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There are a lot of web browsers out there but only a handful of them ever make any real news. Kylo, on the other hand, has caught the attention of Media Center users everywhere by claiming to be the perfect web browser to use on the big screen. Though it seems this new product should be aimed squarely at the Windows Media Center crowd there is a catch, it doesnt work with the standard MCE Remote. In fact the software is somewhat a thinly veiled guise at selling a piece of hardware (an air mouse).

Now that weve covered a handful of great plugins to improve your Windows 7 media Center, here and here, its time to go through a few programs and background plugins that can greatly improve your experience. These programs and plugins will improve on the Media Center interface as well as adding some missing options and features that are lacking in the basic Media Center installation. Add logos to the TV guide listings, create your own Media Center themes, put Caller ID on your TV and more.

Programs

My Channel Logos

My Channel Logos allows you to quickly and easily add channel logos to your Windows 7 Media Centers TV guide listings improving both the appearance and usability of the guide. The newest versions of this program even include sets of downloadable channel logos including color versions. Using the program is quite easy as well, once youve setup your TV guide listings inside Media Center just open the program and select your region then apply channel logos. My Channel Logos will search through your guide files and make the appropriate changes to add logos, just relaunch Media Center.

Media Center Studio

Media Center Studio, the successor to Menu Mender, is the ultimate in Windows 7 Media Center customization apps. Allowing you to design, create and distribute your own Media Center themes as well as customize and create your own start menu strips. Change the Media Center background, add a games strip and more all with ease using this handy program. This program makes it simple to create and rearrange your Media Center interface until youve got it just the way you like it. Make changes to the graphic interface by using your own images and fonts then just drag and drop start strip tiles to make your Media Center truly unique.

More Plugins

MC7 Sleep Timer

Though a sleep timer likely isnt one of the firs things to cross your mind as a missing feature, if youre used to having one on your television it can be a sorely missed feature. MC7 Sleep Timer is exceptionally easy to use as well. Simply install the plugin then use the plugin interface in the Extra Programs listing to set a sleep timer for any number of intervals. Quick buttons are available for 30 and 60 minutes as well as teh ability to create a custom timer button and even just turn off your monitor. This handy little tool is sure to make at least a few Media Center enthusiasts setups complete.

Refresh Rate Changer

There are plenty of movie and media enthusiasts that prefer to watch their content the way is was originally intended, which includes in the original refresh rate. By default Windows 7 Media Center runs in the default resolution of your monitor, typically 60hz, however much of todays HD media is intended to be played back at 24hz. Refresh Rate Changer will let you do just that. Just setup the resolutions and refresh rates for your monitor and media in the options file then access the plugin inside Media Center to change the refresh rate. Though not automatic and requiring an automatic restart of Media Center its a solution to the problem.

Vista Caller ID

Not just for Vista any longer, Vista Caller IDs developers have even create a plugin to allow you to harness the programs functions to get Caller ID right inside your Windows 7 Media Center. A feature commonly included in modern cable and satellite DVR boxes and sorely missed by many making the switch. As long as youve got a compatible analog modem, install the basic program and the Media Center plugin to get started. Then be sure to setup your preferences and youll be all set.

Finally, dont forget to subscribe to Hack7MC as we bring you the latest and greatest news from the Windows 7 Media Center community including plugins, hacks and programs to complete your dream Media Center setup. Hopefully youve found most of the plugins you need already in this guide, including the previous parts 1 and 2. Stay tuned to Hack7MC as we bring you even more!

Check out the

Lets be straight here, Windows 7 Media Center is an excellent tool to watch videos, news, shows, and more. The same goes with Hulu Desktop that brings thousands of shows at your fingertip. But what is lacking here is the integration of both apps.

Note that we are not talking about integrating Hulu in Windows Media Center, rather we are talking about integrating the Hulu Desktop in Media Center.

Hulu Desktop Integration does what Hulu and Microsoft failed to do together, it adds Hulu Desktop inside Windows Media Center so that users can switch between both apps with a click of a button.

Now you can sit back and relax, when you need switch from Windows Media Center to Hulu Desktop, just select Hulu Desktop from the remote control. Doing this will will close the Media Center and open up Hulu Desktop in fullsceen mode. When you close Hulu Desktop by clicking Exit in the main menu, it will start up Windows Media Center back again.

Switching between the two apps has now become a piece-of-cake. Technically, it saves a lot of headache for those users who need to switch between these apps frequently.

I recently came across a an application called Media Center Launcher that provides you with a way to launch any application from within Media Center. Thats right any application. And unlike some similar plugins, this app also lets you close the program and return to Media Center by clicking the back button your remote.

Unfortunately, the one problem with the program is that it doesnt offer a GUI front-end where you can add new entries. Instead, you have to manually configure XML and INI files if you want to add any extra program besides PowerDVD, which is included by default.

Thats why youll also want to grab the Media Center Launcher Configurator app from here (more info can be found on Chad Dyess blog). This additional application provides a simple interface to the Launcher program, allowing you to track, register, and unregister the applications.

I guess for some of you enthusiasts this will be old news based on the date of Chads blog entry, but I only recently came across it when searching for something similar and thought it was worth sharing with you.

Sean Alexander recently posted a good tip for Windows 7 Media Center users which is something that some of you may have overlooked: turning on color-coded program categories in the on-screen guide. With this option, you can easily see at a glance which channels are Sports, which are News, which are Movies, etc., just like what you would see in the guide on your home television. To turn this option on, go into Settings>TV>Guide Page Options, and click the first checkbox option which is “Apply colored backgrounds to shows, based on their category”.

After turning this option on, your channels will be identified with the following colors:

• Green – Sports
• Purple – Movies
• Light Blue – Kids & Family
• Orange – Special
• Yellow – News

While youre in the settings there, you can also set channels to display by name instead of number an especially useful option for identifying which channels are which if you cant remember them by number.

Download: 2008 Beijing Olympics Medal Count Gadget

This is a great gadget for people who aren’t following the Olympics very closely but want to keep tabs on Olympic Medal wins.