet TV, use the media resources provided by the Media Center to eliminate the interference of advertisements and spam on the webpage. A more comfortable lifestyle may be here!