There have been quite a few Windows 7 Media Center plugins that enable watching streaming video from services like Youtube. Most, however, cover the basics of getting the content to your screen but leave quite a bit to be desired in style and usability. MacroTube does both quite well allowing you to browse Youtube, DailyMotion and Microsofts Soapbox rather stylishly and even efficiently. This handy plugin from MCExtended of The Green Button forums definitely deserves a look from internet video aficionados.

Once the correct version of MacroTube for your operating system (32-bit or 64-bit) has been installed launch the plugin from the extras menu of Windows Media Center. This first page gives you a few options to choose which video service youd like to peruse or to set a few basic settings. Currently the only available settings are language, automatic updates and some (very) basic appearance options. Luckily the appearance of MacroTube requires little tampering to look very pleasing on your big screen.

After choosing which service youd like to browse not only does MacroTube keep from overloading you with millions of videos in row after row or too few videos with uber-sized icons but youll also be given several options for narrowing your search. The plugin has the basic narrowing options including date, rating, views and relevance but also includes a fantastic search feature and categorical breakdown.

Searching the services is a snap, just select the Search button and enter in your query using the onscreen keyboard, Media Center remote or standard keyboard and go. The results are speedy and accurate taking only seconds to begin compiling a list of relevant video content. Once each page loads it can take a few moments to fully load the preview pane for video content which can be slightly disconcerting at times however.

MacroTube certainly goes a long way toward making streaming services look good on the Media Center. Each video will display the title, date, rating and short description of the content below in the standard Media Center fashion. In fact at no point does the plugin look entirely out of place in the standard Media Center setup, though the onscreen keyboard wont match what you find in most Media Center screens.

Playing the videos was also extremely seem-less. Just as if changing the channel or starting a new movie from your collection the video goes right to full screen and begins playing along with all the fast forward, rewind and other manipulation options. MacroTube does streaming video so well on the Media Center it actually takes the medium from being a chore to being somewhat fun (from someone who isnt that into online streaming videos).

Those who enjoy streaming services such as YouTube should definitely give MacroTube a try on their Media Center setup. Youll likely find it easy to use and even better a convenient way to find the video youre looking for to show all your friends. MacroTube made it easy to locate any video with its handy search feature saving the time of searching through scattered categorical systems for that one video.

Just getting started with Windows 7 Media Center? Microsoft has created a short series of videos to help you get started using your brand new media experience. These videos are perfect for the absolute beginner to the Media Center experience. If this is you and you’re more of a visual learner be sure to give these videos a quick view for a quick overview of using Media Center’s Music Playlist, CD/DVD Burner and TV Recording features. Thanks to Ian Dixon of The Digital Lifestyle for finding these little gems and sharing them with the community.

The fist video covers the basics of burning a CD/DVD with Windows 7 Media Center. Watch it in SD or HD on YouTube or watch the HD version here on Hack7MC below. We’ve also got the video available for download right here at Hack7MC.

The next video features the process to creating your own music playlist with Windows 7 Media Center. Watch the video below, on YouTube or Download it from Hack7MC.

Finally we’ve got everyone’s favorite feature, Recording Live TV with Media Center. Once again you can download this video from Hack7MC, watch it below or watch on YouTube.

For new users don’t forget to subscribe to Hack7MC as well and we’ll bring you all the tweaks and downloads to make the best of your Windows 7 Media Center!

The Windows Home Server Team has announced today the beta of Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (PP3). And if youre running Windows 7, Windows Home Server PP3 comes with several new features designed to take advantage key Windows 7 features:

• Full Image-based Backups of Windows 7 PCs. After the Windows Home Server Connector is installed on your Windows 7 PCs, Action Center should no longer display that your files are not being backed up.
• Windows 7 Libraries Support. Music, Photos and Videos shared folders from your Windows Home Server will be added to Windows 7 Libraries. Content saved to these shared folders will be able to be quickly accessed through your Windows 7 Libraries. And any application, like Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center, will be able to access content saved on your Windows Home Server through Libraries as well.
• Windows Search 4 is now included. With Windows Search 4, PP3 offers improved query search times, indexing times and reliability. Easy search through a Library in Windows 7 with files stored in multiple locations.
• Windows Media Center Enhancements. Archive old recorded TV shows onto your Windows Home Server in a variety of formats. Use Console Quick View to see statistics about your Windows Home Server through Windows Media Center.

More in-depth information on these features see their blog post on PP3.

The Windows Home Server Team does not yet have a final release date for PP3 however they are shooting to have PP3 available shortly before GA of Windows 7. If youre running Windows Home Server and have several Windows 7 PCs I encourage you to give PP3 a try and help the Windows Home Server Team make PP3 rock.

To beta test PP3, please sign up as a beta participant of the Windows Home Server program on Microsoft Connect. Once youve signed up, youll be able to download PP3.

Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 will be a free update to existing Windows Home Server users via Windows Update.

Ill be installing PP3 on my HP MediaSmart Server EX470 either tonight or sometime over the weekend. Im stoked about the Windows 7 integration!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Windows Media Center Team here at Microsoft and shoot some videos of the new features that are currently in the Windows 7 Beta. Im a fairly heavy user of Windows Media Center and know many of our readers are too. This post highlights many of the the changes and new features that people can enjoy for themselves as they try out the Windows 7 Beta.

In the first of several videos I shot, Windows Media Center Program Manager Noah Spitzer-Williams takes us through the new Pictures + Videos features in Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center Picture and Videos Features in the Windows 7 Beta

In the above video, Noah demos the following new Windows Media Center features and changes in Windows 7 (in the order of appearance in the video) to the Pictures + Videos experience:

• Changes to the way videos are displayed in Video Library to include Thumbnails AND Names for each video.
• Support for H.264 Video – no 3rd party codecs are required to play H.264 content.
• Video Play-All Option (think of it as a Video Slide Show) with ability to navigate between each video.
• Developers can take advantage of the new Import API for Windows Portable Devices. The new API enables photos AND videos from portable devices to be imported directly within Windows Media Center.
• Ability to create Slide Shows (new Slide Show pivot) with your pictures and can contain pictures or music or both.
• New On-screen Keyboard (Touch-enabled).
• Improved Rating Controls within Windows Media Center UI.
• New Ratings Pivot for quick access to your favorite content.
• Play Favorites feature with new Slide Show style.
• Auto Slide Show feature acts as a screensaver for Windows Media Center.

You may have caught PowerPlaylist in the Windows Media Center menu in the video. PowerPlaylist is an application originally released by the Windows Media Center Team for Windows Vista and can be downloaded here via CodePlex. The Windows Media Center Team is revising PowerPlaylist for Windows 7 and an early copy was installed on the PC running the Windows 7 Beta in the video. They plan to release an updated version to CodePlex soon. Ill be covering that soon as well.

Expect more videos to follow shortly!