HP x280n - MediaSmart Connect - Digital Multimedia Receiver, Installation And User Manual

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Chapter 6: Using the Extender for Windows Media Center 80
Compatibility
To use the Extender for Windows Media Center mode you need a
computer running Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate. In
contrast, the Media mode is compatible with a wider range of
computers or other media servers. These include:
Computers running a Windows-based operating system such
as Windows XP (Service pack 2 or later) with either
Windows Media Player 11 or any other third-party media
server.
Network-attached storage (NAS) devices running Windows
Media Connect or other UPnP-compliant media servers such
as HP Media Vault and HP MediaSmart Servers.
Any device with a DLNA-compliant media server, including
non-Windows based computers or other consumer electronic
devices with media streaming capabilities such as digital
cameras or digital telephones.
Note that the HP user experience in MediaSmart mode has
been optimized for computers running Windows Media
Player 11. Some features may not be available when using
NAS devices or other servers.
Streaming photos, music, and digital
videos to your TV
Both MediaSmart and Extender for Windows Media Center
modes enable you to stream digital photos, music, and videos to
your TV. However, in MediaSmart mode HP software running on
your computer can stream a wider range of file formats than
Extender. These file formats include images in PNG format, MP4
video files, and unprotected iTunes.
Automatically view content from
multiple devices
It is not unusual for users to have in the home multiple computers
or other devices that can stream digital media content such as a
NAS. One of the unique features of the HP MediaSmart Connect
is that in MediaSmart mode it automatically detects all media
servers on the home network and aggregates and displays all
available content. In contrast, in the Extender for Windows Media
Center mode, only media content from the host computer is
streamed. Of course, a user can mount drives from multiple PCs
into the file system of the Extender server, but doing so is not
automatic or simple.